Tech board needs a local perspective
I like trees. I have written more than a few columns extolling their virtues individually and collectively.
When Stadium Woods flared into a fight between naturalists and athletics boosters at Virginia Tech, my inner Lorax sided with the trees. Put the indoor football practice facility on one of the many parking lots near Lane Stadium. Coach Frank Beamer’s big, strong football players can walk a few yards farther when bad weather threatens.
Continue reading Christian Trejbal’s column.
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Or maybe someone from Christiansburg, Eh.
Comment by Tom R — April 21, 2012 @ 5:14 am
Shame on VT for wanting to destroy one of the few old growth forests left in this country for an indoor football practice facility! I agree, these strapping VT footballers can walk a little further to practice, Frank Beamer, you need to be cut down! Maybe a shuttle system should be put into service since apparently these athletes can run, jump, hit, pass, on Worsham Field but can’t even put in the little extra effort to get to practice. Only in B-burg would these travesty happen. Go VT, to another property! So very self-serving. Keep the woods! Once gone, gone forever.
Comment by Ancient Bobcat — May 1, 2012 @ 5:39 am
This is a very good point – an authentic local perspective would help to potentially avoid future gaffs. That said, the trick is to vet someone who is neither too radical on either side. I think the Stadium Woods issue, ultimately, was less about a ‘local’ perspective and more about the mindset of an old-school mentality held by many architects, planners and developers. I am often surprised when I see across the nation, development that takes place as it takes place knowing all that we know about not bulldozing healthy stands of forest when plenty of vacant land abounds steps away; about storm water, building in flood plains, the failure to implement solar and green roofs. Even in our long-dead WalMart debate I am still dumbfounded that a company loath by so many could genuinely change the model (and Bburg had the chance to try and do that) by truly building green buildings even if they are a big box retailer. I digress, but the real point is, people by nature hold on to old ways and bad habits when they have every resource to improve within their reach. Good thing – Tech has reconsidered (as the rest of us knew from day one)…and will build on existing land that requires no destruction of any natural resources. Duh.
As for a local on the board – good idea. Moan as people do, there is no denying the fact for one second that Blacksburg AND Christiansburg are here and thriving because of Va Tech. And for all the mistakes made along the way – this area is a wonderful place to live and that is why so many graduates of VT hold this community in their hearts, choose to stay, to open businesses and call it home. Let’s never lose sight of that…and let’s discuss respectfully. With intelligent thinking and vision…you might even collect a little sales tax along the way. But you have to change how you approach the situation. That goes for everything.
Comment by Local Color — June 14, 2012 @ 3:29 pm