Showing posts with label David Peebles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Peebles. Show all posts

Friday, September 12, 2014

EDA & Woodville School, Gloucester, Virginia



$200,000 Donation Made on Behalf of Gloucester Tax Payers Did you know they did that??
I recently posted an opinion calling for the abolishment of the Economic Development Authority of Gloucester County, Virginia (EDA).  In my opinion I commented about the EDA focusing the majority of its efforts on supporting the interests of a select few individuals and a few nonprofit organizations like the Gloucester Main Street Association, the Gloucester Community Foundation and the Main Street Gloucester Preservation Trust.  Another nonprofit organization that can now be added to the list is the T.C. Walker and Woodville/Rosenwald School Foundation (Woodville Foundation).  During our research we found the following information and more about the Woodville Foundation at: http://woodvillerosenwaldschool.org/foundation/
Foundation
The T.C. Walker and Woodville/Rosenwald School Foundation (the “Corporation”), as a Virginia nonstock corporation with a mission to receive, maintain and administer assets in perpetuity exclusively for charitable and educational purposes relating to the African American experience, including but not limited to the legacy of Woodville School, and Rosenwald Schools generally, and the contributions of T. C. Walker and other notable African Americans in Gloucester County, Virginia, filed Articles of Incorporation with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (the “SCC”), on May 22, 2012.
Foundation Members: 
Warren Deal, Ann Burruss, Charles Records, David Peebles, Wes Wilson, Fred Carter, John Spencer, Kay James, Dorothy Cooke, Leola Travis, Charlie Banks
Officers: 
Mr. Warren Deal, President, Ms. Ann Burruss, Vice-President, Mr. Charles Records, Secretary and Mr. David Peebles, Treasurer
Steering Committees: 
Property Steering Committee
[Dr. Wes Wilson, Mr. David Peebles]
Purpose: develop a plan, schedule, and cost to present to the foundation to 1) secure and stabilize the Woodville School and maintain it against further degradation; 2) maintain the property and grounds until it is preserved.  Implement the plan as approved.
Preservation Steering Committee
[Mr. Fred Carter, Mr. John Spencer, Mr. Charles Records]
Purpose: develop a plan, schedule, and cost to present to the foundation to 1) preserve the school and property in its 1923 form; 2) adapt/modify/improve the property so that it is accessible by the public and be made available for the purposes discussed at the retreat. Implement the plan as approved.
Education and Outreach Steering Committee
[Ms. Kay James, Dr. Leola Travis, Ms. Ann Burruss, Dr. Dorothy Cooke]
Purpose: 1) gather, compile, and preserve all history pertinent to the Woodville School specifically and the Rosenwald Schools in general; 2) create educational and interpretive material to interpret the Woodville School both pre and post preservation status; 3) create publicity, including a speaker’s list, to actively raise public awareness of the foundation and its mission; 4) identify and explore tangible uses of the building in all its stages that meet the purposes discussed at the retreat.  Implement the plan as approved.
Financial Steering Committee
[Mr. Charlie Banks, Mr. Warren Deal]
Purpose: 1) develop an operating budget; 2) develop a preservation budget; 3) develop a capital improvement budget; 4) develop a funding plan of solicitation, grants, etc to fund the respective budgets; 5) assist the board in identifying and engaging partners in all aspects of the foundation’s work.
   
Now doesn’t all of that seem so impressive?  Maybe it does, but the question the citizens of GloucesterCounty should be asking the local governing body is; what will the property and the schoolhouse do forGloucester’s economic stability and development?  Normally one would not ask such a question about a private organization that “appears” to be funded only by private donations and grants, but in this instance the question certainly needs to be asked because the tax payers of Gloucester County have already donated more than they know.
As it turns out, the property and schoolhouse the Woodville Foundation focus their attention on were purchased by the EDA in 2012.  According toGloucester County real estate assessment data;Gloucester County purchased the property and schoolhouse from David Peebles for $200,000.  The data further reveals the property and schoolhouse being assessed at only $85,000 at the time of sale. 
As a comparison we looked at the dynamics of Dr. Walter Reed’s birthplace, a historically preserved dwelling and property located on Hickory Fork Rd. in the Belroi section of Gloucester.  The private foundation that takes care of Dr. Reed’s birthplace owns the dwelling and property.  We also offer the Main Street Texaco service station as an example of a "so called" historic location that is also owned by a private foundation.  In these two instances citizens with a desire to donate too such a cause do so of their own free will.  In the instance of the Woodville Foundation $200,000 was donated for a purpose that does not promote the health, welfare and viability of the citizen funded EDA and was done so without the citizens’ knowledge and consent.  Can the tax payers in Gloucester claim their share of this donation when filing their taxes?  Probably not.  I agree with Gloucester Supervisor Phillip Bazanni; "Gloucester County needs to stay out of the real estate business."
Believe it or not, there is more to share about the EDA of Gloucester County, Virginia.  We will soon share what we have discovered about a house purchased on Greate Road at Gloucester Point and how it relates to the planning commission’s attempts to obtain the entire Waterview Subdivision and other property at Gloucester Point.
Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.
Gloucester PointVa.


Thursday, August 7, 2014

HCOD Stifles Gloucester Business Growth


During the few years the toll was removed from the Coleman Bridge, Gloucester experienced a growth spurt that will not be experienced again until un-tolled access returns. That growth spurt was used as justification for creating the HCOD. In reality the HCOD was established to satisfy aesthetic and financial gain desires of a few rich persons. What the HCOD actually did was stifle business growth and remove control of property use from the owners. How does this benefit the people of Gloucester or prospective businesses? It doesn't. During the time the HCOD was set in place the economy was good and people were not paying attention to government. Fortunately, more people are paying attention now.

In a recent Gloucester-Mathews Gazette Journal opinion letter David Peebles mentioned the numerous years of support of the HCOD by the planning commission, board of supervisors and administration. Statistics indicate we the people have not seen any significant return from the implementation and enforcement of the HCOD. In fact, the HCOD has caused the County to lose prospective and established businesses.

Mr. Peebles’ assertion that the EDA, administration and the HCOD are responsible for the existence of good restaurants, shopping centers and other businesses in Gloucester seems to be somewhat distorted. The truth of the matter is; population growth was the driving factor behind those businesses coming to Gloucester.

Mr. Peebles also implied the old Page site is now available to become part of a 100 acre business park. The citizens of Gloucester have an urgent need for a permanent place to take care of and store school buses, county vehicles, grounds equipment and to house the public utilities department. The old Page site is the most practical and financially sensible location to construct such a public infrastructure facility.

I agree with the current efforts being made to overhaul the HCOD. If it is done the right way; property owners will regain control over the use of their property and there will be more opportunity for prospective businesses.

Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.