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NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY
By: Mary Beiler
Site manager Doug Bement said there has been considerable progress in the last year, the most obvious being the demolition of buildings and the rehabilitation of 51 acres that was given back to the community at a tree planting ceremony last spring. "There's been phenomenal changes that people can see, where in the past it's been internal where people couldn't really see what was going on," he said. "We want to open our doors to the public and have their involvement." The open house, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., gives residents an opportunity to talk one-on-one with representatives of the various groups with major involvement at the site, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority. These groups, as well as FMC Corp, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, will have information booths and residents will have a chance to talk to and ask questions of project managers, scientists, and engineers. "It's a large and complex site and it's difficult to comprehend all the information that's here," Bement said. "[The] information is vast and huge, and we invite the public to become involved in the debate." Redevelopment of the Avtex site, once home to a giant rayon plant, started as an idea in the 1990s. A conservancy park, business park and soccer complex are planned at the site in the future. "This is only a stage in the life of this thing," Bement said. "An environmentally damaged site is not the legacy that we're going to be leaving here. It's going to be a reuse that the town, county and state will look to with pride." This is the second year that an open house has been offered at the site. Last year it attracted about 300 people, Bement said. "We're expecting at least that many folks this year." The open house also will include an on-site tour, documenting the progress that has occurred. Bement said officials also hope to attract more Avtex retirees to this year's event. Because many of them can no longer drive, Bement said they can be picked up by calling him in advance with a request. "Many of the retirees that have an interest in coming, but don't have a ride, we'll do whatever ti takes to get the retirees out [here]." Residents are asked to park in the lot on Kendrick Lane across from the former administration building. For more information or to request a ride to the site, call Bement at 635-3341. |