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Va Homeowners Alliance
PO Box 643
Richmond, VA 23286-0572

Residents urged to conserve power during heat wave

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative has issued an emergency declaration to its customers in response to soaring energy demand on its power grid. Customers are asked to reduce electrical use in their homes between 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Suggestions include turning up thermostast to 78 degrees and not using household appliances like the stove, oven, dishwasher, or clothes dryer until after sunset.

If followed, the conservation guidelines should ensure that residents have electrical power to cool their homes and go about their daily business.

Posted on Friday, July 9, 2010 - 8:08pm

Quality of life helps make N.Va one of the nation's fastest growing areas

Northern Virginia saw some of the nation's highest growth last year, despite the recession.

Alexandria added 5,400 residents last year, a 3.8% increase
Arlington County gained 7,300, a 3.5% increase
Fairfax County added 18,000 more people, a 1.8% increase
Loudoun County added 11,000 residents, a 3.8% increase
Prince William County grew by 13,000 new residents, a 3.6% increase

"There's a high quality of urban life in this area," said William H. Frey, a demographer for the Brookings Institution.

Homeowners benefit from population growth, which grows the economy and promotes a healthy real estate market.

Planned layoffs avoided in Prince William County schools

Officials in Prince William County schools are elated because planned layoffs are no longer necessary -- meaning no district employees will lose their jobs.

“I am overjoyed to report there will be no reduction in force for any employee of Prince William County Public Schools next year,” Superintendent Steven L. Walts announced in a press release. “Due to the overwhelming teamwork and the generosity of budget managers, we will have a position for all current employees by the start of the next school year.”

At one point earlier in the budget process, officials said that up to 700 jobs might have to be eliminated.

Posted on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 - 9:47am

Proposed HOT lanes get cool reception from Prince William commuters

Some commuters in Prince William County are less than enthusiastic about proposed high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on Interstate 95 and 395. If built, the lanes would replace the current HOV lanes. The paid lanes would run from Dumfries to the Pentagon, and then extend to Spotsylvania County to make a 56-mile toll road.

A third lane that will be squeezed between the two existing HOV lanes between Dumfries and the Pentagon has some commuters worried about safety and the possibility of traffic backups. The road will not be widened to accommodate the extra lane -- the pavement will simply be re-striped, leaving little if any shoulder. Commuters say traffic slow-downs will defeat the purpose of the lanes, increasing frustration without lowering commute times.

Homeowners in residential areas benefit from infrastructure that encourages easy commutes to urban areas, where many people are employed.

Posted on Monday, June 7, 2010 - 11:05am

Prince William County to seize disputed land parcel

Prince William County supervisors have voted to compel an 83-year-old woman and her sons, Parker Family LLC, to turn over their $100,000 parcel of land -- without compensation.

“They basically just get the property,” said Sally Hankins, attorney for Parker Family LLC. “The county is going to file a document … saying they’re initiating a quick-take on the property.” The filing will claim the property's value as zero, allowing the the county to take it without payment.

How the county and the Parker family got to this point is complicated. Essentially, the Parkers had agreed to sell the land to a develoment company, Drees, but the deal fell through. In the meantime, Drees signed proffer agreements with the county, and one of the Parker sons signed it as well. (The Parker family contends that the son, now deceased, lacked the authority to sign the agreement.)

The family was left with a proffer agreement that tied up the land, but no payment from Drees.

Posted on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 3:01pm

Woodbridge property owners look forward to redevelopment

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has adopted a plan to redevelop 160 acres of land in North Woodbridge between Occoquan Road and Annapolis Way at the Occoquan River, calling for a wider, six-lane U.S. 1 and an interchange at Va. 123. There are also plans for a hotel, hundreds of thousands of square feet of office space, high rise condominiums that line the Occoquan River, better waterfront access with an expanded marina,and a more walkable, transit-oriented environment.

County officials hope the area will be a place where residents live, work and play.

Homeowners benefit from such projects. Property values often rise as business and recreational opportunities increase and more buyers become interested in the newly redeveloped area.

Read more in the Manassas News-Messenger....

Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 2:47pm

Prince William County approves 164-acre development plan

Prince William County supervisors have approved plans for a major development between Interstate 95 and Route 1 in North Woodbridge. The plan calls for hundreds of thousands of square feet of office and retail space, between 2,500 and 3,500 multifamily residential units, a 260-room hotel, a marina, a heritage trail, and open spaces throughout the area.

Officials hope the redevelopment plan will help revive the Route 1, one of the oldest interstate highways in the country. The county's portion of the route now features strip malls and vacant properties.

Major development plans like this can pull up property values in surrounding neighborhoods as the area becomes a magnet for employment, shopping, living, and recreation.

Read more in The Washington Examiner....

Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 4:56pm

Washington, D.C.-area housing market perking up

The number of Washington-area homes for sale last month was down 25% from April 2008, according to the most recent data from the local Multiple Listing Service.

The supply has fallen in nearly all of the region's counties and cities since that time. It was down about 30% in Fairfax and Loudoun counties; and 55% in Prince William County, including Manassas and Manassas Park.

Experts say that the drop in the number of houses for sale will benefit homeowners by bring supply back in line with demand, stabilizing prices.

Budgets finalized in four communities

Four Virginia counties have approved budgets that will cost homeowners more in the coming fiscal year than they paid last year.

Franklin, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties approved budgets that included property tax increases. Botetourt County kept its tax rate the same, but bills to property owners are likely to increase due to rising assessments. Some Fairfax County residents will see lower tax bills due to dropping assessments, even though their tax rates have increased.

Homeowners are paying more, but keeping some popular items in the county budgets, including library services, school funding, and funding for non-profits.

Prince William County's "Home Help" program helps employees buy foreclosed homes

Prince William County's "Home Help" program has been in place for about a year -- and county employees say the program has been a success.Thirty-one employees participants have closed on a house or have one under contract, with a dozen or so more "in the pipeline," according to county treasury manager Alan Scarbrough.

The program helps county employees purchase foreclosed and vacant homes, strengthening the local housing market by preventing the homes from sliding into disrepair and dragging down the values of neighboring properties.