LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Developer Grant

City $ for Wells Fargo apartment conversion raises questions and ire among residents

(Graphic: George Arbogust, Williamsburg Independent)

(Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed below are the writer’s and not necessarily those of the Williamsburg Independent.)

To The Editor,

Neighborhood disapproval of the Wells Fargo building conversion to MORE units than allowed by the current zoning has been well known by the City. Doling out this substantial grant on this particularly poorly viewed project can be interpreted a few ways:

1. The City has given this money to the developer, hoping the end result will be so absolutely stunning, that even those of us who voiced opposition will be thrilled with the new apartment building, and/or

2. The City has given this money to the developer, without considering the neighbors’ objections to the project.

It is disappointing that this EDA grant wasn’t well-publicized before this project was awarded the money. It is equally disappointing that we neighbors were not told this grant was given, in spite of our concerns, as just the decent thing to…