President's Letter

"When are they going to rebuild the Safeway," is a question I hear often from Pimmit Hills residents. I don’t know an answer, but the PHCA board has been looking into the matter. Below is a letter we sent to Safeway urging a fast redevlopment plan. I hope you can attend our next meeting to keep abreast of this and other development issues impacting our neighborhood.

Attn: Safeway Real Estate Department

Dear Ms. Montgomery,

I am writing on behalf of The Pimmit Hills Citizens Association, whichrepresents 1,600 homes in Falls Church close to your store on Colshire Drive in Mclean, Virginia.

In light of a survey conducted by Monument Realty in December 2007 and January 2008 via U.S. mail and the Internet, the future of the Safeway property and adjacent properties was a topic of discussion at the association’s January meeting. Members in attendance voted unanimously to support the redevelopment of the Safeway property on Colshire Drive in its current location.

Our members are hopeful a new store--similar to size and scope of your Pan Am store in Vienna, which includes a pharmacy and a gas station--will be developed soon. I am sure you would agree the current store on Colshire Drive is not kept to the same high standards as are found in other locations. The building complex is largely vacant, appears unsafe, and is unattractive. Many Pimmit Hills residents pass this store to shop at other local supermarkets.

In addition, the Pimmit Hills Citizens Association does not support a "swap" of land between Safeway and Monument Realty.

We urge you to move forward with your redevelopment plans as soon as possible. We would also like to invite you, or another Safeway representative, to attend one of our monthly meetings to present your plans for the future to our members. If this is not possible, we would appreciate it if you would keep us abreast of your current and future plans via e-mail or other communications. You may contact PHCA Vice President Lisa Gibbs with any information you have.

Thank you,

John Lake, President

Pimmit Hills Citizens Association