Amanda Hamm

Tue, 03/29/2011 – 14:39 | C2M’s Amanda Hamm

Residents living near George Mason University had the opportunity to meet with city officials Monday evening to discuss a potential overpass connecting Braddock Road to Mason via Prestwick Road.

The informational meeting held at Fairfax Villa Elementary School brought a large turnout of residents interested in the project. Preliminary construction plans were outlined at the meeting, and members of VDOT, FCDOT, Fairfax City councilmembers, and even Mason’s own VP of Facilities were present to address any concerns the public might have with the proposed project.

The concept is that an overpass (or possible underpass) be constructed to help alleviate the traffic congestion surrounding Braddock Road and other roads leading onto campus. Safety was a main concern at a lot of intersections where a left hand turn is present.

Mason officials proposed the bypass to allow traffic to cut around Braddock and Rte. 123, allowing traffic to flow more smoothly.

Braddock District Supervisor John C. Cook was in charge of the meeting, and he said there is currently about $10 million available in the Governor’s Transportation Plan that can be used toward the $15 million project. Mason will be responsible for the other $5 million to help fund the work.

“There are so many entities involved in this project that will have to work together,” Cook said.

Some of the ideas to help alleviate problems in the near future will be to lengthen the turn bay near University Mall on Braddock Road. Also under consideration is a traffic light at Braddock and Prestwick (right before the intersection at Rte. 123).

Chris Conklin, from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., represented his company’s interest in the transportation planning aspect of the project. VHB is working with Mason officials to map out the exact placement of the overpass and how it will affect the surrounding community.

“There should be significant improvements at all of the intersections once this plan goes into effect,” Conklin said.

Mason Vice President of Facilities Thomas Calhoun said there has been mention of a West Campus Connector for years. By connecting the west and east campuses, more students would be able to park farther away and still make it onto the main campus without issue.

“This project is still in the idea stage,” Calhoun said. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”

A University and Community Forum to further discuss the project is set for Fairfax City Hall on May 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Previous meeting details and construction plans can be viewed online.

(Original article can be viewed online at http://www.connect2mason.com/content/public-meeting-held-about-proposed-overpass-near-campus)

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Thu, 03/17/2011 – 14:04 | C2M’s Amanda Hamm

As the NCAA Tournament gets underway this week and eighth seed Mason is set to play Villanova Friday night, it’s not just fans remembering the Patriots’ improbable 2006 journey to the NCAA Final Four. Local businesses recall the attention brought to the community as the previously unknown Patriots cast the area into the spotlight.

That attention meant packed sports bars at the restaurants near campus – something the wait staff and managers still haven’t forgotten.

Buffalo Wing University assistant manager, Thomas Calvert, said having Mason in the Final Four created an everlasting impression on his employees.

“We are normally busy on the weekends, but it was insane during the tournament,” Calvert said. “There was a minimum wait of one hour, and it was common to see a line of patrons stretched around the corner outside.”

Mason basketball fans that packed the venues for the games brought in an extra $80,000 in sales during the month of March 2006.

Brion’s Grille former manager, Rick Burnett, said business was great for their restaurant too. The games brought in local news coverage from both the ABC and CBS affiliates as they reported on the crowded restaurant.

“We were over packed for every Mason basketball game,” Burnett said. “There was not an empty seat in the house.”

The Auld Shebeen co-owner, Dominic Keane, said that Mason even made a huge impact on his Fairfax City pub.

“March madness is usually about St Patrick’s Day for an Irish Pub & Restaurant, but it took on a new meaning for The Auld Shebeen that year,” Keane said. “Every Mason game was a packed house with supporters in their green & yellow, and a lot of people had gotten special shirts made.”

For the final four game with Florida, The Auld Shebeen rented two 10 ft screens and had a full house the entire day.

Keane said, “Mason will have the luck of the Irish with them if they make it through to the Final Four again this season.”

(Original article can be viewed online at http://www.connect2mason.com/content/local-restaurants-reminisce-mason%E2%80%99s-trip-final-four)

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Student Government member Daniel Boger chats happily with Councilman David Meyer and City of Fairfax Marketing Manager Joanna M. Ormesher. (Jake McLernon)

Thu, 02/17/2011 – 22:11 | C2M’s Amanda Hamm

Mason Student Government and the Fairfax City Council agreed that fostering long-term relationships between the two groups is of utmost importance when members met to “Eat and Greet” Tuesday in the Johnson Center.

The event, organized by Student Government’s Mason-Affairs-and-State-Outreach-and-Networking-Committee, was aimed at bringing student representatives together with city leaders in an informal environment.

“This is a great way to develop understanding between members of our council and Mason’s own council members,” City of Fairfax marketing manager Joanna Ormesher said. “It allows students to interact with city officials professional to professional.”

Ormesher said both the students and the council members are the first point of contact for each of their respective constituencies, which is a common tie between the two groups, making their meeting all the more important.

Nathan Dorfman, M.A.S.O.N. Committee Chair, was pleased with the comfortable interaction between Student Government members and City Council members. Dorfman said the student attendees seemed passionate about future outreach opportunities with city officials.

“I’d even like to get the entire student body involved at some of the events, not just Student Government,” Dorfman said. “I feel that it is important for us as a community to have an opportunity to meet with local officials.”

Dorfman said City Hall’s proximity to campus is a reason why these groups shouldn’t have distance in their relationship, not to mention the number of Mason students who live and spend time in the city.

(Original post can be viewed online at http://www.connect2mason.com/content/students-eat-and-greet-city-officials)

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