January 6, 2004

Dear Mr. Cox,

It has been brought to my attention that you are behind the move to convert a dead end residential road into a major southern by pass. This would completely destroy the quality of life of Johnson Village. I could relay hundreds of stories about the joys of living in my 40 year old neighborhood. My son remembers running from our house on Shamrock to a friends house on Village when he nearly blew a finger off in a misguided science experiment when he was home alone. My daughter will tell you about the time she ran away from home to the bamboo forest and a neighbor from Highland Ave told me where she was and not to worry. I could tell you about the memories made walking house to house, freezing, singing Christmas Carols, pigging out at the Ice Cream Social, showing off new Halloween costumes in the annual Halloween Parade down the middle of Shamrock Rd. I am concerned that motivation is to connect everyone (meaning the county subdivisions) to UVA (your employer) is with complete disregard to the neighborhood destruction your connected bypass would cause.

We lived at 307 Robertson Ave in Frys Spring for 5 years (1978 1983) and watched our narrow road become a cut through for traffic going from JPA to Cherry Ave. In 1983, 20 years ago, we moved to Johnson Village. A neighborhood where kids could play kick the can in the street and ride their bikes to their neighborhood school and pool. This would be impossible with hundreds, if not thousands of cars passing through to UVA.

When my youngest finish at Johnson School, I was ready to sell my boring brick ranch and move to the county, but we just couldnt leave our wonderful, safe, and friendly neighborhood full of many great friends and memories. At one point, during the 22 years I taught for the city schools, the chairman of the school board, Rauzelle Smith, lived behind me on Trailridge Rd., while his son was in my 1st period class. It was cozy, put we loved it.

For over 6 years my husband has worked in Waynesboro, this is my fourth year teaching in Crozet, and our children have grown and left home. The only reason we still live in the city is because of Johnson Village. We certainly don't live here because the taxes are low and we have great services.

We have five bedrooms, two and a half baths and off street parking for four cars, our home would make a great UVA rental. Please don't force us to leave town. In 1990 we were able to save Frys Spring Beach Club from UVA. I can only hope now we can save our homes.

Sincerely,

Heather Walker (electronic mail, January 6, 2004)

Editor's Note: See also, Planned Unit in Johnson Village Gets the Nod.