Businesses encouraged to join Seven Corners cleanup effort
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| Trash by the car vacuums at the Sunoco station. |
Kay Cooper and Nancy Vorona, longtime community activists who’ve
been working on cleaning up the Seven Corners area, are finding some of the
business owners and managers are interested in helping, too.
been working on cleaning up the Seven Corners area, are finding some of the
business owners and managers are interested in helping, too.
The two Lake Barcroft residents have taken on responsibility for picking up trash
and illegal signs along both sides of Route 7 between Sleepy Hollow Road and
Nevius Street as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Adopt-a-Highway program. They make the rounds
at least twice a month when the weather is good, which is a lot more than the
once-a-quarter cleanup required under the program.
and illegal signs along both sides of Route 7 between Sleepy Hollow Road and
Nevius Street as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Adopt-a-Highway program. They make the rounds
at least twice a month when the weather is good, which is a lot more than the
once-a-quarter cleanup required under the program.
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| This newspaper bin has been here for more than a year. |
But it’s been getting frustrating for them to fill up dozens
of trash bags and then “see all the litter back again a couple of days
later,” Cooper says. Also, under the VDOT program, they’re only supposed to
pick up trash in the right-of-way, not on private property, which is just as
messed up.
of trash bags and then “see all the litter back again a couple of days
later,” Cooper says. Also, under the VDOT program, they’re only supposed to
pick up trash in the right-of-way, not on private property, which is just as
messed up.
So they decided to approach businesses along Route 7 and ask
the managers to help. “They were very receptive,” Vorona says. “They were all
really committed to doing something.”
the managers to help. “They were very receptive,” Vorona says. “They were all
really committed to doing something.”
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| Do we need this? |
Robert Brooks, manager of the Sunoco station at 6301
Leesburg Pike by Castle Road, said he is interested in working on community
cleanups and improving the landscaping around the property. He said he already
got one clothing donation box taken away and will try to have some newspaper
bins removed.
Leesburg Pike by Castle Road, said he is interested in working on community
cleanups and improving the landscaping around the property. He said he already
got one clothing donation box taken away and will try to have some newspaper
bins removed.
Owners or managers of EuroMarket, Public House No. 7, Touch of Class Hair Salon, Bank of America, and Seven Corners Laundromat also
expressed interest in working with the community to clean up the area.
expressed interest in working with the community to clean up the area.
The business people hasn’t realize that they could have the
donation bins and newspaper boxes removed from their property. And they didn’t
know that the donation bins are installed by private companies that resell the
donated goods for a profit; they aren’t operated by charities. There had been
an overturned news bin by the hair salon parking lot for over a year, and the
owner didn’t know how to get it removed.
donation bins and newspaper boxes removed from their property. And they didn’t
know that the donation bins are installed by private companies that resell the
donated goods for a profit; they aren’t operated by charities. There had been
an overturned news bin by the hair salon parking lot for over a year, and the
owner didn’t know how to get it removed.
Cooper says she found the one-on-one conversations with
business people to be very helpful in encouraging them to join the cleanup efforts. “We’re
not being accusatory. We’re asking them to partner with us,” she says. “We want
to empower them. They don’t have to put up with this.”
business people to be very helpful in encouraging them to join the cleanup efforts. “We’re
not being accusatory. We’re asking them to partner with us,” she says. “We want
to empower them. They don’t have to put up with this.”
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| Illegal signs at the Route 7/Route 50 intersection. |
Vorona and Cooper are also concerned about the proliferation
of illegal signs along Route 7, and they have filed numerous complaints with
VDOT about signs in the right-of-way for Mattress Warehouse, Ashley Furniture, Burlington
Coat Factory, and many other businesses last spring. VDOT sent letters to those
businesses warning them that if the signs aren’t removed, they will be fined
$100 per sign, but it isn’t known whether fines were actually imposed.
of illegal signs along Route 7, and they have filed numerous complaints with
VDOT about signs in the right-of-way for Mattress Warehouse, Ashley Furniture, Burlington
Coat Factory, and many other businesses last spring. VDOT sent letters to those
businesses warning them that if the signs aren’t removed, they will be fined
$100 per sign, but it isn’t known whether fines were actually imposed.
VDOT and Fairfax County worked out an agreement that took
effect last July calling for the county to take control over enforcing the law
against signs in the VDOT right of way. Under that program, people in the Fairfax
County Sheriff’s Office’s Community Labor Force remove illegal signs along
certain heavily traveled roads.
effect last July calling for the county to take control over enforcing the law
against signs in the VDOT right of way. Under that program, people in the Fairfax
County Sheriff’s Office’s Community Labor Force remove illegal signs along
certain heavily traveled roads.
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| Donation boxes don’t support charities. |
Cooper and Vorona don’t think that’s enough. The sign crews
only patrol each road on the list once a month, so the signs keep sprouting
back up. Also, the county doesn’t seem to be aggressively fining businesses or
organizations that violate the sign ordinance.
only patrol each road on the list once a month, so the signs keep sprouting
back up. Also, the county doesn’t seem to be aggressively fining businesses or
organizations that violate the sign ordinance.
Cooper and Vorona organized a communitywide cleanup in Seven Corners last fall and have scheduled another one for April 26. The Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization Corporation was awarded a Fairfax County Neighborhood Enhancement Partnership Program (NEPP) grant last year to support the cleanups,
as well as landscaping and efforts to engage the business community.
as well as landscaping and efforts to engage the business community.
There are lots of small green spaces between businesses where
improved landscaping could make a huge difference, Vorona says, and she hopes
to use some of the NEPP grant funds to purchase plants.
improved landscaping could make a huge difference, Vorona says, and she hopes
to use some of the NEPP grant funds to purchase plants.
Cooper believes cleanup efforts would be more successful if
businesses, communities, and citizens can join forces to put pressure on public officials. “We’re tired of waiting for the county and VDOT to do the things they’re
supposed to do.”
businesses, communities, and citizens can join forces to put pressure on public officials. “We’re tired of waiting for the county and VDOT to do the things they’re
supposed to do.”
6 responses to “Businesses encouraged to join Seven Corners cleanup effort”
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Thank goodness for these two women. Without them this place would be more of a garbage dump than it already is!
Go Cooper and Vorona! Power to the people. What amazing women you are.
I agree about not getting real help from the County or VDOT.
Great news article. It's wonderful to know that the businesses want to help and to learn what they can and can't do with the façade of their businesses. I plan to be there for the cleanup. Thank you.
Thank you, Nancy and Kay. Your work is truly appreciated.
Nancy and Kay – you are great examples for others. Thanks you!
I am so glad you ladies are doing what you are doing! Thank you!!!!!!