The condition of Annandale is an example of POOR leadership. Plight will follow undeveloped, poor condition, and vacant businesses and land. What the local leadership in Annandale ignores is the fact that they NEED to hire someone to RECRUIT new businesses for already vacant shops. The Vacant grocery store near the Beanetics is a waste of space. The CITY needs to get stores in there, it's laziness. It's not until they take personal responsibility for the community that things will improve. Who wants to go to a home improvement or grocery store and see large groups of men standing around asking for work - it's not safe, it's unsightly, and it's loitering. As soon as I get my two years in the home I bought here I am LEAVING Annandale.

As a stay at home mother and an active member of Annandale m.o.m.s. club I know that at each of our meetings and often during group outings we discuss the lack of things for children in Annandale.
We usually end up taking our children to fairfax, merrifield or Alexandria for activities and lunch.
Has anyone considered a children's museum similar to the playseum in d.c. There is not one in northern v.a. And mothers from all the surrounding areas would love it? The possibility of a place like PB and jacks that opened in fairfax that has a cafe for mothers and a play place for children, a deli or easy healthy non- expensive eatery for lunch so we don't have to decide between fast food, upscale dining or leaving town as our options?
Our club has 76 members in the 22003 zip code and I know that doesn't begin to count all the family's in annandale with children. Maybe we could work on keeping business in town as a way to make Annandale a better, more community orientated place to live.

I would LOVE to see someone doing SOMETHING about the 1000 day workers that stand up and down 236 every morning Loitering (especially since there are NO LOITERING signs posted in Spanish and English). You can't even drive into McDonalds and feel safe getting out of your car, let alone go in the 7-11 anymore at Hummer RD! If police would start carding them every morning, maybe they would get the hint and move on! Annandale used to be a safe place to live! Homeless just keeps going up and up!

I live outside the beltway and have started referring to my neighborhood as West Annandale, just to avoid the stigma of urban decay that is 236 inside the beltway. It is amazing how many businesses have closed and those that reopen such as "check cashing" services cause the area to appear in decline. Yet, lovely homes are located just a few blocks away from the blight on 236. We all would benefit from the renewal of this area of Annandale.

Unfortunately, I'm not able to make the meeting on Tuesday (meetings at two different schools on the same night) , but I hope those in attendance hold the elected officials accountable for the lack of action in Annandale. What has Penny done for her 22003 constituents? More housing, which results in more crowding on our neglected roadways and schools? New businesses? More of the same old restaurants, drug stores, thrift stores and car loan places is ruining a once thriving community and making Annandale a joke. Not only is Annandale NOT walkable, it isn't attractive - as in, there is no draw to come here unless you're trying to appeal to all those laborers lined up and down 236. It is time for Annandale residents to take action and demand more from their community leadership! Let's see some of that energy the county has spent on the Mosaic District in Merrifeld placed on Annandale for a change.

Since people voted the same leaders in, expect the same unproductive results. Please stop voting by party, and vote for people with fresh ideas for improvements

you all need to get off the dime and stop voting penny gross and her crew in. this is the do nothing crew. vote her out of office! how many of you voted and those that voted, how many voted for her? VOTE HER OUT!