Neabsco Action Alliance Founded to Improve Dale City
Patch contributor Connie Moser serves as president of the organization.
In the midst of developments to the Woodbridge area like the new Potomac Town Center, the renovation of Marumsco Plaza, and the redevelopment of North Woodbridge, some feel that the Dale City area has been neglected.
The Neabsco Action Alliance held its first public meeting Tuesday night. The NAA was recently founded as a nonprofit civic organization that will serve Dale City by promoting its businesses and improving its appearance.
"Our strip malls are outdated and our home values have plummeted in neighborhoods with no HOA to keep up the status quo," NAA President Connie Moser said. "We want to get some sort of movement going that will bring pride to our neighborhoods, and better stores, shops and restaurants to our residents. We know it can be done -- we want to get started."
Moser and Vice President Kelly Easterly and Secretary Linda Gosnell have worked together in many projects to improve the community, such as Neighborhood Pride Week, Library Work Days, the Lindendale Clean Sweep and the Cleanup of the Occoquan River. In addition, Gosnell and Moser belong to Neighborhood Leaders and Easterly and Moser serve as board members for Keep Prince William Beautiful.
"We are a volunteer cadre who integrate and interweave many other committees, boards and groups," the NAA introductory announcement read.
Because the group is a 501(c)4, it is a nonprofit, but not a charitable organiztion. Any resources collected by the group will fund "activities or materials that will benefit the community," the announcement continued.
Membership is open to the public.
Dwayne & Maryanne Moyers
5:49 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
If citizens want to improve Dale City the first step is to remain silent when police officers begin enforcing minor criminal offenses such as loitering, soliciting, drinking in public, and disorderly conduct.
Connie Moser
6:09 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Dwayne and Mary, can you elaborate a little?
Dwayne & Maryanne Moyers
1:18 am on Monday, March 19, 2012
Dale City suffers from too much lenience of common street crimes. When we drive through Dale City we observe individuals loitering, drug dealing from the trunks of vehicles in public parking lots, drinking in public next to businesses, individuals pandering for money on public highways and convenience stores, and groups hanging out on street corners leading to fighting. These activities seem to always lead to bigger crimes while destroying neighborhood property values. Getting business leaders to invest in areas with these problems isn't likely. If the police department decides to make a serious effort to put an end to this problem, the community needs to support this initiative. But there will be complaints of the targeting of innocent people by the police, and positive enforcement efforts by law enforcement officers will end before it gets started. We've witnessed it for years in Prince William County.
bill cummings
4:41 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
connie,can you elaborate on the people that work here.which businesses should go away,which restaurants would you like to eat at.
Connie Moser
5:56 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
Hi Bill,
A depressed economy is reflected in the number of empty storefronts. I don't think it would be accurate to say I want any businesses to "go away", but I do think the number of check cashing, pawn, and thrift stores indicates an income level that is lower than many surrounding communities.
I hope you'll come meet with NAA and talk about this. Our next meeting will be April 10, at 6:00 PM, Development Services Building at the county complex in Room 107B. Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/neabscoactionalliance
or on the web: www.neabscoactionalliance.org
bill cummings
6:10 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
connie,a vibrant community in Triangle was taken away.Poor people can't bank,therefore we have what we have.
bill cummings
7:42 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
what empty storefronts ?
T james
9:03 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
I would love to be a part of this if anyone has any information about joining email me Timothy.james@wdc.usda.gov
Vinny Darby
9:11 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
I applaud these efforts. The first thing people see when the get off the highway is a Kmart, a Denny's, and a Napa Auto Parts. Forestdale and Mapledale Plazas are half empty. It doesn't have to be this way though. Recently, KLNB renovated Minnieville plaza and it looks much better. If we can convince other local businesses to reinvest all of the shopping centers here can be vibrant again.
Connie Moser
10:13 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
Tim, we'd love to have you! If you can make our next meeting, that would be great. Information is posted above. You can also find me on Twitter, Linked In and Facebook. Look forward to hearing from you. Connie
Connie Moser
10:15 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
Thanks, Vinny! Come work with us. I sent you a FB friend request.
bill cummings
10:15 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
connie,do you have a problem with the job producing Kmart?
Connie Moser
10:17 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
@ bill, last time I counted (last year) there were 32 vacant storefronts in Ashdale, Forestdale, Center Plaza, Glendale and Mapledale Plzaa. Since then Jackie's Teacher Store and Elmtree closed at Center Plaza. I'll try to get another count soon to give an update.
Connie Moser
10:19 am on Friday, March 16, 2012
Bill Cummings, I can't just keep answering your questions here. Please come to out next meeting and introduce yourself and we'll talk.
Connie
Rachel Leon
12:16 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Out of curiosity, what changes (if any) would you readers like to see in Dale City?
robin rother
1:23 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2012
nicer stores east of minnieville. less dollar stores, less chinese food, more clothing stores, private hardware store, a local pharmacy store, donut and baskin robbins like lakeridge has. nice resturants so you don"t have to drive through the parkway crowd where all the tourists are.
Lauren Jost
5:57 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Great suggestions, Robin. Specifically what kind of restaurants do you have in mind? Chains or locally owned businesses?
robin rother
1:09 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2012
yes,i"m so excited that someone was finally able to start a project to make dale city more beautiful. i tried with meeting with mr. jenkins years ago and my suggestions
went nowhere. i would like to see a renovation with still a traditional colonlal look.
please keep me posted.
robin
Connie Moser
8:44 am on Sunday, March 18, 2012
@Robin Rother- Mr. Jenkins is supporting our organization. Come work with us! Let's see what we can do together.
@Lauren: I think both. The chains we have are McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Dairy Queen...middle of the road chains like Applebees would be a welcome addition. I visited a "Tony's" in Manassas at lunch time...old shopping center, but Tony's was amazing! Packed with people lined out into the parking lot. Great food, large portions, wide selection.
bill cummings
6:19 am on Monday, March 19, 2012
I'm sorry ,Ms.Moser.But you do realize we have an Applebees? Do you also realize that many good people work at many good local businesses in Dale City?
Connie Moser
6:33 am on Monday, March 19, 2012
Thanks for the clarification, Bill and Mary. I understand exactly what you mean. You are right on the money about property values and it takes cooperation between residents, police, and Neighborhood Services, plus support from the BOCS. We're aiming to get all that.
Some of us have been working with property code enforcement for years. We need better response from PCE and more people using that service to improve the condition of our neighborhoods.
VDOT has recently begun edging walks and cleaning gutters on the main roads. The improvement is immediate and obvious. We need that same look in neighborhoods. Gutters filled with trash, sand and leaves look like no one cares about their property. This also causes pollution in our creeks and streams and impedes the flow of water in heavy rains.
The number one thing we can do is get the outside storage of "junk" indoors, in a shed, a garage or the landfill. All of these things are concerns: Blighted Properties
Graffiti
Hoarding
Illegal Roadway Signs
Litter Control
Occupancy & Overcrowding
Outdoor Junk and Clutter
Property Code Enforcement
Tall Grass & Weeds
Vacant Homes
Vehicle Issues
We're going to do our best to teach people the importance of these issues and how to report them.
Connie Moser
6:34 am on Monday, March 19, 2012
Bill, yes, I realize we have an Applebee's...that's why I said," ...middle of the road chains LIKE Applebees."
bill cummings
7:25 am on Monday, March 19, 2012
but you said"would be".As if they weren't already here.There's a undercurrent of snobbery in the comments from the NAA."better stores,shops,and restaurants"is also what you said.Dale City has always been a working class "City"
robin rother
8:42 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
dear connie,
so sorry i have been away for awhile. i had forgotten about the alliance. my email is full. so i need to delete everything. i will look you up on facebook, i use that more now and texting. please friend me or ill try to do it.
thanks for still working for dale city
roberta rother
Connie Moser
9:05 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
Hi Robin...can't find you on FB (unless you live in India or Germany :-) Friend me!