Lighthouse: A structure usually with a tower to serve as an aid, warning the mariner of hazards, establishing his position, and guiding him to his destination. Powerful lights are becoming superfluous, especially for landfall, but there has been a significant increase in minor lights and lighted buoys, which are still necessary to guide the navigator through busy and often tortuous coastal waters and harbor approaches. Among mariners there is still a natural preference for the reassurance of visual navigation, and lighted marks also have the advantages of simplicity, reliability, and low cost. In addition, they can be used by vessels with no special equipment on board, providing the ultimate backup against the failure of more sophisticated systems.

GSA’s Center of Hope in Ashburn was designed for GSA by architect Clint Good, with construction expertise of Toll Brothers and oversight by HomeAid Northern Virginia. This facility will serve as a “community lighthouse” empowering us to initiate new thinking and training processes that equip needy people with the skills to develop self-sufficiency, resolve family life problems, work effectively with referral programs and successfully transition back into the mainstream workforce. Concurrently we provide affluent families, both adults and their children with the opportunity to participate in programs that assist those less fortunate with their most basic needs in an effort to foster hope and goodwill among our diverse and fast growing community.

Posted by Mark_Gunderman (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Center of Hopelessness for Ashburn.

There is no change of attitude I guarantee you. MARK MY WORDS. There will be an increase in crime and other serious problems in Ashburn because of this place.
Currently, we do not have a homeless problem in Ashburn. After July 15 we will. For the first child that is molested, woman that is raped, individual who is assaulted, and business that is robbed, I hold the individuals who have perpetrated this crime- yes crime- against the residents of Ashburn responsible. You are very concerned about the homeless, what about the rest of us? You have your agenda and no one else matters obviously. The majority of the homeless population is comprised of addicts of one sort of another, i.e. alcohol and drugs and/or individuals with serious mental illness, and a large percentage have criminal records. We also understand that individuals who have just been released from jails and prisons will be utilizing this center, as well as refugees coming in from the airport, and illegals from all backgrounds and countries. How reassuring.
I also hold our county officials responsible for allowing this to occur. Congratulations on the ruination of a community.

Posted by BancroftMA (anonymous) on July 8, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am continually disappointed by the residents of ashburn, who are so clearly blessed and fortunate in their lives, yet cannot find it in their hearts to have compassion for those in a tougher situation in life. I know a lot of people move to the suburbs so that they can put themselves in an ivory tower, protected from any and all people, but come on!

I think this center is a great idea, and I think Loudoun needs to do a lot more to help those who are struggling in the county, rather than pretend that they don't exist.

Posted by gurn (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

HOW DARE YOU ASSERT THE RESIDENTS OF ASHBURN ARE HEARTLESS!!!!! We are not heartless- neither stupid, and your attempt to distract and direct us away from the real issue here is not going to work.

If you care to sacrifice the safety and well being of your family that is your decision. I call you irresponsible for doing so however, and make it clear that it is NOT mine.

Futhermore, if you are really concerned about helping the homeless, why would you support placing such a center in an area where it is not needed, Ashburn does not have a homeless problem, and place it where it is- where a homeless problem already exists, and where individuals in this situation can easily access it.

I am disappointed in you and all those like you who have their heads in the sand. You will be the ones winning and complaining in the end. I hope you will not be one of those who are assaulted, mugged or raped or have your children molested. For no matter that most homeless individuals would not do these things there is that element who will. And, it is simply a matter of time if this center is allowed to open.

Posted by BancroftMA (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You can want to help the less fortunate and still not want them in your backyard. I am sure that most residents of ANYWHERE are happy to donate funds and/or items to charitable organizations and yet not want the target of the charity to move into a building in their neighborhood.

The perception of a community center such as this is that there will be molesting, raping, mugging, robbery, etc. because "those people" will be coming to the center. Whether that ends up being true or not, the perception is going to be there and this WILL adversely affect the property values of the residents in that community.
At the point at which you are encroaching on an affluent individual's ability to remain affluent through (what is left of) the equity in their home AND bringing potentially undesirable types directly into their neighborhood, then I can assure you that most ANYONE would become less of a compassionate individual to the cause.
Can someone explain to me exactly what is wrong with wanting to live in a community that is virtually free of things like crime, bars on the windows, car alarms, and streetlights that turn night into day?
I've lived in these neighborhoods on both coasts, I've worked hard to move up in socio-economic circles, and I was planning on moving into a community like the one near the community center in Ashburn (from Sterling) to get away from the type of place that Sterling has become. But as a potential home-buyer, I'm asking myself why I should buy in the neighborhood that could potentially be a few years away from becoming the new Sterling Park?
Everyone always tries to shame safe communities like Ashburn into accepting these types of community-outreach centers, but why do they have to be dropped in the middle of one of the areas LEAST affected by things like poverty and homelessness? And really, when was the last time a center like this was opened in a neighborhood where crime *didn't* go up, and property values *didn't* plummet?

I give this center until the first crime is reported and blamed on them. After that, I assure you things will become hostile to the point where it will get shut down, otherwise, you might as well change the name to Ashburn Park.

Posted by IamApatriot (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BancroftMA,
Just an FYI...before you pass judgement on the homeless who may use the center, you know the child molesters and sexual predators that you are SURE will arrive in Ashburn, you should be aware that there are currently 18 sexual predators LIVING in Ashburn. Check the website at http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor..., one of them may already be LIVING in your neighborhood.

Posted by msm6 (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh dear, it's started already! I better move before it's too late!

http://www.nbc4.com/news/16818983/detail...

Posted by teden (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How does 18 registered sex offenders in Ashburn make it any more or less probable that more (convicted and unconvicted) will not arrive at the center? I don't think anyone can claim that homeless=criminal 100% of the time, but if you are the one who is the victim of a terrible crime caused by one of these individuals coming into your neighborhood, do you care if the percentage of homeless=criminal is 1%?

If we're gonna talk "numbers" then let me throw this out there...

All distances according to mapquest, from the offender's place of work/home (whichever is in Ashburn) to the location of the new center:

#1, home, 4.9 miles away.
#2, home, 4.9 miles away. (interestingly enough, lives .2 miles from #1)
#3, home = work, 6.4 miles away.
#4, work, 4.3 miles away.
#5, work, 4.9 miles away.
#6, home-unemployed, 4.5 miles away.
#7, location unknown, arrest warrant issued, last mailing address is a P.O. Box in Ashburn.
#8, home = work, 2.2 miles away.
#9, home, 2.3 miles away.
#10, home, 1 mile.
#11, home-unemployed, 1.5 miles away.
#12, work, however employer's website states their address is in Leesburg, not Ashburn, so perhaps they moved.
#13, home, 2.4 miles away.
#14, work, 4.8 miles away.
#15, home-unemployed, 7.0 miles away.
#16, home, 1.5 miles away.
#17, home (supposedly, but I can't find a street named "PIEDMONT HUNT TERRACE" anywhere in Virginia). An email has been sent to the st. police about this.
#18, work, 4.7 miles away.

Unlawful use of the information for purposes of intimidation or harassing another is prohibited and willful violation shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

So what does this tell us? Well, it tells us that at least two people who comment here know how to use the Internet.
it also tells us what we already knew, which is that bad people are everywhere, but that still doesn't make it ok to invite them into your neighborhood. In fact, according to the State Police, no convicted sex offender lives or works in any of the neighborhoods adjoining the center. So these people are not "already living in your neighborhood" if you adjacent to the center's location.

Random fact: offender #16 and #11 live next door to each other.

Posted by IamApatriot (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BancroftMA, what happened to those big plans about a lawsuit? I heard it fizzled out due to lack of community support. When it really got down to it no body wanted to put their money where their mouth was.
.
BTW, you better jump on the County to open up the Leesburg Day Center or you might see a lot more activity at the Ashburn facility.

Posted by maravetz (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

patriot if you had thought before you ran this post try pEItmont hunt terrace map quest will take you right to it also try Loudoun property appraiser they will also tell you all about this property.a little common sense will do wonders!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by onetup (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ops my mistake its PEI"D"MONT

Posted by onetup (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess a little proof reading would help also!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry about the mistake!!!!!!

Posted by onetup (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)