quade 4 #1 June 19, 2003 http://www.freelancestar.com/News/FLS/2003/062003/06192003/1005535 Quote Association to land at Spotsylvania site Parachute association plans to land in Southpoint. By JOBY N. CUNNINGHAM Date published: 6/19/2003 Alexandria sky-diving group plans move The United States Parachute Association plans to land in Spotsylvania County soon, joining the growing list of tenants at the ever-changing Southpoint development. The 34,000-member association, which currently is located in the heart of Alexandria on busy Duke Street, found the Fredericksburg area a refreshing respite from the constant construction, traffic and skyrocketing real-estate costs in Northern Virginia, said Chris Needels, executive director. "If you've been to Alexandria lately, you'll understand," Needels said by phone recently. "It's unbearable." And with half of its staff being skydivers themselves, working closer to drop zones in Orange and Louisa doesn't hurt, either. "That will make those of us who like to skydive happier," he said. The association paid $300,000 for a little over an acre in the development off U.S. 1, according to court papers. The lot is located next to Liberty Lanes, a bowling alley and restaurant that opened in Southpoint recently. Needels said his group will decide this fall when to begin construction. They plan to build a 9,000-square-foot office, he said, which would hold 16 to 24 employees. In the future, the association may build a museum there for skydiving enthusiasts. But that, Needels said, is a "dream in a pipeline." The move won't be the first for the group, which was founded in Long Island, N.Y., in 1946. It later moved to California before settling in Washington. But being in the nation's capital proved costly, and the association sought a less expensive location in Virginia. But costs there have gotten out of hand, too, Needels said. So they began looking about two years ago for a new home. They considered several sites along Interstate 95 before settling on Southpoint. Nearby hotels, restaurants and historic sites made the area appealing to the association, which draws members to meetings yearly. "They want a lovely place to go [while visiting]," Needels said. "We saw Southpoint and said, 'This is where we want to be.'" Steve Jones, a spokesman for Vakos--Southpoint's developer--declined to comment on USPA's plans until after the association's press conference, scheduled for Monday. Gary Partridge, Spotsylvania County's economic development manager, said his office has been working to lure national associations. "There are thousands of them located in Northern Virginia," he said. He said such groups are attractive because of the economic spinoff they create. People come to visit a meeting, but spend money here at hotels, restaurants, sites and shops. And in the day of electronic communication, organizations are realizing they can be anywhere, he said. "They don't have to have themselves firmly planted on Capitol Hill," Partridge said. "We're thrilled to death to have them." Date published: 6/19/2003 quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clownburner 0 #2 June 19, 2003 Maybe it's just me, but 9,000 square feet on a nearly an acre to support '16 to 24 employees' seems, well, a little posh to me. My company has 9 employees in 1700 square feet of office space and that includes lab space and several large offices. Are they putting in an aerospace lab, or a wind tunnel or something?7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez "I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #3 June 19, 2003 Well, I didn't write the article I just posted it, but let's see . . . SQRT(9000)=94.8 and change on a side . . . 9000/24=375 . . . SQRT(375)=19.36 on a side . . . yeah, that's maybe a little roomy especially compared to my 6x10 foot cubical (of course, my Company is notoriously stingy with office space) or even compared to the 188.8^2 per employee of your office, but you also have to remember that the 9000^2ft probably has conference rooms and storage for publications and USPA store crap in it.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnischalke 0 #4 June 20, 2003 He said Orange. mike Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills--You know, like nunchuk skills, bow-hunting skills, computer-hacking skills. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EricTheRed 0 #5 June 20, 2003 Maybe they need the room to packillegible usually Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
