Yesterday's issue of the Daily News Record included a letter to the editor from Dr. Bob Alotta commenting on the "local rock blasting" taking place at Urban Exchange -- or, as Dr. Alotta put it, "the new luxury condominiums on East Market Street."  (the site of the demolition is pictured below)



Dr. Alotta (intentionally or unintentionally) makes a few false implications:

1.  Dr. Alotta states that "Since work began on this project, the water department had to replace three sections of sewer line in the middle of Newman Avenue..." 

I guess, technically, this is true, if you consider the start of Urban Exchange when the developers started making plans for the site . . . and if you don't assume (as many did) that the sewer line replacements were a result of the Urban Exchange project. 

In fact --- the sewer line replacements were not and are not being made to allow for the development of the Urban Exchange project. 

(Source: Marilyn, at Harrisonburg Water & Sewer, 540-434-9959)

2.  Dr. Alotta goes on to say that "A gas line was also ruptured." and that "...the city shouldn't have to absorb the cost of repairs..." that the builder should. 

I am not aware of a gas line rupturing --- but as the Urban Exchange demolition and site work has begun, a gas line did need to be relocated that traversed the Urban Exchange property.  However, despite Dr. Alotta's assertion to the contrary, the developers did have to pay for this work --- not the city! 

(Source: The developers, who had to pay for the work)