Seems very odd that a private VMFA Foundation, via its loose association with the state of Virginia, has seemingly free rein to expand wherever it wants within the Museum District - all without a publicly communicated master plan (which should have been revealed in a timely fashion BEFORE construction of the warehouse began) and without earnestly seeking input from the people who live in the area.

That most of us in the district feel we've been kept in the dark about the VMFA's future plans gives the impression that the VMFA foundation couldn't care less about how we, as its close neighbors, feel about what may very well have a significant impact on us and our neighborhood. Because without better communication, who knows what the impact will be?!?

The VMFA foundation needs to wake up and look beyond its narrow focus as just a steward to the museum and consider the wider impression it's making on its neighbors through its actions and seeming unwillingness to be more forthcoming.

Otherwise, it risks losing the goodwill of the surrounding community - no small thing for an organization that is ultimately dependent on this goodwill to grow and fulfill its mission.