Projects & Opportunities

[ CREATION OF THIS PAGE IS STILL IN PROGRESS ]

This page provides a summary of the various neighborhood and County projects the civic association is working on. These will be updated after relevant meetings, etc. If you have questions about an item, contact the person identified as the contact. There is almost always a need for a helping hand, so if there are projects you think you could help with, please let us know! Activities with an urgent need for assistance are highlighted

---

Civic Association Outreach & Events

AHCA Newsletter

The AHCA newsletter goes out every month in print form to every area household that we can deliver to, and electronically to everyone else.

Contact: newsletter@aurorahighlands.org

We could really use someone who would like to be the Newsletter Editor to coordinate getting all the content from people, compiling the newsletter, and sending it to print.

There are also several open newsletter delivery routes for anyone that would like to take a short walk once a month.

Neighborhood Conservation

The Neighborhood Conservation program provides a mechanism to request various improvements from the County.

We currently have two small sidewalk improvements in the queue, and one on the 900 block of 21st St has finally come up. See the AHCA NC status page for details.

Contact: David Litman, Colleen Ference-Burke

---

Livability 22202

Livability22202 is a group effort of the Aurora Highlands, Arlington Ridge, and Crystal City Civic Associations to take a holistic view of our area and guide development and planning in ways that improve overall livability.

Route 1 Working Group

Description and link to site page(s)…

Contact: Darren Buck

Housing Working Group

Description and link to site page(s)…

Contact: Ben D’Avanzo

Schools Working Group

Description and link to site page(s)…

Contact:

Open Space Working Group

Description and link to site page(s)…

Contact: Natasha Atkins

Highlands Urban Garden

Description and link to site page(s)…

Contact: Gayla Behrens

---

Site Plan Reviews & Amendments

The Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC) is part of the County’s Planning Commission tasked with reviewing major new developments that are part of Site Plans (in our area, that is essentially all of Pentagon City and Crystal City). This typically includes 3-4 meetings where the architecture, relation to the neighborhood, impact on transportation, parks, etc are evaluated. They are open to the public for comment, but AHCA has an official seat at the table with County commissioners, staff, and other stakeholders.

Potomac Yard Land Bay C – East

This project covers two mixed-use buildings in the Potomac Yard Land Bay-C between 29th and 33rd Street S.

While this site is not directly located within the Aurora Highlands neighborhood, there are several aspects of this project that are notable for our broader community to track – environmental sustainability, open space and tree canopy, bike lanes, pedestrian experience, affordable housing and density. Find out more on the progress and AHCA updates here.

Contact: Brandon Mansur

2001 S. Clark / 2001 S. Bell – Crystal Plaza 1

Description and link to site page(s)…

Contact: Ben D’Avanzo

PenPlace (Coming soon)

Description and link to site page(s)…

Contact:

---

County Initiatives

Pentagon City Planning Study

Description and link to site page(s)…

Contact: Ben D’Avanzo (primary), Scott Miles, Michael Dowell

Crystal City Building Heights Study

The Crystal City Building Heights Study was requested by JBGS and supported by CCCA and AHCA with the specific conditions that it apply only in areas where heights are 200′ or higher to achieve very specific goals.

The study is just getting started, with the first LPRC meeting February 24, 2021. Progress and updates from AHCA are provided here.

Contact: Ben D’Avanzo

Crystal City Bike Network

Last March, in response to community and Advisory Committee feedback, the County Board directed the County Manager to develop a plan for improving the bicycle network in Crystal City by December 31, 2024.

As of March 2021, the current plan is not looking good. Find out more on the progress and AHCA updates here.

Contact:

---