AHCA Minutes February

Mr. Freddie Lutz, President of the 23rd Street Business Group and owner of Freddie's Beach Bar, together with Christine Pozti (Café Pizzaiolo), Steven and Sylvia Perry (Café Italia), Mike Puletti (Portofino's), Brian Montgomery and Erik Dasheid (Tortise & Hare), and Artie Dougherty (Sports Bar) discussed ideas for sprucing up Restaurant Row. Their ideas are:

• installing twinkle lights in the pocket park at 23rd and Eads
• painting the building facades on the south side of 23rd
• installing an arch across 23rd to highlight restaurant row
• adding architectural lighting
• encouraging businesses that complement the restaurants
• staging community events like farmers' markets, art shows, etc

The owners noted the many contributions from the BID, including new trash cans, improvements to the pocket park, and hanging flower baskets. The owners want to work with the neighborhood and the BID to make 23rd Street an even better place.

In the discussions that followed, attendees thanked the restaurant owners for their support to AHCA events like the BoHaHa. Suggestions from the audience included

• asking neighborhood children to design a mural
• approaching Mr. Pat Wegeng for County help with plantings in the pocket park
• working with businesses around the corner on Eads (the AHCA might help with clean up costs)

Send ideas and feedback to Mr. Lutz at freddie@freddiesbeachbar.com

Ted Saks reported the JM Zell company sent a letter to the AHCA stating their intent to make available some retail parking for the 23rd Street shops and restaurants as a public benefit when they seek County approval for the planned development at 22nd and Eads.

Bruce Cameron congratulated Van Newsom on the County's approval of a PEG grant for fencing around the play equipment at Eads Park.

Mr. Cameron reported on a neighborhood drive with Jay Fisette, Vice-Chairman of the Arlington County Board, on February 10. The purpose was to show him the size and diversity of our neighborhood, the lack of traffic calming features, missing sidewalk links, the condition of the community center, and the unscreened power substation. Mr. Cameron will provide additional information in the March newsletter.

All are urged to fill out the County's sports and recreation interest survey available on line.

There are some rats in the neighborhood as a result of the construction activities at the water plant and the east side of U.S. 1. It was suggested the County Health Department make a presentation at an upcoming AHCA meeting.

There is concern the proposed spray feature in Virginia Highlands Park will lead to disruptions by people from outside the neighborhood. Mr. Cameron urged all to participate in the planning meetings and to bring ideas for how we can address problems up front.

About 40 people attended. The January minutes were approved.