December 2019 Newsletter

[View the printed-format newsletter here]

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

Please join us for our Holiday Celebration

Wednesday December 11

6:30 – 9:00 PM

The Acadia

575 12th Rd S

19th Floor Sky Lounge

Amazon got you thinking about job opportunities, rents, traffic?

The Aurora Highlands Civic Association represents the neighborhood (including you!) in County discussions and works to make our area a great place to live.

Come learn about the Livability Action Plan for National Landing being developed by our three area civic associations. Meet your neighbors. Grab drinks or a bite to eat at this zero-waste event. Get a ride home on Flare’s electric shuttle.

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Community Updates & Resources

Express your holiday cheer and light up the neighborhood

Enter your house in the 22202 Holiday Lights contest and you may win prizes! Entry and voting at http://22202HolidayLights.com.

More Pentagon Centre construction starting soon

Kimco is preparing to kick off the next phase of development at Pentagon Centre which includes a multifamily building located at the corner of Hayes and 15th streets where the existing surface parking is. The first part of construction “in early 2020” will include utility site work along the street. Kimco will be at the Jan. 8 meeting to share details and answer questions.

Crystal House plans pass Planning Commission

The Planning Commission voted to support the planned redevelopment of the Crystal House block. This will add six new buildings to the block, with 738 new housing units. Three of the buildings would be two-story townhouse-style buildings along Fern St. Under a new agreement with the County, the owner will transfer the parking lot at the corner of Eads and 22nd St. to the County for an affordable housing project, in lieu of including affordable units within the other buildings. The development will also include two parks, one on the corner of Fern & 22nd St, and the other at the site entrance along S. Eads. New retail, such as a coffee house, is also anticipated at the corner of Eads & 18th. Protected bike lines and improved sidewalks will be additional benefits. More than 100 mature trees will be removed from the site, though the developer does plan extensive replanting. The plan now goes to the County Board, which is likely to approve.

Met Park 6/7/8 (HQ2) plans pass Planning Commission

The Commission voted to support the Met Park 6/7/8 (HQ2) development. Amazon has committed $20m to affordable housing, $14m for redesign of Met Park, and protected bike lanes along 15th & Eads among other benefits. Our civic associations have pushed for more to mitigate impacts in line with the Livability 22202 initiative and have been disappointed that a more holistic plan is not being demanded by the County. The plan now goes to the County Board, which is likely to approve it.

Hospital affiliated urgent care coming

Virginia Hospital Center is moving their urgent care to its new location in our neighborhood at 764 23rd St! The location is scheduled to open the first week of January and will offer immediate care from 8am to 8pm every day (except Thanksgiving and Christmas). Walk-ins are welcome. In addition to the immediate care services, primary care and obstetric services will also be provided by the end of the first quarter.

Time for free trees is amost up!

The deadline for applying for beautiful free trees through the county Tree Canopy Fund is December 20! For details see https://bit.ly/388YJPt. Contact volunteer Kathy Landis at Landis59@gmail.com for assistance with tree selection and placement

2020 Officers

Elected at the November meeting: Pres: Scott Miles; 1st VP: Miriam Gennari; 2nd VP: Heather Jensen; Rec. Sec.: Calvin Wiley; Treasurer: Ben Davis; Corrsp. Sec.: Natasha Atkins. Thank you to outgoing officers Heather Spence and Jane Green and newsletter manager Raeni Sroufe for their service to the community!

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Category: Uncategorized