September 2023 Newsletter

[ 0 ] September 7, 2023 |

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September 2023 NEWSLETTER

 

Welcome to the September newsletter online version!

If you prefer, you can view the September PDF print version here. Links are live!

Monthly Meeting Reminder
Wednesday, September 13, 7-9pm

** VIRTUAL EVENT **

**AGENDA**

7:00 pm – Call to order and approve June meeting minutes

7:10 pm – Discussion: Livability22202 Udpate and AHCA priorities

8:10 pm – County requests for Comment –

8:20 pm – Committee Reports –

8:30 pm – Other Business / New Business

9:00 pm – Adjourn

The meeting will be virtual only. Please REGISTER NOW to receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting and the option to add a reminder to your calendar.

If you are unable to attend, but have questions you’d like raised for any agenda items, please email them to officers@aurorahighlands.org and we’ll do our best to address them during the meeting.

Note from the President

Dear Neighbors,

Welcome back. I hope you had a great summer, and that you survived the heat wave of 2023. Please join us on Wednesday night for our regular AHCA meeting, virtual via Zoom. In addition to regular business, our main topic of the evening will be a discussion of our neighborhood priorities for our quality of life going forward.

Back in the fall of 2019, AHCA joined with our fellow 22202 civic associations, Arlington Ridge and Crystal City to produce the Livability 22202 report for the County (link: https://livability22202.org). This comprehensive report became a blueprint for our priorities into the future.

Now that a large batch of development projects are coming to a close, the County has asked the community to update our priorities going forward. I recently joined with the leadership of the other two civic associations to discuss where we stand with the 2019 priorities, what has been accomplished, and what should be our priorities going forward. The slides that guided that discussion are posted on our web site here.

Our shared vision for the future of our neighborhood will be on the agenda at our next meeting on September 13. What do you think should be our priorities for the future? Are the priorities from 2019 still valid or do they need reshaping due to the many changes in the neighborhood. I hope you can join the conversation, but if you cannot, please be sure to let me know your thoughts (by email at President@AuroraHighlands.org).

There also will be an open meeting of the residents of all three civic associations on September 25 at 7 p.m[POSTPONED: check back here for rescheduled date and location]. at Amazon at Met Park. The final draft will then be reviewed by the Crystal and Pentagon Cities Council on October 3 and then presented to the County.

As a part of the Livability 22202 framework, there are several work groups looking at topics such as Route 1, Open Space, Housing Affordability, Crystal City Underground, Schools, and Performing Arts Spaces. I hope you join and help out with the workgroup(s) that meet your interests. It’s a good way to ensure that your voice is heard for the Arlington that you want to see in the future.

-Cory Giacobbe, President, AHCA

Calendar

See aurorahighlands.org/events/

Scout Troop Members Tag-Team to Finish the 9/11 Memorial at Fire Station – Ceremony This Saturday, September 9 at 11:30

In August 2020, Scout Megan Mazel started a 9/11 memorial around a World Trade Center steel beam next to our Fire Station, as part of her Eagle Scout qualifications. But she did not have sufficient time to complete her project.  Now, Daniel Bode, a Wakefield High School student and scout with Troop 164, is adding to her vision. According to this ARLNow story, Bode has secured approval to add flower beds and benches around the steel beam “to further enhance the experience” of the memorial. Thanks to Daniel’s leadership, the site is ready for a commemoration ceremony by military personnel on September 9.

9/11 Memorial 5K This Saturday, September 9

21st Annual Arl. Police, Fire, Sheriff and ECC 9/11 Memorial 5K: Register for the Arlington Police, Fire, Sheriff and ECC 9/11 Memorial 5K, scheduled for Saturday, September 9 at 6 pm. The race starts and ends at the Double Tree Hotel on Army Navy Drive. The route goes all around the Pentagon: up Army Navy to Joyce, under 395, up Washington Blvd. and then down 110 back to the Double Tree. Visit the webpage https://www.arlington911race.us/ to register and to learn more. Watch for local street closures. The route map is here: https://www.arlington911race.us/course-map

September 11 Remembrance

Join County staff in the Bozman Plaza as we remember the events that took place on the tragic day, 22 years ago on September 11, 2001. You can join the event in person or via live stream. Learn more here.

Aurora Hills Community Center Events for Seniors

55+ Activities – Fall Registration is open for 55+ programs, events and classes!

The Fall Activity Guide is here. There are great programs for fitness, art, music, dance, trips, hikes, parties and more! View activities and register! Or register by phone by calling 703-228-4747, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Newsletters & Social Media

We have heard from residents that they really enjoy having a print newsletter. While we’ll do our best to continue it, that will depend on continued support from advertisers and volunteers to distribute it. Sign up for newsletters by email at aurorahighlands.org/join-ahca and follow us at @AuroraHighlands on Twitter, Facebook, or Insta to stay connected no matter what.

The 4D-A group list-serve is an alternative to Nextdoor for hyper-local information and to post queries to your neighbors: To subscribe, send a message to :

4DA-22202+subscribe@groups.io

for information on the group and how to join and post, visit:

https://groups.io/g/4D-A22202

Aurora Highlands Civic Association (AHCA) Dues for Calendar Year 2023

Please show your support for AHCA and the community by paying the annual dues for 2023. The cost is $20 per household and is used to support the monthly newsletter, community events, and other neighborhood building activities, and additionally, is required to be able to vote on referendums at meetings. There are two ways to pay dues, either mail a check to AHCA, P.O. Box 25201, Arlington, VA 22202, or go to www.aurorahighlands.org and click the “Donate” button to pay by PayPal.

** Paying by check saves the AHCA the PayPal transaction fee.

AHCA September Meeting Topic:

Livability22202 Reboot

Livability22202 is a coalition of the 3 civic associations of 22202 – Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands, and Crystal City. The three associations all face common pressures and impacts from rapid commercial and residential development. Community leaders, activists, and interested citizens came together in 2018 to tackle the challenges facing our area with holistic strategies based on shared themes to create a better, more livable community. Through collaborative hard work, we created working groups, offered workshops and public meetings, wrote reports, and drafted the Livability22202 Action Plan and Framework. The Livability Framework has been cited and its recommendations incorporated into guidelines for various County projects, such as the Pentagon City Sector Plan, and state government projects, such as the VDOT Route 1 Multimodal Study. Key recommendations such as the “green ribbons” are now being incorporated into new developments such as the RiverHouse Neighborhood.

At the June 20 meeting of the Crystal and Pentagon Cities Council (CPCC, formerly the CCCRC), County staff asked the Council to prepare a list of the highest priority large public amenity projects for our community. The Council agreed that the way to do that was to start with the Livability Framework and update it for current priorities. A small group of Livability22202 leaders met recently to evaluate the current Framework and draft new recommendations through a collaborative process with the civic associations during September. We will discuss the update at the September 13 AHCA meeting and also at a larger community meeting on September 25 at 7:00 p.m. [POSTPONED: check back here for rescheduled date and location]at the Amazon Community Room at Met Park. We hope you can join us.

Rebooting the Livability22202 plans gives us an opportunity to invite all community members old and new to let their voices be heard. Please consider volunteering for working groups of interest to you and participate in the updates. Please see the President’s column for more on the reboot.

Neighborhood News

Farmers Market at Metropolitan Park Continues on Saturdays ‘til November 18

Join EatLoco from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Saturday through November 18 at Met Park for an exciting lineup of vendors and entertainment. Location: 1330 S Fair Street

Events in National Landing

Between BID events, seasonal celebrations, and other neighborhood festivities, there’s always something to do in National Landing.

Discover National Landing activities such as fitness, art, concerts, theater, movies, comedy, karaoke and more. To view all events, go to:

https://nationallanding.org/events/calendar

County News

Engage Arlington: Visit this site frequently for new opportunities to give the County feedback!

Don’t Forget to VOTE this Fall!

The results of the General Election on November 7 will be critical to the future direction of Arlington County and Virginia. Make sure you VOTE to make your voice heard! Everything that you need to know to vote successfully in Arlington is linked through the County Voting website.

Check your registration – or register to vote – through this link. Registration closes 21 days before the General Election. Last day to register to vote or update existing registration is October 16. Note Same Day Registration starts on October 17!

Where, How, and When to Vote – Lots of Options!

Vote early by mail: You may request a ballot to vote by mail now through October 27.

Vote early in person starting September 22 in the Bozman Center. We do not have an early voting site in 22202; the closest early voting site to 22202 is the Walter Reed Community Center, which offers early voting starting October 24, with limited hours and days.

Vote in person on Election Day, November 7, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Know where you vote, what you need, and who’s on the ballot before you go!

Who’s on your ballot? Go to this page and select the sample ballot that matches your Virginia Senate and House Congressional Districts. All Virginia Senate and House seats are up for election this year. We are also selecting TWO new County Board members. Note that you may write-in legitimate names for all positions on our ballot. To learn more about the County Board candidates, try searching for their websites or attending candidate forums.

Goodbye Sanitary District Tax, Hello Stormwater Utility Fee

Beginning in 2024, the County will replace the sanitary district tax with a Stormwater Utility fee. Unlike a tax, which is based on a property’s assessed value, a household’s fee is based on the amount of impervious area on a property (hard surfaces like roofs and driveways that don’t let rain runoff soak into the ground).The Stormwater Utility manages rainwater runoff to keep rain from standing in yards and on roadways. You can start taking action now to reduce stormwater runoff and offset your bill. Learn more about the utility fee and ways to receive credit at the Stormwater Utility Fee page. See this ARLNow story too.

To read our more detailed June article on this topic, please visit our our website: https://aurorahighlands.org/news/june-2023-newsletter/

Arlington Public Library Events in September

An escape room in Shirlington; Collage Club at Central; Latin dance at Courthouse; a conversation with Javier Zamora, author of “Solito” at Central; Arlington Reads Author Event with Art Spiegelman, author of “Maus”; Writer’s Cafe at Aurora Hills; ‘Zine workshop with graphic novelist Sierra Barnes at Columbia Pike! View these and many more exciting and interesting events at all branches of our libraries at Arlington Public Library – Upcoming Events.

Parks and Rec Events in September for all ages

There really is an astounding number and variety of events and activities in Arlington: art, athletics, movies, music, nature, book clubs, cooking, hiking. To see the variety and volume, visit the Parks and Rec calendar for September here:

https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Parks-Events

Here is a link to the main Parks and Rec page with programs for all ages:

https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Programs

Bozman Suspended Public Art Project – Complete Feedback Form and Map through September 30

The County invites you to share the route you take to your favorite place in Arlington, to help inform the suspended public art project for the lobby at the Bozman Government Center. Complete the form on the bottom of the project page, draw your route on the County map, and explain why this route is your favorite.

Report a Problem Adds new Features:

The County recently added a new Feature in Report-a-Problem: Suggest a Scooter Corral. As you’re walking and riding around the neighborhood, look out for spaces on the street, usually close to the corner, that might make a good location for a County scooter corral. Open Report a Problem, sign in, put in the location (easiest by putting a pin on the map), select Bike and Scooter Issues, then Suggest a Corral, and follow instructions as you submit.

Did you also know you can report construction issues too? After marking the location on the map, select Blocked Sidewalk, Street, or Bike Lane and complete and submit the form. You can also report broken traffic signals, potholes, damaged sidewalks, street lights out, damaged traffic signs, and lots of other things! Try it.

Transportation and Public Projects

Tactical Speed Humps will be added to some School Zones Pilot (Including Gunston) – Fall 2023

This initiative reintroduces speed humps via a limited pilot focused on reducing speeds in school slow zones where data shows the introduction of 20mph speed limits has not lowered speeds. The pilot will use tactical speed humps because they are easy to both install and remove quickly if needed. They are cost effective, tested for durability, and made from 100% recycled material. Locations are focused on Staff collected speed data on segments that were viable candidates for speed humps within the Phase 1 school slow zones and selected the three locations with the highest speeds for the pilot:

  • Cardinal Elementary School: 19th St N btw. N Madison St & N Lexington St
  • Hoffman Boston Elementary School: S Queen St btw. 12th St S and 13th Rd S
  • Gunston Middle School: S Lang St between Arlington Ridge Rd and 28th St S

View the Vision Zero Pilot Projects page to learn more.

Route 1 – VDOT Rejects Livability22202 Recommendations (again!)

VDOT held their 4th Public Information Meeting (PIM 4) for the Route 1 project on May 15. PIM 4 meeting recording and slides are available through the project website. In response to the PIM 4 meeting presentations, the Livability22202 civic associations sent a joint letter to VDOT on June 15, based upon the recommendations of the Livability22202 Route 1 Working Group. VDOT responded in writing, and rejected all of the recommendations in the Livability22202 letter. Meanwhile, we are still waiting for VDOT to release their draft report on Phase 2 of the Route 1 Multimodal Improvements Study, now overdue. Stay tuned.

Arlington National Cemetery Southern Expansion – Continuing Closure of Columbia Pike; Narrow, Dangerous, and Awkward Detours on Joyce; and Ever-Changing Challenges for Drivers, Cyclists, and Pedestrians

Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) is expanding its space and number of burial sites through its Southern Expansion (ANC SE) and the FHWA Defense Access Roads (DAR). DAR and the County are working together to relocate and realign the section of Columbia Pike next to the ANC, as well as make modifications to Joyce and existing connections to Washington Boulevard from Columbia Pike. If you walk or bike on the current Joyce detour on the west side of Joyce, you can see the new intersection of Joyce and Columbia Pike taking shape, including beginnings of a new sidewalk and new shared use path. A rough, dark, poorly marked, and curvy Southgate Road and pedestrian path are the current detours for the closed sections of Columbia Pike. Construction on South Parcel (for the new Operations Complex and maintenance bays) began in May 2023; it is expected to be completed in June 2026. Construction at the cemetery is expected to begin in the summer of 2025 and be completed in the winter of 2027. Meanwhile, expect at least two more years of road construction, disruption, and detours in our area. The DAR project website is here. Arlington has both an ANC SE site and a Columbia Pike multimodal improvements site, which link to the DAR plans as well. Note that the section of Columbia Pike by the ANC is Segment A.

9/11 Pentagon Memorial Visitor Education Center Planning

According to this August 4, 2023 ANC letter, the Pentagon Memorial Fund (PMF), with Army National Military Cemeteries (ANMC) as the lead federal agency, is proposing the construction of a Visitor’s Education Center (VEC) on Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) property for the existing 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. While a memorial exists that honors the 184 lives that were lost as a result of the attack on the Pentagon, there is no VEC that provides an understanding of the events of that day, the lives lost, and the historic significance of the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Site. The proposed VEC would provide details of the 184 individuals who lost their lives on 9/11, interpretive displays discussing the symbolism of the memorial design, permanent restrooms, shelter for visitors, a café, bookstore, and conference space. 

Because the proposed VEC would be sited on a parcel of approximately 3.71 acres within the ANC Southern Expansion (ANC SE – see prior story) and within the network of realigned streets (Columbia Pike, Joyce Street, Washington Boulevard) with the ANC SE, VEC planning has been delayed in part due to challenges and delays with realigning impacted streets.  Note the map attached to the August 4 letter which shows the proposed location for the VEC.   As the ANC SE and its street realignments progresses, it’s time to restart planning for the VEC, assuming sufficient funding can be found.  One of the first steps was a public meeting on Wednesday, September 6, from 5:30-7:30 PM.; Although the meeting’s focus was how the proposed VEC project could impact the many historical sites in its vicinity, AHCA attendees were able to raise other issues, including AHCA being added to their list of consulting groups and concerns about the project’s potential impact on parking, tour bus and shuttle parking and routes, traffic congestion, construction challenges, and bike-ped access.  This ARLNow story is good background:  https://www.arlnow.com/2023/09/01/9-11-pentagon-memorial-visitor-center-plans-take-a-small-step-forward/

Three big local projects issue draft Environmental Assessments – and Two of them still want YOUR comments!

DCA Roadway Network Improvements and Associated Development Draft Environmental Assessment: Comment period CLOSED!

After a several year Covid-induced pause and with limited outreach, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) completed its draft Environmental Assessment for DCA roadway network improvements and new buildings and issued a call for public comments, due August 28.  Despite a short deadline, the three 22202 civic associations, SUSMO, WABA, and many private citizens sent strong critiques of MWAA’s plans and encouraged pausing the project until MWAA evaluates additional alternatives to their outmoded car-centric proposals and need for huge new amounts of parking and office space. The MWAA plan did not consider the rich and convenient existing and planned local and regional transit and commuting trains, the availability of so much vacant space in Crystal City available for office space and parking, or the impact of the future CC2DCA bridge (see next story), which will make walking and biking between DCA and Crystal City short and pleasant.  The MWAA plans will induce more demand for driving to DCA, thus increasing traffic on our local roads and highways, which already have too much traffic and gridlock.  Stay tuned for next steps!

Crystal City to Reagan National Airport Multimodal Connection (CC2DCA): Draft Environmental Assessment ready for public engagement September 19 and comments by October 3!

CC2DCA, first suggested by the Crystal City BID, is now a joint project of the County and VDOT that will provide a bike-ped bridge between Crystal City and DCA, with platforms and access to the DCA Metro stop and a new Crystal City VRE station.  Through the Long Bridge project (see story in this issue), the number of railroad tracks will increase from two to four – providing more space for both freight and commuter trains.  And the new VRE station will be able to accommodate Amtrak and MARC trains as well as their own VRE trains.  Note that the CC2DCA EA offers a range of potential connecting points to DCA, based upon their ongoing  collaborative discussions with MWAA. On Tuesday, September 19, at the Aurora Highlands Community Center, 735 18th St South, Arlington County staff will be hosting a public hearing to present the findings of the EA and receive comments. The hearing will be held in an open house format, with no formal presentation scheduled. You may arrive at any time between 5 and 7 PM to review the EA and provide your input.  Please send additional comments by Tuesday, October 3 – by mail, by email, or through the comment form on the project website (see the Provide your input section).

Pentagon Reservation Master Plan Update – Environmental Assessment (EA): Comments due September 15

Chris Slatt of SUSMO has kindly posted a link to the massive first volume of the draft Environmental Assessment for the Pentagon Reservation Master Plan Update. Please email your written comments on the EA to: joseph.d.eichenlaub.civ@mail.mil.  Deadline is September 15.

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) has prepared this Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Environmental and Sustainability Branch of WHS/Facilities Services Directorate has prepared this EA to evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the implementation of the 2023 Pentagon Reservation Master Plan Update (the Proposed Action) or the No-Action Alternative (from Introduction, p. 1-1).

The Pentagon Reservation and our AHCA Neighborhood – some current transportation challenges:  Pentagon workers commuting by Single Occupied Vehicles (SOV) increase traffic on our local roads and highways; helicopters flying low overhead while heading to Pentagon disturb our peace and quiet; Poor trail conditions on west side of reservation create tripping hazards; Huge impervious parking lots increase the heat island effect, create stormwater management challenges, waste space that could be used for other purposes, and create barriers to travel on foot, by bike, or by car;  The bike-ped routes on the east side of the Pentagon Reservation are not continuous currently (but Boundary Channel Drive plan will help); Trail crossings on the west side are unsafe. The current reservation  lacks significant green space.

What the Master Plan Update might address:

Updating the 2015 Transportation Management Plan:  In 2015, WHS initiated the Transportation Management Plan (TMP) for the Pentagon site in 2015, with two major goals: 1) to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicle trips in the workday commute to 28 percent or less by 2034; and 2) to facilitate employee multimodal transportation by enhancing the existing sustainable transportation infrastructure and programs.  The 2023 Update aims to further these goals improving the overall efficiency and operations of the vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle circulation systems.  Note discussion of Transportation issues for the Pentagon (Section 3.8.1, pp. 3-31 – 3-38). Section 4.8.1 covers the impact of proposed actions on Pentagon transportation (p.4-24 – 2-27): traffic, parking, bike-ped conditions, air traffic!  Finally, note the Cumulative Effects Analysis for transportation (Section 5.1 pp. 5-3 – 5-4).

Short-Term and Long-Term Proposed Projects:   See Table 2-1. Master Plan Projects for a list of proposed projects that address Security & Safety, New Facility & Land Use Change, Circulation, Environment & Sustainability, and Energy (pp. 2-2 – 2-4). 

Short-term Projects that may increase connectivity and comfort are primarily in the Circulation plans (pp. 2-8 – 2-9):  The Pentagon South Pedestrian Safety Project;  The North Parking Lot Improvements Project;  The Southeast Parking Project; The Connector Road Bridge Upgrades Project; The Connector Road and Boundary Channel Drive Intersection Improvements Project;The Areawide Resurfacing and Rehabilitation Project; The Areawide Sidewalk Improvements Project;  and The Metro Entrance Pedestrian ACP Project.  Note that parking lot improvements include tree boxes and  biophilic storm water retention methods.  See the Environment and Sustainability Projects (Short-Term) (p. 2-10).

Long-term Project of Interest:  The Army-Navy Drive OffSite Parking Lots Feasibility Study

The Master Plan also includes the following long-term feasibility study. However, this is not part of the Proposed Action evaluated in this EA because it is only a study, and future potential uses of the affected site cannot be appropriately defined (and their impacts cannot be evaluated) until after the study is completed.  Construction, Renovation, and Demolition—Long-Term Projects: Includes development intended for implementation over the next 6 to 20 years, including improvements to energy infrastructure, construction of new facilities, and land use changes. Projects in this category are conceptual and will require additional NEPA analysis in the future when scopes are more well defined. 

• The Army-Navy Drive OffSite Parking Lots Feasibility Study would reconsider potential uses for the three parking lots located south of I-395: the Hayes Street, Fern Street, and Eads Street lots. These parking lots are identified under the Mixed Use/Support land use category. WHS proposes the parking lots be considered for land use types that provide a more positive impact than surface parking, such as commercial uses, support uses for the Pentagon, green space, and pedestrian and transit enhancements. However, development of these lots would be subject to many constraints; a feasibility analysis is needed before specific projects are identified. The Pentagon Master Plan proposes an effort to determine the base feasibility of development. If development is feasible, WHS proposes another focused effort to develop a vision for the parking lots and determine the final mix of uses and form of development.   Refer to Section 3.5 (New Facility and Land Use Changes Projects) in the Pentagon Master Plan for additional information. (p. 2-13).

Bridges – Project Highlights

Long Bridge Project Moves Forward

Preliminary soil testing will begin soon, before construction of a passenger rail bridge that aims to untangle daily passenger rail service between Virginia and the District of Columbia.  The long-term goal of the Long Bridge Project is “to double the capacity of passenger rail between Washington, D.C. south, into Virginia,” said DJ Stadtler, executive director of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. The project will also include a bicycle and pedestrian crossing that will connect Long Bridge Park and the Mount Vernon Trail in Arlington to the East and West Potomac Parks in Washington.  The Long Bridge Project can provide more frequent passenger and commuter train service to Crystal City and a new bridge for cyclists and pedestrians to travel to DC from 22202.  To make biking even easier and more direct, the County Long Bridge Drive Multimodal Connection, still in early design, will provide a 12’ minimum shared use path to provide safe space for commuting and other cyclists connecting from Long Bridge and Boundary Channel Drive to and through Crystal City.

West Glebe Street Bridge Reconstruction Project is done!

The bridge has been open to all traffic for a few weeks, but do plan to attend the Tuesday, September 12 2 PM Ribbon Cutting in the Pizza Hut Parking Lot, 1049 W. Glebe Road, on the Alexandria side of the bridge. The beautiful new bridge has wide bike-ped sidewalks on both sides, with elevated green bike lanes separated from the pedestrian sidewalks by a slightly sloping ‘curb”.

Arlington Ridge Road-Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Project Up Next!

Now that the Glebe Street Bridge project is completed and the beautiful new bridge is open, the County and Alexandria can complete the 60% design and plan to reconstruct the Arlington Ridge Road-Mt. Vernon Ave. Bridge.  This project will replace the deteriorated roadway substructure and reuse the existing piers, which are stable. The new bridge will include expanded sidewalks and bike lanes in each direction. The wider sidewalks and bike lanes will extend to the intersection of Arlington Ridge Road and S Glebe Road. The project will also enhance connections from the bridge to the Four Mile Run Trail. Following the Four Mile Run Restoration Master Plan (2006) and the Four Mile Run Design Guidelines (2009), the bridge will include art elements that enhance the bridge appeal and experience for all users.  Watch for more details, and watch out for detours!

Retail and Restaurants

So much new retail is coming to Pentagon City…. Including (but not limited to):

IKEA Opens a New Plan and Order Point at 1201 S Hayes

Welcome to the IKEA Plan and order point, where we are open for all visitors to browse our showroom and get inspiration and ideas for your home or small business. We offer one-on-one consultation services for kitchen design, bedroom & bathroom solutions, small space living solutions and so much more. Book an appointment and sit down with our expert planners while they design, quote, and order your IKEA goods. Don’t worry about lugging furniture – there is no stock at our studio because we conveniently deliver all goods directly to your home. 

Amazon HQ2 home to lots of new retail 

This Amazon news item describes 14 of the new retail establishments around the MetPark site – from doggy care to ice cream to a bike shop to …..

The Milton, 15th & Hayes, is open for business – new apartment tenants and retail

See this Patch article: Three new tenants — Yunnan by Potomac Noodle House, Sparkle and Pop Nails and First National Bank — are on schedule to move into retail space next spring at The Milton, a new residential community in Arlington’s Pentagon City neighborhood.  The three businesses will fill part of The Milton’s 16,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. The Milton, at 1446 S. Grant Street, is an 11-story, 253-unit building developed by Kimco Realty. Tenants began moving into the building earlier this summer.

TOSAs to FOOD – Plan approved, but implementation not immediate

The Future of Outdoor Dining (FOOD) Study recommendations for permanent outdoor dining facilities was supposed to replace the existing Covid-area TOSA (Temporary Outdoor Seating Area) guidelines, which were due to be phased out August 16, if the County Board approved.  However, the County Pedestrian Advisory Committee wrote a letter encouraging postponement of the start date for FOOD because there was insufficient time for restaurants to complete and submit their applications and for staff to process and approve them by the proposed start date. On Saturday, July 15, the Arlington County Board adopted Zoning Ordinance amendments and a new County Code chapter that allow for more administrative review processes for outdoor dining. Review the staff presentation; Read the staff report.  The County issued these instructions to restaurants announcing that the initial application period would run from September 1 through October 16: If you have a current TOSA and/or outdoor café, there is nothing you need to do at this time to maintain your outdoor seating. To give all restaurants time to make decisions about the future of their outdoor dining space and prepare to apply, the initial application period for the permits and licenses needed for outdoor dining will run from September 1 through October 16.

Construction Updates

Neighborhood Construction Information Resources

The County Crystal City-Pentagon City Area Map shows information on commercial development and transportation projects in our area, with links to project pages and contact information. The National Landing BID page on construction projects provides additional construction information.

Commercial Development Updates

RiverHouse Neighborhood:

The applicant proposes to keep the existing buildings, rezone the entire site to “RA6-15,” and construct infill development via a Phased Development Site Plan (PDSP). The proposal totals 3,554 dwelling units and 27,759 sq. ft. of retail. The PDSP is comprised of four (4) Final Site Plans (“Land Bays”): N, S, C, and possibility for future Landbay E. JBGS and the County held a joint in-person public engagement for RiverHouse on July 26 at the Long Bridge Aquatics Center.  Meeting materials are available on the project website.  Submit questions and comments

through Tuesday, September 5.  Plan to watch the LRPC meetings on September 27 and October 24 and participate in the followup online engagement.  This is a huge project that will have a huge impact on our community!

PenPlace

ClarkConstruction held a utility construction meeting with community members on Wednesday, August 30.  Existing underground utilities around most of the PenPlace megablock (Fern/12th/Army-Navy Drive/Eads) will be relocated as needed this fall through February, 2024.  On 12th Street, the median will be removed, the shared use path on the north side will be removed, site fencing shifted to the south, and parking removed on the north side. Impacted streets will remain open, with brief rolling closures of sections on Eads, and some lane reductions.  Cyclists will have sharrows on 12th; and pedestrians will have the remaining sidewalk on the south side of 12th.   To sign up for updates from Clark as the work progresses, go to penplaceva.com.  Watch out for construction and detours!

Pentagon City projects with Preliminary Site Plans:

  • Pentagon Centre PDSP, 1200 S Fern, (Phased Development Site Plan Amendment) SPLA22-00054 
  • Brookfield-TSA Site PDSP, 701 12th St S, (Phased Development Site Plan Amendment) SPLA23-00021 
  • Also pay attention to this Crystal City with preliminary plans: Crystal City Block W, 2451 Crystal Drive, (Rezoning, New Site Plan, New Crystal City Block Plan, and New Minor Site Plan Amendment) SPLN23-00009, SPLA23-00030, REZN23-00004

Crystal House 6 SPLA23-00039

Plans to add several new buildings to the Crystal House megablock (18th to 22nd and Eads to Fern) were approved in December, 2019, but were never built.  What happened next is described in the developer’s letter of justification:

Although this is a huge set of new building projects and uses, the County is allowing one building, Crystal House 6, to be developed as a minor site plan amendment, without the typical LRPC/SPRC/Commissions approval process that a major development undergoes.  The project was approved in 2019, almost 4 years ago, and both our community and the projects have changed significantly in that time.  The developer’s letter of justification states:

AHCA and CCCA have both requested a formal SPRC process for review – and a holistic review of the entire site plans, not just this building.  But at the moment at least, all the County will offer is one “public engagement”, details unknown.  Watch for the public engagement. 

Upcoming BID-related events are listed here.

GLUP Studies – In Progress

The General Land Use Plan (GLUP) is the primary policy guide for development in Arlington. Modifications to the GLUP may be requested in the form of an amendment or study. A list of current GLUP Amendments and GLUP Special Studies can be found at the Arlington County Website here.

Free ART Bus Rides for APS Students

Middle and high school students from Arlington Public Schools ride free anytime on Arlington Transit (ART), the County’s bus transit system, with an iRide SmarTrip card, https://bit.ly/3B3q84L

Volunteer Opportunity: Lead a Walking School Bus

The Alliance for Arlington Senior Programs is looking for adult volunteers to help lead Walking School Buses at Elementary Schools around the Arlington County. The first walking school bus was such a success at Oakridge Elementary school that the program is looking to expand around the County.

Elementary School Walk

What’s great about Walking School Buses?

  • You help kids in your neighborhood get to school safely
  • You can maximize the health benefits of walking for yourself and for students
  • You reduce congestion and pollution near schools and in neighborhoods by walking instead of travel by car

What do I need to know?

  • Each bus requires only one hour of your time
  • Volunteers can set their own schedules

The new school year has already started. Learn more about leading a walking bus – or joining one with your elementary school student – at the Alliance’s page.

Teens Making a Difference (TMAD) – Youth Community Groups Volunteer Opportunity

Want to make a difference? TMAD (Teens Making a Difference) is a Service Club that helps students ages 12-18 plan service projects, learn leadership skills, and improve their schools and community. The program offers participants a chance to earn a stipend for work related learning programs. If interested in TMAD, apply through this application (no deadline). Visit this page for more information on the program.

Nature in the Neighborhood

Young Trees Need Water Every Week

Newly-planted trees require at least 25 gallons a week to survive and thrive. Sign up here to get an alert from Casey Trees when there hasn’t been enough rain and to water your young trees.

Native Plant Sales

Fall is the perfect time to enhance the beauty and ecological value of your garden, porch or balcony.

Long Branch Nature Center Native Plant Sale – Order by Sept. 13; Pickup Sept. 24

Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale – Sept. 30

Earth Sangha Fall Open House and Plant Sale – Oct. 1

View more native plant sales at https://www.plantnovanatives.org/local-native-plant-sales

Arlington County Civic Federation Update

CivFed hosted a candidates night on September 5 for County Board, House of Delegates and State Senate. The meeting was widely covered in the local media. A video recording of the meeting is available on CivFed.org.

The delegates voted to welcome the African American Leadership Council of Arlington as a new member of the Civic Federation.

In other news, the Environmental Affairs Committee chaired by Mary Glass is gearing up for its program year and looking for topic areas and volunteers who would like to participate. The issues could include Deer Management, Impact of Enhanced Housing Options, Heat Islands, Tree Canopy and Climate Change. Visit CivFed.org for more information.

Next meeting will be on Tuesday October 10 at 7 pm, in hybrid format, in person and virtual via zoom at the VHC Auditorium.

Advertise here and reach over 1,000 of your neighbors!

Send inquiries to newsletter@aurorahighlands.org

 

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Related posts:

  1. February 2018 Newsletter
  2. Proposed Dog Parks
  3. September Community-led Activities at the Park
  4. 2021 SUMMER MUSIC IN THE PARK SERIES at Aurora Highlands

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