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Sept 2007 E-Newsletter
September 10, 2007 CPRO e-Newsletter
Siena Park Construction Schedule Released
Woodfield Investments, developer of Siena Park at the former Safeway site on Columbia Pike and S. Wayne St. announced that demolition of the existing building will occur by late September and will mark the start of a 24-month construction period. A ground-breaking ceremony is now being planned. Construction hours will be 7:00 am to 6:30 pm weekdays, and 10:00 am to 6:30 pm weekends and holidays. The east side of S. Adams St. south of the entrance to the Giant parking lot will be closed during construction. There will be a covered sidewalk along Columbia Pike, and the sidewalk on the east side of S. Wayne St. will remain open. Trucks will approach the project from I395 westward along Columbia Pike entering the site on S. Adams St. Trucks will exit the site via S. Wayne St, returning to I395 by traveling eastward on Columbia Pike. Contacts for the project are Eric Resnik, Paradigm Construction at 301-879-1231, and Margaret Smith Ford of Woodfield Investments at 301 789 2045. For more information and to see images of the Siena Park project click here: http://www.columbiapike.org/UPDATE/93207.html
September 20 Breakfast Meeting to Kick-Off the “Columbia Pike Business Opportunity Network”
CPRO and Arlington Economic Development’s Bizlaunch are seeking to bring together the Columbia Pike business community and other small business people interested in the Pike for a series of informative networking sessions. The theme, “Columbia Pike is Changing…is Your Business Ready?” will be discussed at the initial meeting at 8:00 am on 9/20 at the Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th St. S. just off S. Walter Reed Dr. “There will be many opportunities and some challenges associated with the redevelopment of major properties along the Pike, and we want to help existing businesses to thrive, and attract other home-grown Arlington businesses to the Pike,” said Jim Whittaker, CPRO’s Executive Director. In addition to meeting other local entrepreneurs, attendees will be introduced to representatives of other groups who assist small businesses and who are supporting this initiative, namely: the Arlington Chamber of Commerce; the Hispanic Committee of Northern Virginia; Arlington Small Business Development Center (SBDC); the Business Development Assistance Group (BDAG); the Ethiopian Community Development Council’s Enterprise Development Group; and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. For an event flyer and to register for this FREE event go to: http://www.columbiapike.org/docs/UPCOMING/CPRO_networking%20alt.pdf
Planning for “Taste of the Pike” Continues
The first annual Taste of the Pike—the Columbia Pike International Food Festival, which will be held on October 21 in front of the Arlington Mill Community Center is attracting the attention of sponsors who as of this writing include Clark Construction and Davis Carter Scott (who are partnering with Arlington County for the redevelopment of the Arlington Mill site); Arlington Transit’s PikeRide; Giant Food; B.M. Smith & Associates; The Dorchesters, Westmont and Oakland Apartments; and Rakusin & Becker Management (who operate Columbia Pike Plaza). Additional sponsors are needed to help defray expenses and in order for admission to the event to remain free of charge. In addition, CPRO is reserving booth space for local restaurants, arts and crafts vendors, purveyors of other products and services, community groups, and health care providers. Contact Jim Whittaker at 703-892-2776 or jwhittaker@columbiapike.org for sponsorship and vendor opportunities. For the event flyer click on the link below and select “Taste of the Pike from the left hand column: http://www.columbiapike.org/UPCOMING/index_E.html
Arlington Transit Launches 8 New Eco-Friendly ART Buses
With the addition of eight new heavy duty buses powered by clean natural gas, the Arlington Transit (ART) fleet now includes 32 buses serving the local community along 12 routes. The new buses, added late last month, will enable the system to expand ART 41 service along the busiest route in the County. ART 41 buses run along Columbia Pike from S. Dinwiddee to S. Glebe Rd., then go north to Ballston, and east to Courthouse. Weekday service will now be every 15 minutes. The slightly larger new buses have 30 seats as well as grab rails and hanging straps for standing passengers. “The new energy-efficient ART buses are a key element of Fresh AIRE—the Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions—and will provide residents with improved public transportation options while taking more cars off the roads,” said Paul Ferguson, Chairman of the Arlington County Board. ART supplements the region’s Metrobus transit system and provides access to Metrorail and Virginia Railway Express. For more information go to:
http://www.commuterpage.com/art/
New Retailers Coming to the Pike
Dog Paws ‘n Cat Claws University has signed a lease to occupy the former Rite Aid space near the Food Star grocery store at 940 S. George Mason Dr. Currently a home-based business with 500 current customers, demand for their pet care services has grown very rapidly, necessitating a move to the large retail space, according to owner Ryan Fochler. Construction of the 7,000 sq. ft. interior space is planned for this month, with an opening in October. There will be 6-8 zones to accommodate pets of various sizes. In addition, there are plans to create a 3,000 sq. ft. indoor/outdoor space in the area behind the store. The word “University” in the name of the business refers to the dog training and related services they will offer. Fochler is excited that his team will include a Ph.D. in pet behavior. For more information go to www.dpncc.com. Vacuums Unlimited recently held the grand opening of a new store location at 4103 Columbia Pike (near the intersection with S. George Mason Rd). A family-owned business, Vacuums Unlimited boasts one of the largest selections of vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaner supplies in the Northern Virginia area. They also provide free estimates, repair broken vacuum cleaners, and take trade-ins. Visit them today! For more information call 703-521-1112 or go to www.vacuumsunlimited.biz.
Bangkok 54, Matuba, and Meaza Restaurants Making News
Interior construction on the sideways expansion of Bangkok 54 is now complete, and features an elegant look with warm colors, contemporary lighting, a beautiful new bar, lounge seating, and tables for dozens of additional diners. The restaurant is celebrating the opening of the new space, which they call “the Lounge Room” on Friday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 pm with a live jazz band and unlimited finger foods. Admission is $20 ($25 at the door). Call 703-521-4070 for reservations. For more information see their website-http://www.bangkok54restaurant.com. Meanwhile, later this month Matuba will be celebrating 28 great years serving excellent Japanese food on Columbia Pike. In commemoration of the anniversary they will be offering food and drink specials at dinner during the week of September 29-Oct. 6. For more information go to: http://www.matuba-sushi.com. Further west, at 5700 Columbia Pike, Meaza Ethiopian Cuisine & Café opened recently and has been well received by area diners. There is a café on one side and a 2-tiered 85 seat oval dining room with modern décor on the other side. For more information call 703-820-2870.
Credit Union Expanding to Columbia Pike
The non-profit Arlington Virginia Federal Credit Union is expanding and has decided to open a branch and also their new headquarters at 5666 Columbia Pike. The site is currently being developed, and the new facilities are expected to open in late 2008 or early 2009. The Credit Union, which has branches on N. Glebe Rd. near Lee Highway, and on N. Courthouse Rd. has nearly $145 million in assets and is ranked #33 by the Washington Business Journal among area credit unions. They also have innovative student-run branches at Barcroft Elementary School, Carlin Springs Elementary School, Wakefield High School, and the Arlington Career Center that are designed to teach financial management skills. For more information about the credit union go to: www.arlingtonvafcu.org
Three New Members Join CPRO Board of Directors
CPRO President, Lander Allin recently announced the election of three new Board Members: Tom Fairchild, Juliet Hiznay, and John Murphy. Fairchild, a long-time Pike area resident, is the owner of a commercial property in the 3200 block of Columbia Pike. He earned a degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University in 1983. He served on the CPRO Board in the mid-1990s before a successful stint as Executive Director of the Clarendon Alliance, one of CPRO’s fellow neighborhood partnerships. Juliet Hiznay is first Vice President of the Arlington Heights Civic Association and serves as their Neighborhood Conservation representative. An attorney, she earned her JD in 1997 from George Mason University. She has also served on the County’s Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission and the Public Spaces Master Plan Task Force. John Murphy is President of Washington Workplace, a Pike-based business that provides office furniture and space planning services. He earned his Business degree from Fordham University in 1990. He is President of the Board of the Arlington Free Clinic, and a board member of the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (ASPAN), the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Arlington. Please join us in welcoming our new Board members!
CPRO Volunteer of the Month
Laura Urioste!Laura Urioste, a resident of Barcroft Apartments (Columbia Pike and S. George Mason), is CPRO’s Volunteer of the Month. Laura was raised in Uruguay and came to the U.S. in 2003. Before relocating to Virginia four months ago, she lived in Elizabeth NJ where she earned an Associates Degree in International Studies from Union County Community College, with a minor in interpreting and translation. She currently provides Spanish translation services, including specialization in legal translation. If you are seeking Spanish Translation services CPRO can get you in touch with Laura—call 703-892-2776. Laura is assisting CPRO in getting the word out (in both English and Spanish!) about our Small Business Opportunity Network and upcoming Taste of the Pike festival. Her long term plans include joining the Peace Corp. For now, she is finding her CPRO volunteer experience to be a meaningful and enjoyable way to both get to know and promote her new community here on the Pike. Thanks Laura!
To find out more about CPRO volunteer opportunities contact us at 703-892-2776 or pholcomb@columbiapike.org.
Farmers Market Drawing Many Happy Shoppers
The last several Sundays have seen some of the best shopping of the year as locals flocked to the Columbia Pike Farmers Market for peak-of-the-season peaches, corn, and other fruits and vegetables. It’s not too late to partake of this summer’s bounty, and wonderful fall produce is just around the corner. Visit the market every Sunday through November, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in front of the Eckerd/Rite-Aid at the corner of S. Walter Reed Dr. and the Pike. For a list of the Farmers Market Vendors go to: http://www.columbiapikepartnership.com/MARKET/index_E.html
Contact Us
As always, the CPRO staff welcomes your input. Email your suggestions, questions, comments, and offers of assistance to jwhittaker@columbiapike.org or call 703-892-2776.
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As always, for more information about what’s happening on the Pike go to www.columbiapike.org
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