February 21, 2007 CPRO e-Newsletter
Community to Celebrate Next Tuesday
The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse will be overflowing with “We Like the Pike” enthusiasm next Tuesday, February 27, at 5:00 p.m. We will be showing images of people and places along the Pike, past/present/and future, and we will honor individuals who have been leaders in our revitalization efforts and who have helped to make the Pike a better place to live, work, and play.
Come enjoy live music by local artists the Curb Feelers and Outlawed Honkeytonk, sip a cold beverage from a Pike souvenir cup, see your neighbors, and make new friends! Special thanks go to our event sponsors: BB&T Bank, Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, Fillmore Garden Apartments, Silverwood Associates, and Bob & Edith’s Diner.
More 2007 CPRO events to attend:
1st Annual
Arlington Home Show & Expo
10 am to 4 pm, Saturday, April 21, 2007 April 21, 2007;
Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 S. 16th Street
http://www.arlingtonhomeshowandexpo.com/
CPRO and the Arlington County’s Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development have formed a partnership to bring the first annual Arlington Home Show & Expo to the Walter Reed Community Center. Free to the public, Home Show & Expo exhibitors, demonstrations, and classes will present the answers Arlingtonians need to know about the processes and procedures for home ownership, preservation, and improvement.
Arlington County, Virginia state, and non-profit agency employees will join local business people to offer information and advice on a broad range of residential real estate issues. Industry and agency experts will be on hand to offer information on topics such as home construction and remodeling, fence and deck construction, plumbing and HVAC topics, green buildings, landscaping, lawn, and horticulture subjects, pest and mold control, security systems, home warranties and insurance, home inspections, real estate sales, financing, title and settlement issues.
Businesses catering to home owners are invited to visit the Walter Reed Community Center, from 10 am to 1 pm on Monday February 26, at 2909 S. 16th Street, Arlington to register for exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities for the Home Show & Expo or visit http://www.arlingtonhomeshowandexpo.com/exhibitors.html and click on “Exhibitor Registration”
Season Kick-Off
Columbia Pike Farmers Market
Sunday, May 6, 9:00am-1:00pm; Columbia Pike at S.Walter Reed Dr.
12th Annual
Columbia Pike Blues Festival
Sunday, June 17
Mark your calendars. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, or if you’d like to volunteer to help with any of these events contact CPRO at 703-892-2776, or via email at cpro1@verizon.net.
Bad Habits Die Hard
Demolition is finally underway at the Columbia Pike/S. Greenbrier St. property that once was home to Bad Habits Bar & Grill and other businesses. This will make way for the new mixed-use Columbia Village development by Fairfield Residential, LLC. The 10 story building will include 7,544 square ft. of retail space on the ground floor, and 235 residential units above. For images go to--http://metrodchomes.typepad.com/urbantrekker/2007/02/demolition_for_.html
APS Multi-Site Study Committee Adds 2nd Public Comment Meeting
The School’s Multi-Site Committee is considering various scenarios for placement of APS programs and for use of APS leased and owned properties including the Career Center site on S. Walter Reed Dr. They will hold their 5th regular meeting on February 21 at 7:00 p.m. on January 29 at the Education Center on N. Quincy St., and its 2nd special public comment meeting at 7:00 p.m. on February 26 at the Career Center. For more information about the work of the Multi-Site Study Committee go to: http://www.arlington.k12.va.us/facilities/planning/mss.shtml
Committee Formed to Plan Penrose Square Public Plaza
The Arlington County Board has appointed a working group to assist the County in designing the new public plaza that will be created as part of the new Penrose Square development. Penrose neighborhood resident Tom Greenfield will chair the committee. Committee members include Linda Dye (Douglas Park), Elly Merica (Alcova Heights), Jackie Ware (Penrose Square), Ed Miltonberger (Columbia Heights), Martin Chadzynski (Arlington Heights), Dana Schlichtmann (at-large), John Ariail (B.M. Smith), Elliot Burka (Fillmore Gardens), Inta Malis (Planning Commission), and Dave Johnson (CPRO). The group’s first meeting has not yet been scheduled.
Safeway Site Project Gets Name
The 6-story mixed use project at the former Safeway Store site will be named “Siena Park” according to Margaret Ford Smith of Woodfield Investments, the developers of the site. The new Siena Park at 2301 Columbia Pike will include 14,603 sq. ft. of office space, 32,604 sq. ft. of retail space, and 205,546 sq. ft. devoted to 188 residential units.
14th Street Bridge Study Underway
The Federal Highway Administration, VDOT, and the District’s Dept. of Transportation are conducting a joint study to identify actions that can reduce congestion, enhance safety, and improve traffic operations in the 14th St. Bridge corridor. Environmental and historic concerns will also be considered. A public workshop on this topic will be held on February 28 at the Aurora Hills Community Center, 735 18th St. South, Arlington, VA. There will be an open house from 6:30-7:00 p.m., and then the presentation and workshop from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. To RSVP call Justice & Sustainability Associates at 202-610-0005 or email to rsvp@jsallc.com. For more information go to www.14thstreetbridgecorridoreis.com
County Changes Pike Initiative (CPI) Staff Coordinator
After 5 years as the go-to guy for development planning in the Pike corridor, Richard Tucker will be moving to a new role, and Jennifer Smith, who has been focused on Clarendon’s planning efforts, will be the new CPI Coordinator. Richard will become the senior planner for the East Falls Church planning process to be initiated this year. Please join CPRO in extending our thanks to Richard for his years of dedicated service to the Pike.
CPRO Volunteer of the Month: Judith Richter!
Judith Richter, an 18-year resident of Columbia Heights West, is CPRO’s volunteer of the Month. Judith has been volunteering one morning each week since October, and while she has enjoyed repetitive tasks such as stuffing envelopes, her knowledge of excel, and willingness to help manage our contact data has also been of great benefit. Judith chose to live on the Pike because of its urban nature. As she put it, “I did not require a car here, and I could afford it.” She has been involved in Pike initiatives since moving here. Judith was active in planning the conversion of a Safeway store into the Arlington Mill Community Center, and presently is the neighborhood conservation representative for the Columbia Heights West Civic Association. Thanks Judith!
Please contact CPRO at 703-892-2776 or cpro1@verizon.net to find out more about CPRO volunteer opportunities.
