<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->On March 10 the County and its partner, Public Private Alliances, presented their latest plans for the redevelopment of the Arlington Mill Community Center site to the Columbia Pike Form Based Code Advisory Working Group. While still being refined, the group was able to visualize many aspects of the project, including the modern architectural style of the building, depicted here. According to Hunter Moore, the County’s lead representative for effort, the design was chosen to create a distinct and iconic look appropriate for the building’s civic purpose. The 6-story tower on the left side of the image, at the corner of the Pike and S. Dinwiddie, will contain space for community center programs, some ground floor retail, and rental apartments on the upper floors. Extending to the right of the image is a large gymnasium which sits behind a new public plaza. To the north of this building along Dinwiddie will be a 5-story residential building. The Advisory Working Group reviewed the plans using a 370-point Form Based Code checklist. While the project has been designed largely to meet the Form Based Code, the County Board will be asked to allow variations for the civic building on the Pike, but not, however, for the residential building, which will be fully compliant. The current community center is expected to close this summer, with demolition planned for this fall. For a rendering of the project, and for more information about this and other developments go to: http://www.columbiapike.org/UPDATE/93207.html

2^nd Annual Arlington Home Show & Expo Set for April 12

Building on last year’s successful event, CPRO is again partnering with Arlington County’s Housing Division to bring local residents a one-stop shopping opportunity for all their home improvement needs. Whether you are looking to put an addition on your home, remodel a kitchen or bath, install energy efficient replacement windows, or to pursue dozens of other projects, exhibitors will be on hand to answer your questions and show you their products. Plan to attend this wonderful, local home show on Saturday, April 12, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Walter Reed Community Center. Admission is FREE. For more information go to: www.arlingtonhomeshow.org.

The next gathering of the Columbia Pike Business Opportunity Network will feature a special guest appearance by the Chairman of the Arlington County Board, Walter Tejada. The event will take place at 8:00 am on Wednesday, March 19 at the Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16^th St. S. Special thanks go to Michaela Whelan and HSBC Bank for sponsoring the gathering, and to Pan American Bakery for providing breakfast treats.All are welcome.To register for this FREE event go to:

CPRO is pleased to announce that the legendary band “Roomful of Blues” will headline the 2008 Columbia Pike Blues Festival on Saturday June 21, 1:00 to 8:00 pm. Since 1967, the combination of swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jump, blues and soul has earned the multiple award-winning group just praise. As one critic put it, “the group’s greatest asset is how well the band performs as a cohesive unit. Throughout, the horns hop, the keyboards sway, the vocals enthuse, the guitar rocks, and the band jumps.” Get excited! Roomful of Blues, one of the finest jump and swing blues bands in the land, is coming to Columbia Pike. Check out this flash postcard from the band:

School Board Candidates to Debate at Wakefield

Columbia Pike Properties Gain Recognition

Two Columbia Pike apartment communities were among the winners of the 2008 Landscape Recognition Awards from the Arlington County Beautification Committee. The Pike area champs are Dorchester Towers at 24001 Columbia Pike, owned by the E.G. Reinsch Companies, along with Quebec Apartments at 4014 Columbia Pike, owned by Silverwood Associates. The beautifully maintained Dorchester, located in the Penrose neighborhood, was built in 1963 and boasts lush grounds and a rooftop garden. The Quebec, located in Douglas Park neighborhood, was built in 1953 and renovated in 2002 and includes 129 affordable units along with 43 market rate apartments in a green park-like setting. Congratulations to the Reinsch and Silverwood companies, both long time CPRO members! Meanwhile, last month the Directors of the Community Appearance Alliance of Northern Virginia voted unanimously to present a special award to the impressive Air Force Memorial on the eastern end of the Pike. Well done!

The Columbia Pike MusiKids are welcoming new singers for their spring benefit concert, "A Place for YOUth," songs that honor the young. Children in grades K-5 are welcome, no auditions are required, and performances are free to the public. Rehearsals are Mondays starting March 24, 5:30 to 6:15 pm, and the concert is Sunday, May 4, at 4:00 pm. To enroll your child for this concert, email musicmin@tecarl.org, or call Barbara Stefan, Music Director, at 703-920-7077 . Rehearsals and performance at Trinity Church, 2217 Columbia Pike, Arlington. "A Place for YOUth" will also feature the Arlington Youth Chorus, the youth and children’s choirs of Redeemer Lutheran Church of McLean, Barrett Elementary School Chorus, and the Columbia Pike Community Chorus. Free-will donations received at the performance will benefit the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF).

Learn How to Create an Effective Business Plan

Arlington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and George Mason University- Mason Enterprise Center at School of Public Policy in partnership with Arlington Economic Development is presenting a seminar entitled: ’Business Plan - The Universal Tool.’ The seminar will cover the important elements of a business plan, how to create your own, and how it can help you to effectively run your business. Learn how a business plan is used when approaching a bank for financing, applying for government contracts and is also an essential guide for your management team.

Date & Time: Tuesday, March 25th, 2008, 11:30am – 1:00pm
Venue: Suite 341, 901 S Highland St, Arlington, VA 22204
Directions: For directions click here
Admission: $20.00 (Cash only) Paid at the door
RSVP: Required by 5:00pm March 24th 2008
For more information: Contact Pratibha Shenoy at 703 892 1528 or email pshenoy@gmu.edu.

Looking for a congregation? Check out any of these places of worship:

Arlington Baptist Church; 714 S. Monroe St.; 979-7344; arlingtonbaptist.com

Arlington Presbyterian Church; 3507 Columbia Pike; 920-5660; arlingtonpresbyterian.org

Arlington Seventh-Day Adventist Church; 3425 8^th St. S.; 979-4860

Arlington United Methodist Church; 716 S. Glebe Rd.; 979-7527; arlingtonumc.com

Bangladesh Islamic Center; 2611 S. Nelson St.; 778-1550

Church of God; 790 S. Carlin Springs Rd.; 671-6726

Congregation Etz Hayim; 2920 Arlington Blvd.; 979-4466; etzhayim.net

Greenbrier Baptist Church; 5401 7^th Rd. South; 703-671-6688

Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church; 915 S. Wakefield St.; 553-0370; cttdva.net

Long Life With Jesus Spiritual Baptist Church; 1611 S. Walter Reed Dr.; 920-1128

Mt. Zion Baptist Church; 3500 19^th St. S.; 979-7411; mountzionbaptist.com

Our Savior Lutheran Church; 901 S. Taylor St.; 892-4846; osva.org

Second Church, Christ Scientist; 700 S. Buchanan St.; 920-4877

St. John’s Baptist Church; 1905 Columbia Pike; 920-4228

St. Thomas More Cathedral Catholic Church; 3901 Cathedral Lane; 528-6781; cathedrealstm.org

Trinity Episcopal Church; 2217 Columbia Pike; 703-920-7077; trinitychurcharlington.org

Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington; 4444 Arlington Blvd.; 892-2565; uucava.org

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. Know someone who would like to receive the CPRO e-Newsletter? Please send us email addresses and we will add them to our distribution list. As always, for more information about what’s happening on the Pike go to www.columbiapike.org