For the second consecutive year CPRO has partnered with the County’s Housing Division to bring Arlington its own home improvement show! More than 60 exhibitors will be on hand at the Walter Reed Community Center offering ideas, products, and services for all types of projects in and around your home, and admission is FREE. In addition, the County’s Fresh AIRE initiative will be giving away compact florescent light bulbs to the first 250 people who visit their booth, a number of free classes and seminars will be offered, and many experts on improving your home’s energy efficiency will be available. For more information go to www.ArlingtonHomeShow.org

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Nearly 100 members of the Pike’s small business community were in attendance at the March 19 gathering of the Columbia Pike Business Opportunity Network, and they were treated to inspiring remarks by Walter Tejada, Chairman of the Arlington County Board. Tejada encouraged the group to continue its efforts to promote the Pike and the unique and diverse businesses that make their home here. He spoke with pride of the County’s commitment to remain a welcoming community to immigrants, and of the need to revitalize Columbia Pike while maintaining affordability for the Pike’s residents and businesses. The event, which was emceed by Tara Miles of the County’s BizLaunch program, was sponsored by HSBC Bank and the Pan American Bakery.

On the evening of March 16 representatives of VDOT presented updated plans to area residents for the Washington Boulevard Bridge replacement project which will include rebuilding the entire Columbia Pike/Washington Boulevard interchange. The latest plans move a traffic light on the Pike from S. Quinn St. to S. Queen St., and include a sound barrier near the southbound ramp from Washington Blvd. to the Pike. Next steps include obtaining final approval of the design, holding a citizens meeting, conducting a noise wall survey, completing detailed design work, and putting the project out to bid. Construction, which will be managed in 20 sub-phases to ensure continuous traffic flow, is expected to take 24 months once they have broken ground, and cost the State $45.6 million, $39.4 million of which is already in place. The local community has expressed a desire to name the bridge “Freedman’s Village Bridge” which would require action by the Virginia General Assembly.

Developers of the Penrose Square project report that final details are being worked out on the lease for a new Giant store, and they are in the process of selecting a general contractor for the large construction project that will create significant new retail space, nearly 300 apartments, and over 700 underground parking spaces. “Before long we’ll be making plans for a groundbreaking event,” said Andrew Gutowski of Carbon Thompson Developers. In the meantime, the existing Giant grocery and pharmacy will remain open. For future updates check the CPRO website at www.columbiapike.org

In response to 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission recommendations, new construction is planned at the National Guard site on S. George Mason Dr. in order to accommodate 1200 employees being moved out of Crystal City. While the new facilities are scheduled to open in 2011, there is no funding to build the additional parking garage that is also planned. The civic associations representing the Alcova Heights and Barcroft neighborhoods have written a letter to the Army National Guard disagreeing with the Draft Environmental Assessment’s “finding of no significant impact.” While the civic groups do not oppose expanding the facility they believe the project should not proceed until funding can be provided for a new parking garage to be completed in time for the opening of the expanded facilities.

Police Target Speeders in Pedestrian Safety Effort

As part of a 2008 “Street Smart” Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Campaign, Arlington County Police targeted three intersections on Columbia Pike (S. Scott St, S. George Mason Dr. and S. Frederick St) for stepped up safety enforcement between 5-7pm on March 26. In those areas, 40 citations were issued; 10 of the 40 were for speeding near a crosswalk and the rest were for miscellaneous non-moving violations (e.g., no seat belt, expired inspection and improper display of tag). Arlington County Police hope to carry out a similar targeted enforcement effort along the Columbia Pike corridor, in either the summer or early fall.

In another sure sign of spring, the Columbia Pike Farmers Market returns to Pike Park (S. Walter Reed Dr. and Columbia Pike) on May 4, and each successive Sunday, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Come out for early season produce and other products, greet our long standing members, and welcome new vendors to the market. As always, our market helps you to “eat local” and supports sustainable agriculture. In addition, this year we will invite a small number of arts and crafts people to join us. Know someone who would like to participate in the Market? Have them call CPRO at 703-892-2776.

The long-awaited opening of Dog Paws ‘N Cat Claws University is just around the corner as contractors work to complete build-out of the former Rite-Aid Pharmacy at 940 S. George Mason Dr. On April 21 they will open the doors to their doggie day care facility, and a grooming center and retail store will follow soon behind. Pet training classes are being scheduled for the summer. Special rates are available for clients who sign up before the doors open. For more information call 703-931-5057 or go to www.dnpcc.com

More than $14.2 million dollars worth of homes were sold in the Pike’s 22204 zip code in February of 2008, up 7% over February 2007. The number of homes sold also increased from 30 to 33, including 22 single family homes and 11 condo/coop units. However, average days on the market grew from 74 to 110, and the average sale price declined slightly from $443,768 to $432,409. Jeff Payne of Prudential Carruthers Realtors, who provided the MLS data, said “Arlington and 22204 continue to perform well and show that real estate here is a good long term investment.” For more information contact him at jeff.payne@prudentialcarruthers.com.

The Arlington Environmental Collection and Recycling Event (E-CARE) will take place on Saturday, April 19th from 8:30a.m.-3:00p.m. at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Take advantage of this semi-annual event to safely dispose of household hazardous materials, recycle old electronic equipment and small metal items, as well as donate bicycles, books, shoes, and eyeglasses. There is no fee for the collection of household hazardous materials and the regular handling fee for computer monitors and televisions will be waived. In addition, compost bins will be for sale. For those interested in dropping off bicycles, a $10 donation is requested in order to help Bikes for the World ship the bicycle to a developing country. For more information, call 703-228-6832 or go to www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/EnvironmentalServices/EnvironmentalServicesEnvex.aspx

The Arlington Presybyterian Church (APC), located at 3507 Columbia Pike, is commemorating its 100 year anniversary with a special free concert open to the public. The Arlington Presbyterian Chancel Choir and Cantate Chamber Singers will present music of a century ago, hymns and anthem favorites. For more information, please call 703-920-5660 or go to www.arlingtonpresbyterian.org/music_notes.htm.

Check out the new YesOn2Salsa Learn 2 Dance Studio (951 S. George Mason Dr.,2^nd floor of the Wachovia Bank building, www.yeson2salsa.com). A variety of dance classes—Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, and Hip-hop—are being offered by expert dance instructors Karen Aguilar, Orlando Machuca and Ronald Rios. All levels of dancers, including beginners are welcome! Try out your new moves at Cecilia’s (2619 Columbia Pike, www.ceciliasclub.com) which features a large new dance floor, lessons, and the best Salsa bands around. And there’s more! The Center Dance Company and its school, Arlington Center for Dance, are moving to a location just off the Pike at 3443 Carlin Springs Road (next to the REI and Tuesday Morning stores). The Center offers classes and workshops to children and adult students in ballet, jazz, modern, tap and conditioning. The new location offers this outstanding community-oriented dance company and school almost 21,000 square feet of space—three times more than their old location in Clarendon. To learn more about the new location, classes and performances, or how to support the Center’s substantial build-out expenses necessary to make it a truly state-of-art dance studio, go to www.arldance.org.

The Columbia Pike Community Chorus is welcoming new and returning singers for their “Juneteenth” Black Heritage concert “Changed My Name,” a cantata inspired by the lives of Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, and composed by Broadway music director Linda Twine. All are welcome to participate! Rehearsals for the June 15^th concert are held on Monday 7-9 pm, beginning April 14 at Trinity Episcopal Church (2217 Columbia Pike, www.trinitychurcharlington.org). Free parking is available across the street from the church. For more information contact Barbara Stefan, Music Director at musicmin@tecarl.org or 703-920-7077.

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