BVSCA Newsletter January/February 2003
Contents:January 28 Meeting Agenda
7:00 pm Executive Committee Meeting
BVSCA dues paying members may participate as observers in meetings of the BVSCA Executive Committee. BVSCA will be meeting in our new community room on January 28. The entrance to the community room is located on N. Utah St. between Gaffney's Restaurant (4301 North Fairfax Drive) and the Windsor Plaza Condominiums. Please note that on-street parking is limited; however, space is available in the two garages that are adjacent to and across the street from the Rio Grande Cafe.
BVSCA Membership Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of alternate months from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Our next membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 25 at 7:30 pm. The BVSCA newsletter is published six times per year in advance of the monthly meeting.
Thinking Inside the Box
At our January 28 meeting, BVSCA members will be invited to comment on a proposed development for 3901 N. Fairfax Dr., a location currently being occupied by Arlington Funeral Home. Developers will present their plans for a multi-story residential complex, including the possibility of providing a black box performing arts center in lieu of affordable housing and shared parking. This is the first major site plan being proposed in the context of the recently approved Virginia Square Sector Plan Update. BVSCA members are encouraged to attend on Tuesday and to express their views.
Making It Happen
On December 7, the County Board unanimously voted to approve the Virginia Square Sector Plan Update with modifications proposed by the Virginia Square Sector Plan Review Committee. Based upon discussions during the meeting, the Board strongly supported a Special Coordinated Development District for the East End, development of a cultural/performing arts facility in Virginia Square, and a set aside of 5% of new residential units for affordable housing in base density in the East End. Now that this important milestone has been achieved, citizens are encouraged to remain involved in the planning and implementation of the sector plan update. At the January 28 BVSCA meeting, we will discuss next steps, as well as specific needs regarding input on environmental issues in the community.
In the Eye of the Beholder
Arlington County resident Peter Harnik has launched an independent initiative to improve and beautify Quincy Park, including addition of water features, strolling paths, and additional greenery. Mr. Harnik, Director of the Green Cities Initiative of the Trust for Public Land and long time officer of the County Pedestrian Advisory Committee, has requested time with BVSCA members to discuss his ideas and solicit input from our community.
Making Plans
The Arlington County Planning Commission agenda for Monday, January 27 contains several items of potential interest to BVSCA members. Following the January 27 meeting, these items are likely to be addressed at the February 8 County Board meeting:
Miscellaneous News Items
RX X'ed. According to a January 17 Arlington Journal article, Georgetown University has decided to close its medical clinic at 3833 N. Fairfax Dr. Primary care services will end March 31, while specialty care services will end on June 30. The article identified financial and staffing reasons for the clinic's closure. For more information, you may contact the call center at 202-784-3751.
Total Immersion. Claremont Immersion Elementary School will open for the 2003-4 school year, becoming the second immersion school in Arlington County. Ms. Citia Z. Johnson has been named principal. For more information about the school, please contact Ms. Johnson at 703-228-2501 or by email at cjohnson@arlington.k12 .va.us.
Eyes Wide Open. Arlington County's Commission on the Status of Women is soliciting nominations in order to recognize individuals who have contributed substantially to the improvement of the status of women and girls in Arlington. For additional information, please contact the Commission's county staff liaison, Deborah Powers, at 703-228-3314.
Resolve. Did you make a new year's resolution to become more involved in the community through volunteering your time and skills? If so, Arlington County's volunteer coordinator, Jean Berg, would love to hear from you. There are numerous opportunities to help out in a pinch or to make a longer commitment. Please contact Jean Berg at 703-228-1760.
Listserv. BVSCA members are invited to subscribe to the BVSCA listserv to receive periodic updates on issues of neighborhood interest, as well as the monthly newsletter. To sign up, send an email message to bvscamail@yahoo.com advising that you would like to join. Include your name and post office address in your message along with the email address(es) from which you will be sending messages. When you are added to the list, you will receive a "Welcome" message with details regarding how to use the listserv. Remember that a message sent by a BVSCA listserv member to BVSCA-L@rootsweb.com will be relayed automatically to all listserv members. To prevent senders of unsolicited commercial email from using our list for unauthorized purposes, only listserv members may send messages to the mailing list from a subscribed address.
Editor's Prerogative
Over recent days, many in our community have memorialized Charles Monroe. I have listened to eloquent testimonials, read moving editorials, and seen tears flowing from grief and shock at the sudden loss of a man admired by so many. I can't begin to adequately capture such sentiment in this short space, but I thought I would share a few personal observations about Mr. Monroe's efforts in support of Ballston-Virginia Square. Mr. Monroe did not always agree with BVSCA positions, but we could be sure that his consideration of our views was thoughtful and reasoned. Very shortly after he was elected to the Arlington County Board, he and other board members heard testimony from BVSCA members who were extremely concerned about the residential development being proposed for the Virginia Square metro site. At the end of a lengthy discussion, Charles Monroe stood alone in supporting BVSCA's position of opposition to the development plans. Moreover, his priority for affordable housing in his campaign platform bolstered efforts by the Virginia Square Sector Plan Review Subcommittee to gain approval for more affordable housing in our neighborhood. Farewell, Mr. Monroe. You will be missed.
DeAndra Beck
Newsletter Editor
Ben Axleroad, President
3800 North Fairfax Dr., #205, Arlington, VA 22203
703-525-3083
Kate Wilson, Vice President
David Ryan, Secretary
Patricia Horoschak, Treasurer
3800 N. Fairfax Drive, #1804, Arlington, VA 22201
703-524-5080
Ed Parks, NCAC Representative
Theresa Smith, NCAC Representative Alternate
Dennis Burr
James Webster
Mike Ford
How to Join the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association or Renew Your Membership
All individual persons who are residents of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association's area or who in their individual capacity own residential property located therein, shall be eligible for membership in the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association. For the purposes of this organization, the boundaries of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association are Kirkwood Road on the east, Glebe Road on the west, Wilson Boulevard on the south, and the I-66 right of way on the north.
If interested in joining the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, please complete the BVSCA Membership Application Form below and send your application and dues to DeAndra Beck, Treasurer, Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, at the address below.
Dues are payable when first joining and are renewable each year on or before the annual anniversary of that date. New members and members who have not paid their dues within the three preceding Association years must pay their dues 30 days before they receive voting privileges. Former members who have been members in good standing within any of the three immediately preceding Association years may be reinstated as voting members by paying their dues for that year.
All members of the Association are volunteers. Dues are used to help fund the Association's activities and sponsored events. Please join the Association today, or renew your dues paid membership. Visit us at (http://www.bvsca.org)
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Mail to: Patricia Horoschak
BVSCA Treasurer
3800 N. Fairfax Dr., #1804
Arlington, VA 22203
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