1. Healthcare

Newsletter
No. 2, 2015
February 2015
Website: http://www.crystalcitycivic.org/ Previous newsletters
are listed on the website
What is the
Crystal City Civic
Association?
The Crystal City Civic Association was established on
January 28, 2014, with the purpose of advancing the
common interests of the residents of the Crystal City
neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia. Arlington
County's long-term plans for Crystal City entail decades
of major change, in accordance with the Crystal City
Sector Plan approved in 2010. Those plans call for
density to increase by 60% and the number of residents
to double by 2050. Such plans will require very
thoughtful implementation with input from everyone;
many projects are already underway. You can visit the
Crystal City/Pentagon City webpage for Arlington
County to get an overview of what is being planned:
http://sites.arlingtonva.us/ccpc/revitalization-2/.
As we grow, the CCCA will increasingly serve as a voice
of Crystal City residents. In future newsletters, we will
continue to inform our membership of key issues and
development projects that will impact all of us.
Commentary in italics reflects our CCCA involvement and
experience. We will occasionally include more in depth
articles to help residents learn more about some of the
issues our community is facing.
DUES REMINDER: The annual dues of $10 are now
due for the 2015 calendar year. Please send your dues
to Treasurer Diane Oksanen-Gooden at 1200 Crystal
Drive. We have over 135 members, and fewer than
half have paid their 2015 due Your CCCA is only as
good as your participation and support. We can’t do it
without you!
COME JOIN US.CRYSTAL CITY NEEDS YOU.
If you are not yet a member of the CCCA, we encourage
you to join and become an active participant in crafting
the future of our neighborhood. We need lots of help on
our committees: Development Issues/Land Use;
Transit/Transportation; Open Space; Environmental
Issues; Public Safety; and other areas.
Volunteers Needed for the CCCA Executive
Committee: We Need You!
On January 28, we celebrated our first year of existence
as a civic association. We've come a long way in that
time and established ourselves as the respectable voice
of Crystal City residents. Arlington County, developers,
and other organizations contact us frequently to take a
"sense" of what residents want and what their concerns
are. We are setting into a pattern of General meetings
every 2-3 months to provide opportunities for residents
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
to meet with key representatives of government and the
private sector who play a major role in the present and
future of Crystal City. Your Executive Committee takes
the lead on these meetings and follows the issues in
order to hear from CCCA members and keep them
informed.
But we need help.
Due to moves and changes in
outside commitments, we now have two unexpected
vacancies in the Executive Committee: Communications
Director and Membership Liaison. The duties are not
onerous and committee meetings happen only every 1-2
months. The description of the two offices is listed in
sections 4.7 and 4.8 of the CCCA Bylaws on our website:
http://crystalcitycivic.org/bylaws.pdf. If you would like
to learn more about the duties or present your
candidacy, please send an email to the
[email protected] address to let us know of
your interest.
CCCA General Meeting January 28
Over 70 people attended the CCCA General Meeting
January 28 to hear Mitch Bonanno, Senior Vice President
and Director of Development for Vornado, who oversees
all their
commercial
projects in
our area, talk
about
development
issues in
Crystal City.
Vornado bought out the commercial space from Crystal
City developer Charles E. Smith 12 years ago, while the
residential properties were bought by Archstone and
now owned by Equity Residential. Vornado does own
three properties in our area: River House, 220 Twentieth
Street, and Bartlett (under construction). He spoke
about the
economic
challenges Crystal
City and Vornado
face and gave a
status report on
the projects which
Vornado currently
has in the pipeline.
Vornado Adapting to Economic Downturn: Bonanno
was forthright about the negative impact that the Base
Realignment and Closure Plan (BRAC) has had on the
Northern Virginia area, especially weakening the
2
demand for commercial space in Crystal City, resulting in
3 million square feet of vacancies in 8 empty buildings.
Arlington County used to be able to compensate for
downturns in the economy because of attractive rental
costs, but the situation has changed and the County and
Vornado are facing stiff economic competitiveness from
other areas in the region, such as NOMA and Tysons,
which are offering significantly lower rates. Moreover,
the General Services Administration (GSA) has changed
its policies, working towards greater efficiency, by
moving further into the suburbs, pitting communities
against one another to bid for GSA space, and
consolidating its work forces into smaller spaces--e.g.,
eliminating even cubicles and organizing workers around
a common table with laptops and no file cabinets.
Arlington County developed a good plan for smart
growth 40 years ago, but needs to modernize it. Crystal
City's attributes are open space, its proximity to the
airport, and good transportation access via Metro and
bus. Crystal City has the best smart transportation in
Arlington with some 50% of its workers using public
transit, bikes, walking or non-single car. Whereas the
streetcar might not have had a big impact on Crystal
City, the way it was planned for Colombia Pike, the
Transitway should contribute positively.
Changing the Nature of Commercial Space: Crystal City
was focused for years around commercial space in the
underground, with tunnels connecting to the Metro and
shops facing to the inside, to cater to a thriving
governmental clientele prior to the BRAC. Now, Crystal
City does not have a lot to attract outsiders to come
visit, other than residents and local workers during the
day. In the current cultural climate, commercial space
needs to face more outwards to the street in order to
attract customers. The area from 23rd to 20th Streets
on Crystal Drive was upgraded intentionally about 15
years ago with a choice of restaurants and now the new
Tech Shop, and thought is being given to similar
upgrades between 20th and 18th streets. Vornado had a
Design Lab where six architects designed innovative
work spaces in a competition that drew 5,000 visitors
and resulted in leasing four out of six spaces. Bonanno
was blunt that for Crystal City to survive, it must adapt to
a changing environment as well. The vision which
Vornado and the Crystal City BID (Business Interest
District) have is to actively attract visitors and will be
viewed successful when the community markets itself.
To adapt, Vornado is offering deals it never would have
offered years ago and seeking more innovative projects
that create a "buzz" to attract young professionals and
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
entrepreneurs, like the "We Live" concept for Plaza 6.
The new Highline Bar and Restaurant, which is a nonfranchise entity set to open February 2 and remain open
until 2 am, will appeal to a younger crowd and provide an
incentive to visit Crystal City after work hours. Vornado
actively courted Whole Foods for seven years and finally
clinched the deal with the combination of two phases for
the Pentagon City development on the corner of Eads
Street and the upcoming extension of 12th Street.
Projects in the Pipeline: The planned development of
1900 Crystal Drive, vacant for 3 ½ years, is on hold until
the demand for commercial space improves to justify a
$300 million investment. When completed it will be a
state-of-the-art commercial building with outward
facing retail on the ground floor. Plaza 5 (behind Jaleo
on 23rd Street), vacant for 4 years, was a USG lease for
40 years and will need to be torn down and rebuilt
completely for tenant suitability. Plaza 6 (23rd and
Clark Streets) requires mostly interior renovation to
meet the needs of 250 residents/entrepreneurs and
office space, based on the new "We Live" concept where
entrepreneurs rent smaller living quarters but work in
the building where they live.
Open Space Survey: In the spring of 2014, Vornado
consulted with Project for Public Spaces (PPS) to
conduct a community outreach process focused on
evaluating the use and user perceptions of open spaces
in Crystal City. The results of 833 survey responses are in
draft and will be posted on the CCCA website when
available. Although there were no major conclusions,
the top three most suggested improvements were:
more outdoor food and dining, better and more
widespread WiFi access, and more live entertainment.
Currently, the most popular open space is Tuesday's
Farmers Market. The first implemented idea was
improvement to the open space in front of 2121 Crystal
Drive with cool, colorful, and movable furniture.
Open Forum: Bonanno did his best to answer he followup questions, even when not related to Vornado's
responsibilities. Some highlights. The building
proposed in the Crystal City Sector Plan for the current
park on 12th Street is not on the front burner and will
not happen until the commercial market improves. In
response to concern that the embankment in that park is
crumbling and that steps are needed, he offered to look
into it. The park on Crystal Drive at the entrance to
Long Bridge Park is scheduled to remain open space,
but its future depends on when Arlington County will
eventually assume ownership from Vornado. (NOTE:
These issues are matters that the CCCA Open Space
3
Committee is following.) In response to concern that
homeless are appearing at The Landing and doing
panhandling, Bonanno explained that they have to walk
a fine line about public spaces but was unaware that this
was becoming a problem. The residential emphasis on
apartments versus condos will continue because that is
where the market is and mixing of the two in a single
building is generally not done. Moreover, Vornado is a
real estate investment trust, and they want continuing
income from rentals. However, another developer
LCOR just received County approval to build one condo
and one apartment tower in the new 400 Army Navy
Drive redevelopment. Boeing is currently moving into
its new building facing Long Bridge Park, leaving its
current Vornado rental space at Gateway 3 vacant when
the lease expires in 2016. Lowe Enterprises has only
been able to lease the top floor of 1400 Crystal Drive,
after extensive renovations--a strong signal of the weak
commercial market in Crystal City.
“If you stand still, you fall behind”
In his presentation, Mitch Bonanno used this famous
expression to illustrate the dilemma of Crystal City. As
became apparent already during the Crystal City Planning
Process and then tends to come up in connection with
plans for new development in our area, Crystal City
residents are not very different from populations
elsewhere. We tend to embrace those aspects of our living
environment which we personally value and have become
used to over the years or decades. And as we are ageing,
we may even become more concerned about the potential
impact of change.
Mitch Bonanno noted that Crystal City has many inherent
advantages as a location, and we may always have a
certain edge when it comes to attracting new office
tenants and residents. But our buildings are becoming
dated, our infrastructure and our public realm are showing
their age, and Crystal City may not seem as vibrant as
some of the areas with which we compete. So, all in all, it
is becoming increasingly clear that it is inevitable that we
see a rejuvenation and an adaptation to what these days,
and in the future, will make us more competitive.
For instance, we cannot just complain that our retail in
Crystal City is struggling, without appreciating that every
area needs a ‘critical mass’ of residents, day-time workers
and visitors to support the kind of retail and amenities we
want. So then we must be prepared to accept new ideas
and changes which are needed to attract those new office
tenants, residents and visitors. Without that influx, there
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
is a risk that Crystal City will stagnate, to the detriment of
those of us who already live here and want to stay.
Similarly, if we want to see the necessary improvements
in terms of open space and infrastructure, then we also
need to support the County and the landowners in their
efforts to create the economic base to make that happen.
And if we want to see the image of Crystal City change
enough to make developers and investors willing to put
money into our neighborhood, then yet again we need to
be flexible and ready to accept that our environment may
need to become a bit more oriented to the life styles and
preferences of the entire demographic spectrum. Crystal
City is in fact increasingly influenced by a younger
population.
Development Issues
New Planning Coordinator to Support Crystal
City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard
Arlington County has appointed Anthony Fusarelli Jr., a
principal planner with the County’s Planning Division, as
its new planning
coordinator for the
Crystal City, Pentagon
City and Potomac
Yard planning areas.
In this newly created
position, Fusarelli will
manage the day-today planning, public
outreach,
development review
and other related
activities for the two metro station areas and the
associated neighborhoods.
“The Planning Coordinator will be supported by other
Planning Division staff and work with County
departments to address planning and related issues. This
position will play a significant role in the Division’s
management team,” said Arlington County Planning
Director, Bob Duffy. “We heard from the community
that it was important to have a dedicated planning
professional to work with, and with this appointment,
we are making that commitment.”
Fusarelli will work closely with the area’s residents, civic
associations, the Crystal City Business Improvement
District (BID), developers, property and business owners,
advisory commissions and other stakeholders to:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Coordinate the implementation of the Crystal City
Sector Plan;
Coordinate planning efforts associated with the
Pentagon City and Potomac Yard Phased
Development Site Plans;
Assess future planning needs and prepare proposals
for consideration;
Lead future urban design, planning, zoning studies;
Represent the Planning Division as part of
interdepartmental teams responsible for
transportation and public facility improvement
projects; and
Prepare staff recommendations for consideration by
the County Manager, County Board and Planning
Commission.
Fusarelli has more than 12 years of experience in urban
and regional planning. He has successfully led a number
of community planning processes in Arlington County,
including the development of the award-winning Crystal
winning Crystal City Sector Plan, the North Quincy
Street Plan Addendum, and the ongoing Rosslyn Sector
Plan Update. He will continue to actively lead efforts to
complete the Rosslyn Sector Plan Update. This process
is expected to conclude by the spring. Concurrently,
Fusarelli will begin transitioning to his new role starting
in February. His contact is 703-228-3548 or
[email protected]
Comment: The CCCA Executive Committee is pleased with
the appointment of Anthony Fusarelli to the new position
of Prinicipal Planner for Crystal City and Pentagon City. .
In our experience with him over the years as he served as
the primary contact for Arlington County on development
of the Crystal City Sector Plan, we have come to
appreciate his enormous knowledge of, and support for,
Crystal City matters, as well as his skills and his attitude.
In this new position, with a major emphasis on outreach
and interface with the public, we look forward to having
someone with Anthony’s dedication and ability to create
rapport.It should also help ensure better
interdepartmental coordination between the many County
projects in Crystal City. CCCA members will recall that we
invited him to give an overview of the Sector Plan in our
Civic Association’s inaugural General Meeting in May
2014. Many commented favorably on the presentation.
His appointment should give a clear signal to our
community that "the County means business" in its
endeavor to give special attention to development and
community relations in Crystal City. To this end, we plan
to invite both Mr. Fusarelli and his boss, Planning Director
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Bob Duffy, to attend a CCCA General Meeting, perhaps in
March or April.
Crystal City’s “Paper Clip” Building Site To
Be Redeveloped
On January 24, the Arlington County Board voted to
approve redevelopment of 400 Army Navy Drive,
replacing a 1967 office building with a 20-story
residential building with two towers and 453 units. The
proposed 400 Army Navy Drive development would
replace the office building known as the “Paperclip
Building” due to window patterns at the uppermost
level. The existing building has been vacant due to the
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) legislation.
There will be two distinct towers, with a total of 453
multiple-family dwelling units. The redevelopment is
guided by the standards set forth in the Crystal City
Sector Plan, the blueprint for the next generation of
development in Crystal City that the County Board
adopted in 2010. 400 Army Navy Drive is the third major
site plan that’s been approved since the Board adopted
the Sector Plan. The other two were 1720 S. Eads St. and
1900 Crystal Drive.
The project provides more than $9.7 million in public
benefits, including 15 on-site committed affordable
housing units; a $2.2 million contribution to the
Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF);
beautification improvements to a small adjacent parcel
of land called the “Teardrop Parcel;” $1 million to the
Army Navy Drive Complete Streets Project; a $1.1
million contribution to Crystal City Open Space, and
$280,000 contribution to traffic signal upgrades. The
current plan ) is to make the North Tower into about 150
condos and the South Tower into about 300 rental units.
http://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/crystal-cityspaper-clip-building-site-to-be-redeveloped/
5
revised, or whether any deep-pocketed private entities
would be interested in providing money for the
natatorium. Schwartz said it’s unlikely any
recommendations would be likely before mid-2015.
Currently, Crystal City residents without a pool in their
condo or apartment complex have to travel 5-20 miles to
one of the Arlington County public pools, with the
Washington-Lee pool near Washington Boulevard being
the closest. However, because the project remains on
hold, the money already approved and borrowed cannot
be reallocated to construct neighborhood community
pools on the Long Bridge site or elsewhere. This money
cannot be used to perform long-deferred maintenance
at other parks or to purchase additional parkland.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dcpolitics/olympics-loss-will-not-deep-six-arlingtonsplans-for-long-bridge-aquaticscenter/2015/01/09/c718a3f4-9836-11e4-80051924ede3e54a_story.html?wprss=rss_virginia-politics
American Diabetes Association to shift
headquarters from Alexandria to Crystal City
The American Diabetes Association has reached a deal
to shift its national headquarters from Alexandria, where
it has been since it moved to the D.C. region from
Manhattan more than a decade ago, to a new home in
Crystal City. The association has signed a lease for about
78,000 square feet [The association originally signed on
for nearly 70,000 square feet but increased that to
78,000 when the lease was finalized Jan. 20] with
Vornado Realty Trust at 2451 Crystal Drive, one of the
buildings the military vacated as part of its 2005 Base
Realignment and Closure plan.
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_grou
nd/2015/01/american-diabetes-association-to-moveheadquarters.html
Aquatics Center or Community Pool?
"Crystal City is not just underground
anymore"
Controversy over the cost of the proposed Aquatic
Center at Long Bridge Park has obscured the fact that
other projects were also being planned. Mark Schwartz,
Deputy County Manager, said Arlington is “still
committed” to building the Long Bridge Aquatics and
Fitness Center “without any new taxpayer funds.” Mary
Hynes, Chairman of the County Board, said the County
may choose to finish parts of the park that don’t include
the pool complex itself. The Esplanade could be
completed, and a fourth soccer field is planned to be
built above the existing surface parking lot, she said.
County staff is still working on whether plans should be
The Washington Post published a favorable article on
Crystal City January 2 in its "Where we Live" real estate
section. Focusing on how Crystal City is reinventing
itself in the wake of the Base Realignment and Closing
(BRAC) trauma which left so many buildings unoccupied,
the article notes that Crystal City "has a little bit of
everything as well as lots of restaurants and hotels."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/where-welive-crystal-city-not-just-undergroundanymore/2014/12/31/1c8436d4-8575-11e4-9534f79a23c40e6c_story.html?wprss=rss_local-virginiasocial&wpisrc=nl_va&wpmm=1
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Arlington County, APS Launch Facilities
Planning Effort
Recently, the County’s rushed effort to introduce a policy
under the heading “Public Land for Public Good” caused
some backlash, in both the Civic Federation and the
Planning Commission. This caused Mary Hynes, as the
new County Board Chair, to introduce as her new major
initiative for 2015, a more comprehensive review, with a
broader coverage and a longer-term perspective, through a
Facilities Study Committee. See information below and
the "charge" which is linked. The group, which was handpicked by the County Board and the School Board, has a
mix of younger and older folks, with expertise in the areas
involved and/or experience from County processes for
planning and policy matters. CCCA Vice President for
Policy and Planning Christer Ahl was appointed as one of
the members. Thus, he will be able to bring to the process
the perspective of a unique community such as ours, and
bring back useful insights to the CCCA. It is also
understood that the Committee will ensure outreach and
consultation with Civic Associations and other groups in
the County. On January 27, the Arlington County Board
voted unanimously to drop the affordable housingoriented “Public Land for Public Good” initiative and wait
for the findings of its new Facilities Study Committee.
On January 23, the Arlington County Board, in a joint
work session with the School Board, adopted a charge,
and appointed 24 members to the Facilities Study
Committee for the Arlington Community Facilities
Study, a long-range, collaborative planning effort that
will build a consensus framework regarding the
community’s future funding and facility needs. The
study will inform County and School Board decisionmaking related to needs such as new schools, fire
stations, and public vehicle storage sites in the context
of the region’s projected growth over the next 5, 10 and
20 year timeframes. Input from the committee will help
ensure broad participation and an outcome that will help
the Board make critical decisions when it updates the
Capital Improvement Plan in July 2016. The two Boards
named John Milliken, a retired partner with Venable LLP,
who served on the County Board from January 1981
through March 1990, and Planning Commissioner Ginger
Briggs Brown, chair and vice chair of the Study
Committee. Former Director of Community Planning,
Housing and Development Susan Bell will serve as the
liaison between the committee and County staff. Hynes,
Vihstadt, APS Board Chairman Lander and APS Board
Member Nancy Van Doren, will serve as the two Board’s
liaisons to the study committee. The study committee
will report to both Boards in September and November
6
2015. Proposed criteria and facility-siting process
recommendations will be presented in September and
will inform the development of the 2017-2026 Capital
Improvement Plans (CIPs). The final report in November
may include recommendations for next-step public
processes. Broad community input will inform the study
committee and the outcome of the study. A series of
educational forums through June 2015 are expected to
serve as the basis for dialogue between the Study
Committee and the broad community. Forums are
expected on the County’s demographics, the County and
region’s economic drivers, and public facility funding,
among others.
Key questions the study will address:
•
What are our facility needs for schools, fire stations,
recreation, and transportation vehicle and other
storage?
• How do we pay for these needs?
• What principles and criteria should we use to help us
decide where to locate them?
• In the context of changing demographics and
economics, what opportunities and challenges are
there in our aging affordable and workforce multifamily housing stock?
• What do changes in the Federal government
presence and the residential and private commercial
marketplace mean for County revenues?
http://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlingtoncounty-aps-launch-facilities-planning-effort/
Improvements to ART Facility on South Eads
Street
Arlington County Transit is planning improvements to
the ART facility along South Eads Street. After
consultation with the CCCA and other affected civic
associations and further consideration and planning,
Arlington County Transit no longer intends to use the
31st Street lot to temporarily store buses while the ART
facility is under construction. Buses will be stored in a
vacant lot near Four Mile Run during the facility
construction. We have been advised by Rami R. Natour,
Facilities Project Specialist , DES – Facilities Design and
Construction, that staff is committed to coordinating
with the Crystal City Civic Association and the affected
civic associations on future plans in the area and looks
forward to working with the community to deliver high
quality cost effective services.
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Potomac Yard Metrorail station
The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board
agreed January 14 to give Alexandria a $50 million lowinterest loan for construction of the new Metro station at
Potomac Yard. The Potomac Yard Metrorail Station,
one of the city’s highest priorities, would be built on
Metrorail’s Yellow and Blue Lines, between the existing
Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington
National Airport stations, and the city expects it to
generate billions of dollars in new private sector
investment. The station, which is expected to cost
between $209 million and $268 million, has been in the
planning stages for years. Public comment on a draft
environmental impact statement will be taken in March,
according to the city’s Web site.
http://www.alexandriava.gov/potomacyard/default.aspx
?id=56902
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginiapolitics/alexandria-gets-50-million-state-loan-forpotomac-yard-metrorail-station/2015/01/14/a4e1a9ec9c2e-11e4-a7ee526210d665b4_story.html?wprss=rss_local-virginiasocial&wpisrc=nl_va&wpmm=1
Arlington County
Issues
Arlington County Board Member Walter
Tejada Will Not Seek Reelection
Walter Tejada announced January 28 that he will not
seek reelection this year. At least four Democrats are
expected to announce their intention to run for County
Board in the coming weeks, with many announcements
expected to happen at February’s Arlington County
Democratic Committee meeting. County Board Chair
Mary Hynes is also up for reelection this year — she has
not yet said whether she intends to run.
Arlington County Names New Director of
Planning
Steven Cover, director of planning in Madison, Wis., will
become Arlington County’s chief of planning, housing
and development, county officials announced January 9.
Cover, 58, takes over in March from Robert Brosnan,
who has led the Department of Community Planning,
Housing and Development since 2011 and who was
previously Planning Director since 1988. Brosnan, a
county employee since 1977, will remain with the County
7
for the next six months to ease the transition and work
on a special project for the County Manager, and then
intends to retire.
Post-Streetcar Planning
At the January. 27 County Board meeting, County
Manager Barbara Donnellan gave a progress update on
the shutdown of the streetcar program and the start of
post-streetcar planning efforts. Read her presentation
(PDF), which is available on the Projects & Planning
page: http://projects.arlingtonva.us/
What's going to happen to Arlington County
Volunteer programs?
Arlington County wishes to consider whether
outsourcing the Volunteer Arlington program now
housed in the County’s Department of Human Services
would lead to an enhanced level of volunteer activity
throughout the community. Regardless of any change in
delivery, the County's goal is to ensure that all residents
and workers - regardless of their background, age or
socioeconomic status - have access to reliable avenues
that lead to volunteer opportunities in Arlington's nonprofit and public sectors. The County Manager has
appointed an Advisory Task Force to make
recommendations to help shape the future direction of
volunteer services in our community. An important step
is to gather input from stakeholders to ensure that
concerns and aspirations are reflected in alternatives
considered and to incorporate advice and
recommendations from the broader community into the
decisions. Please click on the link below to complete a
short survey on volunteer services and needs in
Arlington. Your feedback is important and will help
determine the future of volunteer services in the County.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZW8GN8T
The Volunteer Arlington Advisory Task Force will review
survey results as well as information gathered from
community meetings to recommend changes to the
current Volunteer Arlington program. The Task Force
will analyze and catalog current volunteer services,
examine strategic enhancements that may be needed in
the next few years, and make a recommendation on
whether or not to outsource the Volunteer Arlington
program. The current Volunteer Arlington program has
several core services: an on-line volunteer matching
function connecting residents with volunteer
opportunities in non-profit and public agencies, and
promotion, training, and celebrating volunteerism.
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Chief of Police to Retire
Arlington County Chief of Police M. Douglas Scott will
retire March 20, 2015, following a 40-year career in law
enforcement. He has served as Arlington County Chief of
Police since 2003.
http://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/chief-of-policem-douglas-scott-to-retire-in-march-2015/
Arlington Future Office Market Study
For the last 30 years, Arlington has been the model for
transit-oriented commercial development in the
National Capital Region and beyond. The County is now
studying the future of its office market in light of a
changing economy, increased efficiency in workplace
design, and a new generation of office workers who
think differently about their workplaces and
communities than past generations. To look extensively
at this changing market and evaluate what needs to be
done, a Task Force of the Economic Development
Commission and Arlington Economic Development
prepared the Future Office Market Study. The study
covers new ways of working, efficient workspace design,
federal presence and policies, and the characteristics and
preferences of the upcoming generation of workers. The
study is comprised of a research element, a set of
guiding principles and a video presentation. It was
delivered to the Arlington County Board as an
informational item on January 20th, 2015.
http://arlington.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=
2&event_id=794&meta_id=127605
Arlington County Projects & Planning
For a current listing of County projects underway or
planned, see their website:
http://projects.arlingtonva.us/projects/crystal-city/
Fire Safety
There have been a number of high-visibility fires in the
region recently. The Arlington County Fire Department
reminds you to:
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Install smoke alarms on every floor and in every
bedroom.
Test your smoke alarms every month by pressing the
“test” button.
Change the batteries in all alarms twice a year with
daylight savings time, unless you alarm is equipped
with a 10 year lithium battery.
Ensure every person in your home understands and
practices your home fire escape plan twice a year.
Your plan should include two ways out of every
room, getting low, closing the door behind, going
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directly to your predetermined family meeting place,
and then calling 9-1-1.
If you do not have a working smoke alarm, the fire
department provides free smoke alarm installations for
Arlington County residents.
http://fire.arlingtonva.us/community-services/requestfree-smoke-alarm/
Arlington County Recreational Activities
The Department of Parks & Recreation is organizing a
series of free family friendly programs on Saturday
nights for residents of all ages. The next one will be
International Family Nigh at the new Arlington Mill
Community Center Saturday, February 6 from 7-9 p.m.
Go around the world in two hours with us and make
memories at a multicultural night filled with fun! All ages
welcome, ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an
adult. For more info visit our event page. March’s fun
night will be Family Movie Night on March 6. April 10
will be "Families Giving Back" and May 1 will be "Family
Fiesta" for a Cinco de Mayo tradition.
http://parks.arlingtonva.us/programs/kids/family-nightsmill/
What's happening at Parks & Recreation
Check out this very active department in Arlington
County. You can subscribe to the Parks & Recreation
emails to get the following type of information on all
kinds of events and activities:
http://arlingtonparks.us/enews.html
Last Call for Bill Thomas Award Nominations
The Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Award was
established to pay tribute to lifelong parks volunteer Bill
Thomas and to honor and encourage those residents
who also demonstrate a passionate dedication and
support for our dynamic programs, natural resources
and public open spaces. For more information about the
Award or to nominate an outstanding parks volunteer,
click here. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Friday,
February 6.
National Youth Congress Internship Opportunity
Teens wanted–to apply for the National Youth Congress
internship! Selected teens 14-18 will learn about the
parks and recreation field and other service jobs; develop
career and leadership skills and gain independence.
These internships range from office work to assistance in
daycare programs to assisting someone who works in a
highly ranked position. Applications are due Monday,
February 9. For more information visit our web page.
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Save the Dates
Summer Camp Online Registration (residents) starts
Wednesday, February 18 @ 7 a.m. Look out for the
2015 Summer Camp Guide on the web, in community
centers, libraries and in your mailbox in early February.
Ready, Sweat, Go: Still Time to Save
Until 1/31/15, take advantage of these January Fitness
Membership specials created to help you succeed!
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$1 drop-in fitness classes with a membership; $5 for
non-members. Valid through 1/31/15.
Three free drop-in fitness class passes good for
future use at Thomas Jefferson Fitness Center if you
purchase of an Annual Fitness Membership (Adult,
Senior, Employee only) by 1/31/15. (Free passes valid
until 2/28/15.)
Arlington County offers cardio, strength, spinning,
Pilates, personal training and more to help you reach
your goals for 2015. Learn more at parks.arlingtonva.us,
search fitness.
Spring Nature Center Classes
Registration for Spring Nature Center classes starts
Tuesday, February 10. Look out for The Snag catalog on
the web and in libraries, community and nature centers
in early February.
Native Plant Sale
Want to improve your yard for local birds and
butterflies? Then it’s time to grow native! Beginning
February 10-April 10, we are offering a great selection of
plants that are accustomed to local climate and wildlife.
We have natives for sun to shade, even deer resistant
plants. Pre-order your favorites plants so you don’t miss
out! These are just a few of what we have to offer! We’ll
also have a wider selection to choose from on the day:
Dutchman’s breeches, Virginia Bluebells, Spiderwort,
Whitewood Aster and more. Pick up Friday. April 24
from 3-6 p.m. and Saturday. April 25 from 10 a.m. noon at Long Branch Nature Center.
Applications now being accepted for the Spring 2015
Arlington Regional Master Naturalists Volunteer
Training
Become a Master Naturalist volunteer! Recognized
experts in a wide range of disciplines, including ecology,
botany, herpetology, entomology, mammalogy,
ornithology, climate and forest and aquatic ecosystems
provide fun and interactive training. Master Naturalist
volunteers gain Virginia state certification through stateapproved natural history courses with a local focus. The
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Virginia Master Naturalist program prepares volunteers
to provide education, citizen science, and outreach to
conserve and manage natural resources and public
lands. Graduates must complete at least 40 hours of
service annually to become certified. Training will be
held February 24 - June 9 on Tuesdays from 7- 10 p.m. at
Long Branch Nature Center. There will also be four
required all-day field trips on Saturdays. Applications
are due Sunday, February 1. Please note that space
for this training is limited. For more information and to
complete an application http://armn.org or
[email protected].
Four Mile Run Restoration Project Update
Curious about what’s going on with the Four Mile Run
Restoration Project? Come to the Joint Task Force
Meeting Wednesday, February 4t, from 7:00 pm – 8:30
pm at the Arlington County Park Operations Building,
2700 S. Taylor St. Arlington, VA 22206. Following the
adoption of the Master Plan in 2006, Arlington County
and Alexandria have developed designs for in-stream
and wetland improvement projects. Construction should
begin on these projects in 2015. Learn more about
these exciting projects, see the plans, and hear about the
proposed schedule at the Joint Task Force meeting. For
more information check out the Four Mile Run website
at: http://novaregion.org/index.aspx?nid=214 or contact
Dana Wedeles, Urban Planner at
[email protected]; Aileen Winquist,
Watershed Outreach Program Manager at
[email protected].
2015-16 Decal Winner Announced
Arlington County residents have chosen Yorktown High
School Junior Tommy Casey’s enhanced photographic
design called “A Nod to History” as the winning design in
the 2015-16 Decal Design Competition. The County
Board announced the winner of the eleventh annual
Decal Design Competition at its meeting today. Casey’s
design will appear on the windshields of more than
160,000 vehicles in
Arlington County. The
scene is a nighttime
photograph of a
distinctive 10-story
building in Ballston,
owned by the JBG
Companies. Casey, a
senior at Yorktown High
School, creatively
retouched the picture
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
with dynamic lighting and light streaks to show more
vibrancy
http://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/2015-16-decalwinner-announced/
Other News:
Proposal for HOT Lines on I-66
The Virginia government wants to convert all lanes of
Interstate 66 inside the Beltway to high occupancy toll
lanes for rush hour travel by 2017. As on Northern
Virginia’s other HOT lanes, drivers would pay a toll that
rises or falls with the level of traffic congestion. Drivers
with at least two passengers could ride free. Unlike the
express lanes on the Capital Beltway and I-95/395, the I66 inside-the-Beltway version would be HOT only at
peak periods. I-66 takes drivers on one of the longest,
slowest commutes in the D.C. region. The plan would
dramatically change commuting for tens of thousands of
travelers. But it’s only part of a program that is
transforming the highway network in Northern Virginia.
VDOT has scheduled a series of public meetings to
discuss the proposed plan. The first one, scheduled for
Monday January 26, was canceled due to the weather
and rescheduled for February 3 at Oakton High School,
2900 Sutton Road, Vienna. The session is set for 6 to
8:30 p.m.,
with a staff
presentation
that begins
at 7 p.m.
Unfortunatel
y, the rest of
the quickly
scheduled
meetings
were all scheduled for January 27-29. The meetings
allow Northern Virginians to review the proposal to
rebuild I-66 so that it will have two high-occupancy toll
(HOT) lanes and three regular lanes in each direction
between the Beltway and Route 15 in Haymarket.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/drgridlock/wp/2015/01/21/i-66-could-go-all-hot-inside-thebeltway/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommu
ting/virginias-hot-lanes-could-be-the-future-of-ustransportation/2015/01/20/feaccfc2-973f-11e4-927a4fa2638cd1b0_story.html?wprss=rss_local-arlingtonsocial&wpisrc=nl_arlington&wpmm=1
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Stealing from the Hungry?
A burglar made off with 200 pounds of meat between
Friday night January 23 and Saturday morning January
24, just before the Arlington Food Assistance Center was
set to give out its weekly meals to families in Nauck.
According to AFAC Executive Director Charles Meng ,
AFAC dropped off its usual delivery on Friday night at
2229 Shirlington Road, at the Bonder and Amanda
Johnson Community Development Corporation, to be
distributed to families on Saturday. At some point
overnight, according to Meng and police reports, a
burglar entered the building and stole about 200 pounds
of meat. Meng said AFAC served a record 2,230 families
last month and he’s projecting AFAC will exceed its food
budget by $150,000 for the second straight year. The
cost of replacing the food is $200. To donate, see the
website: http://www.afac.org/
Crystal Couture - Show & Sale
From Thursday February 5 to Saturday February 7 from
6:00pm to 10:00pm, this fashion show and high-end
bargain retail pop-up sale returns to Crystal City! About
50 of the metropolitan area’s most stylish boutiques,
designers, and fashion retailers will all display under one
roof. This one-stop shopping experience lets guests
browse discounted offerings on the rack AND on the
runway as models showcase select offerings while
enjoying sips from the bar, free 5-minute make-up and
hair makeovers, chats with fashion consultants, and
music from DJ Neekola. See more at:
http://crystalcity.org/do/crystalcouture5#sthash.TAa5CuSq.dpuf
New Highline Bar to Open February 2
Check out the January 23 Washington Post Going Out
Guide article on the new Crystal City bar over
McCormick & Schmidt's. The Highline owners are
seeking input on whether customers will want live music
or not, so check out their website if you want to
comment: http://highlinerxr.com/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-outguide/wp/2015/01/23/5-things-to-know-about-highlinerxr-coming-to-crystal-city-in-february/
Encore Learning for Seniors
To all those 55 and older, Encore Learning (EL), a notfor-profit all volunteer learning center, is beginning its
Spring term soon (registration February 9, classes begin
March 2). EL was organized in 2002 by a group of
seniors interested in continuing to learn. Teachers , all
volunteers, are drawn from the DC area's enviable trove
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
of people on the cutting edge of most everything. If this
interests you, please visit our web site at www.encorelearning.net. Catalogs are available at
Arlington libraries and senior centers.
Low Income/Low Cost Vouchers for Arlington
Spay Day for Pets
In conjunction with World Spay Day, the Animal Welfare
League of Arlington and designated animal
hospitals/clinics will be offering the lowest spay/neuter
prices of the year for pets of low-income clients in the
Washington DC metro area. Vouchers will be sold
starting January 21, 2015 throughout the month of
February 2015 (or until we run out) and the surgeries will
take place at area veterinary facilities in Northern
Virginia. Participating vet clinics include Anicira Vet
Center, Arlington Animal Hospital, Clarendon Animal
Care, Fairfax Animal Hospital and NOVA Cat Clinic.
Pet owners must meet the annual household income
requirement of $60,000 or less (proof of household
income is required) plus they must be available to drop
off their animal the morning of the surgery and pick up
their animal late afternoon/early evening of the same
day of their scheduled surgery date.
Our special Spay Day pricing will be: $25 for Male Cats,
$50 for Female Cats and $75 for Dogs (Male or Female).
All pure breed Pit Bulls will be spayed or neutered at the
special price of $25(proof of breed will be required,
please call our front desk at (703) 931-9241, ext. 200 with
any questions). The League will also have a limited
number of rabbit spay and neuter appointments for $50
each. The League and participating vets will be
subsidizing the rest of the cost of the surgeries per
animal. Discounted vaccines will also be available on the
day of surgery. Pet owners who purchase vouchers will
also be offered a coupon for a $15 microchip, valid at two
of the AWLA mircochip clinics. Owners are required to
purchase their voucher at the Animal Welfare League of
Arlington, located at 2650 S. Arlington Mill Dr. Arlington,
VA 22206 and schedule their pet's surgery directly with
the animal hospital/clinic.
We will have a limited number of vouchers available and
they will be sold in person on a first-come, first-served
basis. Please bring the proof-of-income (i.e. signed copy
of most current tax return, W-2 statement(s) or social
security/disability documentation) when purchasing your
voucher -- cash or credit card only (no checks). If you
have any questions, please call the front desk at (703)
931-9241.
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Bad Weather Reminder
Stay informed before, during and after a winter storm
with the County’s Snow and Ice Central webpage,
including information, phone numbers and tips on
dealing with snow and ice in Arlington, VA:
http://emergency.arlingtonva.us/weather/snow-ice/
Interested in Being a Foster Parent?
For Children's Sake of Virginia, a local non-profit foster
care agency, is currently seeking new families interested
in becoming foster parents. Contact Mary Anna
Edmonds, MA, Case Manager, For Children's Sake of
Virginia, [email protected].
Applications now being accepted for the
2015 Class of Tree Stewards
The TreeStewards of Arlington and Alexandria are
volunteers dedicated to improving the health of our
urban trees through educational programs, tree planting
and care, demonstrations and tree maintenance
throughout the community. New volunteer training will
be held on Tuesday evenings, starting Feb. 3 through
April 2015, with some Saturday mornings. Fun and
interactive training is provided by recognized experts in
tree care and citizen advocates. Join us and learn how to
care for trees on the streets, in parks, at schools,
churches, temples, and in your neighborhood. For more
information and to complete an application, visit the
TreeSteward website at www.TreeStewards.org or
email [email protected].
Interested in Volunteer Opportunities?
The Washington Post posts a variety of opportunities in
the Alexandria-Arlington Local Living section on
Thursdays. Options range from environmental work to
assistance to the elderly to visitor assistance at Reagan
National Airport. Take a look:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arlingtonalexandria-volunteeropportunities/2015/01/08/b93e2156-95b5-11e4-aabdd0b93ff613d5_story.html?wprss=rss_local-arlingtonsocial&wpisrc=nl_arlington&wpmm=1
Free One-on-One Tech Tutoring
The Arlington Public Library offers free one-on-one tech
tutoring. New holiday gadgets still got you tied up in
knots? Your Public Library can help with gift gadgets
and more. We offer free one-on-one tech tutoring by
appointment. To learn more and to book an
appointment, please visit:
http://arlingtonva.libcal.com/booking/techhelp
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Questions? Call 703-228-5959
UPCOMING
MEETINGS:
CCCA representatives will continue to attend meetings
to ensure that the residents of Crystal City have a voice
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in future development and to report back to the
membership. With the exception of the Civic
Federation, all of the meetings are open to the general
public, and we would welcome attendance by more
Crystal City residents.
NEWSLETTER NO.2 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
CCCA
OFFICERS
Contact us:
[email protected]
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President
Sandra Borden
Vice President for Policy and
Planning
Christer Ahl
Secretary
Carol Fuller
Treasurer
Diane Oksanen-Gooden
Communications Director
Vacant
Membership Liaison
Vacant
Established January 28,
2014
Join on our website:
Graphics Designer:
Colleen Zellmer
Or send a check for $10 to:
Treasurer, CCCA
1200 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22202
http://www.crystalcitycivic.org/