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Newsletter
No. 6, 2015
June 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. We will
occasionally include more in depth articles to help
residents learn more about some of the issues our
community is facing. Commentary in italics reflects our
CCCA involvement and experience.
DUES REMINDER: The annual dues of $10 are due
every calendar year in January. Please send your dues
to Treasurer Diane Oksanen-Gooden at 1200 Crystal
Drive. 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.
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Crystal City
Development and
Planning Issues
Save the Date: Next CCCA General Meeting
Wednesday, June 17
At our next General Meeting June 17, we will host Angela
Fox, President of the Crystal City Business Improvement
District (BID). The BID has done a lot in recent years to
make Crystal City a more attractive, livable place. Many
of the events they sponsor are listed in our Newsletters.
Most of the events and activities you enjoy in Crystal City
(Farmers Market, Outdoor movies, Wine in the Waterpark
etc.) are organized by the BID. The BID was founded in
2006 as a response to BRAC, which has caused Crystal
City to lose 3 million sq ft of government office space .
Their mission was to change the way people see, perceive,
and experience Crystal City. With Angela Fox as CEO since
the BID’s inception, few can argue that the Crystal City
BID has been incredibly successful and that Crystal City is
a very different place. Come learn more about the BID’s
programs and activities, their roles and responsibilities,
how they work with the community beyond just business,
and get an opportunity to share your ideas and thoughts
to help make our community even better.
Plan to attend the meeting June 17 from 7-9 pm in the
Crystal Park Condominium community room at 1805
Crystal Drive.
Arlington County Community Facilities Study
Did you know? Arlington’s population is expected to
grow from 216,700 to 260,000 people in the next 15
years. Of Arlington’s 26.2 square miles, the County and
Public Schools own only 2.2 square miles for schools,
parks, police and fire stations, community centers &
more. Which facilities do you use the most? How do we
plan for their future?
The Community Facilities Study is a collaborative effort
between the County, Arlington Public Schools and the
broader community that will answer these questions.
This planning effort will impact every square inch of our
community. Together, we are laying a solid foundation
for Arlington’s next chapter.
How can you help?
Come to the public open house at Courthouse Plaza
June 2. Drop-in times: 12-3 p.m., 4-6 p.m., 6-9 p.m. Find
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out how the study impacts you, share new ideas and ask
questions. Can’t attend? Join our week-long virtual
forum, June 2 – June 9, to learn more and share your
ideas.
http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/events/community
-facilities-study-public-open-house/
The CCCA Executive Board strongly encourages you to
follow the CFS through the web page, which also offers a
wealth of highly relevant background information for all
County residents.
http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/communityfacilitiesstudy/updates/http:/commissions.arlingtonva.us/com
munity-facilities-study/
Update on the Kimco block (Costco)
Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC) review of the
Pentagon Centre Phase 1 Site Plan Amendments proposed
by KIMCO, the owner/developer on the large block which
includes the existing COSTCO outlet, continued on May 11.
The entire session focused on transportation and
circulation issues, so responses to earlier architectural
issues had to be deferred.
The master plan for the site was approved in 2008, with
Phase 1 to include two high rise office buildings on Hayes
Street at the corners of 12th Street (Building A) and 15th
Street (Building C), as well as a parking garage midblock
along South 15th Street (Building D). Due to the real
estate downturn, KIMCO, the owner/developer, is now
proposing an amendment to change the use of the two
high rise office buildings (Buildings A & C) to
residential/rental. The density and height of both buildings
would remain the same. Both towers would have street
level retail and each building will have its own secured
parking. As previously reported, Costco will remain in place
until phase three which is estimated to be at least 30 years
from now.
Construction on the approved parking garage on the 15th
frontage has begun and half of the Costco parking lot is
now closed. Design issues for the garage, and other
proposed buildings, will be heard at the next SPRC
meeting on June 8, along with open space, community
benefits and construction issues.
Construction in Costco Parking Lot
Half of the parking lot spaces have been fenced off until
October for Kimco's construction of its 7-story parking
garage. Alternate parking is being offered in the parking
garage next to Costco, but the manager of the lot says
he is finding it difficult to persuade people to park there.
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
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"There are ample parking spaces", he says, "They are just
in a different area."
Crystal City Multimodal Center Construction
Begins in June
"WeLive" Plaza 6 Project
Construction on the Crystal City Multimodal Center
project will begin in early June. The first phase of
construction will close the parking along the south side
of 18th Street South, under the Route 1 bridge, and
restrict travel under the bridge to one lane in order to
install the new streetscape and concrete paving. This
project will add new bus bays under Route 1 along 18th
Street South, rebuild the intersection of 18th Street
South and South Bell Street, and convert South Bell
Street to two-way operation between 15th and 18th
Street South.
The Arlington County Board took another step May 16
toward revitalizing Crystal City as a technology hub with
the approval of a plan to include two floors of office
space as part of the conversion of the former Crystal
Plaza 6 into a residential building. The Board approved
an amendment to the site plan it approved in July
2014 that allowed Vornado to convert the obsolete,
vacant office building into apartments for a period of 20
years that will offer shared amenities and a unique floorby-floor “neighborhood” culture.
Vornado created the project in partnership with
WeWork, a national company with co-working offices in
major metropolitan areas across the country. The
company currently has three offices in the Washington,
D.C. area that provide co-working office space, benefits
and support.
The Crystal City project is WeWork’s first residential
building, bringing the same benefits of co-working –
shared amenities, a sense of community and
opportunities for collaboration – to a residential
building. With the Board’s approval of the site plan
amendment, the building now will also incorporate
flexible shared work spaces.
The project offers an entirely new type of apartment
living within walking distance of the Crystal City Metro
Station, several bus stops and Capital Bikeshare stations,
and serves as a model for adaptive reuse of an outdated
building.
http://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/new-type-ofapartment-living-in-crystal-city/
Long Bridge Park
Arlington will re-examine its plans for the Long Bridge
Park aquatics and fitness facility over the next 8 months,
said County Manager Barbara Donnellan. She has
recreated the Long Bridge Park citizens' committee to
"revalidate" the need for the facility and determine
whether a redesigned project would meet the
community's needs. A new recommendation will go to
the board in January 2016, after two new county board
members are elected in November 2015. Donnellan
herself retires at the end of 2015.
Traffic Signal Work in Crystal City
Signal modification work continues at several
intersections along Crystal Drive and Route 1. This work
is expected to be completed at the end of June. Next
week crews will be removing the old signals equipment
at the intersections of Crystal Drive and 20th Street
South and Crystal Drive and 18th Street South. No work
is scheduled for this weekend.
Transit Development Plan Update
Thank you to everyone who participated in our transit
survey, which closed this month. We had a great
response, with more than 3,300 completed surveys!
Your input, along with information gathered from
previous surveys, will be considered as the County
prepares its new Transit Development Plan, which
identifies transit goals and needs County-wide and
prioritizes improvements.
What's next?
This fall, after reviewing the surveys and other data, we
will report back on the initial assessment of transit needs
and possible strategies. Then, in the winter, we'll release
recommendations for transit service and capital
enhancements. At both points there will be
opportunities for public input. For more information and
updates, follow our Transit Development Plan webpage.
DC2RVA Southeast High Speed Rail Project
Work is under way on a Tier II environmental impact
study (EIS), as required by the National Environmental
Policy Act, and preliminary engineering for a 123 mi
high-speed rail corridor between the Washington, D.C.,
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
metro area and Richmond. The corridor, which passes
through heavily urbanized areas and a Civil War
battlefield, is a key link to extending high-speed
passenger rail service along the East Coast. The $55million EIS and preliminary engineering project, which is
slated for completion in late 2017, is funded by DRPT via
a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, and a
contribution from the host railroad, CSX.A new quarterly
e-newsletter covers important project updates about the
Washington, D.C. to Richmond Southeast High Speed
Rail Project. If you would like to receive your own copy,
join the email list:
http://www.dc2rvarail.com/contactus/?utm_source=WhatCounts+Publicaster+Edition&ut
m_medium=email&utm_campaign=DC2RVA+Rail+Ma
il&utm_content=Join+the+Email+List.
There will be a public meeting in Alexandria June 1 from
5-7:30 pm at the Hilton Alexandria Old town, 1767 King
Street. Join the Virginia Department of Rail and Public
Transportation (DRPT) and the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) to discuss preliminary rail
alignment options for providing higher speed intercity
passenger rail service for the Washington, D.C. to
Richmond Southeast High Speed Rail (DC2RVA) project.
This is an open house and there will be no presentation.
Learn more about the Alternatives Development
Process.
New School for South Arlington
The Arlington School Board is seeking assistance in
helping to identify a site for a new elementary school in
South Arlington with the goal of opening in September,
2019. A community working group has been
established, made up of representatives from civic
associations and other organizations, who will
collaborate with APS staff to help identify potential sites
for the new school to address capacity issues in South
Arlington. Judy Freshman of our CCCA is a member.
The goal is to hold the first working group meeting by
the end of June. There are also plans for a general
community meeting on June 9 at 7 pm at the Career
Center to begin this process.
Site Chosen for Potomac Yard Metro
The Alexandria City Council selected a site May 20 for
the proposed Potomac Yard Metro Station, which the
city hopes to open in late 2018.The site is between the
GW Parkway and the CSX tracks, north of Potomac
Greens and east of the existing Potomac Yard Retail
Center. The station would be at-grade, with a sideplatform layout and will cost $268 million. It would
4
have a pedestrian bridge to provide access to Potomac
Greens and Old Town Greens. The Metro board of
directors is expected to vote on their preferred location
this fall. The final EIS, expected to be out by the end of
the year, would address resident concerns, impacts on
the GW Parkway viewshed, wildlife and vegetation, and
the side effects of construction on the nearby residential
communities. After that final report is issued, the
Federal Transit Administration, and possibly the
National Park Service, will each issue a Record of
Decision, which will offer a recommendations on how to
proceed. Officials hope to get clearance to build. The
goal is to have a Record of Decision early next year,
officials say. That will be the final step before
construction.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/drgridlock/wp/2015/05/22/the-site-for-the-potomacyard-metro-station-is-set-whatsnext/?wprss=rss_local-virginiasocial&wpisrc=nl_va&wpmm=1
Update on External Lighting Plans
As we mentioned in the last Newsletter, Gates Hudson
Management Company wants to install a lighting program
for the exterior of three of its apartment buildings in
Crystal City. The plan would involve a pattern of
multicolor lights flashing on the exterior of the buildings.
Concerns were raised that such a program would not be
appropriate for our neighborhood. At CCCA request,
County zoning staff looked into this and met with Gates
Hudson to explain that they would need formal County
Board approval for a "site plan amendment" if they want
to pursue their plans for exterior lighting. The procedure
involved would enable residents, individually or as a
group, and the CCCA to testify/protest.
Renewed County Efforts for the Long Bridge
Park Aquatics Center
Last year, Arlington County took the decision to shelve the
plans for the aquatics component at Long Bridge Park,
when surprisingly the construction bids came in well over
the established budget. The subsequent hopes that
Washington might become an Olympic bid city and
therefore require a large new aquatics facility in the area
were soon also dashed. But, as we recently reported, the
County has decided to resume the efforts to determine the
feasibility and desirability of moving ahead with a revised
project that would fit in under the initial budget. To that
end, the County resurrected the Long Bridge Park Advisory
Committee, which had its first meeting on May 20.
Several County Commissions are represented on the
Committee, as are also some members of the business
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
community, including Rob Mandle from the Crystal City
BID. While the facility would also be seen as catering to
the needs of the County as a whole, it is of course also a
facility of special interest to the local community, so it has
representatives from Aurora Highland, Arlington Ridge
and our Crystal City Civic Association (Eric Cassel and
Christer Ahl).
The Committee will have a dual task. First it will need to
focus on measures that would scale back programming,
features and expenses in such a way that the budget
ceiling would be respected. But it would also need to
reestablish that there is the same strong support for
additional aquatics facilities as existed when the plans for
this particular facility were first begun to be developed
some 15 years ago. At that time, the County was able to
draw on a massive survey of Arlington residents regarding
the main needs for recreational facilities. The result was
that soccer fields and aquatics facilities were totally
dominant as unmet needs in the minds of the general
public. This is then what caused the particular focus at
Long Bridge Park. But the survey results are almost 20
years old, and it behooves us to reestablish whether the
priorities remain the same at this time. Accordingly, the
Committee and the County’s Parks and Recreation staff
will collaborate in a major public outreach effort in the
coming months. By coincidence, the County’s Public
Space Master Plan is being updated at this time, so the
surveying efforts will be coordinated.
Around Arlington County, there is a strong and wellestablished tradition that neighborhoods look after their
interests, so that they get their fair share of "positive"
facilities, such as parks and sports facilities, while guarding
against any tendencies of, literally or otherwise, becoming
the "dumping ground" for less desirable facilities. In this
regard, Crystal City has an unfortunate tradition of being
unique. Perhaps because of our traditional population mix
and our lack of single-family housing areas, the partisan
tendencies have been missing, and this may well have
been detrimental to our neighborhood on a cumulative
basis.
So we would encourage residents in Crystal City and the
surrounding area to be more alert to arguing for our share
of those County facilities which will make an area
attractive and flourishing. (Of the four aquatics centers in
Arlington County, the closest is over 4 miles away from
Crystal City.)
We are also all too well aware of the depressive office
market situation in Crystal City, with an unusually high
vacancy rate. This in turn causes the retail businesses in
5
our area to flounder, much to the detriment of the
residents. And it is obvious that the business community
and the office market could benefit from the boost that a
popular aquatics facility in our area could create.
Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot…!
Arlington County
Issues
Democratic Primary June 9
The Democratic party will select their nominees for
County Board and House of Delegates, 45th District,
on Tuesday, June 9. There are 6 candidates on the ballot
for County Board and information can be found at
https://vote.arlingtonva.us/elections/. The 45th District
election does not apply to Crystal City. In-person
absentee ballots may be cast at the Court House through
Saturday June 6 by 5pm. Mailed ballots must be
received by June 9 at 7 pm.
Republicans will select their nominees for all offices at
party meetings or caucuses, to be held at dates to be
announced. The Republican party has until June 9 to
select nominees.
Arlington Moves to Digital Scanner Voting
Machines
Beginning with the June 2015 Democratic primary,
Arlington County will use new digital scanner voting
machines. The new system uses a paper ballot, which is
digitally scanned into the ballot box. Arlington’s
Electoral Board approved the move at its meeting last
night. The new system has two primary advantages:
Arlington County Launches Employee
Financial Fraud, Waste & Abuse Hotline
Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan has
announced the launch of the Employee Financial Fraud,
Waste & Abuse Hotline. The hotline is a confidential and
secure way for Arlington County Government employees
to report suspected financial fraud, waste and abuse.
The hotline is run by an experienced third-party
provider, and employees may choose to remain
anonymous when reporting.
The hotline will be available to employees 24/7. They can
either call in or contact the hotline through a secure
website, and can choose to provide their name or remain
anonymous. A County Review Committee, composed of
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
staff appointed by the County Manager, will review each
report and take the appropriate action.
In addition the Employee Financial Fraud, Waste &
Abuse Hotline, Arlington also has developed an
administrative whistleblower policy that protects
employees who choose to identify themselves when
making a report.
A County staff working group, under the County
Manager’s direction, developed both the whistleblower
policy and the employee hotline.
School Board Meeting June 4
The agenda for the June 4 School Board Meeting is
posted on "BoardDocs" at:
https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/vp
ublic?open
The following action item is scheduled for this meeting:
1. Proposed Charge to the South Arlington Elementary
Working Group.
Background documents for the meeting will be posted
on "BoardDocs" at the URL above by the close of
business on Monday, June 1. Citizens may sign up
electronically to speak at this meeting until 4:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, June 3 at: www.apsva.us/schoolboard/speak
Speakers also may sign up on the night of the meeting
by filling out and submitting a Request to Speak form to
the Clerk before the desired agenda item is announced
by the Chair. Request to Speak forms will be available
outside the Board room on the night of the meeting.
June 9 APS Community Forum to Discuss Site
Selection for New South Arlington
Elementary School
The Arlington School Board invites the community to a
public forum on Tue, June 9, at 7 pm at the Arlington
Career Center. The focus of the meeting will be to
discuss the process to select a site for a new
neighborhood elementary school in South Arlington.
This community forum will provide background
information on the issue and explain the South Arlington
Working Group being organized to help guide the
decision-making process. Every South Arlington PTA,
civic association and community organization involved
will have a representative and an alternate on this
working group. Individuals who are interested in serving
as a representative for their organization should contact
their PTA or civic association leadership.
6
The charge for this working group is to assist the School
Board in determining the site for a new 725-seat
neighborhood elementary school by December 2015,
preferably for completion by September 2019. The
group will work with staff to evaluate and analyze site
options for the new school.
Additional community forums and other tools will be
used to engage the public throughout the process.
Crystal City ART Bus Facility Construction
Begins in June
In May, the County Board approved a construction
contract for a new Arlington Transit (ART) bus facility in
Crystal City at South Eads and 32nd Streets. The facility
will provide crucial operational space for the growing
ART bus fleet. Construction is scheduled to start in midJune and last approximately 18 months.
The Board voted 4-1 to abandon a portion of 32nd St.
South, west of Jefferson Davis Highway, as a public
street, in order to consolidate parcels for the planned
expansion of an ART bus storage facility. During
construction, ART buses and other vehicles will
temporarily be parked in a lot at 3600 S. Four Mile Run,
in the Nauck community. We don’t foresee any major
changes to existing traffic patterns as a result of this
work. The lot will be returned to its original state once
construction is complete. To learn more, visit our project
page.
County Board to Consider Transitway
Ordinance on June 13
On Saturday, June 13, the County Board will consider
and take public comment on an ordinance to create
transit-only lanes in Crystal City and Potomac Yard,
allow enforcement of their use and set fines for violating
the lane restrictions. These lanes are currently under
construction as part of the Crystal City Potomac Yard
Transitway project.
The ordinance would:establish a $200 fine for violating
the transit lane restrictions, allow for off-vehicle fare
collection, and establish a $100 civil penalty for failing to
pay a public transit fare, when off-vehicle fare collection
is ultimately implemented.
For details, view the request to advertise the
ordinance and our new understanding transit
lanes webpage.
Forum on Redistricting
The League of Women Voters of Arlington is cosponsoring an upcoming forum on redistricting June 4.
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
7
The forum is free and open to the public. Featured
speakers are Brian Cannon, OneVirginia2021, and Sara
Fitzgerald, Falls Church League of Women Voters.
Check-in time is 6:30 p.m.; the program begins at 7:00
p.m. The event will be held at the George Mason
Arlington Campus, 3301 Fairfax Drive, Room 120.
Seating is limited so be sure to register
at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/why-redistrictingmatters-tickets-16914510757.
School Resource Officers Spring Initiative
Airport Noise Meeting June 18
The Department will conduct extra patrols during after
school hours and on weekends. This includes extra
patrols at malls, parks and recreation centers.
Additionally, there will be a larger police presence at
high schools and during community events.
The County Board will be hosting a community meeting
with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the
Metro Washington Aviation Administration (MWAA) on
June 18 at 7pm in the County Board Room. This meeting
is to allow Arlington County residents to voice their
concerns to the FAA and MWAA, as well as hear possible
solutions from FAA and MWAA.
Arlington County will soon be joining the National
Organization to Insure A Sound Controlled Environment
(N.O.I.S.E.). This is the leading advocacy group working
on aviation noise issues. N.O.I.S.E. is a coalition of locally
elected officials and industry stakeholders working
cooperatively with the federal and local governments to
find workable solutions to the issue of excessive airport
noise. We hope this will help us increase awareness of
the noise impacts Arlingtonians face every day, and that,
working together with N.O.I.S.E., we can find solutions
for our community.
Donnellan Names Jay Farr Chief of Police
Following a national search, Arlington County Manager
Barbara Donnellan appointed Murray “Jay” Farr as Chief
of Police. Chief Farr has served as the Acting Chief of
Police since the retirement of M. Douglas Scott on
March 20, 2015. Chief Farr has served in the Arlington
County Police Department (ACPD) since 1990 in various
capacities to include Deputy Chief of Police for Systems
Management, Operations and Criminal Investigations.
He has also served as Arlington County Acting Deputy
County Manager. Prior to joining the Arlington County
Police Department, Chief Farr worked with the Naval
Criminal Investigative Service where he conducted
complex criminal investigations concerning fraud
against the United States government. Chief Farr is also
a U.S. Marine veteran, where he served with the
Presidential helicopter unit.
http://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/donnellannames-jay-farr-chief-of-police/
The Arlington County Police Department’s School
Resource Officers (SRO’s) wish to inform the public of
their 2015 spring initiative to prevent and reduce juvenile
crime. This will include preventing drug and alcohol
related offenses among both middle and high school
students through saturation patrols and education. The
initiative begins May 15, 2015 and continues through
the conclusion of school on June 18, 2015.
With prom season in full swing, SRO’s are collaborating
with local high schools to focus on alcohol use
prevention and awareness programs. Programs such as
“Drive to Stay Alive” and “Prom Promise” will be used to
educate students in having a safe and fun prom season.
The presence of additional officers will be to provide
positive guidance to students and to act as positive role
models both inside and outside the school environment.
Arlington’s Aaa /AAA/AAA Bond Ratings
Reaffirmed
For the 15th year in a row, all three credit ratings
agencies have reaffirmed Arlington County’s debt
ratings of Aaa/AAA/AAA– the highest ratings. Arlington
is one of just 39 Counties in the United States to receive
the highest rating from all three credit agencies for its
bonds. Having a Aaa/AAA/AAA rating ensures that the
County will enjoy lower interest rates for its upcoming
sale of the Series 2015 General Obligation Public
Improvement and Refunding Bonds the week of June 1.
These are bonds previously approved by voters to
finance capital improvements, fund Metro and for other
uses. At its May 16 Regular County Board Meeting, the
Board authorized the sale of up to $77.4 million in
General Obligation Pubic Improvement Bond sales and
up to $200 million in bond refunding. The County
refunds bonds whenever it can achieve lower interest
rates. In the past five years, the County has saved
taxpayers more than $23 million through refunding
bonds at lower interest rates.
http://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlingtonsaaa-aaaaaa-bond-ratings-reaffirmed/
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Department of Parks and Recreation
Community News
For the latest on activities you can join in County Parks,
check out the Parks and Recreation website:
http://parks.arlingtonva.us/
8
The first year ANV anniversary party will be held June 4
from 6-8 pm at the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association Conference Center at 4301 Wilson Blvd.
Free parking is available in the NRECA garage after 5 pm
(entrance on Taylor Street). RSVP by calling ANV at 703509-8057 or email [email protected].
Note that the closest village to Crystal City is Arlington
Ridge. Check out the Arlington Ridge Civic Association
website for more information:
http://www.arcaonline.org/current-%20arcaprojects/arlington-villages/
"Flourishing after 55"
Spraygrounds Now Open
Stay cool at one of our four spraygrounds conveniently
located throughout the county. Stop by
Drew,Hayes,Lyon Village, orVirginia Highlands Parks to
get in on the fun! Virginia Highlands Park at is open
daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Alexandria's Potomac Yard Park is
open until 9 pm at 2501 Potomac Avenue and features
an interactive Fountain, located between the two
playgrounds, with 36 water jets, including 12 laminar jets
which shoot a stream of water between two troughs and
lighting at the jets for nighttime effects. The fountain
offers three programmable sequences, and sensors
control the water jet height based on the wind speed in
the area adjusting the jets accordingly.
Other News:
Arlington Neighborhood Villages!
ANV is a new county-wide non-profit organization
dedicated to enabling older residents (55+) of Arlington
County, Virginia, to continue living in their own homes
and communities as they age. A village is a network of
neighbors helping neighbors – a community-based,
grassroots organization that provides the support
services and the social and educational programs
needed to help older adults stay in their homes and
remain active in their communities as long as possible.
ANV combines elements of a senior cooperative, a social
club, and a concierge service. It offers members
transportation and shopping assistance, access to social
and cultural activities, exercise and fitness opportunities,
household and home maintenance, as well as
information on a host of professional and social services.
Many volunteer opportunities are available. Check out
the website: http://arlnvil.org/
There are six senior centers in Arlington with a wide
variety of fitness, educational, sports, arts and travel
opportunities. Three centers are in North Arlington and
three in South Arlington (Aurora Hills, 735 S. 18th St.;
703-228-5722; Mon., Wed., Fri., 10-3). Adults 55+ may
participate in all of the activities by registering with the
Office of Senior Adult Programs. ($20 annual fee which
includes a 36 page bi-monthly magazine, “Arlington
County 55+ Guide.”) A complimentary “Guide” is
available by calling 703-228-4721 or by visiting a senior
center. Additional information may be found on the
following website: www.arlingtonva.us ; type "senior
activities in search box."
Arlington Green Home and Garden Tour
Come on this tour Sunday June 7 from 1-5 pm to get
inspiration and ideas to go green at home! The 13th
annual tour will include a mixture of new green homes,
green renovations, and watershed-friendly gardens. The
homes featured on the tour this year will be certified
with the Arlington County Green Home Choice program,
which provides residents with assistance to make home
renovation or construction projects as energy, water,
and natural resource efficient as possible. Many of the
tour’s garden and stormwater demonstration projects
have participated in Arlington County’s StormwaterWise
Landscapes program, which provides grants to
homeowners to create native plant gardens and
stormwater retention features that help our local
waterways!
• Talk with local residents about their experiences
greening their homes and making their yards more
watershed-friendly.
• Tour homes featuring energy efficient technologies,
solar elements, water saving technologies, native
plants, rain gardens, rain barrels, wildlife habitats,
and more!
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
•
Pick up resources with ideas for your own yard and
home
Choose between a self-guided (suggested donation of
$5 at first stop) or guided cycling tour ($10 paid at
registration online). The Guided Cycling Tour will be led
by Bike Arlington and will include a selection of homes
that feature sustainable building and living practices
with new construction and renovation projects.
http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/events/garden
tour/green-home-and-garden-tour/
Bike Arlington
Whether you are trying to get to
work, school, or just see the sites,
Arlington offers various biking
options that are fun, inexpensive and
convenient.
Bicycling is an integral part of Arlington's transportation
and recreation system and the County is ranked one of
the top 50 bike friendly communities in the United
States. It is also a Silver Award recipient for its bike
friendly community by the League of American
Bicyclists. Arlington is committed to educating and
supporting its citizens on biking as part of the Car-Free
Diet initiative, and promotes fun ways to get involved,
such as the annual Bike to Work Day.
Arlington is just under 26 square miles, but provides over
100 miles of bikeable routes to get you to where you
want to go. Sometimes biking is part of a multimodal
plan, helping with the first mile of a trip or providing the
last mile to your final destination.
People of all ages and walks of life ride on the County's
large network of biking trails, lanes and streets. If you
are exploring bike ownership, there are eight bikes
shops in the county to purchase a new or used bike. If
you are not ready to make that investment or want to
test the waters, Capital Bikeshare is a convenient way
to rent a bike by the hour or day with an option to
purchase a monthly or annual membership.
If you have never ridden a bike but would like to learn,
Arlington makes it easy to find resources for first-time
instruction to refresher courses and safety tips. Sign up
for a class by visiting BikeArlington.com, where you will
also discover a wealth of knowledge on the best bike
paths, how to join a riding group, senior social rides, and
the health and environmental benefits of cycling around
the area.
No matter when you decide to start, how far you go or
your reason for biking, just enjoy the ride!
9
Geo Sapiens: A Workshop for Earth Wise
Humans
Saturday, June 6 @ 10am - 4:30pm
TechShop DC - 2110 Crystal Drive #B
This unique workshop will provide a new perspective for
sustainability, business and education professionals.
Workshop presenter, Martin Ogle, is a former
Arlingtonian and Chief Naturalist for the Northern
Virginia Regional Park Authority. Mr. Ogle uses the
phrase "Geo sapiens" to symbolize and promote everincreasing levels of integration between human systems
with Earth's living systems. Registration is required.
Arlington Historical Society Banquet
The Arlington Historical Society is pleased to announce
our Annual Banquet on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 6:30 PM
at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn. The Banquet is a special
moment for the Society to celebrate our members and
local history. This year, we are excited to announce our
keynote speaker will be Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis,
distinguished legislator, scientific researcher, and
educator. This event provides a great opportunity to
network and support the cause of AHS: "Helping
Arlingtonians better understand our community
through its history." More information about the
program along with the RSVP link can be found on our
website, www.arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org.
Crystal City BID Summer Movie Schedule
Once again, the Crystal City BID is scheduling outdoor
summer movies on the lawn between 18th and 20th
Streets facing the entrance to Synetic Theatre. This year
the theme is espionage. The movies begin June 1 at
sunset.
June 1 — Mission: Impossible
June 8 — Mission: Impossible II
June 15 — Mission: Impossible III
June 22 — Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol
June 29 — Charlie Wilson’s War
July 6 — RED
July 13 — Argo
July 20 — Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
July 27 — Body of Lies
Aug. 3 — Enemy of the State
Aug. 10 — The Bourne Identity
Aug. 17 — The Bourne Supremacy
Aug. 24 — The Bourne Ultimatum
Aug. 31 — The Bourne Legacy
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Best of Arlington Party
10
Hosted by Arlington Magazine, the Best of Arlington
Party will be held Thursday, June 4 from 6 - 9:30 p.m. at
the Clarendon Ballroom. You won't want to miss this
opportunity to taste food from 11 Best of Arlingtonwinning restaurants, sip on specialty cocktails, wine and
craft beer, and hear live music from The 19th Street
Band. Win giveaways to local restaurants and stores.
Purchase tickets on the website:
http://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/Best-ofArlington-2015-Party/
to relax after work with man's best friend. Grab some
delicious take-out from local restaurants and kick back
to the tunes from some of the best local music the area
has to offer. Enjoy a beverage at the Beer Garden,
featuring hops hand-selected by experts at Crystal City’s
Washington Wine Academy and Crystal City Wine Shop.
In partnership with the Crystal City Business
Improvement District (BID), Vornado/Charles E. Smith
and the Washington Wine Academy, Blues, Brews and
Barks will run every Wednesday in June from 5 PM to 8
PM starting on June 3rd.
Congressman Gerry Connolly Town Hall Call
Wine in the Water Park
On June 1st at 8:00 pm Congressman Connolly will hold
his 23rd telephone town hall meeting since coming
to Congress. This is an opportunity for him to hear
directly from you about your views on the 114th
Congress and issues facing our nation. At 8 pm, tens of
thousands of constituents from Virginia’s 11th District
will be called to participate in the hour-long meeting.
However, if you want to guarantee you get called and
have an opportunity to participate in this telephone
town hall, you can sign up by visiting the website at:
http://connolly.house.gov/sign-up-for-a-telephonetown-hall/
Store Closings
Crystal City BID 2015 Perception Survey
Summer is almost here, and the Crystal City Business
Improvement District (BID) wants your feedback. Over
the course of the past eight years, the Crystal City BID
has worked to change how people see, perceive, and
experience Crystal City. In our continued efforts to
transform Crystal City, we want your input about events,
programs, and the Crystal City area as a whole. Please fill
out the following survey (~20 questions) for a chance to
win a $50 gift certificate to a Crystal City retail
establishment of your choice.
Crystal Car: A Father's Day Auto Festival
Celebrate this Father’s Day in style amongst heavy
machinery and horsepower at Crystal Car: A Father's
Day Auto Festival. The day will feature a variety of
exciting automobile categories including innovative
electric vehicles, area sports car auto clubs, classic
muscle cars, and a beer garden hosted by the
Washington Wine Academy. The festival takes place on
Sunday, June 21 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Do you have
a vehicle you want to show off? Register it today!
Blues, Brews and Barks
Set outside in the beautiful 2121 Crystal Drive
courtyard, Blues, Brews and Barks is the perfect place
Vintage Crystal’s “Wine in the Water Park” combines
sips and sounds to create an ambient outdoor event
featuring interesting wine varietals and great music in
the neighborhood’s signature Crystal City Water Park.
Wine selection and service is provided by Crystal City’s
own Washington Wine Academy. Expert noses from
WWA help guests select and enjoy the perfect wine for
an after work beverage to kick-off the weekend right
amidst the calming sounds of falling water mixed with
live music. The event takes place every Friday in June
from 6pm to 10pm, starting on June 5th.
The Tutti Frutti frozen yogurt store at 1301 S. Fern Street
in Pentagon City, across from the Costco, closed in May.
The Pacers store at Pentagon Row, at 1101 S. Joyce
Street, is being moved to a new Pacers location at 300
Tingey Street SE, in the District’s Navy Yard community.
The Pentagon Row store will close its doors on June 28,
while the Navy Yard location is expected to open in late
August. The Pacers location at 3100 Clarendon Blvd in
Clarendon will remain open and will be the local chain’s
only Arlington location.
Clean the Bay Day!
Clean the Bay Day is a Virginia tradition 27 years strong.
On June 6, from 9 am to noon, thousands of Virginians
will simultaneously work together to restore and protect
the Chesapeake Bay by removing litter and debris from
its rivers and streams all across the
Commonwealth. Make an Earth Day commitment today
to help our waterways.
It's an outdoor, hands-on opportunity for individuals,
families, businesses, and groups to join CBF and its
partners and sponsors to remove harmful litter and
debris in one of the largest volunteer clean-up efforts in
Virginia. Just like the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint,
Clean the Bay Day represents a coming together of
NEWSLETTER NO.6 – CRYSTAL CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
municipalities, businesses, and citizens to improve the
health of our local waterways. Hundreds of Clean the
Bay Day sites are available across the state, from
Hampton Roads, Central and Northern Virginia to the
Eastern Shore. See a full list of sites to find one near
you! Registration: Please visit our website to sign
up for this free event today!
Air Force Association Cycling Classic - Crystal
Cup & Challenge Ride
WHEN: Saturday, June 14th
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
WHERE: 2121 Crystal Drive
WHAT: Get ready to start training for this year's Air
Force Association Cycling Classic (AFACC), the region’s
premier cycling event. Part of the USA Cycling National
Criterium Calendar, AFACC features the Clarendon Cup
(Saturday, June 13th), Challenge Ride (Sunday, June
14th) and Crystal City Cup (Sunday, June 14th) and Kids
11
Races on both days. The Challenge Ride kicks off the
events in Crystal City when participants compete against
themselves in an effort to complete as many laps as
possible within the 3.5 hour allotted timeframe on a
closed and car-free 15km course. Medals are awarded for
completing 6 or more laps (gold), 4-5 laps (silver), and 13 laps (bronze). Following the Challenge Ride, it's nonstop speed and excitement as professionally ranked
Men’s and Women’s racers and teams vie for the Crystal
Cup on the 1.3km Criterium course in the heart of Crystal
City. Registration is open for the kids races and the
Challenge Ride! Register today!
Other Crystal City BID Events
See the BID's website for other activities in Crystal City
and sign up for their weekly newsletter.
http://www.crystalcity.org/
CCCA
OFFICERS
President
Sandra Borden
Secretary
Carol Fuller
Contact us:
[email protected]
Treasurer
Diane Oksanen-Gooden
Communications Director
Vacant
Membership Liaison
Vacant
Vice President for Policy and
Christer Ahl
Planning
Established January 28,
2014
Join on our website:
Graphics Designer:
Colleen Zellmer
Or send a check for $10 to:
http://www.crystalcitycivic.org/
Treasurer, CCCA
1200 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22202