The Barcroft News
September, 2000 - Volume 98, Number 1
BSCL Meeting: Columbia Pike
"What do we do about the dirty services?" That was one civic association leader's question about
alternatives to redevelop Columbia Pike. Some of these six alternatives offered by county planners
showed office complexes where much-loved -- but grungy -- local auto garages now reside. But they
also showed replacement of aging, traffic-jammed shopping strips, like the one at S. Buchanan and
Columbia Pike. Such decisions will be among the easier ones to make as the county -- with the input
of residents -- moves forward with a redevelopment plan.
Affordable housing, in relatively plentiful supply along the Pike, could be an especially contentious
issue. One plan shows much of the sprawling, post-World War II Barcroft Apartment complex just south of Columbia Pike at Thomas St., a complex police statistics show is plagued with crime, giving way to offices and new apartments. Some who have come to this summer’s planning meetings welcome such change as a way to change the economics of the Pike, a means to replace used car lots with Starbucks. Others are organizing to fight yet more displacement of the poor.
Density is another tough issue. The Pike's landlords and developers see gold in 10-story tall office buildings and apartment complexes on the eastern end of the Pike. Density will pay the tab for revitalization, they say. But other Pike residents see nothing but traffic headaches, more school overcrowding and higher prices as ethnic restaurants and mom-and-pop stores are forced out.
Transportation problems loom. County board member Chris Zimmerman touts light rail as one solution to high-density gridlock. But a trolley could take up two lanes of Columbia Pike -- something that VDOT is likely to resist. Former County Board member Mike Lane and others are pushing for high density to attract Metro; others fear that density will come but Metro won't. Others fear Metro turning the Pike into another Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.
Another local civic association leader has boiled down his message this way: Redevelop Columbia Pike for Columbia Pike residents. But given the Pike's status as a major state highway, given the economic realities of redevelopment, that goal won't come easily. Hopefully, a middle ground can be found, or at the very least, incremental improvements for pedestrian traffic, parking and shopping.
Learn more about Columbia Pike redevelopment at the Barcroft School and Civic League's September 7 meeting. Redevelopment officials will be on hand to explain six alternatives that have been outlined. We need your input on these plans. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Barcroft Community House, 800 S. Buchanan St.
An added bonus: There may be news about the struggle to redevelop the Roy Rogers lot at Columbia Pike and Buchanan into something more attractive than a drug store with a drive-through.
Dues News, Views
September is here which means that a new BSCL year is starting, and it's time to renew our memberships. Dues are only $3 per adult or $6 per couple or family. The membership form is enclosed in this newsletter.
The form also provides several volunteer opportunities. Perhaps you'll find one that interests you.
This year we will be putting together a new Barcroft Neighborhood Directory. Returning your membership forms and dues early will help greatly in getting this done more quickly.
Dance, Dance, Dance
Kick your heels up with friends and family at the Community House, on Friday evening, September 29. The music will be live and lively, as always. Watch the signs for the times!
New Playground
The Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool (AUCP) -- at the intersection of Route 50 and George Mason Drive -- will be constructing a new playground on the site of its existing playground from October 26-29, 2000. The new playground was designed by Leathers and Associates, experts in design and construction of community playgrounds for over twenty years, and the same organization that designed the current playground. Like the existing playground, the new one will be all wood, with many mazes and tunnels for imaginative exploration, and will be open to the entire community. The new playground will also feature a play bus, tube slide, spring riding toys, puppet theater, chime wall, different types of balance beams, tire pony, playhouses, and a castle. In addition, it will be handicapped-accessible.
Under the supervision of Leathers and Associates, the playground will be constructed in the old-fashioned barn-raising method, relying upon AUCP members and volunteers from the community to do the actual construction. The preschool is lining up as many as 300 volunteers from all over the community for each of the four days of the build. Food (much of it donated by Fresh Fields!) and childcare will be provided on-site.
If you are willing to volunteer for as little as one shift of the build (4 hours), please contact Anne Miller at (703) 533 1976. Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs, including skilled and unskilled labor, childcare, food service, and administrative support. No prior experience is required for most jobs. Children between ages 10-13 can volunteer, as long as they work alongside their parents, and those between 14-17 can work on crews without their parents, but cannot use power tools. Please get involved in this project that promises to be both fun and rewarding -- and when you take your children to this fantastic new playground, you can tell them that you helped build it!
Quiet Generosity
The Community House Restoration Fund has received an anonymous donation of $6,000 to help with the cost of making the Community House accessible to wheelchair and electric scooter users. We are grateful to the donor, who likes to do Good Things but did not want any publicity.
Hatha Yoga Classes
Every Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Hatha Yoga classes are taught at the Barcroft Community Center 800 S. Buchanan Street, Arlington. STRETCH your body and mind, ENERGIZE with Hatha Yoga. Learn how to BREATH DEEPLY, COPE with STRESS. Cost is $48.00 for 6 classes or $10.00 for a drop in class. Dress comfortably and do not eat before class. Bring a blanket or exercise mat, as the floor is hard. For more information call Ishwari at 703-998-0813.
Rom is off Reflecting the sun this month. Next month, he will be Around the Neighborhood (and we hope Kathy Kerr will write about it). See you after Labor Day!
Calendar
For the most up-to-date listing of Barcroft events, please consult our Web page Calendar.
Barcroft News Staff
Editors - Mark Rom, 486-2983
Publisher/Mailing - Lisa Rom, 486-2983
Contributions - Mark Wigfield, 979-0339
Advertising Manager - Jim Kerr, 892-6458
Neighborhood News - Kathy Kerr, 892-6458
Deadlines: 1st (ads) or 10th (editorial material) day of the month preceding the issue month.
BSCL Officers for 1999-2000
President - Mark Wigfield, 979-0339
Vice President - Marie Korn, 521-8069
Recording Secretary - Bruce Atkinson, 979-4868
Treasurer - Gary Lefebvre, 521-0184
Corresponding Secretary - Sharon Tope, 920-2567
Membership Secretary - Peg Lefebvre, 521-0184
Board MembersJim Kerr, David Michaelson
Mike Behringer, Shirley Gay
Community House
Facility Managers - Steve Reiss, 553-0909 and Lori Fitchett 979-3920
Restoration - Jim Kerr, 892-6458
Fundraising - JoAnne Barnhart, 920-0821
Landscaping - Scott Brinitzer, 892-0308
Traffic Committee - Elaine Squeri 920-7014
Parade - Andrew Hunter 979-8247
Columbia Pike - Bryant Monroe, 271-0944
Demeter House Liaison Committee - Daphne Miller 920-5681
Crime - vacant
Parks - vacant
Volunteers - Scott Royal 553-0909
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The paper version of the Barcroft News is printed on recycled paper with
vegetable-based ink by the Stanley Adams Printing Company. This Web page is put
up by Randy Swart using recycled bits and bytes, and it is not absolutely identical
to the paper one, but pretty close.
Barcroft School and Civic League
800 South Buchanan Street
Arlington, VA 22204
Neighborline: (24 hr. announcements, Community House rentals) 521-1116
Email: info@bscl.org
Web: www.bscl.org
This page was last revised on: September 15, 2000.
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