The Buckingham Herald Tribblog

The HeraldTrib Has Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:26:00 +0000

I finally started to use the new web site.

I think it's easier to read and I'll be able to do more with it as time goes on. Go check it out and let me know what you think of it. --ST

buckinghamheraldtrib.com

A Night at the “Instrument Petting Zoo”

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:35:00 +0000

Cellist and teacher Jonathan Velsey helps Claire Walker with her fingering. (Click to enlarge the image.)

A squeaking, blurbing, squawking, hooting, whistling, clarinet, tuba, cello, violin, flute, sax and drum delight of a night, the annual “instrument petting zoo”—as one school staffer phrased it, and he might have placed emphasis on “zoo”—brought parents and school kids from all Arlington to Thomas Jefferson Middle School’s basement Tuesday.

Students tried out, tried on, tested, stood, stared, bowed, fingered, slid, plucked, blew, and—occasionally—listened through a one-stop-shopping night of orchestral abundance. Since Internet storage is cheap, I’ll add that they laughed, measured, chatted, scratched, bleated and boomed.

Billed as the “Instrumental Music Information Night,” the Arlington Public Schools event was aimed primarily at 4th and 5th graders who can join the schools’ orchestras and bands this year.

School orchestra and band leaders with upper-class students, gave the elementary school kids quick lessons on how to hold, blow or strike the instrument in order to fit the student to the right size—a full-, or half-sized violin, for instance.

Sales and rental information was also available (rentals going first, and at reduced prices, to the families who need financial assistance most). Students handed in forms at the end of the night with their top three preferences. The schools make the choices about who gets which.

Christopher Wall, a 4th grader at Taylor Elementary School, was new to the school and the opportunity to get these music lessons, his mom, Beth, said. She added, he wanted to come to try the violin and the “kello.”

It’s a 30 second video of the night, enjoy:

Welcome Back and See-ya, Mis Amigos!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Amigos de las Américas volunteers, staff and hopefuls break the ice by holding hands and then "untying" the knot of people without letting go of each other. That's Sarah King, center. (Click to enlarge the image.)

A group, about 25 people, gathered under the Lubber Run Park pavilion Sunday afternoon to celebrate the return home of volunteers in the Amigos de las Américas program, and to recruit the next batch for nine-months of training before next summer's trip.

“We had 23 volunteers go down this summer, and all 23 came back!” said Sarah King, laughing. She is the president of the DC chapter of the national group.

The volunteers are at least 16 years old and have completed their sophomore year of high school as well as at least two years of Spanish instruction. After nine months of training in development, public health and organizational leadership, students go to countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

“They work with partnering organizations [such as CARE or a country’s health administration] in the countries that they’re in,” Ms. King said.

They live with a person in a specific village and help with community-based initiatives. Arlington Public Schools sent six students this summer:

From HB Woodlawn:

Megan Hauptman

Caitlin Levine

Washington-Lee:

Dylan Warburg

Yorktown:

Rachel Hargreaves

Hayley Tyneson

Brooke Huffman

“Arlington county schools give us a lot of kids,” Ms. King said. Often half the students are from Arlington.

Family information sessions: Oct. 4, 3-5p.m.; Oct. 18, 1-3p.m. at Oyster Bilingual School, 2801 Calvert St. NW, Washington, DC, two block west of the Woodley Park Zoo metro station.

More information:

click here.

Email here: volunteer *at* amigosdc *dot* org.

Call 202-331-4999.

This was one of those times when I was caught unawares, as they say. I had no notebook, and only my cell phone to shoot photos. No Arlington students were at the event when I was there, or I'd have shot photos of them. I was watching my kids, though, so I only caught about 10 minutes of the event. --ST

For "Local Foods, Local Chefs," Dining Out Starts TONIGHT!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:06:00 +0000

Dine at participating Arlington restaurants and enjoy a dinner made with locally grown ingredients. Supporting local vendors strengthens our local economy. But supporting local farmers goes even further. You’ll be helping to keep farmland in production and your food is fresher when it was just picked the day before.

Each of the restaurants below will feature a dinner on their designated night that was make with locally grown ingredients.
Sept. 16--Liberty Tavern, 3195 Wilson Blvd.
Sept. 17--Santa Fe Café, 1500 Wilson Blvd.
Sept. 22--Willow Restaurant, 4301 N Fairfax Dr.
Sept. 23--Tallulah Restaurant and EatBar, 2761 Washington Blvd.
Sept. 29--Eventide Restaurant, 3165 Wilson Blvd.
Oct. 6--Restaurant Vero, 5723 Lee Hwy.
Oct. 13--Restaurant 3, 2950 Clarendon Blvd.

To keep your brain as full as your belly, come to our series of film viewings and discussions at Fairlington Community Center (3308 S Stafford St.)
Sept. 30--"The True Cost of Food"
Oct. 7--"The Garden"
Oct. 14--"FRESH"

Local Foods, Local Chefs is sponsored by Arlington County, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Clarendon Alliance, Ballston-Virginia Square Partnership, Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, Crystal City Business Improvement District, Rosslyn Business Improvement District and Slow Food DC.

Support local farms! Support local chefs! Enjoy delicious food! Doing the right thing never tasted so good. For more information call 703-228-6400 or click here.

Virginia's Grand Military Band Schedule Starts Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:57:00 +0000

All performances will be at the Kenmore Middle School Concert Hall, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington.

Saturday Sept. 19, 8:00 p.m.
Old-Fashioned Concert in the Park
Family Favorites and Toe-Tappers.

Saturday Nov. 7, 8:00 p.m.
U. S. Army Night
Special Guests: The Herald Trumpets of "Pershing's Own,"
The United States Army Band, and the West Point Alumni Glee Club

Saturday Jan. 16, 8:00 p.m.
Col. Gabriel Conducts His Favorites
Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel, USAF ret, joins Maestro Schissel on the podium.

March/April Concert date to be announced.

Saturday May 29, 8:00 p.m.
Memorial Day - March Past
The VGMB's traditional Memorial Day tribute to our Armed Forces.

Tickets for individual concerts are $20 for adults, $10 for those under 18. Season tickets are $75 each. For information, call Ken Stegeman at (703) 281-3331 or click here.

Letter: Thanks!

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:49:00 +0000

Steve,

Thanks for the update on Buckingham!

Jane Scruggs

HeraldTrib Today, Sept. 13, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:35:00 +0000

"APS Snapshots" debuts for new schools head honcho...

I watched the new superintendent of Arlington Public Schools on his “APS Snapshots” video. (I missed it on TV, so I had to turn to the APS website, find it here; I had to download it in order to see it).

"APS Snapshots" first episode. (Click to enlarge the image.)

The press release for the video says that it was to be a view inside the school system, and this one wasn’t that really, more a welcome back speech.

“I’ve really emphasized the importance adults play in students’ lives, in building positive relationships,” Dr. Pat Murphy said in the two minute, 24 second address.

He started his run as the schools’ chief in July after long-time superintendent Robert Smith retired.

This is Mr. Murphy’s first video for the weekly series.

One little irony: After saying that any achievement requires a plan somewhere behind it, he added, “One is: get organized.” It is important for children to collect their materials and find a quite space to complete homework and to stay on top of assignments. Parents can help with daily reminders or nudging children to organize their academic lives and establish a routine.

There was no “Two.”

(I mean, if you’re going draw up a plan about planning and you say, “One,” shouldn’t you say, “Two”? If not, you sound disorganized!)

I’m looking forward to next week’s episode and am even hoping for a little more meat. It’s a great bully-pulpit, the superintendent should use it. I’d love to get some behind-the-scenes footage, or a clearer understanding of decisions.

According to the APS Web site, “APS Snapshots” is filmed and produced by the Arlington Educational Television Department (AETV) in cooperation with the Arlington Public Schools Department of School and Community Relations.

You can see “APS Snapshots” on Comcast Cable Channel 70 and Verizon FiOS Channel 41. Snapshots aired: 10:51 a.m.; 11:25 a.m.; 12:56 p.m.; 6:24 p.m.; 6:55 p.m.; and 10:27 p.m., and Frank Bellavia, a spokesperson for the schools, said the times it may run in the near future “is fluid.” I’ll try to keep you posted.

B'ham high schoolers to present at Housing Commission, County Board...

Buckingham Youth Brigade members at a June meeting. (Click to enlarge the image.)

The Buckingham Youth Brigade will present its report on immigration and affordable housing to the Arlington County Housing Commission next Thursday and then to the County Board on Saturday Sept. 26.

The group of high schoolers took on the task of interviewing immigrants, their families and random people in Buckingham as part of a larger research project answering the question, “Who are Arlington’s Immigrants?”

The idea for the 12 page report started at the end of last year during the county’s “Diversity Dialogues.” The group’s findings boil down to three major recommendations: improving access to services for immigrants; improving affordability in housing; and preventing racism and promoting understanding.

I’ll have a larger story on this the week after next.

The BYB is funded by and supported through the BU-GATA Tenants Association. The report was funded by BU-GATA and the Arlington Community Foundation Education Trust.

Champagne, pizza and missed names...

This story was edited to include the names I missed. --ST

There’s nothing quite like a wine-and-cheese function at an arts space to just make you feel creative and energized. The third Creative Arlington meeting in the Tiffany Gallery of Arlington Arts Center on Thursday did just that. Didn’t hurt that the cheese was on pizza provided by Liberty Tavern and the wine was a sparkling Italian champagne.

I like Creative Arlington, started by Ashton Heights civic association former president Ted Bilich.

Ted Bilich in the Tiffany Gallery. (Click to enlarge the image.)

The group aims to bring the different “creative classes” in Arlington together to create a stronger economy. The idea is to have a community online (find it here—it’s open to everyone, even people without arts degrees) that meets regularly in person to mingle, exchange ideas, and to see if some synergy can be created.

County board member Mary Hynes, Arlington Independent Media President Maurice Martin, planning commission member Terry Serie and about 25 others were there.

I was not planning on covering this, just went for the fun, but at the last minute, I tried. Cell phone photos, notes called into voice mail, and I missed a name: that of the Doorways representative. It was Kerri (Kerry? Carrie?) Something. Coming back off a hiatus is always way harder than I think it will be. (If Kerri Something wants to let me know her real name, I would love to post it.) Took a few hours, but she is: Kerry Goldstein, Donor Relations Manager for Doorways.

Stephen Fedorchak of Liberty Tavern was there, and he and Ms. Goldstein talked about just the sort of relationship Creative Arlington is trying to make.

Doorways is a shelter for abused women and children; Liberty Tavern is upscale food at moderate prices. They share a building in Clarendon.

The two have worked very closely, and Doorways has changed its philosophy of how it works with companies after its experience with Liberty Tavern.

“We want to work with you…It’s not just about writing a check,” Ms. Goldstein said. She said they now ask, “How can we help you, to get your name out, to get your word out?”

Returning that sentiment, Mr. Fedorchak said, “A restaurant is uniquely positioned to feed those children in a nourishing ways.”

Mr. Fedorchak’s business will be expanding into the former Murky Coffee building at the corner of Wilson Blvd. and N. Fairfax Drive in Clarendon. He said they plan to keep it a coffee shop, with expanded hours and menu.

He said they plan to “Tri-brand” a coffee—Counter Culture, Doorways, and whatever his coffee company will be called (he’s taking suggestions)—and $1 per bag of that coffee will go to Doorways.

Doorways recently started the PAWS animal rescue shelter with Caring Hands Animal Hospital for the pets of abused women—women often won’t leave without their pets, for fear that the pet will take the abuse.

“We’ve had one animal in our animal shelter so far, and unfortunately, he tore the thing to shreds, so we had to start over again!” she said, laughing.

My two cents: the new coffee shop should be called "Gitcher Coffee."

The Week’s Headlines…
As always, you can scroll down to see all the recent stories, or simply click the links below (if the link doesn't work, scroll down to find the story, and email to tell me what's busted: heraldtrib@gmail.com --Steve Thurston).

Headlines since the last HeraldTrib Today:

Buckingham Villages Update, A Summary

Police Notes Sept. 3 to Sept. 11

Police Notes Aug. 27 to Sept. 2

Police Notes Sept. 3 to Sept. 11.

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:20:00 +0000

These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. --ST

Sept. 2: Destruction of Property (Series), 4100 and 4200 blocks of N. Henderson Road. Between 2a.m. and 7a.m. an unknown subject vandalized at least two vehicles by damaging the windows. There is no suspect description.

Sept. 2: Assault and Battery, 500 block of N. Oxford St. At 4p.m. a man was assaulted by a known subject.

Sept. 3: Assault and Battery (Arrest), 3900 block of N. Pershing Dr. At 6p.m., one man punched another during an argument. Milburn Burton, 48, of Arlington, was charged with Assault and Battery and held on a $2,500 bond.

Sept. 6: Commercial Burglary, 200 block of N. Glebe Road. Between 9p.m. on Sept. 6 and 8:45a.m. on Sept. 7, an unknown subject entered a check cashing store and stole a safe. There are no known suspects.

Sept. 6: Destruction of Property (Series), 500 block of N. Glebe Road. Between 10p.m. on Sept. 6, and 2p.m. on Sept. 7, an unknown subject scratched three vehicles inside a dealership showroom.

Sept. 8: Stolen Auto. 800 block of N. Taylor St. License tag number: DC CC9856. The auto is a 2003, silver, Lexus K300.

Sept. 10: Stolen Auto Tag, unit block (less than 100) of S. Glebe Road. License tag number: DC C68780.

Sept. 11: Stolen Auto. 700 block of N. Glebe Road. License tag number: VA XTZ7939. The SUV is a 1992, maroon, Isuzu Rodeo.

Click the icons and lines for more information. Red=Person-to-person crime; Yellow=person-to-structure or vehicle crime; Blue=stolen vehicle or vehicle tag; Purple=vehicle-to-vehicle crime; Aqua=miscellaneous. A dot in the icon indicates more than one suspect or victim. All place marks are approximate. Click here to view larger map.

Police Notes Sept. 3, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:24:00 +0000

These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. --ST

Aug. 27: Resisting Arrest (Arrest), 3900 block of N. 4th St. At 12:30a.m., a man was combative during a traffic stop. James Petwat, 44, of Arlington, was charged with Resisting Arrest. He was held on a $2,500 bond.

Aug. 29: Robbery, 3800 block of N. 9th St. At 12:45a.m., an unknown male approached a woman from behind and stole her purse. The suspect fled into a waiting silver Volkswagen Jetta. The suspect was a white Hispanic male wearing jeans and a grey sweatshirt.

Aug. 30: Possession with Intent (Arrest), 5500 block of Arlington Blvd. At 12:30a.m. when an officer attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic infraction, the occupants threw narcotics from the window. The three suspects were arrested. Tuan Huang, 28, of Annandale, Dat Nguyen, 26, of Woodbridge, and Nguyen Nguyen, 25, of Gainesville, were all charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine. They were each held on a $3,000 bond.

Aug. 31: Peeping Tom, 4100 block of N. 3rd Road. At 12:45a.m. a woman saw a man looking in her bedroom window. The suspect is described as an African-American male wearing dark clothing.

Sept. 1: Assault and Battery (Arrest), 4000 block of N. 4th St. At 11a.m., a man spit in another man’s face. George Howard, 32, of Arlington, was charged with Assault and Battery and released on a summons.

Click the icons and lines for more information. Red=Person-to-person crime; Yellow=person-to-structure or vehicle crime; Blue=stolen vehicle; Purple=vehicle-to-vehicle crime; Aqua=miscellaneous. A dot in the icon indicates more than one suspect or victim. Click here to view larger map.

Buckingham Villages Update, an Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:07:00 +0000

Paradigm Construction Corp. prepares the property on N. Henderson Road for demolition. Culpepper Garden Assisted Living Center rises in the background. (Click to enlarge the image.)

As crews rip out trees and prepare to knock down buildings along Henderson Road, the time is right for a recap of the plans for Buckingham Village 1. (Plus, inquiries have made it to me, and I realized I do not have a post that ties it all up in the way I hope this one will. –ST)

First, a layout of the land is in order. Take a look at this map:

Village 1 is the home of current tree removal across from Barrett Elementary School. It’s the largest of the three villages, and when completed will have over 500 rental units in two large buildings, about 70 townhouses along N. George Mason Drive, and a small county park.

Village 2 is the only divided village. The road down the middle of the village along with the red rectangle showing the approximate placement of the George Mason Apartment complex (which is not part of the original Village 2), separate the other two thirds of the block. The blue dot shows where the townhouses have been built and are under construction. The green dot locates the fenced-in field along Thomas Street. Dozens more townhouses are planned for both sides of Village 2. This village is developed “by right” meaning that Paradigm Construction need not seek county approval for changes, so long they stay within current zoning rules.

Bought by Telesis Corporation just months ago, Village 3 will change little on the outside, preserving the two-storey buildings and the garden-style setting. Some additions will be added to the backs of buildings, and a building of some sort will cover the entrance to an underground community center. This village is protected as a county historic area and falls under the oversight of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board, which will regulate any external changes to the property. All of the units (about 140) will be affordable to people of various levels of income. Some of the units along N. Pershing Drive will be part of a condominium.

Village 1 will undergo the most changes, and for more details on that, peruse the illustration:

(Click to enlarge the image.)

Although future plans can change, Paradigm is locked into the current arrangement of buildings in Village 1, given contracts signed with the county. Here are a few details:

(Click to enlarge the image.)

HeraldTrib Today, Aug. 28, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:35:00 +0000

No names at the fair?...

Doug Galbi at the Ode Street Tribune, a blog in Rosslyn, noticed an odd fact at the Arlington County Fair: all the names on the competitive exhibits—e.g. the vegetables and photos—were nameless. Numbers only from August 19-23.

Photo courtesy of the Ode Street Trib. (Click to enlarge the image.)

Turns out the Arlington County Fair Board of Directors voted this year to take the names off tags for security reasons.

“Last year, a number of people expressed concern about seeing people’s names and addresses,” Denise Roller told me. She is the only paid staff person in the Arlington County Fair organization; the fair is run by the non-profit Arlington County Fair, Inc.

Given that 30,000 people perennially partake of this rite of summer, those concerned about the people's privacy were most concerned about children’s. Removing only the names of the littlest competitors proved too much, she said. “The fair is a lot of work” for the all-volunteer staff.

She reminded me a number of times that they are a volunteer organization, and as such, things can go wrong, especially when trying to communicate an idea from a board decision down to the person writing the name on the tag. They were nervous of inadvertently printing a child's name.

Plus, the tags are pre-ordered from a company that provides these sorts of items for fairs. They come with pre-printed numbers and spaces to write in names and addresses—part of the fear was it would take a lot of communication to make sure only the allowable information was put on the tags.

Oddly, even the winners did not get their names on anything official from the fair. Again, numbers only.

Ms. Roller said she hoped they would change that idea next year and give the winner a certificate, not just the nameless ribbon.

My take: put the names back on. I know it’s a lot of work (at least, I can imagine that it must be), but names with neighborhoods, it would seem to me, would be less intrusive while still letting us see who won. Figure out a way to do that.

When kids at the schools win something or other we get their names, and I always like seeing if I know the children. I have two elementary-aged children of my own, and I just do not understand the fears. I just don't see child abusers making the leap from viewing a pumpkin to stalking a child.

I wonder if it would be possible for people to fill in their own tag.

I was very happy to see Lebanese Taverna at the fair—I’d love to see more of the tastes of Arlington (while retaining at least a couple funnel cake and corn dog joints) at the fair.

Roof in Lubber Run…

Arlington County roofers John Koloszar and Jim Richards construct scaffolding on the rest room building in Lubber Run park last week. (Click to enlarge the image.)

Desperate joggers, dog-walkers, and stroller-pushing parents will have their rest room back soon. A tree had severely damaged the roof of the Lubber Run Park rest room about a month ago, making the building unusable. The roof is getting repaired and reshingled.

Time, time, time…

Well, I’m back. This was a much longer hiatus than planned, and for that I’m sorry. One of the reasons for the delay was that I’m trying to reconfigure this blog. I would like to make some money, and to write some different stories. Finding time for all of that is always the concern. In the summer there are kids (and I love getting away on vacation), but then during the school year, I have students, students, students. Finding time is the sticky wicket.

Still, I have some ideas for changes: 1, I am in the process of moving the blog from Blogger to a company called “neighborlogs.” They are out of Seattle, and their business plan aims to bring local advertising to local blogs. It’s a plan that is a long shot, but its heart is in the right place. 2, I’ve finally gotten a tag line: “News Worth Reading.” I’m thinking of it as part fact and part aspiration. The object will be to improve the stories I’m writing, maybe writing fewer but more complete stories.

That’s a couple smallish changes, and time only allows for smallish changes at one time. Many more stories coming down the line. Keep in touch.

Headlines from Earlier in the Week:

Police Notes, Aug. 18 to 24.

Police Notes, July 1 to Aug. 17

Police Notes Aug. 18 to 24.

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:17:00 +0000

These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. --ST

Aug. 18: Peeping Tom (Arrest), 100 block of N. Trenton St. At 6a.m. several witnesses reported a peeping tom to police. The suspect was located and arrested. Froylan Molina, 46, of Arlington was charged with Peeping into a Dwelling and Drunk in Public. He was held on an $1,800 bond.

Police Notes July 1 to Aug. 17

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:59:00 +0000

These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports from in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. Today's post has a particularly large number of reports because it covers many weeks, including those of which I was on hiatus.--ST

July 2: Burglary (Series), 3200 block of Wilson Blvd. Between 10:30p.m. on July 2, and 8a.m. on July 3, an unknown subject broke into three offices in the same building. Various items were stolen. There is no suspect description.

July 4: Assault and Battery (Arrest), 600 block of N. Monroe St. At 7:20p.m., a man threatened a woman with a knife. Edwin Mihaly, 50, of Arlington, was charged with Assault and Battery. He was held on a $2,500 bond.

July 12: Grand Larceny (Arrest), 800 block of N. George Mason Dr. At 11:50p.m., police stopped four subjects in possession of stolen bicycles. They were all juveniles, and charges are pending.

July 13: Stolen Auto, 4000 block of N. 9th St. License tag number: VA ZERO. The SUV was a 1995, white Ford Explorer.

July 13: Robbery, 3800 block of Arlington Blvd. At 1p.m., a group of men approached another male and took money from his pocket while punching him. Several of the suspects are known to the victim.

July 14: Grand Larceny Auto (Arrest), 500 block of N. Thomas St. At 9a.m., an officer attempted to stop a man driving a stolen vehicle. The suspect jumped out of the car and fled on foot. The officer ran after him and took him in custody. Robert Williams-Dixon, 24, of Riverdale, Md., was charged with Grand Larceny Auto and Driving While Suspended. The subject was also wanted out of another jurisdiction for Assault and Battery. He was held on $3,500 bond for the Arlington charges, and a $1,500 for the other charge.

July 20: Possession of a Firearm/Resisting Arrest, N. 10th Street at Fairfax Drive. At 9:45p.m., police pulled over a revoked driver. He was found in possession of a firearm. The suspect assaulted an officer and fled from police to avoid arrest, but was apprehended. David Campbell, 26, of Falls Church, was charged with Violation of a Protective Order (Possession of a Firearm) and Resisting Arrest. He was held on a $5,000 bond.

July 21: Stolen Auto, 5200 block of Wilson Blvd. License tag number: VA KHC7275. The car is a 2004, black Acura TL.

July 23: Stolen Auto, 4000 block of Arlington Blvd. License tag number: VA 8595CY. The car is a 2009, green Toyota Prius.

July 23: Attempted Robbery, 200 block of N. Columbus St. At 5:30p.m., a man was walking the bike trail near Lubber Run Park when he was approached by two unknown men. The suspects confronted the victim and demanded money. The victim chased the suspects off with a stick. The suspects were both white Hispanic males in their 30s. The first suspect was 5 feet, 9 inches, 190 pounds, had a goatee without a mustache, and was wearing a brown T-shirt, dirty jeans, and black shoes. The other suspect was 5 feet, 5 inches, 160 pounds, with long black hair, wearing a blue T-shirt, jeans, and white shoes.

July 29: Stolen Auto License Tag (1), 4300 block of N. Pershing Dr. License tag number: VA YBE5253.

July 30: Stolen Auto, 4500 block of N. Carlin Springs Road. License tag number: VA XUH5218. The car is a 1999, red Hyundai Elantra.

July 31: Unlawful Entry, 800 block of N. Glebe Road. Between 8:30a.m. and 11:30p.m., an unknown person entered a residence and left the doors standing open. No items were stolen and there is no suspect description.

July 31: Exposure (Arrest), 200 block of N. Thomas St. At 7p.m. a woman saw a man exposing himself outside her window. Police located the suspect and he was disorderly. Geoffrey Harley, 25, of Washington, was charged with Exposure and Obstruction of Justice. He was held on a $5,000 bond.

Aug. 2: Robbery, 4200 block of N. Pershing Drive. At 12:10a.m., two men stole beer from another man, assaulting him in the process. Both suspects were white Hispanic males. One suspect was in his early 20s, 5 feet, 5 to 8 inches, 190 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt, white pants, and black shoes. The second suspect was in his late teens, 5 feet, 5 to 8 inches, 160 pounds, wearing a blue T-shirt, jeans, and black shoes.

Aug. 1: Robbery, 200 block of N. Piedmont St. At 9p.m., a man stated that he was walking when an unknown male brandished a knife at him, stealing his jewelry and a wallet. The victim’s story changed several times and he was unclear about a suspect description.

Aug. 3: Larceny from Auto (Series), 3900 block of Fairfax Drive. Between 5:30p.m. and 10p.m., an unknown subject broke into at least two vehicles, stealing GPS units. There is no suspect description.

August 5: Stolen Auto, 400 block of S. Abingdon St. License tag number: VA KGX8192. The car is a 2007, blue, Audi A4.

Aug. 8: Peeping Tom (Arrest), 4100 block of N. 3rd Road. At 12:30a.m., a woman saw a man looking into her window. Police apprehended the suspect. Credenio Mendoza, 29, of Arlington, was charged with Peeping into a Dwelling. He was held on a $2,000 bond.

Aug. 12: Stolen Auto License Tag (1), 4400 block of S. 1st Place. License tag number: VA XVE5292.

Aug. 14: Assault and Battery, 4200 block of Fairfax Drive. At 3:30a.m. a man reported that he was a victim of an assault, but refused to give any further details.

Aug. 15: Sexual Battery, Lubber Run Park near 300 block of Park Drive. At 1p.m. a woman was walking her dog in the picnic area at Lubber Run Park when an unknown man approached her. He kissed her on the cheek and fondled her before she could flee the area. He was described as a white Hispanic male, between 45 and 50 years old, 5 feet, 9 inches, with a medium build. He was wearing a white T-shirt and khaki shorts.

Aug. 17: Stolen Auto (Recovered), 4100 block of N. 4th St. License tag number: VA JXW2528. The mini-van was a 2000, red Toyota Sienna.

Possible Big Changes Along N. Glebe: Harris Teeter to Goodyear

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:01:00 +0000

Planning Commission hopes to meet this summer with owners of ASC, HT, and Goodyear to discuss potential plans.

Representatives of Harris Teeter, Goodyear, and the American Service Center have been meeting with each other over months to discuss possible redevelopment options in the 500 and 600 block of N. Glebe Road. The potential changes—a long-shot at best—would completely change the look of the block, especially the section north from the Harris Teeter grocery store to the Goodyear Tire company at the corner of N. Carlin Springs Road. The ideas floating would move or expand the businesses, creating underground or garage parking, retail space and apartments.

This is according to Terry Serie, an Arlington County Planning Commission member who spoke at the Buckingham Community Civic Association last night. (He actually was invited as a member of the Bluemont Civic Association, and was not speaking officially for the Planning Commission last night.)

The companies have been speaking on their own, and the Planning Commission hopes to get all of them in the room together this summer to see what, if anything, would be worth pursuing, Mr. Serie said.

“I’m expecting that nothing will happen,” he said, given the complexity and scope of a project like this.

He said that last year’s proposed redevelopment of the Goodyear and the small house on N. Carlin Springs next to the tire company is currently off-line, but that has nothing to do with the discussions with the other companies, he said.

The Planning Commission is a citizen advisory board that helps the elected county board with "orderly development of the locality" the county's web site says.

The topic that Mr. Serie actually came to speak about, however, was the newly approved outdoor seating at the Union Jack’s pub, located on the ground floor of the Ballston Commons Mall with a store-front on N. Glebe Road. The outdoor space allows for 54 seats, but many more people than that for standing room. Couple that with Rock Bottom Brewery’s Wednesday night outdoor kegger next door, and the noise, especially in the evening is a bit much for people living in the townhouses across the street from the mall, said Mr. Serie, who lives in one of the townhouses, part of the Bluemont Civic Association.

That civic association only learned last week about the proposed expansion of the outdoor seating, too late to mount an effective campaign. Plus, the company scaled back its plan so that it did not need the complicated Site Plan review or an Arlington County Board vote. County staff could OK the project on their own, consulting only the Ashton Heights Civic Association where the mall is located.

Bluemont Civic Association voted to write a letter to County Manager Ron Carlee, asking that Bluemont receive notices of decisions being made in the 600 block of N. Glebe Road that face the Bluemont, even though the mall and garage property are inside the Ashton Heights neighborhood.

The BCCA voted to write a similar letter.

Also speaking at the BCCA meeting was Tom Hutchings, an Arlington County planner who ran through the $2.4 million renovations of three N. Glebe Road intersections at Fairfax Drive, Wilson Blvd., and Carlin Springs Road, called the North Glebe Road Pedestrian Improvements Project. This has been years in the making, and much of the construction has already been completed.

County planner Tom Hutchings runs through changes that have or are being made at three intersections along N. Glebe Road. Members of the BCCA look on. (Click to enlarge the image.)

Wider sidewalks and skirts on the Exxon gas station and Goodyear corners has been completed, as has been shrub removal —allowing greater driver/pedestrian visibility—on the median just south of the intersection.

The most heated of the discussions among the people was how best to calm traffic entering and exiting the Ballston Mall parking garage.

Mr. Hutchings explained that planners tried to place raised crosswalks across the entrance to the garage, but the Virginia Department of Transportation would not allow it.

“We were hoping the bump-up would slow the cars down,” he said. VDOT also would not allow 10.5 foot traffic lanes, insisting instead on 11 feet.

People talked about getting better signs alerting drivers to watch for pedestrians. Mr. Hutchings said he would ask, at the request of the BCCA, that the entire corner, and especially the exit from the mall, be made “no right turn on red.” No promises in that, though.

This project started in 1999 and was projected for completion at least six months ago. Last report put the project at $1.9 million.

Finally, BCCA President Pat Hope made official what was clear to many: he will not seek another term as BCCA president. Mr. Hope is running as a Democrat in the 47th District of the Virginia House of Delegates. As a Democrat, he is widely expected to win the race and will not have time for both positions. He can serve until November, he said at the meeting. The BCCA will pick up the search for a replacement at the September meeting.

Related stories…

Proposed Mixed-use Building for Goodyear Site

A Decade for New Lights and Curb Cuts

I am still on summer hiatus, but the news was just too big to ignore at last night's meeting, so I thought I'd give a quick post. More on this in the fall, no doubt. --ST

HeraldTrib Today: July 8, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Trying not to sound like Sarah Palin, but the hiatus starts today...

Well, those of you who follow the blog know that I have not posted anything much in the last two weeks. That’s just how the summer has to be for me (see a list of recent posts, below). I’m realizing that more than ever now. Once the kids are out of school, they become my focus. Plus, my house needs work!

It’s tough, too, to make the argument that I must keep up this blog. It’s time consuming, and I get no money for it. I use it as professional development. That has been my largest argument—I stay up-to-date on media trends, and I keep covering stories so that I can, with more authority, tell my journalism students at Montgomery College how it’s done.

That’s the problem, though. I spend enough time at the blog that I don’t have time to prepare classes as fully as I would like. In short, I don’t have time to fully engage either as a placeblogger or as a professor. I can’t make the money off the blog that I would need to make, and I spend many hours blogging while worrying over papers to grade or wondering what more I could be doing with my students (or, as now, thinking about the screen door I must install, getting my daughter to camp, and getting both kids to the pool for races and lessons).

So, I’ll be going on hiatus now, immediately (geez, I feel a bit like Sarah Palin suddenly, and I hope I don’t sound as much like a quitter as she did). I need time to regroup and figure out how to balance everything, and of some imporatance, how to make money at this.

I’ll still be attending events and meetings, and such, and I hope to be back in September with fresh posts, maybe a fresh perspective. Maybe an Angel Investor?? I’d take one.

A couple thoughts on the Arlington Public Schools...

Before I go, I wanted to give my two cents to the new Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools. Dr. Pat Murphy is meeting with people in living rooms across Arlington this summer, and I must say it irks me, a touch. This is one of those times when you need to know something is available in order to take full advantage.

Anyone can contact the people who own the living rooms and go, so long there is space left in their living rooms (for contact info, click here). However, to be one of the people whose living room is used, you must have known to ask APS for the opportunity. That is, people who knew to call APS to set-up a meet-n-greet were able to set one up. APS tells me now that the space in Mr. Murphy's calendar is full.

Three of the meetings are at public venues with plenty of space (Arlington Education Center, Macedonia Baptist Church and Courthouse Plaza), but the rest are living rooms, with limited space. Only one lists Spanish translation (though others might have it).

I’ve put myself on the list should space for another arrive, and I plan to contact some Buckinghamsters to see who might host (I’m thinking either the Gates of Ballston Community Center or the Arlington Oaks Community Center), and you can bet I’ll get a translator. Sheesh.

Even if I do get asked to set-up a meeting, I still think there has to be a better system for setting the calendar.

At the same time, Arlington Public Schools adopted new facilities use plans that seem more clear and look fair to me.

Today's Headlines:

County Board to Take Up a Number of B'ham Items, Saturday.

Headlines from Earlier in the Week:

HeraldTrib on WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show

Police Notes for June 13 - 30; the police notes were updated on July 8 to include a few missing items.

Board to Take Up A Number of B'ham Items Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:38:00 +0000

Federal stimulus money may be appropriated in two projects.

The county is set to issue $43 million in bonds, with $14.8 million going to purchase property on Village 1 that will become a street and park, between N. Pershing Drive and N. Henderson Road, west of N. George Mason Drive (the four-storey Madison at Ballston Station apartment building is there). The vote comes this Saturday at the county board's monthly meeting.

As part of the 2007 agreement between the county and Paradigm Development Company, the owner of the property, the county would buy road and park space on the Village 1 property.

The road will extend N. 3rd Street from N. Henderson to N. Pershing and would build a park, about the size of a football field, on N. 4th Street just west of N. George Mason. According to county documents, Paradigm will complete the road and park; the money spent includes those improvements.

County funds will be put toward this "Village Green" park on N. 4th Street. George Mason Drive runs vertically to the right of this image. (File image from Paradigm Development Co. Click to enlarge the image.)

According to the county manager’s report, “Under the terms of the purchase agreement, closing on the acquisition is dependent on the developer’s completion of certain site work, including demolition and removal of above and below ground structures and site grading. This work is anticipated to be completed later this fall, with closing and settlement of funds to occur on the acquisition shortly thereafter.”

These bonds are not part of the “general obligations” fund but the “annual appropriations pledge” and therefore will likely carry a “double-a” rating, and therefore higher interest. They might also be issued under the “Build America Bonds” as part of the federal stimulus package, the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” the report said.

“Estimated annual debt service in [fiscal year] 2010 on the bonds totals $0.9 million. Approximately $0.2 million will be paid for from the Transportation Investment Fund and is attributable to the portion of the Buckingham Village 1 acquisition related to the public street extension. The remaining $0.7 balance will be paid for from the General Fund and is within the County’s adopted FY 2010 budget,” the report states.

Federal stimulus money will also go to Carlyn Springs apartments for energy improvements. The board is set to approve up to $151,120 of “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” money to Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing for the apartments at 4318 N. Carlin Springs Road (on the corner of Carlin Springs and N. Thomas Street). The complex, two buildings, is a mix of market-rate and affordable units.

Union Jack’s Pub in the Ballston Commons Mall is looking to expand its outdoor café from 20 to 54 seats, and the plan they have puts tables and chairs at the boundary of the right-of-way along the Glebe Road sidewalk. County staff, according to the manager’s report, felt it required a site plan amendment to make sure chairs and tables do not encroach on the walkways. The report says that Ashton Height’s Civic Association was notified and no comments were made. The restaurant must maintain a six-foot, barrier-free walkway between any fencing that corrals their tables and chairs, and the “tree pits” that run along N. Glebe Road, according to the report. Citizens may comment on this item at the recessed meeting Tuesday July 14, 6:30p.m. (see the comment, below).--ST

Public comment starts 8:30a.m. July 11 at the county board meeting room, third floor of the county office building, 2100 Clarendon Blvd.--ST

Related stories…

Buckingham Villages Update (June 2009).

Police Notes June 13 - 30

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:49:00 +0000

These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports from in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. (This post was updated on July 8 to reflect three missing reports.)--ST

June 13: Assault/Indecent Exposure, 900 block of N. Irving St. At 3:30a.m. a woman was walking when an unknown man grabbed her behind. When the victim turned around, the suspect then exposed his buttocks to her before fleeing the area. The suspect is described as an African-American male in his early 20s, 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 160 pounds. He was wearing a light colored t-shirt and dark pants.

June 20: Attempted Sexual Assault, 900 block of N. Taylor St. At 3:45a.m., a woman was walking when an unknown male approached her. He forced her into some bushes and attempted to remove her clothing. She fought him and yelled “Fire.” Witnesses ran to the area and the suspect fled. He is described as a white Hispanic male, 20 to 30 years old, wearing a button down shirt, dress pants, dress shoes, and a dress belt.

June 30: Assault and Battery (Arrest), 200 block of N. Glebe Road. At 11:45a.m., a woman attacked an adult and three juveniles while on a bus. The suspect was located by police. Angela Orji, 26, of Arlington, was charged with four counts of Assault and Battery. She was held on a $4,000 bond.

June 30: Disorderly Conduct (Arrest), 200 block of N. Glebe Road. On June 30 at 11:45a.m., a man interfered with the investigation of the above assault and refused to leave the area. Santos Cabrera Gonzalez, 44, of Arlington, was charged with Disorderly Conduct. He was held on a $1,000 bond.

June 19 (From a press release): The Arlington County Police Department is investigating a critical pedestrian accident that occurred on Wilson Blvd.on Friday evening.

Shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009, a pedestrian was struck by a white Ford F-150 truck. The accident occurred at the intersection of North 10th Street and Wilson Blvd. A pedestrian was crossing North 10th Street when he was struck by the vehicle. The driver of the striking vehicle stayed on scene and was interviewed by police. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

Mark Planisek, 49, of Washington, died on on Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

The Arlington Police Department asks that any witnesses to the accident contact Det. Richard Conigliaro at 703-228-4159. Det. Conigliaro can also be reached via email at Rconig@arlingtonva.us.

Click the icons and lines for more information. Red=Person-to-person crime; Yellow=person-to-structure/vehicle crime; Blue=stolen vehicle; Purple=vehicle-to-vehicle crime; Aqua=miscellaneous. A dot in the icon indicates more than one suspect or victim. Click here for a larger map

HeraldTrib on Kojo Nnamdi TODAY

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:24:00 +0000

Kojo's show is covering hyperlocal journalism and placeblogging today. I'm one of the guests along with bloggers from DC and Maryland.

88.5 FM, 12:00.

Check it out and call in to chat!

Listen to the show here.

HeraldTrib Today Thursday June 18, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Who will run the BCCA?...

Now that Pat Hope, the Buckingham Community Civic Association president, has won the Democratic primary for the House of Delegates’ 47th seat, who will head the BCCA? The conventional wisdom says that, as the Democrat, Pat most likely will win the November election and become the Delegate. He indicated at his victory party that the community will have to find a new leader if he wins in November. He did not say, but I can imagine that this job will be just one too many for his schedule (Pat is very active in the community).

It’s not a simple question, either, given two very important facts: 1, the BCCA meetings are often lightly-attended. So the pool of potential applicants is small. 2, the person needs a decent understanding of government machination as well as some political smarts to be able to talk with other groups in the neighborhood. The tenants group BU-GATA is the big one, but there’s also the informal groupings of people at the Buckingham Outreach Center, and there’s a rather large Bangladeshi community, too. I’m probably forgetting others.

No one jumps to mind as the perfect candidate right now, but I’ll start making inquiries.

County board talking but not saying…

The County Board met in a closed session last week with the county manager, Ron Carlee, and county staff to discuss the legal issues surrounding the historic preservation ordinance.

“No actions were taken,” county public relations rep Mary Curtius wrote in an email, so they do not need to report what was talked about.

Basically, the ordinance is a zoning ordinance giving the county, its commissions and boards the right to regulate, in this case, outside renovations in a historic district. Just so you know.

I heard about this session when I went to the open meeting of the board and the county manager where they spoke of long-term transportation and parking issues. It was the first of these sorts of meetings in which the full board sits with the manager to ask questions and get feedback before the main, public, Saturday-morning board meeting.

The old method had the board members catching up with one another, discussing ideas and questions and then individually meeting the manager in a similar way.

Board member Mary Hines told me later that, as the newest member of the county board, she really liked being able to ask questions and even more to be able to listen to the questions and remarks of others.

It strikes me, as a citizen, that this is much better. I know the law about meetings and quorums can be rather clear that too much talking behind doors turns an informal chat into a real meeting that should be conducted in public. I am not accusing the board of having stepped over the line, but it seems these monthly, open chats has clarified the line.

Confusion in mini-golf story…

I have to apologize for the confusion with the story covering the park at the corner of N. Glebe Road and N. Randolph Street. County planner Scott McPartlin and I were misunderstanding one another, but we have that cleared, and I think the story is now accurate.

The fledgling blue jays are just too cute…

I’m gone for a week…

I feel as though I get started in the summer when other commitments pull me away. Alas, this is the last post for about a week. I’m glad I was able to get to the county board meet regarding Village 3. With luck, nothing exciting will happen next week. I’ll write to you when I return.

Arlington Oaks' annual yard sale, June 27…

I forgot to put this in a moment ago when I updated the site: Saturday June 27, 8a.m. to 1p.m. People are selling all over the property on both sides of N. George Mason Drive between N. Pershing Drive and Arlington Blvd. Property maps will be available so shoppers can find the sales throughout the community; towing will be suspended during the yard sale.

Today's Headline:

Dreams of Homeownership Run Deep

Headlines from Earlier in the Week:

County Board OKs BV3 Affordable Housing Plan

Foresters Eyeing Former “McGregor’s” Space

Police Notes: June 4 -12

Barrett Students Take Runner-Up in “Shorties”

Buckingham Villages Updates

Go Remy’s “Arlington”: Mugging Includes Hot Cocoa

Adventure Park, Town Center, or Mini-golf Considered for Glebe/Randolph Corner.

Special Primary Election Coverage

From Hopeful to Humble at Post-Election Parties

8,000 Vote in Primary; Hope, Deeds Win

Letter: No Lines Today

Turnout Looks Brisk, Despite Weather

Republican Enters Race for 47th

Letter: Feld Hasn’t Called Hope “Names”

Dreams of Homeownership Run Deep

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:44:00 +0000

Juan Bonilla has lived in the same one-bedroom Buckingham Village apartment on N. 4th Street for 10 years with his wife, the past four years with their children. After months of attending meetings to save affordable housing and the neighborhood of people who come with it, he is wondering if he will be able to buy one of the two- or three-bedroom apartments in the condominium that will be created on the Village 3 property.

Juan Bonilla and his wife Maria Sanchez hope to buy a three-bedroom apartment in a Buckingham Village 3 condominium. They rent a one-bedroom apartment with heir children Eugenia, 4, and Joana, 10 months. (Click to enlarge the image.)

Right now, the rules say no.

Mr. Bonilla is a “rod-man” for the Miller-Long construction company, helping place the steel reinforcement bar in the huge columns that keep high-rises vertical. In that job, he makes about $25 per hour, up near $50,000 a year. And that’s just not enough according to the current rules that county staff, Telesis Corporation, and that company’s management partners are considering for home ownership in the condominium.

The current rules say that the total income of residents in the unit must be 60 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The AMI is set by the federal department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Bonilla would need to make about $61,000 a year to qualify.

Still, there is some hope.

The county board OKed an affordable housing program for Buckingham Village 3 at its meeting Tuesday night. It opens the process of creating a 48-unit condominium in five buildings along N. Pershing Drive between N. George Mason Drive and N. Thomas Street. However, the board left open many of the details of what the condominium finances would look like and who would be able to buy.

“I think I can qualify,” Mr. Bonilla said from a chair in his living room one recent afternoon. He said he has a high credit rating and savings. Plus, the rules dictate the total household income, not one person’s. Perhaps a relative of his would be interested in sharing the mortgage and sleeping in one of the rooms.

His daughters are growing older. Joana is 10 months (and already walking), and Eugenia will turn five in October and will go to the pre-school program at K.W. Barrett Elementary School this fall. It might take a couple years before the units are ready for sale.

“We don’t know when this is coming, so my wife could work too,” in time to qualify, he said. His wife, Maria Sanchez, has been staying home with their children.

Lois Athey and others at the county board meeting urged the board to consider lowering the standard for owner-qualifications. She is a long-time representative of BU-GATA, a tenants’ association in the neighborhood.

“Some of these people will qualify with good credit scores and savings…you’d be surprised,” she told the board.

Mr. Bonilla addressed the county board, saying, "I ask that you approve this program so that we can stay in Arlington." (Click to enlarge the image.)

The question of what income level to serve was discussed at length in the Buckingham Village 3 Working Group, a group set up at the direction of Ron Carlee, the county manager. It is a group of all the stakeholders involved including Telesis Corporation (the new owners of the Village 3 complex), tenants, county staff and others.

“We didn’t come to a complete consensus” on that issue, said Reshma Holla, an assistant project manager with Telesis. Her company will develop and manage the property with the National Housing Trust and other partners.

County staff, she said, got nervous at the level of subsidy when the income level dropped. Currently, the county subsidy is expected to be about $140,000 per unit. If the subsidy has to increase in order to help people at the lower income level, the price rises to about $200,000, she said.

“Ultimately that means we’d be asking for more county subsidy,” she said, adding that county staff just wasn’t comfortable with that number.

It is not just the subsidy but the idea that this level of help has not been done in the county for homeownership before.

“The 60 to 80 percent [of AMI] is consistent with what we’ve done elsewhere,” said David Cristeal, a lead county planner on the project. It is a “nuanced answer” but the county has to be careful to avoid a precedent it cannot keep.

But there still is the possibility that the 50 percent AMI level can be reached, Ms. Holla said.

“The goal is we’d still like to reach that lower income level,” she said. They will be looking to other sources, maybe private sources, for the money.

At the board meeting Tuesday night, Jose Castellon, an 18-year Village 3 resident, told the board to put the emphasis on “a variety of income ranges.”

After the meeting he said, “I’m happy” that the board passed the affordable housing plan. But he still hopes to be able to buy.

“I got good credit,” he said, adding later, “I don’t want to go away.”

He has two children who will be in high school next year. “I don’t want to pull my kids out of school.”

In Mr. Bonilla’s living room, he said he likes the access to Metro, the Glebe Market, the good schools.

“I like the neighborhood. It’s a very good neighborhood,” he said. If he can’t buy, he said he would not move away, but would most likely rent a two-bedroom unit. His daughters can share a room.

“They’re two girls, they can live in one bedroom,” he said.

But would he resent not being able to buy, despite his work on the Buckingham Village 3 working group?

“I wouldn’t be disillusioned because someone from my community would be getting the benefits,” he said.

Editor’s Note: Lois Athey, a long-time activist with BU-GATA, the tenants’ association in the neighborhood, translated the interview with Mr. Bonilla in his living room. --ST

Board OKs BV3 Affordable Housing Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:45:00 +0000

Last night the county board OKed a plan to keep 92 rental units of Buckingham Village 3 affordable for the next 75 years, possibly longer, while creating a condominium of 48 units for sale, and resale, at below-market prices for the same period.

Jay Fissette (Click to enlarge the image.)

The meeting of the five grew mildly tense at times, when county board member Chris Zimmerman attempted to understand if the rental units and the condo units could be readied for occupancy at the same time, and board Vice Chair Jay Fissette quizzed county staff about the lack of detail concerning geothermal heat pumps as a possible green alternative heat source for the redevelopment.

In the end, the board unanimously approved the affordable housing plan—something never really in question—but will hear more about the geothermal plan during their July meeting.

This allows Telesis Corp. and National Housing Trust, the new owners (with others) of the Village 3 complex, to get their financial ducks in a row for the August 5 opening of the Virginia tax credits competition.

(Click to enlarge the image.)

The affordability of these units works best if certain federal and state tax credits are received. There is a finite amount of money in the Virginia tax credit hopper, which is doled out starting August 5, so it helps to be the first in line.

On the rental side, the county has paid about $14.9 million for the purchase of the land and will receive about $10 million back during the long-term lease with Telesis. That leaves about $4 million of county financing in the project, or about $110,000 per rental unit, reported David Cristeal, a lead county planner in the project. He said that the cost to the county for the condominium would be nearly $7 million or about $143,000 per unit. The county may receive some of this money back as the units are sold.

He said last night’s decision required the board to vote so that the company would “sufficient time to meet the time frame of early August.”

(Click to enlarge the image.)

Only one of the 10, or so, civilian speakers last night was negative. Long-time county activist Jim Hurysz wondered if the price tag of $110,000 per unit was too expensive.

“Are there better options [to purchase affordable housing] like buying old duplexes” or small apartment buildings at $50,000 per unit, he wondered aloud. He did not give an example of where or how many of those might exist in the county.

In the past, county board and staff have said they liked the idea of saving so much affordable housing all at once, in Buckingham, and of saving the community itself, allowing as many people as possible to remain in the neighborhood while renovation and redevelopment takes place.

If all goes as planned, renovation of the units—all 140 in Village 3 will be renovated—begins next spring.

Mr. Zimmerman focused on making sure the rental units and condo sales happen together since that would mean the least disruption for people who want to buy but are currently renting in Village 3. He said that developing the home ownership segment while maintaining the community is a large point of this project. If the county and Telesis get the home ownership segment moving, but the people in the neighborhood who might have bought have already left, then what is the point, he wondered.

Many of the exact details of how the home ownership would work are still to be worked out.

Mr. Cristeal said that there were site plan concerns with the condo and parking concerns along with setting up the purchasing assistance program for the potential buyers. As well, the county has to sell the section of the property that the condo will own.

“We ought to be able to expedite those,” especially the site plan and housing assistance processes, given that they are under county control, Mr. Zimmerman said.

But then there’s the problem of phased redevelopment—how does Telesis keep people in some units on the property while renovating others?

Perhaps they don’t, Mr. Zimmerman said, offering that they could move people to apartments elsewhere in Buckingham. That has happened during the renovation of The Gates of Ballston and Historic Ballston Park. Now, Buckingham Village 1 has the new Madison at Ballston Station with units that rent at affordable rates.

“One of the obstacles to getting the timing of the ownership units on line with the rental units…was the difficulty of trying to maintain people on site,” Mr. Zimmerman said.

Aimee McHale of the National Housing Trust, explained, “There’s an astronomical cost with relocating people off-site. We should have said that up front.” They plan to renovate one or two buildings at a time and shuffle people around on the property as they do so.

Mr. Zimmerman wondered if perhaps some fraction could move off-site if that meant the condo renovation would keep pace with the rentals.

Scott Kline (Click to enlarge the image.)

“We will look at that. Clearly we have a lot to do with respect to phasing. We’ve been focused on the housing program so that we can be ready for the 9 percent tax-credit application that’s due on August fifth,” said Scott Kline, vice president of the National Housing Trust. “We do have a lot more work to refine our renovation plan.”

When board Vice Chair Jay Fissette had his opportunity he wondered why the plans for the use of geothermal heat pumps were conflicting and inspecific.

“[W]hen I read this, I get really mixed messages from the memo,” he said. The use of the pumps which use naturally-occurring heat deep in the earth to heat the apartments would require Historical Affairs and Landmarks Review Board approval, and might interfere with old-growth trees which might have to be removed, and the initial installation is expensive.

But the use of the heat-pumps might still be worth it if it meant that the people who lived in the units would have much lower utilities bills long into the future, Mr. Fissette said.

“We can’t always being thinking about affordable housing without thinking about the context of affordable living,” Mr. Fissette said. He couched his argument for the geothermal heat pump in the idea that people should only be encouraged to buy and rent units if they can also afford to live there long-term. Lowering utilities bills would help that, he said.

In the end, he was willing to draft the motion to approve the affordable housing program while asking for more information about the geothermal program at next month’s meeting.

Click the lines for more information. View larger map

Foresters Eyeing Former "McGregor's" Space

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:58:00 +0000

A group of Arlington Foresters is hoping to build more community with a high-end market, coffee, ice cream or other "neighborhood hang-out" in either the vacant Mrs. McGregor's Garden Shop space, the Country Curtain space, which will be vacant in August, or both. (Click to enlarge the image.)

A group of neighbors in Arlington Forest want the Arlington Forest Shopping Center to feel like a destination, a place neighbors could go to sit, talk and meet. None of the stores or restaurants has that drop-in and hang around feel that a coffee shop, an ice cream shop, or even a small, upscale market might have.

Now might just be the time to make the destination happen, since the space that was Mrs. McGregor’s Garden Shop has been vacant for months, and the Country Curtain is moving to Fairfax in August.

“Right now, we’re wanting to know if the landlord is even interested,” said Michele Cato, an organizer of a group of Foresters looking into the business idea.

The answer is: probably not.

The problems are quite a few, and the neighbors know this, Ms. Cato said.

Van Woodley, the leasing agent for the space, said he has been contacted by people in Arlington Forest.

The small, basement space formerly Mrs. McGregor's Garden Shop will not work as a coffee shop, the leasing agent said. (Click to enlarge the image.)

“We’re not encouraging a coffee thing for that location, without ventilation, limited air conditioning,” he said. He works for A.J. Dwoskin and Associates, of Fairfax. He said they haven’t had a lot of luck with coffee shops, but one might work if it could be on the main level near the Brick’s Pizza and Chrystal Thai, but of course, there is no space open there.

Yet there’s trouble beyond the ventilation. The rent for the small space in the basement of the shopping center, on the side of the shopping center that faces houses, will be about $4,000 a month plus utilities, and they want a five-year lease. Mr. Woodley said someone has to guarantee the roughly quarter-million dollars over five years that the lease will require. Without a financial backer, any idea would be tough to pull off.

“Being tucked under like that has some drawbacks,” he said. The fact that it faces homes, and therefore is restricted in what it can be, is a big issue for the leasing agent. His company is looking toward a small, professional service such as a tax accountant.

Drainage issues and a wet basement are drawbacks that Ms. Cato said she sees. Parking is a concern for both sides.

Ms. Cato thinks her group might come up with an idea that would use both the Country Curtain and McGregor's spaces together. That's an idea that Mr. Woodley said his firm has been pursuing with other companies interested in the property. They have a "wide range" of different retail companies interested in the space, he said, but he would not elaborate.

The Arlington Forest group is looking at creating a co-operative of some sort, possibly, or of finding a financial backer. Ms. Cato said her group knows that anything is a long shot, but they are thinking of an upscale market that would serve coffee, ice cream and pastries, but would also sell food and baked goods.

She said there is some historical precedence for this, too, as the original plans for the center called for some sort of market.

“We want something community based,” she said. “There’s an amazing amount of interest in the community.”

She knows that parking would be an issue for anything, and she believes the community would not support a regular grocery store or convenience store. Her group, which met last week for the first time, divvied-up the jobs, doling out roles to match the people’s strengths. One is calling the landlord, another is looking into the co-op option. The group is strong in the time they can dedicate and in skills, she said.

She admitted that it would be OK if they’re group did not put together a winning proposal, so long the space got something that the community could use to congregate. If the Brick’s Pizza just had nice seating, that would work, she said, adding later that she wanted it to feel more like the Westover Shopping Center on Washington Blvd., with its ice cream and coffee shops, a hardware store, nice restaurants and other places for the community to gather.

“We’ll work with all the neighborhood groups,” Mr. Woodley said.

Police Notes June 4 -12

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:50:00 +0000

These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports from in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. --ST

June 4: Exposure, 3800 block of Wilson Blvd. At 9p.m., two women were walking down the street when they saw a man standing near a bush exposing himself. A suspect has been named.

June 7: Assault and Battery (Arrest), 900 block of N. Stafford St. At 7a.m., a man was sitting in his car in a parking lot when three subjects assaulted him. Police located the subjects fleeing the area. Petch Bhumibhanit, 29, Chaichat Noprapa, 28, and Sanhajuta Lampoonphong, 29, all of Arlington, were charged with Assault and Battery.

June 11: Indecent Exposure (Arrest), 4400 block of S. 1st Road. At 1:30p.m., a woman was on the W&OD Trail and saw a man exposing himself to people passing by. Police located the suspect. Donald McGown, 58, of no fixed address, was charged with Indecent Exposure. He was held on a $2,000 bond.

Barrett Students Take Runner Up in "Shorties"

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:16:00 +0000

"Spaghetti Monster: A Spaghetti Western," a film by K.W.Barrett Elementary School students, was the runner-up in the Live Action category for 7 to 10 year olds in the Shortie Film Festival.

Students at Abingdon Elementary School won the 7 to 10 animated film with "The Lost Colony" and Hoffman-Boston students were runners-up in the best news in an elemenatry school category.

"Established in 2001, The Shortie Awards: Student Film and News Festival recognizes original digital media productions created by student filmmakers, ages 7-18, and their teachers. The Shortie Awards focuses on nurturing imagination," the festival web site says. The films are no longer than 10 minutes.

Congratulations!

Buckingham Villages Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Thurston) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:35:00 +0000

Project Manager Micheline Castan-Smith reports via email that the next step in the Buckingham Village 1 redevelopment is to prepare what will be the county’s property on the site. Now that the Madison at Ballston Station apartment complex is completed and is being leased, Paradigm Development Company will focus on space for the extension of N. 3rd Street and the county park just north of the Madison (see the image).

(Illustration Thurston; image, Paradigm Development Co. Click to enlarge the image.)

The third street extension will replace what had been a cut-through alley and parking lot between the Culpepper Garden and Buckingham Villages apartments. The change will make the new road an official county street and will be close to, but not exactly where, the alley is.

At the recessed board meeting next Tuesday the county is expected to OK an extension of the Tenant Assistance Fund. Set-up in 2007, this fund was designed to help low-income residents of various Buckingham Village apartments to stay in the neighborhood, according to the county manager’s report.

As buildings were torn down and replaced, this fund has helped 11 families who were already in the neighborhood, stay in the neighborhood, the report states. The fund, with $125,000 taken from the Affordable Housing Investment Fund two years ago, is still in the black and does not require additional money. Nine families are still receiving the help, the report states.

Finally, the board will discuss and vote on major elements of the Buckingham Village 3 redevelopment.

In preparation for this meeting, last month the board met with Telesis Corp. the owners and managers of the property to determine the best mix of home rental and ownership and what type of ownership should be involved. The final decision came down to 92 rentals and a condominium of 48 units. All of the units will be rented or purchased at below market rates.

The question that will remain even after Tuesday’s meeting is how the condominium units will be resold when a purchaser decides to sell. All the units are to remain affordable, almost in perpetuity, so the owner who bought at affordable rates and wishes to sell, cannot do so at market rates. The conventional wisdom says that the owner should be able to reap some reward on his or her investment, but should sell at an affordable price as well. The details of this have yet to be worked out. (More on this story after the meeting next week.)

Related stories…

County and Telesis Prep for June Meeting (May 2009).

County Board OKs Leasing and Financing of BV3 (March 2009).

Arlington to Enter Deal with Telesis (February 2009).