Friday, May 23, 2008

With a Snip, Eight Years Is History

The county and civic leaders cut the ribbon on renovation of the Glebe at Pershing intersection, a project that started in 2000, or earlier.

A clearly-photoshopped image of the entire intersection of N. Glebe Road at N. Pershing Drive. (Click to enlarge the image.)

It has been so long in coming that people cannot even recall when the whole process began, but the date it ended was Thursday May 22, 2008, when county board members and local civic leaders snipped the ceremonial ribbon on a N. Pershing Drive bus shelter, ending a tumultuous process of renovation at N. Pershing’s intersection with N.Glebe Road.

The process started, most likely, in 2000, when county staff organized the “Buckingham Charette” and the idea for improving pedestrian safety and designing common sense traffic patterns was discussed. The idea quickly became part of the Neighborhood Strategy Area Plan, written in 2000.

In late 2002 and early 2003, the county was saying this project would be completed “by spring.” But county staff cited troubles working with the many people and businesses that own the property and buildings, troubles working with the slow-moving Virginia Department of Transportation, and concerns raised by the county’s Historical Affairs and Landmarks Review Board.

So much was slowed down that staff chose to cut sculptures from the project and instead limit the “arts portion” to etched-glass bus shelters.

The irony of this is that in the intervening years, the property on that corner has risen in value, and the CVS and Glebe Market buildings will be torn down and rebuilt if current plans are executed. The new curb cuts and landscaping on the west side of N. Glebe Road are not consistent with the plans for the new buildings.

Videos and images from yesterday’s event and some more history are a included as part of the following video. Links to stories covering this renovation appear below the video.




Related stories from the HeraldTrib…

On Construction:
  • Undergrouding the Utilities Begins (Sept. 13, 2006)
  • Progress Slow, and Underground, at Pershing/Glebe (Jan. 10, 2007)
  • Update: Power Blackout Not Caused by Underground Construction (Feb. 22, 2007)
  • This Should Be the Summer of a New Glebe and Pershing Intersection (May 23, 2007)
  • Board Approves Contract for Bham Intersection (Oct. 16, 2007)
  • Major Intersection Work to Begin Monday (Dec. 7, 2007)

  • On Art:
  • Art on the Four Corners (Nov. 13, 2007)
  • No Public Discussion on Art a "Slap in the Face." (Oct. 17, 2007)
  • Labels: , , , ,


    Comments:

    Post a Comment





    << Home

    This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?