The Buckingham Herald Tribblog

The Sun Gazette reported about a week ago that the Arlington County board plans to write a letter to Gov. Tim Kaine asking that he use some of the federal stimulus money to fix the Glebe Road bridge over Arlington Blvd., pieces of which broke off and disrupted traffic earlier in the month.

The letter, which is not finished, will only ask that the state fix the bridge, not that the state fully redevelop the bridge, as has been planned for almost a decade. Nor did the county include a request to redevelop the bridge when they submitted a more formal request to the state for stimulus package monies.

According to county federal liaison Brian Stout via email, “The short answer is no, we did not include the [full] project in our submissions online for stimulus funding. As currently designed, the project would not be eligible for stimulus funding.”

The project is not far enough along to be eligible for the funding said the county’s Pat Carrol, adding that projects have to be ready to go at the time of funding.

“The project is currently planned as a replacement and enhancement project, has an estimated cost of $14 million, and is likely to go to construction in 2012. The full project will improve auto, transit, pedestrian and bicycle access the area – an important point for Arlington,” Mr. Stout’s email said.

The redevelopment of that bridge and the intersection has been in the plans since 2000. The plan is to widen the bridge and the exit ramps from westbound Arlington Blvd. In an earlier plan the First Class Auto used car lot at that intersection (across N. Glebe Road from the McDonald’s) was scheduled to be taken over and torn down to allow the ramp to expand.

In 2002, the county planned $25 million for improvements along Arlington Boulevard and Columbia Pike, “including bridges on...Glebe Road at Arlington Boulevard,” a release at the time said.

A February 2007 VDOT inspection gave the bridge a 5 of 9 “fair” rating, which despite the bad sound of that did not concern professional inspectors.

“Five is normal, very, very ordinary,” said a federal official in October 2007.

Buckingham Bridges OK. (October 2007)

Labels: arlington blvd, bridges, Glebe, traffic

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 3:52 PM 0 comments

It’s still too tall. And too close to Glebe Road. And Pershing Drive. And the police might not like their substation. And the project is 110 parking spaces short. And no one wants you to pave over grass on AHC property. And is there enough landscaping on the sidewalks?

Buckingham’s own Bernie Berne set that last question in motion at the Historical Affairs and Landmarks Review Board meeting Wednesday night, Dec. 17. The HALRB discussed the possible development of the Buckingham Shopping Center at the intersection of N. Glebe Road at N. Pershing Drive in which the commercial buildings on the CVS and Glebe Market corners would be razed and replaced.

Mr. Berne stood before the group and said that the zoning variance the developer, Georgetown Strategic Capital, is asking for regarding the placement of landscaping should be denied. The developer has asked to move some of the street-level landscaping onto a second floor terrace as part of a “green roof” for that level of the project.

Last month, Mr. Berne cajoled the Buckingham Community Civic Association into drafting a letter to the county board asking that they deny the change in zoning.

“It’s just not neighborhood friendly,” Mr. Berne said at Wednesday’s meeting. “I hope staff recognizes this.”

But the comments around the table indicated that people either didn’t know of, or did not notice the request.

“I don’t think we’ve heard that,” HALRB Chair Isabel Kaldenbach-Montemayor said. “I’m pretty sure that we’ve never heard that a portion of the open space would be on the second floor.”

“To be fair to you all, they [details of the landscaping] weren’t in any drawing but this,” said the architect, Scott Matties at another point. He indicated a plan from months ago, “But they were in this.”

In the other major hurdle to come up Wednesday evening, Jennifer Fioretti from the county’s transportation department said the project is 110 parking spaces short and she discussed some changes that could be made on the east side of Glebe, such as using the space behind the post office more efficiently, to make up some of the difference.

The plan had called for some extra street-level parking to come from Gates of Ballston property adjacent to the Glebe Market. However, that was shot down Wednesday, too.

“Planning staff cannot support this off-site parking,” said a county staffer at the meeting, especially given that some space has been freed up with the removal of the CVS and their requested drive-thru window.

County staff and the citizen board members also brought up issues with the height of the buildings which will have ground floor retail and apartments above. The buildings are still four-storey, flat roofed buildings, but the fourth floors have been pulled back, taking up space only at the centers of the buildings to avoid being quite so visible from the street. Some board members called for pulling the buildings even further back from the street.

Bob Moore, of Georgetown Strategic wondered aloud how they could pull back the buildings from the streets farther and make more parking.

“There’s only so much space,” he said.

In a story two weeks ago, Mr. Moore said his company was close to the breaking point on this project, that the changes were paring back the project so much it becomes economically unfeasible.

“We’d rather know now and pursue other things,” Mr. Moore said Wednesday. “If it’s [the project is] too problematic…we’d rather have a quick bullet than swing in the wind.”

Moments later he added, “We’ll try. We’ll come back and we’ll see what we can do about the green space.”

However, in a quick interview after the meeting, he did not wish to comment on whether they would return.

For a whole mess of related stories, click here, and scroll down through them.

Labels: buckingham center, CVS, Glebe, pershing

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 9:35 AM 0 comments

I would like to bring to your attention some inaccurate information contained in a Buckingham Herald Tribblog article dated Nov. 17, 2008 relative to Glebe and Randolph Park.

The article, titled “Hokies to Tackle Mini-golf Site?” incorrectly states that “the County had turned the parcel [the triangular shaped green space next to the Ballston Common Mall parking garage] over to the Virginia Tech Architecture and Design School to serve a blank slate for ideas in a student design competition. Outdoor public dancing was cited as one of the potential functions.”

First, given the constraints of the site and limited funding, the County is currently exploring a variety of viable and affordable options for the use of the site, and an urban mini-golf course remains one of the options.

Second, the parcel was never “turned…over to the Virginia Tech Architecture and Design School” as the article suggests. Rather, professors selected this site for a theoretical exercise in site design and building functionality based on its challenging constraints and colorful history.

The County has had no further involvement in the student project. Any Virginia Tech student ideas for the site will remain between the professors of the course and the students as their projects are finalized and will not be informing the County’s purview of the site.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss this project further.

Thank you,

Scott McPartlin
Urban Planner
Arlington County Park Development Division

The incorrect story has been pulled from the post. My apologies for the error. --ST

Labels: ballston, Glebe, mini-golf

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 6:38 AM 0 comments

Crimson Urban, Inc., owners of 650 N. Glebe Rd., are looking to redevelop that parcel of land where the Goodyear Auto Service Center now stands.

“This application is requesting approval for a five (5)-story approximately 115 unit residential building with approximately 9,234 square feet of ground floor retail,” a letter from the owner’s lawyers states.

Current zoning allows for a four-storey mixed use building, which means the developer will have to go before the county’s Site Plan Review Committee, a sub-set of the Planning Commission, for approval.

The letter says that the apartments will be “reasonably priced,” that the building will have 146 parking spaces, and that the building will try to receive 26 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design credits from the U.S. Green Building Council.

County planners and residents have long wanted to improve pedestrian safety at the corner of N. Glebe and N. Carlin Springs roads where the building sits.

“This may be our chance to negotiate the overhead crosswalk over N. Glebe we've been discussing for years. I hope to make this part of the discussions,” wrote Pat Hope, the Buckingham Community Civic Association president in an email. That crosswalk would connect to the Goodyear site to the Ballston Common Mall parking lot. Mr. Hope forwarded the attorney’s letter to the HeraldTrib.

The U.S. Green Building Council, an independent group, has four levels of certification. A LEED credit score from 26 to 32 is “certified,” from 33 to 38 is “silver,” from 39 to 51 is “gold,” and platinum buildings range from 52 to 69 possible points, according to the council’s web site.

The current zoning allows for four storeys. The building under construction on N. Thomas Street, near the Goodyear, is covered under the same zoning and is being built “by right” meaning basically that it is staying within current zoning.

Glebe and Carlin Q&A: No Changes to Pedestrian Crossing Times (July 12, 2007)

A Decade for New Lights and Curb Cuts (July 11, 2007)

Pedestrian Meeting Coming to Bham (June 25, 2007).

Labels: Carlin Springs, Glebe, intersection, pedestrian, redevelopment

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 9:18 AM 2 comments

Labels: CVS, Glebe, intersection, pershing, redevelopment

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 7:33 AM 1 comments

We heard that you are interested in opening a new market at Glebe and Pershing Streets. As your potential new neighbors, we wish you success in your endeavor and we look forward to shopping in the new store.

Ken and Yoko Moskowitz
Ashton Heights

Labels: CVS, Glebe, pershing, redevelopment

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 7:26 AM 0 comments

Bruce Quantic, Derby, Kansas

The writer is referring to this video of the recent ribbon cutting at the intersection of N. Glebe Road and N. Pershing Drive. He is also my father-in-law. --ST

Labels: Glebe, intersection, pershing

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 8:52 AM 0 comments

Great pictures and video of the intersection! Thanks!

Brian Berger

To see the slide and video show, click here. --ST

Labels: Glebe, intersection, pershing, renovation

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 9:02 AM 0 comments

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.

Participants in the forum held by the county's planning division also talked about what grocery store should replace the Glebe Market, about the men who stand on the corner, about safety, about pedestrian traffic, and many other issues. About 35 people other than county staff attended. Many came from Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights as well as from various citizen boards and committees in the county.

Part of the civility may have come from the fact that county staffers who ran the meeting divided the participants into three groups based on where people were sitting. Friends and neighbors sat next to each other as they discussed Use, Design and Transportation at the intersection.

This was the first time that the county has heard from citizens on a large scale regarding this project.

The developer, Georgetown Strategic Capital, is looking to raze and replace a few buildings on the west side of N. Glebe Road at the intersection with N. Pershing Drive (see the map, below). Bob Moore, a principal with the company, said they had met about 13 times with county staff, citizens boards and the community.

But past meetings with Arlington’s Historical Affairs and Landmarks Review Board have largely taken place without regular citizens in attendance. On March 24, the company met with the Buckingham Community Civic Association, but turnout was light, and county staff, other than police, were not there, according to people who attended.

Many people at the meeting, in at least two of the groups, said they did not want a Trader Joe’s grocery store to replace the Glebe Market, which will close when the buildings are razed. They preferred another small, independent grocery that would more closely meet the needs of the largely Latino community.

“Most of us, more than 80 percent of us, are Hispanics, and we use it [the Glebe Market] everyday,” said Johny, a Buckinghamster. A few people in his group said they feared a store like Trader Joe’s would be too expensive or would not have the right products. Johny said he has a petition with 100 signatures of Buckingham families asking that the Glebe Market remain. [Many people left before I could get last names. –ST]

Months ago, Mr. Moore said his company was trying to get the popular, upscale (but low price) Trader Joe’s in the neighborhood. Some people at the meeting last night expressed support for that idea.

However, the county’s Tom Miller said the likelihood of a Trader Joe’s is slim. In an interview after the forum, he said that experiences in planning tell him that Trader Joe’s likely wants space on the Ballston-Rosslyn metro corridor and would not accept a space on the southwest corner of the Glebe and Pershing intersection.

“El projecto es muy bonito,” (“The project is very nice”) said Julio in one group, as a county staffer translated, “but what will be done with the people who currently use that space?”

What will happen with the day laborers? Where will they go? Will the police get them? he wondered.

This is a theme that runs under many discussions in the Buckingham neighborhood. This is a community often divided between the largely white, English-speaking community who own homes or condominiums in the neighborhood and renters who are often Latino, Spanish-speakers.

“I just don’t go there [to the Buckingham Center] at all,” said Stacy in a group different from Julio’s. She said that the graffiti and trash in the bus stops along with other issues keep her from going. Others in her group agreed.

The project will have 190 new market-rate apartments, and that has people from BU-GATA, a tenants association, worried about upward pressure on the rents at the Gates of Ballston and other neighborhood apartments. They say they are already seeing that change.

“It [the project] just plain doesn’t look like it belongs there,” said Patè McCullough a Gates resident and BU-GATA board member who did not support the project. Then she looked sideways at Mr. Moore and joked, “Then, too, if you want to put some affordable housing in there, we can work something out.”

At least two of the three groups said they supported the idea of a police substation in one of the buildings. This is one area of agreement between the English- and Spanish-speaking communities in the neighborhood. Mr. Moore said his company and the police supported the idea of the substation.

[AHC Inc. recently said they are looking for space to put the substation on their Gates of Ballston property. A substation was part of the Gates before its major renovation over the past two years.]

The building that will replace the CVS/Ravi Kabob building on the southwest corner will hold about 23,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and about 90 apartments on the top three floors, said Scott Matties, of Cunningham Quill Architects. Drawings show the commercial space in the building divided into about 10 storefronts of about 2,500 square feet each. None of the space has been leased yet, Mr. Matties said.

Do Chon said he is planning to open a coffee shop with his father in one of the new buildings. His father, Sam Chon, owns the Glebe Market, but plans to retire assuming the redevelopment moves forward, the younger Mr. Chon said.

The CVS will move across Pershing Drive into a building that will replace two buildings on the northwest corner. The Glebe Market building, and the El Paso building will be razed. The CVS will occupy the corner in the new building and El Paso might get some outdoor seating.

The design brings the buildings much closer to Pershing.

“We’re talking about a urban kind of streetscape” along Pershing, Mr. Matties said.

Ariana Kincaid, the general manager of Woofs! Dog Training Center said she wanted to make sure the signs for her company are more visible from the street. Her company occupies the back half of the El Paso Cafe building. Getting adequate signage in Arlington is tough, she said.

Lois Athey, a long-time activist that works with the BU-GATA tenants association, said, Woofs! is “detrimental” to the neighborhood. A dog training facility without any yard of its own should not be there, she said last night as she has many times in the past.

Participants said they want CVS to remove the walls from behind its windows so that people can see into, and through, the store. Others talked about the need for better sidewalks and accessibility for the disabled, for safer intersections both for pedestrians and bicyclists.

In one group people discussed the idea of using the space around the Post Office building for community events. That side of the street will get only superficial changes according to Georgetown Strategic.

The county plans to compile and analyze the notes from last night. Advisory commissions in the county (such as the Planning Commission) will review community feedback with stakeholder representatives, followed by a formal review of the use permit (Georgetown Strategic has not yet officially filed a use permit).

Other items that staff summarized in bullet form on jumbo sticky notes (the items are complaints, wishes, or ideas):

Labels: georgetown strategic capital, Glebe, pershing, redevelopment

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 1:16 PM 7 comments

One of the stories in the hopper, of course, will deal with results of the survey—67 of you logged on to give your opinion (I am quite happy with that number). The survey has been closed.

I will have something on that either tomorrow or Friday, so check back; it will probably be the first in a series of articles, so keep checking.

Also, the survey has been translated to Spanish; now I just am waiting for my friend Sarah Zoeller to translate an introduction to the survey, then I can send it out to the Spanish-speaking community. (Big shout out of thanks to Sarah who does this for me, for no pay, while watching her infant! You go girl!)

I can tell you that “Arlington County Police substation” was the biggest winner in the question of which county office should be in Buckingham. We used to have a substation in a Gates of Ballston second floor apartment, and AHC Inc., the owner/manager of The Gates, tells me they are looking again to house a substation.

“We would very much like to have a police substation again on the property, but we’re not in a position to offer them an apartment; we need to keep those units rented. However, we’re looking to identify another space that would be appropriate for their substation,” said Catherine Bucknam, an AHC spokesperson, in a voice mail. “It’s in the works.”

Officer Timothy Koch said in a recent Buckingham Community Civic Association meeting that the main concern is that the office be fully secured when police are not there. He said computers and files have classified information that must be protected.

When that Gates of Ballston apartment complex was emptied for renovation more than a year ago, the sub-station was lost. Police officers have said at civic association meetings and elsewhere how much they liked that substation. They liked having quick access to people in the community.

In an interview last fall, Ofr. Michael Lutz said that on occasion they even got anonymous notes, in Spanish, about crimes that had been committed. He admitted that the officers needed the notes translated, but he was happy that someone trusted them enough to tell them what was going on. That contact has been lost without the substation, he said.

A police substation in the community meant that the officers could hang out, see and be seen. Plus, it was nice to have a place outside the main headquarters where officers could take a break without the bosses right over their shoulders, admitted Ofr. Koch at the BCCA meeting.

He told stories of watching, lights off, from the upper floor window as people conducted illegal activity in the alleys around the apartment. The police were on the people before they could run, Ofr. Koch said.

Ms. Bucknam also confirmed a topic that came up during last week’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board meeting. Officials for Georgetown Strategic Capital, a developer that is planning to renovate the intersection of N. Glebe Road at N. Pershing Drive (see the related story here), said they were in negotiations with AHC, Inc. regarding the parking lot north of what is now the Glebe Market.

In design drawings, a new building, larger than the Glebe Market building, would have a parking lot entrance on Glebe Road. Most of the parking would run along the north side of the building and into the covered area in the middle of the multi-storied building.

To add more street-level parking, the developer is asking AHC to grant an easement that would take some space from a back courtyard on AHC’s Gates of Ballston Property.

“We have been in discussions with them,” Ms. Bucknam said in the same voice mail as earlier. “Nothing has been decided about an easement. It’s our understanding that their primary interest is to create an entrance and exit that his off Glebe Road." She said AHC is waiting to see more definite plans.

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).

Today's Headlines:

Police Notes for Buckingham Feb. 6, 2008

Letters from Earlier in the Week:

Letter: Wilson Unsafe Walk to Ashlawn

Letter: Thanks for Field Coverage

Letter: Good Job on the Survey

Headlines from Earlier in the Week:

Barrett Field Question Answered (a quick update on the field renovation)

Dams Can't Keep Bridge Deck Dry

McDonalds Reopens with WiFi

All is Quiet at the HALRB Meeting with NEW COMMENT--This covers Glebe/Pershing Redevlopment. I shot photos similar to the architectural drawings in order to show readers what to expect. Check it out.

Labels: ahc, georgetown strategic, Glebe, pershing, Police

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 12:09 PM 0 comments

The following are the latest drawings of potential redevelopment at the N. Glebe Road and N. Pershing Drive intersection. The photos are an attempt to capture the same angle and distance as the drawings to give viewers a clear sense of what might come. They are not exactly the same, as that is probably not possible.

The drawings were distributed at last night's Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board meeting. Bob Moore, of Georgetown Strategic Capital (the potential developer of the site) and Scott Matties, of Cunningham Quill Architects, were on hand to present these latest ideas and take questions.

The discussion at the HALRB meeting was congenial, as both sides (the board and the developer) agreed that the buildings are moving in the right direction. The architect is going to try to lessen the abrupt change in height from the two storey buildings of the Gates of Ballston apartments to the planned buildings on the corner (see the first comparison, below, to get a sense of the difference in heights).

The board asked the developer to start thinking about the materials they would use on the outside of the large buildings, as well.

"That will tell us if the clothing will help hide the girth," said Board Chair Nancy Iacomini.

"Quote of the night," responded Bob Moore, during much laughter.

The basic plan with the property is to remove three commercial buildings from the west side of the N. Glebe Road and N. Pershing Drive intersection (the CVS, El Paso, and Glebe Market buildings). They would be replaced with two buildings with street-level retail and three floors of apartments above.

Mr. Moore also said that his company plans to paint the buildings east of Glebe Road and to find ways to put in greenery on that side (the Cassianna Spa side) of the street.

Please find a list of stories below the illustrations.

I'm so glad you put the survey together and out into the neighborhood.

It is nice to know that the developer is interested in the results.

Because of you, residents may have a direct impact on the development of the neighborhood. Bravo!

Thanks Steve,

Liz Vizard

Labels: Glebe, pershing, redevelopment

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 1:47 PM 0 comments

Not here at the HeraldTrib.

The survey, linked below, asks you for input regarding the potential redevelopment of the intersection of N. Glebe Road and N. Pershing Drive.

Drawings I have seen, showed a lot of open retail space, and I got thinking we in the neighborhood (and nearby places) should at least let the developer know what we think, give them some ideas about what might work in that space.

The survey, therefore, asks you about three general areas of retail: restaurants, grocery, and general retail (stores/offices). It won’t take you but about five minutes, and will be a wonderful way to blow-off a little steam and have some mid-afternoon fun.

I should say that the developer has no idea that I have thought this up. The developer might have already leased all available space. The developer might not care what we think. But that won't stop me from telling him.

I also will say that I recognize that the answers here will most likely skew white and middle-class, in a neighborhood that is very Latino. Still, I think it’s worth getting some input.

Click Here to take the HeraldTrib Retail survey

Not familiar with the whole redevelopment? Here’s the skinny:

Georgetown Strategic Capital is hoping to tear down three buildings on the west side of Glebe (the buildings that currently house CVS/Ravi Kabob; Glebe Market; Popeyes/El Paso/Woofs) and replace them with two larger buildings with retail space on the ground floor and apartments above.

What will stay (according to the latest I have heard):

The Glebe Market (the grocery store on the corner)

Labels: Glebe, pershing, redevelopment

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 12:07 PM 1 comments

If someone could tell the person who handles lightbulbs, that would be wonderful.

Labels: Glebe, henderson, streetlights

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 10:09 AM 1 comments

This was something I had heard from a few county staff members, and the staffers at the HALRB meeting did not refute what was said. As well, citizens of Buckingham had told me about it over the past months. I was foolish to write it without verifying it.

At the HALRB meeting, Mr. Moore had said his company was looking to “pocket stores,” such as Trader Joe’s and Yes! Organic Markets to fill some of the space in one of the new buildings that Georgetown Strategic is planning to build. These buldings would replace the CVS, Glebe Market and El Paso/Popeye’s buildings.

When I caught up with Mr. Chon, 65, earlier this month he said he was “half-and-half” decided on retirement. For him, though, non-retirement might mean closing the Glebe Market and working at a Giant, he said.

However, he also said that he had asked for 3,000 square feet in the new buildings. At the time, he said, “I think they’re going to give it to me.”

Then I called back Mr. Moore, a principal at Georgetown Strategic, and asked if he was aware that Mr. Chon thought that the Glebe Market was still in play.

"That's not correct,” Mr. Moore said, adding that Mr. Chon had a letter. "These are things that are really not related to you,” Mr. Moore said, shortly before cutting off discussion on this topic. He did not go into the details of the letter and said all of the negotiations for space were “confidential.”

Mr. Moore did say that Georgetown Strategic and Mr. Chon had discussed a bagel shop that Mr. Chon might run with his son.

Last night I went to confirm this with Mr. Chon, who smiled and laughed a bit, and said, basically, “no comment."
++++++++++

On Another Note...
Mr. Moore said that his company is still working on the designs of the buildings, and was happy with the reaction the designs received at the Design Review Committee meeting in January.

"It had a very positive sort of step forward as of last week," as committee members, he said, liked what they saw and had specific ideas for improvements.

Mr. Moore said that the idea to add a second level to the Suntrust Bank and Buckingham Florist buildings on the east side of N. Glebe Road at N. Pershing Drive was unfeasible.

HALRB Says Envisioned Buildings West of Glebe "Too Big"

Labels: Glebe, pershing, redevelopment

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 9:26 AM 0 comments

The buildings envisioned for a redeveloped corner on the west side of the N. Glebe Road and N. Pershing Drive intersection were called “horrible,” “fussy,” and “wedding cake” (because of the layered look) by members of the county’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board last night. But mainly, the buildings were called too large.

The buildings were so large that Robert Dudka asked if the companies should consider adding a second floor over the buildings on the other side of the street, over the strips that house the Buckingham Florist and the SunTrust bank.

“Is this heresy?” Mr. Dudka asked the other HALRB members, county staff, and the developers, Georgetown Strategic Capital, all sitting at the table.

The general consensus was no, it’s not heresy to add a second storey to these historically protected buildings. The original plan for the buildings was to extend the second floors, already in place above the post office and Cassiana Spa, over the rest of both strips. In a way, adding a second floor would be finishing what had been started 50 years ago.

I often wondered about that house in the middle of the block on Glebe surrounded by the Gates. What a great idea to house a museum there! I am in favor of reopening the Buckingham Theater as well. If there are to be new buildings on the corner, let the market and the post office, as well as El Paso and the other businesses that make up our neighborhood be in bright new quarters.

I am happy to hear that you are excited about putting the arts right here in Buckingham. The rich people have theirs. We, the people of Buckingham, while not rich and of very modest means, appreciate the arts too. We have talented kids in the youth group who paint very well. And a place to showcase local artists is a fine idea. A theater group is a great idea too.

There is more to Buckingham than affordable housing. While it is one cause, it isn't the only one. I am glad to hear of your support for the arts. This neighborhood is rich in history. A museum could showcase all of the best of Buckingham through the years.

Bravo, Steve.

Pate McCullough

The writer is a board member of the BU-GATA tenants association. If you are interested in more feedback on this topic, check out the "Art on the Four Corners" story and comment. --ST.

Labels: art, Buckingham, Glebe, pershing

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 11:10 AM 0 comments

It started last Wednesday evening when the kids and I went to see “Peter and the Wolf” at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. It was a “Family Literacy Night,” giving families whose children go to “Title 1” schools the chance to see live theatre. Lots of fun; the review is below.

Also below is today’s big story on the sculptures that will not be a part of the Glebe Road and Pershing Drive intersection renovation.

I had been thinking about that story for months when I was out to breakfast Friday morning with Vic Socotra at RinConCito Chapin (literally translated that name is “The tiny bowlegged place.” I’m guessing it means something closer to “The little sitting spot.” I think “chaps,” which one wears sitting in the saddle somehow is related to Chapin, but I digress—they have great refried black beans and fried plantains).

He and I got talking about the neighborhood (he has a long, at times odd, history with the place that he’s trying to put into a book) and about the house on Glebe Road, just a little south of Henderson Road. It’s one that is historic and could not be significantly renovated into a community center, so AHC, Inc., which owns the Gates of Ballston and that little house, does not know what to do with it.

The Buckingham Museum
Now, they may have already made plans, but I’ll be on the phone later today to figure it out. If they have not, however, Vic and I were saying it would be perfect for a Buckingham Museum. Think about it; it could be historical, but also could have space for neighborhood artists (such as Ubaldo Sanchez who helped the Buckingham Brigade kids paint the mural on the side of the Glebe Market), or artists with ties (culturally, ethinically, what have you) to the people of Buckingham.

Maybe there would be space for readings, or a writer’s group, or something similar. The county library already offers events at the Buckingham Center on N. 4th Street, why not shift some of the activities to a space in our own museum when that center closes?

Once that flood-gate opened, I thought, Sheesh, let’s go whole hog on this. When will Buckingham have a better chance to offer arts and cultural spaces to the neighborhood than now? Think about it for a second. Go on, think:

Georgetown Strategic Capital is planning to redevelop the corners of the N. Glebe Road and N. Pershing Drive intersection. The earliest ideas that have been bandied about include knocking down the CVS and Glebe Market buildings (and possibly the El Paso/Popeye’s building) and putting in four-storey buildings of mixed use retail and housing with an affordable component.

Bring Back the Buckingham Theatre, Baby!
So this is my idea: Move the post office across the street into one of the new buildings. At one time, the post office was where El Paso Restaurant is, and the post office was a theatre. Let’s bring it back! (The owner of Georgetown Strategic once told me that he saw a Daniel Boone flick at that theatre.)

Instead of movies, though, I am picturing a small, black box type theatre that could show the “-tets,” octets and smaller (I don’t really know what kind of space they have inside that building). Or show one-person acts. Blues nights. Jazz Nights. Bolivian dancers. Ecuadorian bands. Ritmo Latino! High school garage hip-hop bands (I know the county used to have a contest for garage bands).

Maybe it would seat 80 people. I don’t know. But it would also house the offices of a local troupe, maybe the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra? Most likely, the space would not be big enough for a full orchestra, but why not have it full of offices with a space for a Chamber or, as I said, a “-tet.”

Come on, dream a little!
What would it say about Arlington that we’re investing in the arts not where the rich people are, but where the lower-middle-class people are? What sort of inspiration would we be putting into the heads of kids in the neighborhood? Hell, I feel inspired just writing about it!

Buckingham is going to be, for at least another 30 years, a low- to moderate-income neighborhood. Most likely it will be an immigrant community, too. What better way for those of us who have lived in the States all our lives to get to know those people who are new here than to have us share in cultural activities? This could be a chance for high art without gentrification!

So that’s my big idea; you may have others…
I just think that having some cultural connection with all this redevelopment would be grand. What do you think? Feel free to comment below, or send emails to HeraldTrib@gmail.com.

++++++++++
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).

Today's Headlines:

Headlines from Earlier in the Week:

Labels: art, Buckingham, culture, Glebe, pershing, redevelopment, renovation

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 10:39 AM 0 comments

This special detail came about as a consequence of a recent meeting between citizens and county staff regarding the state of pedestrian life at that corner.
“[The] next couple of days, should see more [officers] there” at the intersection, Lt. Griffith said.

The officers on the special detail are different from ones who normally patrol the neighborhood.

Officers on the special detail keep a tally of citations made at the intersection and hand them up to supervisors. Officers who normally patrol the area are also allowed to take part in the tally.

“At the end of 30 days, we see what we get,” said Lt. Griffith. He said he should see the tally sheets about mid-August.

Labels: Carlin Springs, Glebe, pedestrian, Police

// posted by Steve Thurston @ 3:06 PM 0 comments