A Voice for Crystal City Residents
Wednesday March 29th at 7:00 we will hold our March Meeting. The meeting will be hybrid at 251 South 15th Street (normal location) and on zoom. The link to register for the zoom meeting is here.
The Arlington County Police will make a presentation. An additional presentation will be added.
On January 18th we held our January meeting in a hybrid format. Below are the powerpoint slide and the video:
january23Wed. Jan 18, 2023
NOTE: This is a hybrid meeting. Participants may choose to either:
Topics include:
On November 16, 2022 we held our Annual Meeting.
Slides presented included:
annual22NOTE: This is a hybrid meeting. Participants may choose to either:
Topics include:
Nominations — including self-nominations — are now open for the following three CCCA officer positions! The principal duties are summarized below. All members whose dues are paid are eligible to nominate, be candidates and to vote in the election at the CCCA Annual General Meeting on the evening of November 16, 2022.
— Meeting Secretary: Meeting minutes-taker and keeper of non-financial records
— Communications Director: Lead officer on the communications program, which includes maintenance of the association’s website, producing a periodic newsletter, and other interface on behalf of the CCCA
— Membership Liaison: Lead officer in recruiting new members and facilitating the CCCA activities of current members, ensuring they receive needed information and support
Terms for each position are two years.
To nominate yourself, or someone else, for one of these offices, please submit general contact information for the nominee (name, address, phone number, email address, and a brief written statement supporting the candidacy) to the Election Committee, specifying which office the nomination is for. In addition, if you are nominating someone else, please provide your contact information. ([email protected])
Should there be more than one nomination for a position, eligible nominees who are willing to serve in those positions will have an opportunity to present an oral statement supporting their candidacy before the election at the Annual General Meeting.
All nominations must be received by November 1, when nominations will be closed.
More detail on the officer positions and operations of the CCCA is available from the Election Committee, whose members would be glad to provide additional information and answers to any questions of interested civic association members. ([email protected])
In addition, the CCCA’s Bylaws containing descriptions of the open positions are available at the Resources link on the Association’s website. (www.crystalcitycivic.org)
This is an opportunity for Crystal City residents to advance the interests of the Crystal City community. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration and response.
Claire Lauchner, Sandra Stolt, Patricia Heath
Election Committee
The proposed bridge from Crystal City to DCA has a major update.
They have picked an alternative in the NEPA process and this is good news!
For more info, please see the brochure.
We encourage all Arlington residents to take the Households eCheckup. While taking it at home is best–because of the connection speed check–taking it in a business center, library, or other shared computer is also acceptable.
Thanks to all who presented or asked questions!
The base powerpoint is:
https://www.crystalcitycivic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/septccca.pdf
The video is:
2. Transportation Options without Metro– 10-15 Minutes
Metro is having a ton of construction. What are the alternatives?
3. Marine Corps Marathon (Director) 10- Minutes
4. Update from the Bid on a parklet 10- Minutes
5. JBGS Construction and Permit Update 1 hour
6. General Questions – Rest of time
Open questions. Have something you want answered? We will try to cover any question- even if we have no idea of the correct answer!
Message from CCCA’s President
On September 14th (Wednesday) at 7pm we will have our next CCCA meeting. We will have an update from JBGS on all of their construction projects, a presentation by the County transportation staff on alternatives for Metro. We will have one more presentation that has not been confirmed.
Mark your calendars for Nov 16th and Jan. 18th for our next two meetings. All will be hybrid. If you have suggestions for topics, please email me. We are always trying to find presentations!
Register in advance for the September meeting at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkde2tpjgoHd0_eY7447i31YOTx8meHtQX
– Eric Cassel, CCCA President
Click here to download the September Newsletter
https://www.crystalcitycivic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CCCA_Newsletter-No.-9-September-2022.pdf
Message from CCCA’s President
Livability22202 is looking at the problem of crime in the area. We are meeting with the police and are looking for volunteers to work on the issue. If you are interested, please email me at: [email protected].
Last month we did a survey on potential names for the two parks at the Amazon HQ2 sites: MetPark and PenPlace. The results are here. Overall, the names chosen are likely candidates for the final names.
Lastly, have a great summer! Be sure and take some time off and enjoy life!
– Eric Cassel, CCCA President
Update as of July 14, 2022
VDOT held a virtual public information meeting #2 June 21. Watch the meeting video here. Comments were requested by Friday, July 15. Livability22202 and the People Before Cars Coalition submitted a letter of joint comments on July 7, focusing on areas of agreement. This was a follow-up to the joint letter sent on May 20. Livability22202 sent a letter July 14, focusing on the need for better protection for peds/cyclists at 18th Street and additional measures to improve VDOT’s plans for the boulevard Right of Way. The Crystal City Citizens Review Council submitted a letter July 14 as well. Review the CCCA meeting June 15 for a full understanding of the Livability22202 concerns and proposals to VDOT.
Next steps: The third PIM is scheduled for September and will include more information on TDM methods.
July Newsletter is Out – click here to download
July 4 Announcement of Road Closures and places to View the Fireworks: See inside the Newsletter for details
Message from CCCA’s President
We have a survey about Park Names! Three parks around the new Amazon HQ2 need names. In the map below are the 3 parks. Park 1 is next to Eads and just north of the Whole Foods. Park 2 is the redesigned park. And the 3rd park is essentially inside the Amazon Property where the Helix will be. Please take a survey below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T2M8VX3
The Livability 22202 Housing Working Group wants to hear from renters in our zip code. Please take a few minutes to share your recent living experiences, rent increases, what you enjoy and what is challenging here. You can do so anonymously if you wish! Here is the link.
Route 1 continues to be a major commitment for me. We had a great meeting on the 15th and VDOT’s meeting on the 18th was interesting, but we had problem with not enough space outside the roadway. Sidewalks, bike lanes and trees are important for a road. We are working hard to get the best solution for our neighborhood.
– Eric Cassel, CCCA President
In Crystal City there has been several events that concern the local community. As a result, the three civic associations wrote a letter to the police department:
police_final
The Response from Captain Scott Linder:
Eric, Kateri and Cory,
Thank you for the letter and for sharing your concerns over recent incidents and crime trends in your neighborhoods. I have asked our Crime Analysis Unit to provide me with up to date crime stats in your neighborhoods for this year and for four years prior. This will help to determine current criminal activity and how it compares to previous years both during and pre-pandemic. Once I have that information I will provide it to you all for review.
Although I am sure you are aware of our staffing issues and the recent message that Chief Penn released related to some Service Changes and Reallocation of Resources (https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Police-Department/Service-Changes-and-Reallocation-of-Resources), the Arlington County Police Department maintains the desire to provide high quality service and to continue developing our partnerships/relationships with the businesses and residents of Arlington.
As crime happens within the County, we take a multi-pronged approach to stopping, solving and preventing criminal activity. For instance, when trends are observed, our Media Office and the Community Engagement Division through social media (Twitter, Facebook, emails, NextDoor) will notify the public of the types of crimes, locations and certain tips to help residents to reduce their potential for becoming a victim. Additionally, patrols (both visible and non-visible) are increased in these areas to provide a visible deterrent, protect the citizens and to stop the crimes in progress. Decoy vehicles and signage may also be deployed as additional visible and educational components to try and limit criminal activity.
At the same time, our Crime Analysts utilize data to identify any discernable pattern related to these crimes. The Criminal Investigation Division works with our Crime Analysts, reviews reports, checks with regional and federal partners in an effort to identify suspects and physical evidence that can lead us to potential arrests and case closures.
Of course, the ultimate goal is to have no crime in the first place. Unfortunately, Arlington is a highly populated urban area where a certain amount of crime is inevitable. We can work together by trying to limit the amount of these crimes by continuing to educate the residents related to security of homes, vehicles and their person. We continue to do this through attendance at Civic Association meetings, providing daily crime reports, sharing crime tips during identified crime trends or expected seasonal trends as well as other educational tools.
We offer CPTED services (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), both residential and commercial, which identifies safety concerns in and around buildings/houses that can often be minimized with simple changes to the environment (lighting upgrades, bush/tree trimming, lock upgrades etc). This is a free service the CED offers and can be requested on-line (https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Departments/Police-Department/Community-Engagement). In addition to CPTED, our Business Outreach Unit and Arlington Restaurant Initiative works with our local businesses and provides training and educational programming to include improving nightlife safety. The BOU/ARI works with and certifies restaurants all over the county and not just Clarendon. Clarendon just happens to be more visible then other parts of the County related to nightlife activity.
Again, thank you for the letter and I look forward to speaking with you once I have received the updates stats.
The CCCA sponsored a meeting of Livability22202 and the 3 civic associations on June 15 to prepare residents for the upcoming VDOT Public Information meeting on June 21. It was a good overview of why VDOT is conducting a feasibility study on bringing Route 1 down to grade, what we see as the problems with the VDOT plan, and suggestions that Livabiity22202 has for the intersection at 18th Street and the Right of Way (width of the road). A summary of the meeting is in the following pdf:
If you missed the meeting, you can see it here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ygr5cgm7ou3zx9j/june15route1.mov?dl=0
The main presentation powerpoint is here:
Also plan to attend the VDOT PIM (Public Information Meeting) #2 on June 21st at 6:30 pm. In case you cannot attend, you will be able to review the meeting recording and presentation through the VDOT meeting website. Send your ideas and comments to VDOT by July 15.
Learn all about Route 1 Proposed Changes!
VDOT is studying REMOVING the bridges over 15th and 18th Streets. Both intersections are proposed to be ‘at grade’.
Come to the June 15, 2022 Livability 22202 Route 1 Workshop to learn about the Livability 22202 Route 1 Working Group and VDOT proposals to address these issues and to share your ideas and concerns. Register in advance for this virtual meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Can’t attend the meeting? The meeting recording and presentation will be posted to the Livability 22202 Working Group page for your review.
Also plan to attend the VDOT PIM (Public Information Meeting) #2 on June 21st at 6:30 pm. In case you cannot attend, you will be able to review the meeting recording and presentation through the VDOT meeting website. Send your ideas and comments to VDOT by July 15.
Message from CCCA’s President
Thanks to everyone who joined us virtually and in person for our May meeting on transportation. Our next regular meeting will be in September, but we will have a special meeting on June 15 to cover Route 1. This meeting will be for all three civic associations. We will cover all the different alternatives for 18th street and Route 1!
The County 10-year investment plan was recently released and 3 Crystal City Parks were included. We have a significant number of new parks in the planning stages, but funding has been uncertain.
With summer approaching, please maintain personal awareness, as crime will increase. While our area does not have high crime rates, it does happen. A purse was recently stolen just outside of Long Bridge Park on Crystal Drive. A violent attack with weapon took place outside Bowlero on 23rd St on May 23.
Finally, be sure to visit our website (https://crystalcitycivic.org) or our Facebook page. (We always need people to help with social media!)
– Eric Cassel, CCCA President
The housing workgroup of Livability 22202 is a community, volunteer-run effort in our neighborhood to address unmet housing needs. We know there have been a lot of changes in the past year, especially in terms of cost of living and housing. As development continues, Housing Livability 22202 is curious about your housing and rental experiences, particularly in terms of the cost of living. We will use the results to highlight the pressing need to make sure everyone has access to housing that they can afford. If you are a renter in the 22202 zip code, please consider taking a few minutes to fill out the survey. You can remain completely anonymous if you so choose.
Amazon, Dweck, and Route 1 were on the May 18 CCCA meeting agenda. Patrick Phillippi, Senior Manager of Amazon’s Public Engagement, spoke about Metropolitan Park, currently under construction at 15th and South Fern St. The area will be finished next year and host public facing events such as movie nights and a dog park. Next, Robert Vaughn from Dweck discussed the proposed infill development of two existing surface parking lots off of Eads Street. This will be a LEED gold building with a substantial amount of mix use spaces and family style units. Finally, Sarah Crawford from DES discussed a range of transportation projects including Route 1. The County is attempting to make Crystal City more friendly to pedestrians, cyclists, and users of multi mobility (scooters, electric unicycles, etc.). This is elaborated on in the Master Transportation Plan. There are going to be expected changes coming soon such as paving, utility maintenance, etc. to move towards the multi-mobility goals that Arlington set out. A long term goal is a reconfiguration of the Boundary Channel Drive interchange that crosses I-395 to allow for more multi-mobility.
You can check out projects using the maps below!
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Projects/Neighborhoods/Crystal-City/Development
This is the interactive map: https://arlgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/7f36c2e84dda44a88d34290309c0edd2
The Dweck and DES presentation slides are below:
2022.05.18-1700-S.-Eads-St.-Overview-CCCA-May-Meeting