Meeting – Crystal City Civic Association (CCCA)

CCCA September Newsletter

Posted onAugust 31, 2021August 31, 2021Authorcfuller603

So much for returning to normal. With Delta looming over us, we’re going to continue meeting on Zoom for the indefinite future, even with the forthcoming booster shots.. Please help inform our decisions on future CCCA meetings by responding to our survey. We continue to have great topics. If you have ideas for meeting topics, please send them to [email protected].

We are also looking for volunteers to take over officer positions in the CCCA in November. With 7 years of experience, we are an active and respected voice for Crystal City residents. Help us continue to support the needs and concerns of our community. See the Newsletter for details.

Transitway Public Meeting, September 1, 7-8:30 pm: At the July 20 Board meeting, five activists in our area, including the CCCA president, expressed their concerns about the proposed placement of a new transitway station close to the corner of 12^th & Long Bridge Drive. The posted plans before the Board meeting seemed to indicate that the new bus shelter would conflict with pedestrians and cyclists, as the bus shelter on Crystal Drive by 18^th already does. Community engagement prior to the Board meeting was also very limited. At the Board meeting, the Board approved Item 51, the deed of easement for the transitway station, but recommended that a public meeting be held prior to the September Board meeting to discuss concerns further. Project staff are holding a public meeting on Wednesday, September 1, at 7PM to discuss plans for the transitway and its stations along 12^th Street. Please plan to attend. Construction on combined projects expected December 2021 for 12 months.

Move the Fair to Long Bridge Park? Not unless they answer a lot of questions: Be sure to read about this. The Arlington County Fair Board, an independent non-profit which manages the fair, has informed the county that it would like to move the fair to Long Bridge Park. The County has issued a survey asking whether folks prefer to keep the Fair at Thomas Jefferson Community Center and Park where it’s been for 45 years or move it to Long Bridge Park. We have protested that without background information, folks don’t know why there should be a change and whether it should change. Think about this before you answer the survey.

CCCA General Meeting July 21, 7-9 pm

Posted onJuly 18, 2021August 13, 2021Authorcfuller603

The agenda for the meeting on Wednesday, July 21, 7-9 pm was:

1. Updates by JBG Smith on development: 223 S 23rd Street/2250 Crystal Drive; pocket parks on 18th Street; and construction on 1900 Crystal Drive and 2000/2001 S Bell Street. See the PowerPoint here. The revised JBGS plans will be submitted soon, and the new LRPC and SPRC process for these buildings will start after this summer. The two planned buildings will both be residential. You can find the prior, withdrawn plans here: https://projects.arlingtonva.us/projects/2250-crystal-drive/

2. Update on VDOT Study on Route 1: Why bring it down to grade? Why do the three 22202 civic associations say the study is “incomplete”? See the PowerPoint here.

3. Briefing on Civic Federation study on Arlington County governance

4. Briefing on Arlington County requirements for building inspections

You can watch the full meeting here.

CCCA General Meeting July 21

Posted onJuly 8, 2021July 8, 2021Authorcfuller603

Plan to attend the Crystal City Civic Association meeting on Wednesday, July 21, 7PM to learn about the revised JBGS plans for Crystal Plaza 5 (2250 Crystal Drive and 223 23rd) on Block M in Crystal City and to hear an update on plans for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus on Potomac Avenue in Potomac Yards – Alexandria: https://vt.edu/innovationcampus/about.html

Please preregister to attend the virtual CCCA meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87424708622….

The revised JBGS plans will be submitted soon, and the new LRPC and SPRC process for these buildings will start after this summer. The two planned buildings will both be residential. You can find the prior, withdrawn plans here: https://projects.arlingtonva.us/projects/2250-crystal-drive/

CCCA General Meeting May 19, 7-9 pm

Posted onMay 11, 2021July 26, 2021Authorcfuller603

From 7-8 pm, we will have a presentation by the County on the opening of the Aquatic Center at Long Bridge Park around July 1 and meet the new facility manager.

From 8-9 pm, the National Park Service will make a presentation on upcoming changes in our area and possible projects, including Roaches Run.

The meeting is open to all 22202 residents by Zoom registration or visible on the CCCA Facebook/Live streaming page: https://www.facebook.com/crystalcitycivic/live.

Registration is required in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpceCtpzwjE9NuuLBcgyBcTnVRmdAtGPiu

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting by Zoom or phone.

Alternatives to Calling the Police

Posted onMay 3, 2021June 11, 2021Authorcfuller603

SURJ NoVa (https://www.surjnova.org/) and the Crystal City Civic Association co-hosted a webinar on alternatives to calling the police on Sunday afternoon, April 25. The presentation, breakouts, and discussion were thought-provoking and intense. For many participants, realizing the implications of calling the police were a revelation and something to consider when encountering a potential criminal activity. The webinar recording is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/mVAOgb2NtO-86moqCT-64ys-ilKaoWp4rIafrsO8TupbRmIAlCzvC6hjIgpJeDrf.9cLFsPR9z0G8NkKV

Enter this password – including the period: zvykS8w. The speaker also shared a link to the SURJ NoVa Alternatives to Calling the Police resources for Arlington: English, Spanish.

CCCA Meeting March 17, 7-9 pm

Posted onMarch 11, 2021May 3, 2021Authorcfuller603

Excellent Meeting–Very informative.

You can see the presentation on Project Journey at National Airport by the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) here. The new terminal will open by summer. The work on the security checkpoints is ongoing.

You can see the presentation by the Arlington County Police Department about Outreach and prevention in 22202 here, crime statistics compared for the first 3 months of 2019-2021 here, and crime statistics for the entire years of 2018-2020 here. The lists are broken down by civic association in 22202 and by the crime established by Virginia statutes.

The meeting was recorded on the CCCA Facebook/Live streaming page and can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/crystalcitycivic/live.

You can also see the timeline updates for Upcoming Meetings here and for Development and Other issues here.

Livability22202 Meeting with VDOT on Route 1 Feasibility Study (Summary)

Posted onFebruary 16, 2021March 31, 2021Authorcfuller603

Good meeting February 22 with VDOT. Although the Livability Working Group on Route 1 provided VDOT with 19 pages of comments and requests for more data on their feasibility study, they responded only to a few comments at this meeting and promised more substantive reply on data later on. We took the opportunity to review the scope of the study, community concerns, and possible alternatives or ideas on how to deal with Route 1. You can view the recorded meeting here and see the Livability slide show and VDOT slides here.

According to the VDOT project website, the study on Route 1, from approximately 12th Street to 23rd Street South, will explore an at-grade urban boulevard, but also review and compare potential improvements to the current elevated condition, and the elevated urban boulevard described in the Crystal City Sector Plan. Ultimately, the study aims to provide sufficient information to make the best decision on a future project on Route 1 in Crystal City. However, from comments at the February 22 meeting, it appears that VDOT is only focusing on whether it is feasible to bring Route 1 down to grade and not on other options. This is disappointing and we will continue to advocate for a variety of alternatives and emphasize safety issues for crossing Route 1 without making it a major highway.

There will be a Task Force meeting February 25 (in which several Livability representatives participate) and a public meeting March 3. Register for the March 3 VDOT meeting here.

Agenda (Feb 22)
1. Introduction to Livability22202 and the Route 1 Working Group role in the VDOT study
2. Overview of VDOT Route 1 Multimodal Improvements Study scope and status
3. Issues the Working Group identified through the L22202 survey and workshops
4. Review of suggested alternatives for Route 1
5. VDOT Responses to Livability22202 input
5. Review of Working Group requested data & analysis (Us) (7:40-7:50)
6. Scope and purpose of next VDOT public engagement March 3
7. Q&A and discussion of next steps

On January 11, 2021, the presidents of the three civic associations in 22202–Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands, and Crystal City–forwarded to VDOT the Livability22202 comments on the VDOT feasibility study. These comments provide feedback to the VDOT Public Information Meeting on the Multimodal Improvements Study for Route 1 on 16 December 2020. The covering letter and the four extensive Appendices are linked here.

Livability22202 Meeting on County Planning and Affordable Housing

Posted onFebruary 10, 2021March 24, 2021Authorcfuller603

Good meeting February 9 of the three 22202 civic associations: Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands, and Crystal City.

7:00 pm: Matt Mattauszek, Arlington County Master Planner, Crystal City/Pentagon City Planning Coordinator, provided a detailed overview of the county planning activities for 2021 in 22202. The year will be very busy as development ramps across our community.

7:30 pm: Kimberly Driggins, Executive Director of the Washington Housing Conservancy, explained what the WHC is, its funding by Amazon to acquire Crystal Houses for $377M, and the affordable housing parameters for Crystal Houses. The acquisition will lead to the preservation and creation of 1,300 affordable homes.

8:00 pm: The Livability22202 Housing Working Group provided a summary and highlights of the Livability Housing report issued in December, the ongoing county Missing Middle Study and Housing Report, and the Working Group’s meetings with County Board members.

The meeting was recorded and can be viewed here when available. Currently viewable on the CCCA Facebook page.

This information is also posted on livability22202.org

CCCA Meeting January 27 Summary

Posted onJanuary 28, 2021March 24, 2021Authorcfuller603

During the first hour, Arlington County Health Director, Dr. Reuben Varghese, and Assistant Director of Public Health, Robert Sharpe, briefed on 1) their COVID vaccination plan (this is the updated slide presentation); 2) what they are doing to help disadvantaged during the crisis (e.g., food/evictions); and 3) the impact COVID has had on the County budget. See the slide presentation on #2 and #3 here.

During the second hour, JBG Senior VP for Development Andy VanHorn provided development updates on: 1) the recent purchase of Crystal Houses by the Washington Housing Conservancy and JBG Smith plans to manage it; 2) the ongoing public engagement about their site plan
for 2000/2001 Clark/Bell; and 3) upcoming construction at 1900 Crystal Drive. This segment ended with a review of the timeline for development and other issues over the next few years. See the slide presentations here.

You can watch the entire meeting here. Apologies for those who wanted to watch on Facebook Live since a technical glitch prevented this from happening.