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Jan 2001 B
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Bluemont Civic Association BCA Officers and Representatives NCAC Approves 10th Street Sidewalk Project Arlington County's Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee (NCAC) has recommended funding for the 10th Street Sidewalk Project. This project involves completing the sidewalks, curbs and gutters on 10th Street between Frederick Street and George Mason Drive. Bluemont Civic Association (BCA) endorsed this project at its meeting last September. The NCAC consists of representatives of Arlington County Civic Associations, including Bluemont. It is responsible for recommending projects to be funded under Arlington's neighborhood conservation bond issue. Total funding available for such projects amounts to $5 million over a two-year period. In addition to the 10th Street project, the NCAC also approved a number of projects in other neighborhoods. These projects include significant renovations to Westover Fields, a public artwork in Highland Park, a traffic circle in Lyon Village, and sidewalk and streetlight installations and replacements throughout the county. 9th Street Infill Development At the January 24 meeting of the Bluemont Civic Association (BCA), members will decide what posture to take toward a residential redevelopment proposal for North 9th Street east of Frederick Street. Early in January, the owners of three adjacent properties on that block filed a formal request to remove the three existing houses and replace them with four new houses. A working group of the BCA has identified a number of issues that should be addressed in the development permit process. These include the affordability of the new housing, compatibility with the neighborhood, orientation of the new houses toward the street, drainage, street trees, lighting and sidewalks. Under the ordinance for this type of redevelopment, the Arlington County Board will consider the views of the Bluemont Civic Association when it decides whether to grant a construction permit. Connecting Bluemont to Powhatan Springs Park At the January 24 meeting of the Bluemont Civic Association (BCA), members will decide whether to work to ensure adequate bicycle and pedestrian connections between the Bluemont neighborhood and Powhatan Spring Park -- a new park that will be opened at the 6000 block of Wilson Boulevard. Absent a direct connection, bicyclists and pedestrians may be forced to use Wilson Boulevard to easily access the new park. Traffic Calming on Vermont, Harrison, and Jefferson Streets Residents of Vermont Street between Wilson Boulevard and Carlin Springs Road, Harrison Street between Wilson and Washington Boulevard, and Jefferson Street south of Wilson Boulevard are continuing to work with Arlington County staff in order to implement safety measures under the new Neighborhood Traffic Calming program. According to the criteria of the program, each of these streets has a traffic safety problem that ranks it among the worst in Arlington County.
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We Can't Do it Without You! Thanks to the many BCA members who have sent in their 2001 membership dues of $12. If you haven't yet done so, please take a moment to renew your membership now. Ring in Federal Holidays in Bluemont Did you know that the Constitutional Bicentennial Bell at the corner of George Mason Drive and Wilson Boulevard is the site of regular bell-ringings? Every Federal holiday at noon (midnight on New Year's eve) Bluemont kids and adults alike are welcome to try their hand at pulling the ceremonial clapper under the supervision of Bluemont's own expert bell-ringers, Ron and Ann Ross. While Bluemont's bell may be a bit smaller than Philadelphia's Liberty Bell, kids will tell you that it is, nonetheless, considerably louder. The next ringing will be on Presidents Day, Monday, February 19 at noon. Come join the fun! Needed: Newsletter Poster and Newsletter Distribution Coordinator If you have just an hour a month to contribute, the Bluemont Civic Association (BCA) needs a volunteer to post the newsletter each month on the message boards at Lacey Woods Park, Bluemont Park, and at the Wilson Boulevard Safeway. What better way to ensure you're not a complete couch potato for the coming year? Also needed is a volunteer to contribute two to three hours each month to serve as Newsletter Distribution Coordinator. This person would pick up the newsletters from the editor or printing company, print labels from a membership database, apply the labels and postage to the newsletters and mail the newsletters. In September and March, for the neighborhood-wide issue, the Newsletter Distribution Coordinator would notify the Newsletter Carriers of the dates of distribution, pick up the newsletters from the editor or printing company, count them out and deliver them to the Carriers. If you can volunteer for either position, please contact Carl Hallinan (812-4797; challlinan@aol.com). Bluemont Remembers: Neighborhood History Part 3 The night after Virginia voted to secede from the Union on May 23, 1861, army units crossed the Potomac and occupied the shoreline of what is now Arlington County. One detachment marched out the Georgetown Wagon Road to the railroad, stopped a train and arrested everyone on board as "secessionists". In August and September of 1861, after the battle at Manassas/Bull Run, the Bluemont area became a no man's land between frontlines. Units of the two armies scouted and skirmished from Hall's Hill to Baileys Crossroads. For the remainder of the war, the County was a staging area and occasional home for the Army of the Potomac. The area was transformed by the presence of thousands of soldiers, living and foraging on the land. Fields, produce, forests and buildings were confiscated by the troops. By the end of the war, wood and timber were so scarce that the army imported them from Loudoun. Many of the rural residents left the area, replaced by army veterans, camp followers and former slaves. |
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BCA Calendar - Meetings & Events BCA membership costs $12 per household per calendar year. Dues are prorated $1 per month for new members who join after the beginning of the year (e.g., currently, membership is $10 for the remainder of 2000). To renew or join, send a check to: Treasurer, Bluemont Civic Association, PO Box 5134, Arlington, VA 22205 (Please include your name, postal and e-mail addresses, and phone number). |
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