The Blues Fest on FaceBook: click here!

One of the Pike’s best and most popular restaurants and CPRO member: DAMA Ethiopian Restaurant and Bakery on 1503 Columbia Pike, has been featured on AVN’s Food for Thought series:

 

A great addition to the Pike’s rich multicultural gastronomical scene:

P. Brennan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant opened this week (04/20) on 2910 Columbia Pike (at the Halstead Bldg., Columbia Pike & S Walter Reed Dr.).

16 beers on draft, a delicious cuisine and an amazing space await Pike residents and visitors.

Céad Míle Fáilte P. Brennan’s !   (P.Brennan’s on facebook: click here)

Follow us on Twitter by going to www.twitter.com/ArlingtonCPRO -- you don’t even have to join Twitter to see our updates. Find our Facebook page by going to www.facebook.com/ArlingtonCPRO and becoming a fan. We are using Twitter and Facebook to help you keep abreast of events and happenings on or near Columbia Pike and around Arlington. If you are a Pike-area business owner or non-profit or civic association representative, we’re happy to get the word out about your events, successes, sales, and plans -- just email danielmrothschild@gmail.com with information.

Come out on April 12th to The Salsa Room/Cecelia’s (2619 Columbia Pike) for a kick-off celebration of Columbia Pike’s 200th Anniversary! This free event commemorates the Congressional Charter of April 12, 1810 which established the Columbia Turnpike Co. for the construction of the Pike. 

6:00 p.m. - Doors open - Welcome

6:30 p.m. - Program

7:30 p.m. - Cake cutting/reception and cash bar.

We have a great program lined up that covers the rich history of Columbia Pike from the days of the Civil War to today’s culturally diverse urban community, and the dynamic revitalization that is currently underway.  Event speakers include Sara Collins, Arlington historian and Columbia Pike expert; Dr. Talmadge Williams of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington; Todd Endo of the Urban Alternative; Chris Zimmerman, Arlington County Board Vice-Chairman.  There will also be a special performance by the Columbia Pike Community Chorus.

The event is sponsored by The Salsa Room and the Arlington Community Federal Credit Union.  Chef Natoli of the Arlington Career Center’s Culinary Arts and Sciences Program will be preparing a not-to-be-missed PIKE 200 Birthday Cake.

To view our invitation and to RSVP, click here.  We hope to see you there!

Learn more about the future of transit for Northern Virginia!  On Thursday, April 22nd from 7-9pm, a panel of transportation officials from Arlington and Fairfax Counties, the City of Alexandria and regional transportation entities will present their jurisdictions’ transit plans for streetcars, bus rapid transit, light rail, and other options. 

When: Thursday, April 22nd, 7pm

Where: Hilton Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA.

More information: please click here

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of Takis Karantonis as CPRO’s next Executive Director. Takis is an economist and planner who has specialized in urban, regional, and environmental economics. He has served as Senior Partner of ABANO Sistemas SL, based in Barcelona, Spain, and Director for North American Operations. He earned his bachelors and masters degrees from the Free University of Berlin, Germany. Takis and his wife live in the Pike’s lovely Arlington Village, where he also serves on the board of the homeowners association. He has watched with interest the many changes occurred along the Pike over the past 3 years, and says he “welcomes the challenge to revitalize one of Arlington’s most promising areas through strengthening collaboration, and building consensus and agreement among interested parties.” Please join us in welcoming Takis to the CPRO team!

  

Due to the growing success of the Columbia Pike Farmers Market, CPRO has decided to extend it year round!  Some of the market’s favorite regular farmers market vendors will continue to be there selling soaps, coffee & teas, fresh milk and eggs, and organic meats.  In addition, the winter market welcomes a range of new offerings--homemade pastas and sauces, fresh Amish cheeses and canned vegetables and fruits,  pickles of all kinds, and artisan-crafted bath and body products.    The market takes place in PikePark at the corner of S. Walter Reed Dr. and Columbia Pike every Sunday from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. Please note these are new hours just for the colder months of January, February and March!  For a full listing of winter vendors, click on the Columbia Pike Farmer’s button on the left side of the screen.

On September 16 the Arlington County Board approved a resolution authorizing the County Manager to commence the Columbia Pike Land Use & Housing Study, an initiative that has long been planned as an adjunct to the Pike’s Revitalization Initiative. This effort will study the residential areas along the Pike which were not included in earlier revitalization planning that was focused almost exclusively on existing commercial properties. The adjacent residential areas include a number of older apartment complexes that are likely to see increased demand for redevelopment, and about which there is concern about potential loss of affordable housing.  A "Plenary Group" of stakeholders and a smaller subset referred to as the "Working Group" will be established to identify issues, discuss opportunities, and review and comment on findings, policies, and recommendations prepared by County staff and/or its consultant. The County Board’s resolution asks for the creation of a plan that includes a new vision for these areas that complements the community’s housing goals and results in creation of improved housing stock and broader housing options. It is expected that the planning phase of the study will take 18 months and the implementation phase an additional 12 months.

WJLA reporter and Washington Business Tonight anchor Rebecca Cooper interviewed Jim Whittaker on February 16 in a piece that emphasized the positive changes that are appearing on the Pike. To view the video clip click here.

Did you know that 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of Columbia Pike? In April of 1810, US Congress chartered a company to build what we now know as Columbia Pike to provide access from the Long Bridge (near the site of the existing 14^th Street Bridge) to Little River Turnpike.  In it’s early years it was known by a number of different names including "Washington Graveled Turnpike", and it wasn’t paved in concrete until 1928.

This corridor is rich with history that will surprise and delight, and the significance will strike a chord in those who strive to draw lessons from our past.  The 200th anniversary presents an opportunity to celebrate our heritage, and examine the role the Pike has played in American history – all with an eye for what is in store for the Pike in future.

John Snyder of Douglas Park and a group of other civic leaders are seeking to collect historical information, artifacts, and photographs, and to plan several events to share the information and commemorate the anniversary. If you have stories, memories, or photographs to share, or would like to help any way, please email pholcomb@columbiapike.org  or call CPRO at 703-892-2776.

Click here  to see some of the old photos of Columbia Pike we’ve already collected.

 

On February 20th, 2010 the Arlington County Board unanimously approved a loan of approximately $4 million loan in Affordabel Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), a nonprofit housing corporation, for the renovation of historic Buchanan Garden Apartments.  The $4 million is in addition to $7 million that was initially approved in November. The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) acquired this multi-family rental property in December 2009.  Buchanan Gardens is a 111-unit garden apartment complex located on S. Buchanan Street, one-half block north of Columbia Pike.  The 11 colonial style, walk-up garden apartment buildings date back to 1949 and are in need repairs for major code violations and safety hazards and are in need repairs for major code violations and safety hazards. 

APAH also received the Board’s approval for a plan to add bedrooms to some of the units to make them more suitable for families and to make others accessible to people with disabilities.  These renovations will allow for the preservation of 111 committed affordable units.  The affordable housing plan includes 55 1-bedroom units, 33 2-bedroom units, and 23 3-bedroom units through the use of bump-outs to increase the number of bedrooms and the size of the units.  Eleven of the one-bedroom units will be restricted to households with incomes at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) while the remaining units will be restricted to households with income at or below 60% of AMI.  APAH also plans to incorporate a community space, which will include a playground. The energy-efficiency aspects of the renovation--efficient windows, insulation, and individually controlled electir and gas options will allow the project to receive the Earth-Craft designation by the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA).

The Arlington County Board approved proceeding with a modified, phased plan for the Arlington Mill Community Center redevelopment project, with the goal of opening a new community center, gymnasium and plaza in the first quarter of 2013.  The vote took place on December 15, following many months of evaluating options on how to move the stalled project forward.

The original plan, approved prior to the last year’s collapse of the credit markets, called for a new community center with a large gymnasium, a mix of market-rate and affordable residential apartments, some ground floor retail, and a public plaza.  However, despite significant efforts,  the private sector development partner Public Private Alliance was unable to secure financing for the market-rate apartment portion of the approved Arlington Mill Community Center redevelopment project.

The modified plan will eliminate the residential units that were to be built on top of the community center, but may include floors built above the community center for other County purposes. The second phase will include housing, to be built on the north side of the site.  The Board reiterated its commitment to build at least the 61 affordable units that were originally planned for the site.

The cost of the public portion of the plan, including the community center, will be financed by a bond approved by voters in November 2006. Phase I is expected to cost $24-$25 million.  The County’s efforts to find a development partner for the housing will continue while taking steps necessary to proceed with the construction of the new community center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the long awaited utility undergrounding and streetscape improvement work in the Pike’s Town Center area complete, County officials held a ribbon cutting on Monday, November 16 at 11:00 am in front of the Westmont Shopping Center.  Attendees celebrated the new and de-cluttered streetscape between S. Garfield and S. Oakland Sts. on the Pike. This project, which included new sidewalks, streetlights, crosswalks, bus shelters, and landscaping, helps achieve the community’s goal of creating a more attractive, accessible, and pedestrian-friendly environment in the Columbia Pike corridor. Click here to see a YouTube video of the ribbon cutting.

Arlington County officials are seeking to take over control and responsibility for the Columbia Pike roadway from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Revitalization plans for the Pike, which runs for 3.5 miles in Arlington from the Fairfax County Line to the Pentagon, involve transforming the busy highway into a pedestrian friendly main street. While considerable mixed use redevelopment activity is occuring, the County would like to press forward with numerous streetscape improvements that will complement the revitalization efforts and help the community to achieve its vision. However, lengthy VDOT approval processes (even for County funded improvements) have slowed some of this progress. In the past 10 years, the County has spent about $12 million on capital projects along the Pike – all of which required design approval and permits from VDOT. The County has allocated another $9.5 million for planned streetscape and utility undergrounding improvements for the Pike. Plans to build a modern electric streetcar system on the Pike would also be facilitated by having County control over the roadway, officials say. Should the transfer be approved, Arlington would assume responsibility for an additional $180,000 to $450,000 in maintenance costs for Columbia Pike. The State appears to be inclined to agree to the County’s request, and the transfer could occur on or about January 1, 2010.

The Arlington County Board late Monday night (July 21) approved the master plan for Penrose Square, the first and largest of three new squares planned for Columbia Pike’s Town Center that are key to the County’s efforts to transform the Pike.

“Penrose Square will provide a beautiful, well-planned public gathering place on Columbia Pike,” said Board Chairman J. Walter Tejada. “This is an important step forward in the County’s efforts to revitalize the Pike by turning it into a lively, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use corridor with plenty of outdoor spaces where people can come together.”

The 33,000 sq. ft. square will be located on the north side of Columbia Pike between South Cleveland and South Barton Streets in what are now the existing surface parking lots of the Adams Square and Fillmore Shopping Centers. The square will face south, fronting on Columbia Pike.

The square’s vibrant design, pictured here in a rendering, was developed by a 12-member citizen Working Group appointed by the Board. The working group, working with the landscape architectural firm, Oculus, envisioned a space that would draw the community together to socialize, dine, relax or recreate.

Main elements of the design include:

• Bosque (tree-covered) terrace with movable seats and tables
• Centrally located paved plaza
• Low seating wall and step feature
• Zero-depth, interactive water fountain
• Two mounded lawn areas that provide casual seating options
• Custom retaining walls along Columbia Pike and South Cleveland Street
• Public art features that relates to local history

The square will be built in two phases.  Phase I will consist of a 17,760-sq. ft. parcel which represents the eastern half of the square. Construction of Phase I is expected to begin in mid-2010 and has an estimated cost of $2.2 million.  Phase II – approximately 15,000 sq. ft. – will be provided by and coordinated with the future redevelopment of the Fillmore Shopping Center site.  Although a construction date for the second portion of the square is not yet determined, it is projected to cost an additional $2 million.

Background

Revitalization of Columbia Pike, a vital transit corridor through Arlington, is a top priority for the County. The Board adopted a revitalization plan on March 12, 2002, establishing a vision and development framework.

In February, 2003, the Board adopted the Form Based Code for Columbia Pike corridor, a new review process and zoning tool to promote smart growth redevelopment in the corridor and to achieve new public places. 

Four development nodes were established within the revitalization district – Town Center, Neighborhood Center, Village Center and Eastern Gateway. The Form Based Code also designated a series of new public open spaces and specified purposes and design criteria for each. The goal is to transform south Arlington’s Main Street into a lively commercial boulevard with a mix of ground-floor retail stores and sidewalk cafes framed by a canopy of trees and upper story homes and offices.

In October, 2006, the County Board approved the Penrose Square site plan project – a mixed-use development that includes residential units, ground floor retail, a new Giant grocery store, and underground parking.  As a condition of the approved site plan, the project’s developer, Carbon Thompson Development, dedicated the 17,760 square foot parcel to the County for the purposes of creating the first half of the public square. 

The Arlington County Board today approved $3 million in funding and agreements with Fairfax County and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for environmental planning and preliminary design of the Columbia Pike Streetcar.The Board’s actions clear the way for Arlington and Fairfax Counties to this year start the next phase of planning and design for the project. The work will be carried out by WMATA, and is expected to last about two years. During that time, Arlington and Fairfax Counties will examine ways to fund, construct, operate and maintain the proposed streetcar system.

The environmental documentation is expected to meet both state requirements and federal requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act. That will allow the streetcar project to qualify for federal funding, if available. The study will more accurately estimate the streetcar’s construction costs and allocate them between Arlington and Fairfax counties. It also will identify potential funding sources.

Funding

The $3 million approved today by the Board will come from the Transportation Investment Fund, created through a commercial real estate tax authorized in 2008 by the Board and dedicated to funding transportation projects. The County expects that the state may reimburse as much as $1 million of the $3 million under state capital formula reimbursement grant funds. The Board also approved using $148,000 in WMATA Project Development Program funds allocated to Arlington County projects for the streetcar environmental planning and preliminary design. Under today’s agreements, costs for most tasks are split 80 percent to Arlington and 20 percent to Fairfax. (About 13 percent of the streetcar’s track mileage is located in Fairfax County, but much of the environmental and design work is not strictly mileage-based).

Background

Arlington introduced the Pike Transit Initiative in 2004 following an intensive community planning effort that produced a new form based

 code to redevelop the Columbia Pike corridor. The Pike Transit Initiative introduced new bus services and led to a recommendation that a streetcar would improve transit connections linking neighborhoods and town centers along the Columbia Pike Corridor with employment centers and the regional Metrorail system.

In spring 2006 both Arlington and Fairfax counties endorsed a streetcar line between Pentagon City and Skyline as the preferred transit alternative for the Columbia Pike Corridor. Since then, WMATA has worked with Arlington and Fairfax staffs on technical studies to advance the project.

The five-mile streetcar will move more people, more efficiently than the current Pike Ride bus service. For most of the route, the streetcar would operate in mixed traffic, generally running in the curb lane of the street. The stops would be about one-third mile apart. It is expected to act as a catalyst for the redevelopment of the corridor and foster a pedestrian-friendly “main street” environment for residents, visitors and commuters to enjoy.

Three new prototype bus shelters featuring heated seats, heated floors, new lighting, glass walls, and WiFi capability will be built on Columbia Pike within the next nine months, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced recently. These three stops are the first of potentially 22 that could be built along the Pike. To access a Washington Post article with more information click here.

Hundreds of art fans flocked to Columbia Pike for The Zip Code Show, a multi-faceted exhibition that ran from August 29 to September 5 at The Halstead Arlington (1028 South Walter Reed Drive).  The event featured paintings and sculpture by 35 artists, and the opening reception included Djembe drumming by the Rhythm Workers Union (Click here to see them in action with County Board Member Chris Zimmerman on cowbell), Belly dancing by Saffron Dance and much more. The show was put together by two local non-profit arts groups Art Outlet and artdc.org and was presented in partnership with CPRO. The idea was to fill unused retail space with an art happening that would bring positive exposure to area artists as well as to the new Halstead. “We were very happy to attract this kind of creative energy to the Pike,” said CPRO’s Executive Director Jim Whittaker, “I’m sure we will want to bring similar events to other new buildings in the future.”

The Columbia Pike Streetcar Project is a collaboration between Arlington County, Fairfax County, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). After years of study a plan for a $150 million 4.7 mile electric streetcar line that will run from Skyline to Pentagon City, operate in mixed traffic lanes, and be supplemented with buses during peak periods, was endorsed by the Arlington and Fairfax County Boards in April and May of 2006. Work already completed includes identification of necessary rights-of-way and investigation of any underground utility conflicts. Environmental assessment and preliminary engineering work is now being scoped, and is expected to commence in early 2009. Earlier this year both counties instituted supplemental commercial (non-residential) property taxes to create dedicated funds that can be used for transportation projects such as the Columbia Pike Streetcar. These funds are being used to support current project activities. In addition, regional funding was expected to come via the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), however the State Supreme Court ruled that as a non-elected body NVTA could not levy the necessary taxes and fees. It is hoped that the state legislature will approve an alternative and constitutional method for funding the region’s priority transportation projects. Should state or regional funds not be made available, the streetcar system design and construction work planned for 2010-2011 is likely to be delayed. However, leaders of both counties remain committed to seeing the project implemented.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the Columbia Pike Streetcar

Click here for Map of Proposed Streetcar Line