Archive for January, 2006

Feb. Monroe Ave. Bridge Meeting

Tuesday, January 31st, 2006

The next Monroe Ave. Bridge meeting will be Thursday, February 9th at the Mt. Vernon Rec. Center at 7pm.

These meetings are very interesting and important as the bridge realignment will permanently change our neighborhood (for the good, we hope). One thing I (EZ) picked up at the last meeting is that it is planned to run Nelson Ave. one more block to the east to tie it into the new development. Overall I support this as I think it will help the community for many reasons but am concerned about increased vehicular traffic on our street.

Here’s a link to the Potomac Yard news and calendar page
And a link to the P&Z (Alexandria Planning & Zoning) page for Potomac Yard

Shadows in the night?

Thursday, January 26th, 2006

A neighbor reports to me (EZ) that “there are some unsavory characters hanging, peeping, drinking and doing god knows what” in the alley behind the CVS. Have you seen such activities? Have you been bothered by unsavory characters in the alley? What do you all think?

I know someone here is a “police liason” or “block captain” (sorry, I forget the official title – please correct me in the comments) – perhaps you can add your say in the matter about how we would approach the police with this or a similar problem.

Urban Forest Survey

Thursday, January 26th, 2006

Hello! My wife and I have lived here since 1995. We love the area, convenience and – most of all – the neighbors…esp. Nelson Ave…always a good group, so I am glad to have joined this blog.

Last week DRCA put out a notice regarding the city’s master tree plan:

“…the city has hired Davey Resource Group to help develop this plan. Davey is seeking your input on how the city’s urban forest could be improved. Please consider filling out a questionnaire, which you can do online at www.Alexandriatrees.org. The questionnaire will take only a few minutes to complete.”

I am hoping that neighbors will log on to www.Alexandriatrees.org, take the survey, and advocate for trees along the East stretch of Monroe Ave that will eventually connect with Potomac Yard…it would be nice to have a tree-lined boulevard-like gateway into Del Ray — something similar to Commonwealth Ave and Powhattan St. A narrow median of trees, people will be able to cross safely with some more along the sidewalks.

It would not take much, and as far as space…from Dewitt Ave — East. There is space, especially when the city takes Monroe down to grade.

If the city makes it an attractive walkable/bikeable gateway, people will get out of their cars … especially if there are bike paths (just like Commonwealth) — then we could mitigate some of the local traffic congestion.

As long as people have options…make it such that it would be an enjoyable experience…think of the summer…streets like Monroe with lots of traffic and no trees..or the stretch of the Avenue from Monroe north to around Bellefonte..just hot dead space. Not nice. But…

Wouldn’t it be nice with a shade canopy of CO2-breathing, oxygen producing, ground-water-absorbing trees?

Take the survey and request them!

Cheers.

Paul Linehan

Upcoming Meetings

Friday, January 6th, 2006

There are two important community meeting coming up:

  • The DRCA is having a meeting/party at Caboose Cafe and Bakery on Monday (January 9th) at 7:30pm. This is a no brainer – free food and great people (your neighbors). What’s there not to like about it?
  • Monroe Ave. Bridge realignment meeting at GW Middle School (1005 Mt. Vernon, in the cafeteria) on Wednesday (January 11th) at 7pm. This meeting is very important. The city and the builder want to eliminate pedestrian access to much of the bridge. By trying to eliminate pedestrian access at the middle of the bridge at this late date the city and builders are trying to reneg on their end of a deal struck many years ago.

Hope to see you there!

Here’s some links for more information on the bridge:
Potomac Yard Development Corp.
City Press Release on the meeting