County Spending Outpaces Revenue Gains — An improving economy will bring in more tax and fee revenue for the county next year, but those gains will be outpaced by projected increases in county spending. More from the Sun Gazette.
Plane Crash Survivor Back at Work in Arlington — Former NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe, who survived the Alaska plane crash that killed Sen. Ted Stevens, returned to work yesterday. O’Keefe is the CEO of Arlington-based EADS North America. More from Reuters.
Rosslyn Metro Escalator Makes Musical Noises — The Ode Street Tribune has a recording of a veritable chorus of mechanical noises emanating from an escalator at the Rosslyn Metro station.
Road Tattoo in Crystal City — Earlier, we reported that a road in Crystal City would be “tattooed” by artist Steed Taylor. Now, the deed is done. “Crystal City adds roadway tramp-stamp,” reads the headline on We Love DC.
Starting Saturday, North Moore Street will become a one-way street heading south from 19th Street North to Wilson Boulevard. North Moore will remain two-way north of 19th Street.
As a result, taxi stands and bus stops will be relocated to other parts of North Moore Street. Also, passenger pickup and drop-off will be prohibited on North Moore Street — it will only be allowed on the Fort Myer Drive side of the station.
To make way for the new Metro entrance between North Moore and North Lynn Streets, Annie’s Park, next to the McDonald’s, will be permanently closed later this month.
Two months ago the county board approved funding for construction of a second entrance to the heavily-used Rosslyn Metro Station. The new entrance will be built between North Moore Street and Lynn Street, across the street from the existing Metro entrance.
This week, the county released artist’s renderings of what the entrance will look like.
Arlington County and Metro police are looking for a man who may have brandished a weapon in the Courthouse Metro location. The man is believed to have already left the station.
This information comes from police radio traffic and the incident has not been confirmed.
Update at 3:15 p.m. — The information is a bit sketchy. Police are looking for a guy fitting a certain description in the area around the Courthouse Metro station, but neither the station manager nor Metro PD ever saw the alleged weapon. It was apparently reported by a bystander.
Construction on a new entrance to the Rosslyn Metro station could begin as soon as this fall. Last night the Arlington County Board approved $32.6 million in funding for the project, which will include other safety and access enhancements to the station.
The Rosslyn station, Northern Virginia’s busiest, will be getting three high speed, high-capacity elevators, new fare collection equipment and an underground mezzanine with a dedicated Commuter Store.
The new entrance to the station will be built between North Moore Street and Lynn Street, across the street from the existing Metro entrance. The old station entrance will remain in service even after the new one is completed.
“Arlington is committed to investing in Rosslyn, an evolving commercial and cultural center and a critical transit hub for the County and the region,” County Board Chairman Jay Fisette said in a statement. “The Rosslyn Station project is an important step in a larger effort to revitalize street life in the area and make public improvements to this neighborhood.”
The improvements will be funded by a combination of federal, state and local sources.
See more information on the project from the county’s press release.
Over the weekend, an ugly and outmoded pedestrian bridge over 18th Street in Crystal City was torn down with little fanfare or community objection. The bridge’s fate is symbolic of the changes that will be taking place in Crystal City over the next 40 years.
Tonight the County Board is expected to advertise public hearings on the blandly-named but far-reaching Crystal City Sector Plan 2050.
A new entrance to the Crystal City Metro Station, to be built at the corner of 18th Street and Crystal Drive (see video below).
A Crystal Drive streetcar line that will run to the Potomac Yard shopping center in Alexandria. The line will also connect with the planned Columbia Pike streetcar line in Pentagon City.
Removal of a number of older buildings.
Realignment of Clark and Bell Streets and pedestrian improvements.
Creation of additional green space.
Improved streetscapes and public art.
Attracting a grocery store and additional residential development, including affordable housing.
The improvements are expected to cost $163 million during the first two phases of the project, from 2011 to 2020. Expected new tax revenues as a result of the improvements are expected to bring in $200 million during that time frame, more than offsetting the costs. The federal government and the state are also expected to chip in with funds for the development.
Since Crystal City is already a dense, urban neighborhood, the plan will likely face little of the public opposition currently dogging the East Falls Church development plan. Some residents of nearby Aurora Highlands have expressed concerns about increased traffic, but so far residents of Crystal City proper seem mostly unaware of the plan.
Another challenge — getting approval from the FAA for constructing new, taller buildings — has been partially accomplished. An FAA feasibility study has green-lit the first phases of the project, pending periodic reviews to see if building heights could interfere with aircraft and ground radar at Reagan National Airport.
We took a walking tour around Crystal City with County Board Vice-Chairman Chris Zimmerman and Crystal City Business Improvement District President Angela Fox to get an idea of what the new Crystal City will look like. Below we highlight the intersection of Crystal Drive and 18th Street. This is the first in a series of videos.
In addition to voting on outdoor seating proposals for American Flatbread and Screwtop Wine Bar, the County Board will considering some proposals with far-reaching consequences.
The board will vote on an initial framework for the East Falls Church development plan, which has attracted quite a bit of controversy. The plan could pave the way for the construction of apartment buildings, retail spaces and other dense, pedestrian-friendly development in what is now a much more single-family-home-oriented area.
Another item under consideration would result in the construction of a new entrance to the Rosslyn Metro station . The $32-35 million dollar project was originally meant to take place concurrent to the construction of the Rosslyn Central Place development, but the development has stalled due to financial complications.
A $159 million bond referendum is also under consideration. The board will decide whether to put the bond issue on the ballot in November. The bonds would fund construction of a new Wakefield High School as well as various Metro, transportation, park and infrastructure projects.
Other items of interest include votes on $249,077 in arts grants, more than $750,000 in equipment for the new Artisphere, and whether to schedule a hearing on a proposal to protect six trees from removal on private property.
