Proposed redesign of Oakland Park Image contributed
Nearly 50 people crammed into a room at The Jefferson Hotel in Virginia Square designed to fit no more than 30. At the Nov. 28 meeting of the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association meeting, it was standing room only with overflow into the nearby hallways to hear a few details about upcoming projects in the area.
SAFETY UPDATE
Officer Patrick Smithgall from the Arlington Police Department stopped by the meeting to share an update on crime and safety in the Ballston area. According to Smithgall, package thefts and burglaries are on the rise, which he said is fairly common during the holiday season. Smithgall reminded residents to lock their doors when they leave for work as most robberies happen during the day.
On Nov. 26, there was a shooting in the Buckingham neighborhood near Ballston. Smithgall said three men approached the victim and brandished a firearm. He resisted and was shot in the leg. Smithgall reminded residents that, if approached by someone with a firearm asking to hand over valuables, the best course of action is to do so.
OAKLAND PARK
Oakland Park is a small park identified by a survey of local residents as mostly being a walk-through to the nearby Virginia Square Metro Station. A new plan through the Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation seeks to maintain the trees and open space that currently define the park, but make adjustments to bring it within compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act while adding seating and more greenery.
According to Shannon Early, a landscape architect for Arlington County, the main focus of the project is paving the path through the center of the park. The path through the park is too narrow, muddy, and is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. Early said the project will include new movable benches and picnic tables around the site and more tree plantings.
Early said Arlington parks are not typically lit, and while there’s a possibility solar lights might be installed to illuminate the walkway, Early said it’s not a budget priority.
The timeline for the park renovation is flexible. Early said she would like for construction to start within the next year but that it was uncertain at this point. Once started, Early said construction at the park would likely take four months. The project is budgeted at $800,000 from the Neighborhood Conservation Funding.
UNITED METHODIST REDEVELOPMENT
There are a number of goals for the Central United Methodist Church’s redevelopment. The plan seeks to increase the site’s pre-school capacity while maintaining community space and affordable housing.
Following the Arlington County Board’s Nov. 5 decision to advertise public hearings over whether or not to designate the Robert Ball Sr. Family Burial Ground as a local historic district, a new goal has been added to the project: respecting and honoring The Robert Ball Family Cemetery located at the site.
“We’re trying to respect history and the traditions of Arlington,” said Doug Carter, president of the architectural firm Davis Carter Scott Ltd.
The cemetery houses Robert Ball and his family, early settlers in the area for whom Ballston is named. While early versions of the project called for the removal of those interred, the new designs for the building make the cemetery a feature of the building. The plot itself is enclosed in a fence and backed by an original stained glass Tiffany window pulled out of county storage and being restored.
The potential removal of the cemetery had upset some local residents, but the changes made to the design seem to have satisfied many at the community meeting. Patrick O’Neill, who had started a Change.org petition to stop the removal of the cemetary, said at the meeting that he was impressed with the new designs.
“I know it’s been a bumpy road to get here,” said O’Neill, “but I really appreciate the new design.”
Alice Swan, a local resident, said that the continual changes to the site and demands for historic preservation had put a strain on the church’s resources. Swan urged other residents to “put your money where your mouth has been and contribute to the church’s window restoration.”
Though most agreed the new design was vastly improved, some still had lingering concerns. Bernie Berne, president of the Buckingham Civic Association, noted that the new design does not meet some of the code requirements for open space. Anita Wallgren, president of the Arlington Neighborhood Village Association but speaking for herself, said she was unhappy to see the site using brick for the sidewalks.
“Poured concrete is the code,” said Wallgren, “Bricks and pavers are a hazard to pedestrians.”