New Lubber Run concept design. Photo contributed
The Lubber Run Community Center can expand in two ways: up or out. The neighborhood surrounding the 60-year-old building has expressed nearly unanimous support for the building’s replacement, but at the County Board meeting on July 18, there was disagreement over which direction to take it.
The current plans call for a new community center that expands outwards, with the two new wings of the building expanding into green space at the edge of the surrounding park. Much of that space will eventually be reutilized as green space built over the underground parking garage, but neighbors came to the County Board meeting expressing hopes that the county might be able to leave the park space undisturbed and save the park’s existing tree canopy.
But concerns about the public engagement overshadowed the discussion of the actual community center itself. Joel Yudken, vice president of the Arlington Forest Citizens Association, was one of several local residents who expressed support for the new building but dismay at the limited window for public feedback. Yudken said the design was initially presented to the community on May 17, and that avenues for feedback focused on details for the interior rather than big picture elements like the community center’s impact on the local park space. Later, Yudken said July 19 was posted by Arlington County staff as the public meeting opportunity for the community to express concerns about the site, but the actual vote for approval of the site was scheduled for a day earlier. County Manager Mark Schwartz started the discussion about the community center with an apology to the neighborhood for confusion and anxiety caused by miscommunications from county staff.
In response, the County Board voted 3-2 to approve a contract with James G. Davis Construction Corporation to replace the community center, but deferred endorsement of the final concept design for the facility until September to allow for greater community feedback. County Board members Katie Cristol and Libby Garvey expressed support for approval of the contract but not for deferment of the final concept design.