The September 2026 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.
Autumn in Ashton Heights
By Scott Sklar
Welcome back! This summer we had an electric pole catch fire on 10th Street North and N Ivy Street, and then in August we had lightning hit a pole and knock out Fios service for some. Also in August, the County Board approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Prepared every 2 years, the CIP is the county’s 10-year plan for building, maintaining, upgrading or replacing county facilities and infrastructure. The county has a YouTube video (youtube.com/watch?v=wLM2GgssYRs) which covers the options.
As temperatures rise and drop to extremes due to changes in climate, and infrastructure ages out, we are all going to experience more disruptions. I teach energy, water, and communications resiliency at GWU and I urge everyone to prepare for these disruptions. We hope to have some speakers at our monthly meetings on practical actions homeowners and renters can do to ride out these unplanned and increasing disruptions.
The new neighborhood parking permit system was put in place in July and there has been discussion about this on the listserv. No more stickers and paper passes, and some growing pains by many in registering our cars. Some good suggestions were offered to improve this system by issuing visitor passes by e-mail, and an online check system for license plates in neighborhood zones, so we can ascertain if non-community cars are parked for days on our streets. AHCA VP for Programs David Schutz, will have a county speaker on the new program at the October AHCA monthly meeting.
AHCA was also formally notified by the county about the Wilson Blvd Streetscape Improvements which covers intersection upgrades on Wilson Blvd, 10th Street North, and North Ivy Street with the goal of improving predictability and to reduce confusion between drivers and pedestrians. The project elements for all phases include: new curb and gutter, ADA-compliant sidewalks, traffic signal improvements, Carlyle style streetlights, storm sewer upgrades/improvements, and new asphalt paving, signing and markings. This should make driving safer and protect pedestrians, all which have experienced many near misses along with some accidents.
Arlington County is also embarking on an improvement plan for the Buckingham neighborhood. The plan is similar to the recently approved Barcroft Redevelopment Project. It’s similar in that it will be a mix of restoration and major new construction (i.e., high rises) which offers opportunities for either major tree loss or tree conservation and even enhancement. Active participation by civic groups is essential, so Ashton Heights and the Buckingham Civic Associations will be following this carefully.
More information about this project can be found here: www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Housing/Development/Ballston-Park and click here for more information on the study charge: www.arlingtonva.us/files/sharedassets/public/v/3/projects/documents/ballston-park/ballston-park-county-board-charge-5.19.26.pdf.
And finally, we have one large building being built on the Joyce Motors site on 10th Street North, and a second building will soon start construction on the corner of Wilson Blvd and 10th at the old beer garden site and the adjoining brick building. We are watching this carefully.
Lots of changes here in Ashton Heights, and we look forward to your input and involvement to guide these projects. Aside from joining us the third Wednesday night of every month at the AHCA monthly meetings, the best way to become involved is by joining one of our committees – specifically the Development Committee, Transportation Committee and the Tree Canopy & Native Plants Committee. The chairs have their emails on page two of this newsletter. Drop them a line! As always, thank you for being involved in the Ashton Heights Civic Association. I look forward to working with you.