May 2022 Newsletter

Newsletter

The May 2022 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.

President’s Column by Scott Sklar

This April, I was asked by the Arlington “Committee of 100” to make a presentation on Clarendon Development with a vision from a high level. I decided to wind some other issues into that vision because several issues need to be addressed in tandem.

The Arlington Way “Adrift”
Many of our long-time AHCA members have been actively involved in Arlington planning processes such as Long Term Planning, GLUP (general end use plan), and Sector Plans, taking many months and in some cases years. We are witnessing many of these efforts substantially changed at the very end with little input. Now obviously some issues change, I ask, “Why spend years on a deliberative process if it can be “end gamed” in the last few months?”

Arlington County, to its credit, surveys resident’s attitudes, but these community input surveys inadvertently limits views and expressions. As Joan Fitzgerald has highlighted to the AHCA Development Committee, polling has been changed from the affected area of the County to the entire County. County polling needs to be divided into two polls: 1) all Arlington residents, and 2) affected neighborhoods. Those areas of the County most affected by a particular plan need to have their own input.

Arlington is not Keeping up with Densification
As your Civic Association president, I get called with problems daily. Some examples follow. Clarendon businesses have approached me extremely concerned that parking between Northside Social and the Church will be removed – where are people out of Clarendon going to park?
• not everyone is going to Metro or Uber
• beyond the bar crowd, those in the suburbs or commuting thru Arlington before they go home need access to underground paid parking in EVERY building.

Good news: The Red Top construction which is building #3 of free-standing buildings with a total of 580 residential units and nearly 3,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space on the site, has 468 underground parking spaces, according to a county news release. (The Red Top Parking Lot construction now underway is the third of these three originally approved in 2015) but with another eight buildings being built, we will need more.

Rooftop restaurant and bar noise has increased from three calls per month to fifteen calls per month – residents being awakened from sleep in the middle of the night CONTINUOUSLY, where police have been responsive but are being constantly called to remediate noise – this is unsustainable. Our county manager has rebuffed the AHCA request to better empower police and code officials “on site” in evenings and hopefully issue fines – and the County is soliciting public input from all public sectors in May.

The Future of Clarendon
Nine new buildings – two are being built now and seven will be built, will totally remake Clarendon. The transformation will be huge. AHCA believes that Affordable Housing is necessary, but not in one singular building but rather within EACH of these nine buildings (Note: the one being built on the corner of Washington Blvd and Kirkwood St. has some). Every new building should have a floor (or more) dedicated to making Arlington livable for a wide array of incomes.

Arlington is not keeping up with other advanced municipalities. Interlacing within the bulls eye density – open space is needed for: community (or rooftop) gardens, larger social events, picnics, and recreation and a real community center. Alternative suggestions by staff and Board that sites on North Quincy, Maury Park or Hayes Park suffice (which are 15 minutes) away is sheer nonsense and misses the point. For the first time ALL five civic associations in-and-around Clarendon have united on the Clarendon Sector Plan for a 40,000 sq ft park “on and around” the fire station on the 10th Street North block which is the epicenter of these large soon to-be-built buildings. We need to all thank the AHCA Development Committee and especially its Chair Jack Spilsbury for enlisting our four sister civic associations.

It would be inexcusable to endorse more tons of cement within the Clarendon vortex (nine large buildings) and actually believe this is advanced development without this signature open space – it is not.

AH-NL-May-2022-with-insert-without-kidsDownload

April 2022 Newsletter

Newsletter

The April 2022 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.

Red Lines in the Sand by Scott Sklar, President, AHCA

The Ashton Heights Civic Association (AHCA) has been one of the leaders in looking towards the future. Our association leaders in the 1960’s and 1970’s fought to ensure tapered zoning from the metro stations to the residential neighborhoods, tree canopy expansion, and open spaces as Arlington became an inner suburb.

It was wise then, and it is wiser now.

Joining four other civic associations, we have drawn a line in the sand on the block where the fire station sits, to have it a mixed-use park, including the roof of the new firehouse other than development. We have rejected that the spot of land where a tiny used car lot and some Arlington-owned houses and an area of no-parking area between the Northside Social coffee shop and the church suffices for mixed use in the future. There is a difference between some open space, and some community picnic, playground, and other activities in a large space in what will be a high concentration urbanized setting in the near future.

We have also rejected the idea that this site become another giant building of which some will be dedicated to Affordable Housing. To be clear, AHCA supports affordable housing – and we are strongly prodding the Arlington Board to include it in the other five giant buildings being reviewed now to be built in the Clarendon area within the next two years. But the park on the 10th Street North site is as important to those in affordable housing as it is to our five neighborhoods represented by the five civic Associations. AHCA is standing our ground.

AHCA has also been working with those in our community affected by roof-top noise from various bars and restaurants in Clarendon and along Wilson Blvd. The Arlington County Police have worked with us pro-actively on Don Titos and other restaurants. But institutionally, the Arlington code enforcement staff are the ones that need to be given extra hours with pay, rather than police, to visit these sites at night when the complaints are filed. These issues are not really police matters, but code enforcement matters – and again AHCA is making clear that as we urbanize even more, these issues will get worse, not better. So we need an expansion of enforcement with pay, for those who can ensure commercial behavior fits the guidelines and those within our community can sleep at night. Another line in the sand.

On a personal note, many of you may know I sit on Arlington County’s C2E2 Commission’s Energy Committee, and many of us are pushing for an Arlington County Climate Coordinator to be appointed to ensure that the myriad of Arlington agencies and programs row in the same direction of the unanimously approved (twice) Arlington County Community Energy Plan (CEP). Again, drawing a line in the sand for our Arlington’s resilient future.

There has been some pushback on all the above by Arlington’s various commissions and committees. I have gotten many calls. But these issues are too important to “just go along for the ride”. It affects our quality of life, and frankly, some personal control of our local environs. So, we’re hanging tough. But not just to be tough, to be vigilant – it’s our community, and if we don’t fight for it – Clarendon can transform into the cement, shaded, lack-of green of Ballston (just walk along North 9th Street in the cement wind tunnel to experience the effect).

I want to thank AHCA’a Development Committee and the AHCA Committee Chairs and CoChairs of our other Committees who have all been important leaders in directing and protecting our community’s future. And I look forward to hearing your ideas, and having you work within our AHCA Committees as your time allows.

AH-NL-April-2022-without-kidsDownload

February 2022 Meeting Minutes

Uncategorized

AHCA Meeting – 2.16.2022

Scott Sklar, AHCA President, brought the meeting to order at 6:32 PM.

42 participants. 

General Update

After thanking everyone for attending the AHCA meeting, Denny from Bunny Hop detailed the upcoming Bunny Hop 5K on April 23rd. The run will end with a block party at the Clarendon Methodist Church parking lot. Registration is open at – www.arlingtonbunnyhop.org. 

Jack Spilsbury gave an update on the Clarendon Sector plan, and Scott praised Jack’s hard work to organize AHCA sistercivic organizations on matters such as the fire house on 10th Street and attempts to ensure a park is included in the new plans.

Brooke Alexander spoke regarding Native Plants and Trees. Individuals should get in touch with her if you are interested in trees and getting a consultation on your yard and trees that would do well in it. 

On general neighborhood planning, Scott spoke on the idea for a “dual track” plan that both incorporates all residents of Arlington but also gives special consideration to those who will live next to any development plan and cope with the consequences for years to come and remain in the county. He also noted CVS’s plans to build at the recently-demolished motel site at the end of Kenmore St.and expects CVS to close their Clarendon location on Wilson BLVD. On another note, the planned park which was originally to be 43,000 square feet is now being reduced due to the addition of affordable housing. 

Representative Don Beyer

Represented Don Beyer joined the meeting, along with Noah Simon, his Director of Constituent Services. He highlighted the infrastructure bill that was enacted into law in 2021, which is projected to result in 17,000 new or improved bridges in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Rep. Beyer also touched on the following matters:

  • Thanks to the U.S. Postal Service reform bill, service is expected to remain at 6 days a week. AHCA members mentioned experiencing as much as two weeks without service. 
  • The COMPETES Act, or “China bill,” is the largest investment in basic research in American history, and quadruples the budget of the National Science Foundation.
  • Build Back Batter – while Congress still works to determine a path forward, the part of the bill most likely to be enacted deals with climate change through new policies incentivizing electric vehicles, as well as solar and wind power.
  • Inflation – Rep. Beyer noted that the largest single part of inflation statistics have been increases in car prices, which have begun to come down.

Scott praised Congressman Beyer for have federal language inserted for the GAO study and his active leadership and involvement with the federal agencies on aircraft and helicopter noise over Arlington, VA.

  • Helicopter noise in Ashton Heights – he noted that this area has a confluence of military, park police, and other Federal government helicopters, as well as county law enforcement. He has initiated a Government Accountability Office study on the matter.
  • Airplane noise – he is working with the FAA on the issue of airplane noise, and ensuring no flights are over the area after 10 PM. 

Arlington Police Chief Andy Penn

Arlington County Police Department’s (ACPD) new Police Chief, Andy Penn, will complete his 30th year with the Department in April. He began by saying how much he values the relationship between the community and the Department, and noted how blessed the Department is to have a committed and professional staff. As with all police departments, the ACPD has room to grow and can continue to improve. He discussed the Police Practices Group, which conducts external reviews of policies and procedures around mental health, traffic, alternative dispute resolution, and other matters. The Department has implemented many of its recommended changes, and is still working on others, out of a commitment to reflect the values and expectations of the community it serves.   

ACPD is focused on four key initiatives – crime control and prevention, transportation safety, community engagement, and now, wellness and safety. The new initiative, which Chief Penn began, is focused on taking care of those who are in the police force and making sure they have the resources they need.

Chief Penn also created a new division within ACPD – Community Engagement. The new division is to ensure ACPD engages in the community at all levels, including youth outreach, business outreach, and community outreach. This work also involves a Community Police Academy and Teen Police Academy.

ACPD faces some challenges, including an officer shortage. After 50 officers left the Department last year, ACPD is currently 42 officers short. New officers currently being trained face a year delay from joining the Department to being functionally in the field.

Chief Penn also highlighted his focus on transparency and making sure that incidents, arrests, and other crime statistics are online and searchable. He noted that auto theft is currently down over last year, with the exception of the theft of catalytic converters. Auto larceny is largely related to unlocked cars.

The Business Outreach office is tracking calls regarding noise complaints, including those involving Don Tito’s, and working with Code Enforcement on the matter. 

In response to questions, Chief Penn said 33% of ACPD officers live in Arlington. He would like to see more, but affordability is a challenge. He also responded to a question on jail deaths, mentioning that he could not talk about recent incidents but that ACPD, the Medical Examiner, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney are all working together on the investigations. He also responded to comments about reporting speed violations on the ACPD website, issues with scooters being left on sidewalks, and tickets related to safety inspections.

Scott thanked Chief Penn and everyone for attending. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Chris Armstrong, AHCA Secretary, February 17, 2022.

March 2022 Newsletter

Featured, Newsletter

The March 2022 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

By Scott Sklar, President, AHCA

As we focus as a community on the daily challenges of development, traffic, noise, open space, schools, tree canopy, housing, and safety & security – we need to focus on the bigger picture and some of the larger driving issues in our county and community.

This March we have two key players in that bigger picture. Our Congressman Don Beyer who sits on the Joint Economic Committee and the House of Representatives House Ways & Means Committee (tax-writing committee) and the House Science, Space & Technology Committee. His legislation was adopted to fund a study on aircraft and helicopter flights over Northern Virginia. He is a senior player in Congress and this gives us a chance to discuss not only the low-flight noise over our neighborhoods but also the timing and focus of federal infrastructure funds coming into Northern Virginia.

We also have our newly-appointed Arlington County Chief of Police Andy Penn, who attended our 100th anniversary celebration and spoke at our February AHCA meeting. Car thefts and break-ins, catalytic converter thefts, as well as intermittent acts of violence are increasing. With that in mind, I have met with him and we need to/will jointly work together to drive our destiny.

I am personally convinced that the AHCA needs to raise the stakes on how Arlington County carries out development and transportation planning. These two issues significantly impact our quality of life. Our AHCA Development Committee Chair Jack Spilsbury, backed up by a great team, has begun a process on working and driving our sister civic associations on the ongoing development issues in-and-around our neighborhood. Joan Fitzgerald, who is active on the Development Committee, has raised several times that the weight of the neighborhoods near specific projects have been watered-down in how the County polls community input. And we need to re-assert those most effected in a parallel input process. I am personally convinced that is an essential component to re-assert our interests into these more complicated, intense, and significant project planning and adoption.

I plan to begin an Association dialogue and implementation process that will start at the upcoming March meeting, but also discussed on the AHCA listserv and in future AHCA newsletters. Again, our quality of life, health, comfort, and livability are impacted by these decisions. And Ashton Heights, along with our sister civic associations, need to seize the initiative to assert more influence over these County actions.

As always, it is a pleasure and honor to serve as your AHCA President. Enjoy the last few weeks of winter.

AH-NL-MARCH-2022-withoutkidsDownload

February 2022 Newsletter

Newsletter

The February 2022 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.

Development Marches On – Cold Weather – Good Cheer

By Scott Sklar, President, AHCA

The development process marches on focusing on the Clarendon, Courthouse and Pentagon City areas of Arlington. As AHCA Development Committee Chair Jack Spilsbury relays, we are in a full court press working with our sister civic associations, to maximize open space and native trees, lower building heights with setbacks and tapering, provide underground parking and walkable vibrant communities and neighborhoods.

Noise and traffic are also ramping up. Our AHCA Safety & Security Committee Chair Christina Schultz describes our working with affected neighbors on noise issues from area bars with the Arlington County Police. And we are also following traffic calming measures by the County to make sure our communities are walkable, students walking and biking to school are safe, and noise and speed are reduced.

Due to COVID19, USPS mail service has been seriously delayed and disrupted. I have contacted our regional Post Office regional management about the problem as well as our Congressman, Don Beyer. We are now being tracked by senior USPS management. Staffing is low due to both USPS management changes (not good news) and COVID19 (also not good news). But I do expect the situation will ease and services get better.

This May, we will be electing our AHCA Executive Committee (ExCom) and we will need someone to step-up to fill Jim Feaster’s position as Vice President of Programs. This entails lining up speakers for 10 AHCA monthly meetings, half of which are suggested by the AHCA ExCom, AHCA committee chairs, and AHCA members. Please contact me (solarsklar@aol.com) or Jim Feaster (jimfeaster1@gmail.com) on any aspects of the job. This is a great way to help our community.

We will start our February AHCA meeting earlier to host our United States Representative, Congressman Don Beyer. We have been working with his office on moderating airplane and helicopter noise (he has legislatively gotten language for a study), and as I mentioned earlier, interceding with the USPS on service reliability. This meeting will be a great time to ask questions to our Congressman, so please join us.

Winter weather is here – which means freezing pipes, ice & snow on sidewalks, stoops, driveways and roadways, higher utility costs for heating. So here are some links to address some of these issues:

▪ Arlington County – Snow Removal: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Emergency/Weather/Snow-and-Ice/Snow-Removal-Phases
▪ Snow issue form: https://gis.arlingtonva.us/mapapps/snowpublic/index.php
▪ Arlington County Snow Activity Map: https://snowmap.arlingtonva.us/SnowOps/SnowActivityMap/#12/38.8810/-77.1000
▪ Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE) which provides guidance on energy savings: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Sustainability-and-Environment/Energy

So be safe, have fun, and hope to see you at our earlier time 6:30 p.m. SHARP for our February Monthly AHCA meeting at CUMC on Wednesday, February 16, 2022!

AH-NL-FEBRUARY-2022-without-kidsDownload
Ashton Heights - Pet of the Month

January 2022 Newsletter

Newsletter

The January 2022 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.

2022 Opportunities and Challenges

By Scott Sklar, President, AHCA

Virtually every community issue we cover is about to be in overdrive in 2022.

Open spaces and parks are at the center of AHCA’s input to the Clarendon area Arlington County planning – where on our border several large buildings will be going up, and we want to make sure we have ample park and open space (and native trees). AHCA is at the lead and “in the center” of that dialogue, with Committee Chairs Brook Alexander, Brent Burris, and Jack Spilsbury leading the charge.

Development has always been our most time-consuming focus, and the AHCA Development Committee has been in the forefront. Our Development Committee Chair, Jack Spilsbury, has garnered support of the four other civic associations that surround Clarendon to coordinate our priorities and presentations. And the Committee members are all active and engaged in the effort of Clarendon redevelopment on building set-backs, building tapering, open spaces, and underground parking as essential components – a great group of active community members – thank you.

Our Safety & Security Committee, chaired by Christina Schultz, has an ongoing liaison with the Arlington County Police Department whose representatives report at AHCA’s monthly meetings. Car thefts and car incursions are becoming more common – we need to lock our vehicle doors and not idle our cars and leave – as the fastest cure for this problem. Violent crime has not increased, but has so in areas around Arlington County – so we need to remain vigilant.

Transportation has the same issues of pedestrian safety, bicycle lanes, traffic guiding and calming. We have roadway and walkway projects along North Glebe Road in play, and issues being followed by AHCA Transportation chair Patrick Lueb.

Schools issues are followed by Committee Co Chairs Gregory Morse and Caroline Rogus – and major issues seem to be steady, but they will report as needed and are open to any input from Ashton Heights residents.

Housing issues are a hot topic by the Arlington County Board as its Middle Housing report has been issued, and AHCA Housing Committee Chairs Matt Hall and Christina Schultz are participating and tracking.

Aside from the formal committee work, I have been dialoguing with members of the Arlington County Board, and the new police chief Andy Penn, as well as with our sister civic associations.

I am pleased we can have our AHCA monthly meetings back in-person at the Clarendon United Methodist Church social hall on the third Wednesday of every month, or this January 19th. If you have ideas on speakers and program issues, please contact our VP for Programs Jim Feaster.

And now that we have celebrated Ashton Height’s 100th anniversary, I need to re-emphasize that it is up to us to preserve and enhance our community, so it evolves as the great place it is to live, work, play. The work we do as a community is essential. Thank you for being an AHCA member, and all that you do.

AH-NL-JANUARY-2022-without-kidsDownload

November 2021 Newsletter

Newsletter

The November 2021 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.

Community Involvement in Many Forms

By Scott Sklar, President, AHCA

At our October AHCA monthly meeting, Arlington Police officers Aaron Queen presented on community policing and community crime statistics. Except for car larcenies and stolen vehicles, every other crime indicator is static or declining. We have routinely had liaisons from the Arlington County Police to cement a partnership between AHCA residents and ACPD to strengthen our safety, our communications, and our priorities. We had the new Arlington Police Chief, Andy Penn join our 100th Anniversary event at the Arlington Arts Center in October.

Our 100th Anniversary events went smashingly well, with huge turnouts at both events. There were over 200 AHCA residents at the Arlington Arts Center and over 100 people at our 100th anniversary AHCA tree tour and event. It was a success with major help from Ann Felker, Brooke Alexander, Trisha Gruesen, and Julie Mangis (and many others) and of course our AHCA Historian Jim Terpstra.

Our updated Ashton Heights Style Guide has been released on the AHCA website. Jim Terpstra and Jean Falvey presented the Ashton Heights Style Guide, reviewing the handout on the different housing styles and how they are morphing in different areas throughout Ashton Heights.

During November and December 2021 and January 2022, our AHCA Development Committee led by Jack Spilsbury will be busy coordinating within AHCA and with our sister civic associations our inputs to the County Board and staff on the proposed Clarendon Development and other development issues. Do not be shy in emailing Jack on thoughts and information to guide this process.

Thank you all for participating in our AHCA Committees, attending our AHCA Monthly meetings, attending our 100th Anniversary celebration at the Arlington Arts Center, and those who participated in the tree tour.

Our last 2021 AHCA monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 17th at 7:30 p.m. sharp in the social hall of the Clarendon United Methodist Church on the corner of North Ivy Street and North 6th Street – enter through the door midway in the parking lot. Join us at 7 p.m. to mingle and help set up.

Our next AHCA newsletter will be delivered in January 2022. A special thanks to our Editor Amy Miller, our newsletter distribution team headed by Bea Camp, and to ALL of you within AHCA who distribute our newsletters, along with our AHCA Secretary Chris Armstrong who posts the AHCA meeting minutes and event notices onto the AHCA website.

A safe and happy Fall to all as we move into winter.

AH-NL-NOVEMBER-2021-with-insert-without-kidsDownload

September 2021 Meeting Minutes

Uncategorized

AHCA Meeting – 9.15.2021

Scott Sklar, AHCA President, brought the meeting to order at 7:32 PM.

26 participants. 

Scott Sklar Update

Scott called the meeting to order at 7:33 PM, thanking the Clarendon Methodist Church for hosting our first in-person meeting in 18 months. 

Corporal Kenny Giles, ACPD 

Corporal Giles is in community outreach and currently assigned to Crystal City. He reports that our area has 356 police calls so far this year, down from last year. Last year, there were 5 stolen vehicles, and as of the meeting we are at 14. The biggest trend he sees when it comes to stolen vehicles are unlocked vehicles and found keys, including spare keys in cars. He emphasizes the importance of the 9 PM routine – locking your car, house, etc. He notes to register bikes with the county to assist in recovery in the case of theft. Register your bike on the Arlington website: https://police.arlingtonva.us/bicycle-registration-form/, or by emailing Lieutenant Heather Hurlock at hhurlock@arlingtonva.us.

Development Committee Update from Jack Spilsbury and the Clarendon Plan

Jack noted the range of development projects in the western part of Clarendon, including the current sites of the Highlander Motel, Joyce Motors, Silver Diner, St. Charles Church, and others. AHCA is working closely with civic associations from Lyon Village and Lyon Park on development issues. Jack asks that people review the development plan and reach out to him on development issues or to get more involved.

Ashton Heights 100th Birthday 

Jim Terpstra and Peter Dickson on the history of Ashton Heights

  • AHCA is looking for volunteers to review the twelve studies by George Washington University students that were done in the 1990’s, in an effort to summarize them for the AHCA newsletter. If interested, please contact Jim at terpstras4@msn.com.
    • Study topics include an interview with Frederick Westenberger, a local builder, a history of the Arlington County Street Railway System, a description of residential changes since 1940, and other topics.
  • Jim and Peter both reviewed Ashton Heights’ remarkable history from  sparsely settled region dominated by farmsteads, to a growing area sold by the Hunter family to Ashton Crenshaw Jones and Frank Lyon, to the neighborhood we call home today.
    • Jim Terpstra handed out copies of a collection of summaries and records from the National Register of Historic Places.
    • Peter Dickson’s work can be found in his Ashton Heights: Its Origin and History, a written history of our neighborhood which includes fascinating advertising and photography from Ashton Heights history. Copies are available for $10 if you contact Peter at pwdbard@aol.com.

Ann Felker, Julie Mangis, and Brooke Alexander provided a preview of the Ashton Heights Birthday Bash, which will take place on Saturday, September 25th.

Tree Tour and Plant Giveaway

Brooke Alexander and Ann Felker provided a preview of the Ashgton Heights Notble Tree Tour, to take place on Saturday, October 2nd, from 10 a.m. to noon. They are still in search of volunteers. Following the tree tour, join us in the Methodist Church parking lot for tree stories, music, snacks (including ice cream!) and a tree sapling and plant giveaway.

  • Fun fact – feeding one bunch of chickadees requires 6,000-9,000 caterpillars!

The meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Chris Armstrong, AHCA Secretary, September 27, 2021.

October 2021 Newsletter

Newsletter

The October 2021 newsletter is linked below. If you have any comments or questions, email editor@ashtonheights.org.

Three Months Focus on the Ashton Heights 100th Anniversary

By Scott Sklar, President, AHCA

In our September AHCA meeting – our first in-person meeting in 18 months – we had the beginning of formal presentations on AHCA’s history. Our AHCA historian, went over a few of the reports on the beginnings of Ashton Heights, named after Ashton C. Jones as he massed land holdings in 1921. In 1892 the electric trolley was introduced and transformed rural Arlington into new subdivisions growing from 6,430 people to 10,231 people. Ashton Heights grew from 1910 -1930, with 1914 being the first County rule requiring approval of subdivision plans by the County Engineer.

Peter W. Dickson, historian, also presented, and offered his new book, Ashton Heights: It’s Origin and History (you may buy a copy for $10, Peter’s email: pwdbard@aol.com). On page 6, of his book, he recounts that by 1919, there were 45 homes on the 600 to 800 bocks of North Irving, North Ivy, North Jackson, and North Kenmore that eventually became the beginning core of Ashton Heights.

Saturday, September 25th was the AHCA Birthday Bash from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Arlington Arts Center. Again, this was a chance for our community to come together and celebrate not only our anniversary but our connections together making this community a better place, and coming through our ordeal of the pandemic. Kudos to Matt Hall, Ann Felker, and Julie Mangis among others to make this happen!

Saturday, October 2nd is the “Notable Tree Tour” coordinated by Brooke Alexander who heads our Tree Canopy & Native Plants Committee. Our tree canopy is what differentiates us from many other parts of Arlington – providing buffer from noise & pollution, habitat for birds and other wildlife, and has a cooling effect in light of changes due to global warming. Note: October 3rd is the National Solar Home tour, from 10:30 a.m. To 3:30 p.m., of which my 100 year old North Ivy Street house has been featured for the last decade.

At our October AHCA meeting, Jim Terpstra will discuss the Ashton Heights Style Guide, first published in 2003, to go over the unique house styles that principally make up a good portion of Ashton Heights residences. Also at our meeting on Wednesday, October 20th, we will have presentations from the Arlington Hospital Center and their Foundation, an outstanding Arlington institution.

So that brings me to what the Ashton Heights Civic Association’s (AHCA) role is today at this point in our first 100 years. From my view, AHCA’s focus has been to “keep the character of Ashton Heights as we grow and urbanize, so as to maintain our unique comfort, safety and livability”.

To do that our AHCA Committees composed of members of our community are doing the following:

▪ Development – ensure development in and around Ashton Heights protects light as well as protects against noise, maximizes open space, tree canopy, on street businesses and services, and enhance sense of community

▪ Housing – assure affordability and livability, track County initiatives

▪ Open Spaces – increase and enhance our parks and playgrounds

▪ Tree Canopy & Native Plants – significantly increase tree canopy and utilization of native plants

▪ Safety & Security – maintain dialogue with Arlington County police, inform community of crime & safety challenges and trends

▪ Schools – improving teaching and facilities, preserve walkability to schools, and enhance safety traveling to and within schools

▪ Transportation – embrace traffic calming, protect neighborhood parking, increase bike lanes and paths, pedestrian walkways, and noise reduction

These functions are essential to keep the best qualities of our community. So in this celebration of our 100 years, let us also rejoice that we are actively engaged to preserve, protect, and evolve for the upcoming 100 years.

I wish you all a happy and safe autumn. And look forward to seeing many of you in person at our Notable Tree Tour and at our monthly in-person October meeting.

AH-NL-OCTOBER-2021-without-kidsDownload