Friday, May 31, 2013

Arlandria Open House! This Sunday, 11am - 1pm


Community Members are invited to attend an
 Arlandria Open House 
on Sunday, June 2, 2013 from 11am - 1pm 
at the Four Mile Run Park Community Building 
(4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue).




The purpose of the Community Open House is to bring together members of the Arlandria Action Plan Implementation Advisory Group and the larger community to learn about activities that further the implementation of the 2003 Arlandria Action Plan.

City staff will provide updates on pedestrian and bicyclists improvements, area private development projects, economic development activities, the Four Mile Run Expansion Project, and the Four Mile Restoration Demonstration Project.  

Additionally, attendees are encouraged to continue the community event with a visit to 

Friday, May 24, 2013

4MRMarket Report: "The Weather's Fine!" Edition

Ask for the Farm, Fresh, Pledge punch card.
Collect 14 punches for a chance to win!
Buy Fresh, Buy Local and Win at 4MRMarket!! 

Just ask for the “Farm, Fresh, Pledge” punch card at 4MRMarket starting this Sunday and earn one punch for each $10 you spend on Virginia Grown products. Collect all 14 punches for a chance to win a Virginia Grown® / Virginia’s Finest® gift basket valued at $250. (See the official rules for more details).

Sundays so far this year have been a mixed bag weather-wise. Some are too cold, some too windy or rainy, but this weekend should be juuuuuuust right. It should be low 70s, sunny, and dry.

All the better to sit in the 4MRMarket Lounge and take in this week's free musical performance! What better way to enjoy the start of your Sunday!

Click here to play the video if it does not play in your browser or email.
Watch "The Post" perform Glass and Scratches and
other tunes on 4MRMarket Stage from 11am-noon
From 11am to noon, you'll find "The Post" groovin' on the 4MRMarket Stage.  The soulful, poetic folk rock played by Chelsea Bryan and Kate Jarosik of "The Post" is equal parts nostalgia and a push against the mechanical, fast nature of city living.

"The Post's" harmony-heavy ballads, blues chord progressions and rock-out, folk-amped-up attitude are courtesy of Bryan on lead vocals and keyboard and multi instrumentalist and vocalist Jarosik on guitar, melodica, mandolin or bass.

While you enjoy the performance, be sure to grab a snack and a cup of coffee from St. Elmo's Coffee Pub. Then, after you get your fill of musical accompaniment to your morning cup o' Joe, fill up your reusable bags with the ever expanding offerings from C&T Produce, plus a great selection of meat, cheese, teas, handmade soaps, health and beauty products, and more.

AND...Check back on June 2nd for the Arlandria Community Open House during 4MRMarket:
City staff will be on hand to provide updates on pedestrian and bicyclists improvements, area private development projects, economic development activities, the Four Mile Run Expansion Project, and the Four Mile Restoration Demonstration Project.


Here is our list of vendors this week:
  • C &T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia.
  • The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" - Farm-raised Black Angus beef, humanely raised on lush pasture fields of the Shenandoah Valley, naturally farmed pork...and now... Uncle Frank's Grilling Sauce!!
  • Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.
  • Whole Health Medical (Alexandria) -  Organic teas and body scrubs from one of the largest Message and Acupuncture Therapy businesses in Northern Virginia (approved by the Alexandria Health Department).
  • St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and always a few extra goodies!
Here is our list of craft and beauty product vendors for this Sunday!
  • Old Town Suds - (Alexandria) This maker of eco-friendly soaps, cleaning supplies, bath bombs, and more! Old Town Suds started because Steffanie was allergic to most commercial soaps on the market; then she became really sick and wondered if her health was being made worse by everyday chemicals. Their decadent soaps & nose-pleasing cleaning products are tough on dirt but easy on humans, pets, and the Earth. Look for Port City Beer soap & Legend (Richmond, VA) Beer soap plus the Cup of Joe soap that looks like a latte!
  • Kalika Beauty (Centreville, VA) - A naturally effective, eco-friendly, line of handmade bath and body skin care goodies. Her products are made with bio-dynamic, natural botanical active ingredients.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt
BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at the market.  You can pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).

DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MRPark. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund to fund tree and other amenities at 4MRExpand More information here.

HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4MRMarket@arlandria.org for more info.

READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter or via our website and blog.

SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program again this year that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. And C&T Produce now accepts SFMNP vouchers!
__________________________________
Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.


4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from April 14th until November in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/
On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket
On Twitter: @4MRMarket
Contact us at: 4MRMarket@arlandria.org
Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

Friday, May 17, 2013

4MRMarket Report: "Cucumbers, Summer Squash, and Roots Music!" Edition

Mike Elosh performs last August on the 4MRMarket Stage!

As we get deeper into the growing season, C&T Produce will have even more fresh produce in stock. From their Facebook page:

"Cucumbers and summer squash will be available at all markets, as well as all the other Spring goodies. Berries are a bit limited, due to all the rain and heat, so come early for those."

Also this Sunday, we welcome back 4MRMarket Stage veteran Mike Elosh to 4MRMarket this weekend from 11-noon!

Mike Elosh is a roots and folk musician that you've probably heard during his monthly performances at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub.

As always, the concert is free. Mike and all our performers are volunteering to share their music with market goers, though we will gladly welcome tips and friendly applause for our musicians! Please come out and support this Dylan-like folk rock singer/songwriter. Mike uses guitar, piano and harmonica to accompany his roots-based music.

On top of the tasty new items from C&T Produce, you'll also find a great selection of meat, cheese, handmade soaps, health and beauty products, and more. Get your fresh and local groceries and enjoy Mike Elosh from the 4MRMarket Lounge!

Here is our list of vendors this week:
  • C &T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia.
  • The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" - Farm-raised Black Angus beef, humanely raised on lush pasture fields of the Shenandoah Valley, naturally farmed pork...and now... Uncle Frank's Grilling Sauce!!
  • Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.
  • Whole Health Medical (Alexandria) -  Organic teas and body scrubs from one of the largest Message and Acupuncture Therapy businesses in Northern Virginia (approved by the Alexandria Health Department).
  • St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and always a few extra goodies!
Here is our list of craft and beauty product vendors for this Sunday!
  • Photo Gifts by Rachel - (Arlington, VA) - Photo gifts, coasters, mirrors, photo greeting cards
  • Old Town Suds - (Alexandria) This maker of eco-friendly soaps, cleaning supplies, bath bombs, and more! Old Town Suds started because Steffanie was allergic to most commercial soaps on the market; then she became really sick and wondered if her health was being made worse by everyday chemicals. Their decadent soaps & nose-pleasing cleaning products are tough on dirt but easy on humans, pets, and the Earth. Look for Port City Beer soap & Legend (Richmond, VA) Beer soap plus the Cup of Joe soap that looks like a latte!
  • Kalika Beauty (Centreville, VA) - A naturally effective, eco-friendly, line of handmade bath and body skin care goodies. Her products are made with bio-dynamic, natural botanical active ingredients.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt
BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at the market.  You can pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).

DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MRPark. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund to fund tree and other amenities at 4MRExpand More information here.

HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4MRMarket@arlandria.org for more info.

READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter or via our website and blog.

SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program again this year that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. And C&T Produce now accepts SFMNP vouchers!
__________________________________
Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.


4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from April 14th until November in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/
On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket
On Twitter: @4MRMarket
Contact us at: 4MRMarket@arlandria.org
Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Cora Kelly playground may finally get played on


Work is underway at the long awaited new playground.
It's been several years in the making, filled with delays and disappointments, but soon the students and neighbors of Cora Kelly Elementary School may be able to finally use that playground that they've only been able to look at through construction fences for over a year.

In a letter to Mike Peter, treasurer of the Hume Springs Citizens Association, Jack Browand, of Alexandria's Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities says the playground at is expected to be finished and ready by the end of May.

The Del Ray Patch gave us the hopeful story of the planned park back in September of 2010 ("Cora Kelly Working for a New Playground"):

The playground at Cora Kelly Elementary School is in need of a major facelift, and the school's PTA is on a mission to provide a playground the school's students deserve. But in order to achieve its goal, the organization is asking for support from the community.
According to Ashley Chappell, treasurer of the Cora Kelly PTA and project director, the current playground is at least 15 years old and was originally designed by a physical education teacher to facilitate drills, not play. 
The metal monkey bars and slides stand in stark contrast to the equipment at most playgrounds around the area—colorful apparatuses that promote fun and discovery and challenge children to push themselves to achieve.

According to the Patch, "the last straw came when the city recently discovered a West Nile Virus-carrying mosquito nearby, making it apparent the playground's drainage issues pose a health threat to the students."

With a goal of $115,000 for its playground project, the Cora Kelly PTA began fund-raising campaign to build a new and better playground.

It received a $60,000 grant from the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, and raised another $10,000 on its own, seeking the rest from a grant for KaBoom, a non-profit which a mission to create modern playspaces through community participation.

With the KaBoom grant in hand and playground equipment on-hand in the fall of 2011, the Cora Kelly Community started site prep in late December of that year.

But then everything came to a halt.

Built on the a portion of the City's Four Mile Run Park, the initial installation was not up to safety code and the project sat idle waiting for an additional infusion of funds from Alexandria City Public Schools in order to be completed.

Those funds finally became available last Fall and work re-commenced this May.

The play area behind Cora Kelly
has been a construction site for the last 18 months.

4MR Park Plans ready for review

The draft of the long range plan for Four Mile Run Park has been released for public review and a meeting to discuss the draft designs is slated for this Wednesday evening at Cora Kelly Rec Center.

Alexandria's Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities began a multi-year process last year to develop a Citywide Large Park Improvement Plan, the goal of which was to review the existing conditions and future needs for Alexandria’s large, city-owned, multi-use parks. Along with Four Mile Run Park, the other parks studied include: Simpson Stadium Park, Chinquapin Park, Henlsey Park, Holmes Run Park, and Ben Brenman/Boothe Parks (click on each to go straight to the draft plans).

Four Mile Run Park Draft Improvement Plan



The full Four Mile Run Park Draft Plan, based the user needs identified during the process is available online, here.

Or, the public has been invited to attend a park workshop to discuss the plan on Wednesday, May 15, 7:30 – 9:00 at Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 3600 Commonwealth Avenue.

Here's a summary of what the Parks department heard from the park users (click here to see a full Summary of Community Feedback on Four Mile Run Park):

SpiralFMRgif
Ranking of 4MR Park Priorities
Athletics
  • Develop better pick-up game areas
  • Install covered dugouts and fix the backstops
  • Renovate the courts
  • Re-orient field #3 for better shade and enhance seating area
  • Install netting along Frank Mann field
  • Improve parking for athletic fields 

Natural Resources
  • Preserve and enhance the Park’s natural areas, including the wetlands
  • Remove invasive species
  • Plant trees along the alleyways 

Access
  • Improve the connections between the trail, pathways and Park uses
  • Build a bridge over the channel to connect areas of the Park near Cora Kelly
  • Re-pave the asphalt trail through the Park and connect it to Cora Kelly Recreation Center and School 

Athletics
  • Develop better pick-up game areas
  • Install covered dugouts and fix the backstops
  • Renovate the courts
  • Re-orient field #3 for better shade and enhance seating area
  • Install netting along Frank Mann field
  • Improve parking for athletic fields 

Design and Fixtures 
  • Increase Park security through CPTED
  • Cluster activities at entrances
  • Formalize the overlook at the entrance to the wetlands
  • Install area for fitness equipment behind Cora Kelly Recreation Center
  • Add more park furniture
  • Remove unfenced dog area and provide a fenced dog area
  • Install a community garden
  • Install mile markers
  • Locate the playground in a more visible location
  • Provide natural play spaces such as boulders and climbing features 

4MR Park Existing Conditions

Through the Citywide Large Park Improvement Plan, RPCA intends to determine budgeting priorities and recommendations for both short and long term incremental improvements, ensuring the Parks serve Alexandria’s needs now and into the future. Please contact Dana.Wedeles@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5491 with questions or concerns. 

Saturday, May 11, 2013

4MRMarket Report: "Happy Mother's Day!" Edition


Pick up some fresh leafy goodness
this weekend from C&T Produce

4MRMarket has yet another local performer this weekend on the 4MRStage!

Jong Lee is a guitarist and singer that covers popular tunes and lives only a few blocks from the market. He runs a local business called Jive Sound (like them on Facebook) that specializes in bass guitars and related music equipment. He'll play from around 10:30 to 11:30 or noon, so come check him out!

If you haven't picked up something for Mother's Day, yet, why not pick up a few things at this Sunday's 4MRMarket for Mom? Shiny Soap and Fiber will be here with all of their hand made soaps and angora rabbit wool products. Not to mention all of the  mom-friendly health and beauty products from Kalika Natural Beauty.

Also back this weekend is Fluffed Up Desserts, the purveyors of mom-friendly gourmet marshmallow treats, smores, and macarons that anyone is sure to love for a sweet treat!

So come out and grab something high quality and locally made from one of our great producers!

As always, pick up local produce from C&T Produce, pasture raised beef and pork from the nearby Shenandoah from Stifler Farms, artisan made cheese from Tom's Amish Cheese, and or a variety of other goodies!

Here is our list of vendors this week:
  • C &T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia.
  • The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" - Farm-raised Black Angus beef, humanely raised on lush pasture fields of the Shenandoah Valley, naturally farmed pork...and now... Uncle Frank's Grilling Sauce!!
  • Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.
  • Fluffed Up Desserts - (Alexandria) - Gourmet Marshmallow treats and macarons.
  • St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and always a few extra goodies!
Here is our list of craft and beauty product vendors for this Sunday!
  • Shiny Soap and Fiber - (Hollywood, MD) - Crafty Shiny whips up hand made bathes of goats milk soap, hand milled soaps, herbal soaps, knitted items from Angora rabbit fur, and even soap dishes!
  • Kalika Beauty (Centreville, VA) - A naturally effective, eco-friendly, line of handmade bath and body skin care goodies. Her products are made with bio-dynamic, natural botanical active ingredients.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt
BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at the market.  You can pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).

DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MRPark. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund to fund tree and other amenities at 4MRExpand More information here.

HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4MRMarket@arlandria.org for more info.

READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter or via our website and blog.

SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program again this year that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. And C&T Produce now accepts SFMNP vouchers!
__________________________________
Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.


4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from April 14th until November in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/
On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket
On Twitter: @4MRMarket
Contact us at: 4MRMarket@arlandria.org
Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Spring for Four Mile Run Park

On Friday, May 3rd as part of the Spring for Alexandria 6th Annual Community Service Day, a few staff members from the City's Department of Planning & Zoning and Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities volunteered a few hours to help beautify the plaza at the Four Mile Run Park Expansion. Reusing old troughs that had been reclaimed from a previous projects, the volunteers filled the repurposed planters with new plants, herbs and flowers.

Spring for Alexandria is an event sponsored by Volunteer Alexandria, whose mission to build a better community by inspiring people to volunteer, matching volunteers to opportunities.

Conceptual view of 4MR Expand 
from Four Mile Run Restoration Plan

The volunteer effort is a continuation of a series of private initiatives to revive, restore and expand this public space. Recently, trees were planted as part of the Four Mile Run Park Expansion (4MR Expand), a project that has been a decade in the works. Originally conceived as part of the 2003 Arlandria Plan, 4MR Expand was incorporated into the Four Mile Run Restoration Plan adopted in 2005. Four parcels were acquired in 2007 with Alexandria City Open Space funds but sat idle for a number of years due to lack of money for planning and implementation. A group of architects, known as Architects Anonymous, banded together to create a workable plan for the site that could rolled out over time making the best use of contributions from grants and the community. The non-profit Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market adopted the site as the site for a farmers' market and provide maintenance and financial contributions to further the project. Architects Anonymous contributed additional plans to re-purpose the former paint store at 4MR Expand and to prevent its demolition. 

The Arlandria Plan Implementation Group supported the project by requesting that the City direct some funds that would have otherwise be lost to help complete the community's vision. Since then, 4MRMarket has solicited private contributions to enhance the site and the City's Parks department has coupled those funds with grants that they've solicited to create a venue to showcase the arts and environmental best practice. To date these include: a performance stage, permeable pavers and rain gardens to collect stormwater run-off. Rain gardens to collect additional stormwater run-off and arts grants are still pending.



 
 
 
 

Monday, May 06, 2013

Delivery vehicles take detour through neighborhood; leave destruction in path


Damage to the pedestrian signal at
Four Mile Road and Mt Vernon Avenue.
On this past Wednesday, May 1st at approximately 9:15pm witnesses saw a tractor trailer belonging to Papa John's Pizza cutting through Arlandria's residential neighborhoods heading south/southwest on Elbert Avenue.

On Thursday morning, residents found damage to a pedestrian signal pole and nearby tree at the end of Elbert, on the Northwest corner of Mt Vernon Avenue and Four Mile Road. The damage to the tree was so high up that it could only have been done by a vehicle of that size going in that direction from the local Papa Johns store at 4106 Mt Vernon Avenue. Papa Johns has been contacted about the incident but no comment was made available.

Neighborhood residents often see pizza delivery vehicles on neighborhood residential streets despite a decade plus prohibition embedded in Papa John's 1999 Special Use Permit. The condition says that all deliveries should be made via Mt Vernon Avenue, a condition that is constantly violated as delivery vehicles cut-through to other neighborhoods.

The pedestrian cross signal stood dangling and broken from its bolts throughout the weekend but was removed early Monday morning. The cross signal activator had only been repaired recently after having been non-functional throughout most of last year despite repeated requests for repair.

The intersection of Four Mile Road and Mt Vernon Avenue has bee listed as one of the most dangerous for pedestrians throughout the City and was the scene of a crash that sent one pedestrian to the hospital last month while traffic and bus service was halted on Mt Vernon Avenue throughout the morning rush hour.

City staff say that are evaluating pedestrian upgrades to the make the intersection safer but funding for the City's Complete Street program depends on the outcome of the City Council budget talks later tonight. A pilot project has been instituted in the meantime in response to residents of Howell and Custis Avenues. The funding for that pilot program comes from developer contributions for the IDA building on East Glebe Road.

Damage to the tree on Four Mile Road.
Previous related stories from The Arlandrian:




Assault Leaves Two Men Injured and Hospitalized; Response Shuts Down Neighborhood.

The Washington Post is reporting that a suspect has been apprehended in relation to the assault that sent two men to the hospital this past Friday night around 6pm on the 500 block of Four Mile Road.

While the Alexandria Police are yet unable to describe the nature of the injuries inflicted, the incident caused severe disruptions throughout the neighborhood. Sirens of emergency vehicles were heard beginning at 5:45 and Four Mile Road remained closed for over an hour later. The residents of several apartment buildings were prevented from entering or leaving their apartments for quite a while, with 519 Four Mile on complete lockdown. Criminal investigation officers were on the scene collecting evidence and taking pictures. The Del Ray Patch was on the scene and has more photos of the response.

While the official report says police officers found the injured individuals inside of a parked van, conflicting stories from eye witnesses to the event report that the men were seen bleeding on the ground when bystanders first called 911. Other reports described the injuries as either gun shot or stab wounds. APD says they are still trying to sort out the exact cause.

Recent reports suggest other similar nearby incidents. On CrimeReports.org, APD reports an altercation between soccer players and "a group of teenagers" the prior week on the 3900 block of Old Dominion Boulevard. And earlier in the week there was a report of a stabbing on the 3800 block of Mt Vernon Avenue. However, crime statistics show a sharp decrease in neighborhood crime where gang graffiti once covered many nearby buildings and aggravated assaults constituted 1/4 of all such incidents city-wide. Murders, once commonplace, occurring multiple times each year, have become a rare occurrence dropping to less than that per decade. Still, criminal activity still lingers with the FBI and Justice Department having unraveled an extensive sex trafficking enterprise that had been active in Arlandria and elsewhere (Pimps hit social networks to recruit underage sex workers, CNN).
.

Repeated Vandalism of Bus Shelter Prompts Redesign

Cracked bus shelter panel.
Poor design of Alexandria's new standard bus shelters has been faulted in the repeated vandalism of the first of the stops introduced as part of multi-year effort.

Yesterday, for the 4th or 5th time (frankly, we've lost count), since it was installed last year, vandals destroyed three of the glass panels that encompass the back of the new bus shelter on Mt Vernon Avenue at West Reed Avenue. The Arlandrian has documented (and reported to authorities) as this damage was repeatedly visited upon the bus stop. This latest incident, however, had thankfully resulted in the arrest of the individual (or indviduals).

This bus shelter was the first of new style of bus stop to be rolled out throughout Alexandria as part of an ambitious project over the next few year. The City had recently installed four new bus shelters as part of Alexandria’s Transportation & Environmental Services Department’s bus shelter replacement project. New bus shelters were installed at Mt Vernon Ave and Reed Ave, Duke Street at West Taylor Run Parkway, 301 N Beauregard Street, and 301 N Ripley Street.  While not all features were installed at this new stop, the new bus shelter designs feature following amenities including a modern design, ADA accessibility, bench seating with backrest, ability to display real time transit information on LED screens, solar or electric illumination and the ability to display bus maps and way-finding information

Over the next three years, the City plans to relace over 40 Metrobus shelters and bus shelter concrete pads which were installed in the 1970s through grants provided by the Federal Highway Administration. Click here to view the City’s new bus shelter design and here for a map of a Metrobus shelter replacement location map.

In a memo to Alexandria City Council Plan director last month, Farrol Hamer described how the repeated vandalism has resulted in the a redesign of the shelters and a delay in replacement plan:

The City standard shelter is currently in the process of being redesigned after various issues with vandalism at the four initial locations. Studio 39 is the design consultant who is working on completing the redesign. Studio 39 has provided 90% drawings to City staff and will provide 95% drawings to City staff in the coming weeks. Studio 39 hopes to complete the redesign project by the middle to end of April 2013. This has delayed the Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the bus shelter installs City wide.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will need to approve the ITB before the City issues it (VDOT has a 90 day review process).The shelters at Mt. Vernon Avenue /Executive Avenue will be one of the first three locations which will be replaced once a vendor is selected through the ITB. If Studio 39 can provide the City with the 100% final design by the end of April 2013 and if the City can send the ITB to VDOT in May 2013, the ITB could be out for bid in September 2013. 

Previous related stories from The Arlandrian: