FRIENDS OF MONTGOMERY PARK BEGIN FUNDRAISING
The Old Town North Community Partnership has set up a bank account in the name of “Friends of Montgomery Park” to collect donations for improvements to Montgomery Park. Contributions have already been received at the kick off celebration for the park improvements, held in conjunction with the “Taste of Old Town North” event on May 19 in the park. We again want to thank all the restaurants and volunteers that helped make this event a fun one for our entire Old Town North community. More than 500 people came to sample the goodies and hear a concert by Stephen Samuel sponsored by Alexandria’s Department of Recreation and Parks.
A brochure describing the planned Montgomery Park improvements is available from OTNCP at 300 Montgomery Street, Suite 200 or by calling 703-836-8066.
SUMMER CONCERTS AND EVENTS PLANNED FOR OLD TOWN NORTH
The City of Alexandria will hold its Birthday Celebration on July 9 from 6 to 10:30pm, also in Oronoco Bay Park (rain date, Sunday, July 10).
MetroStage’s final production of this season is “The Last Five Years”, June 15-July 24. This is a contemporary musical telling a bittersweet love story about a successful novelist and a struggling actress, with songs written by one of the rising young stars in the musical theater today. Metro Stage is at 1201 N. Royal Street. Tickets are $32 to $38 and may be obtained by calling 1-800-494-8497 or going to www.boxofficetickets.com.
WMATA EVALUATING PROPOSALS FOR BUS BARN ON ROYAL STREET
WMATA’s solicitation for developers for our Royal Street Bus Barn resulted in “multiple submissions”, according to a Metro spokesperson. The proposals are being evaluated, and no further information has been released. The City’s Planning Department conducted a neighborhood meeting in April to discuss the site, and is the local coordinating agency for the project. Any development proposal selected by Metro will still be subject to the City’s planning and zoning process.
Additional information is available from Metro’s web site, www.wmata.com, the City’s Planning Department at 703-838-4666, or WMATA’s Elisa Hill at 202-962-1593.
CITY JOINS IN POWER PLANT SUIT
In a motion to intervene filed on May 11, the City formally joined the US Environmental Protection Agency, Maryland, and Virginia in charging the Mirant Power Plant with Clean Air Act violations at the Potomac River Generating Station. According to Mayor Euille, this will allow the City the opportunity to advocate on behalf of City residents. In related action, a group of citizens organized a Clean Air Rally on June 11 at Market Square.
PLANNING BEGINS FOR TRANSIT ALONG POTOMAC YARD CORRIDOR
The City of Alexandria and Arlington County sponsored workshops in early June to get public input on transit needs along Route 1, Crystal City, and Potomac Yard. New rail and Bus Rapid Transit stations may be considered as part of the plan to meet the need for public transportation for new residents of Crystal City and Potomac Yard. Although this corridor is outside of Old Town North, it affects many of us who already find it difficult to use Route 1 during rush hours and on weekend afternoons. More information is available from Ms. Tanya Husick, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, 3900 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA 22303 or on the Citizen Information Line at 703-300-3981.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has another planning effort underway. More at www.transaction2030.com.
BRADDOCK ROAD METRO AREA PLANNING STUDY INITIATED
Alexandria’s Planning Department invites the public to a series of workshops being held as part of the process to update the Braddock Road Area Plan. The first will take place on Monday, June 20 at 6:30 pm, and the second on June 23, both at Jefferson Houston School, 1501 Cameron Street. The Braddock Road area is likely to experience several redevelopment projects in the next few years. The objective of the plan is to provide guidelines in the areas of open space, transition between new uses and existing uses, provision of retail amenities, traffic management, and parking. For additional information, contact Kimberley Fogle at the Department of Planning and Zoning, 703-838-4666. Old Town Northers who use the Metro or drive on Route 1 might like to be involved in the planning process.
MORE NEWS YOU CAN USE
- Alexandria is a finalist in the prestigious All-America City Award program. Ten winners will be selected on June 25.
- The Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities has dedicated a new bench and plaque in Oronoco Bay Park on May 21 memorializing the contributions of six deceased commission members.
- The Ultimate Salon at 826 N. Fairfax Street is now New York Beauty Salon. They are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 7pm, and Saturday from 9am to 6pm. Their services include manicure, pedicure, body waxing, and hair treatments.
- The ExxonMobil station at 701 N. Washington Street has received a Special Use Permit to continue operations. The Zoning Ordinance passed in 1992 required that the nonconforming use cease operations by July 2005 unless it could obtain a special use permit. The purpose of the Special Use Permit is to allow the City to regulate the use for public health, safety, and welfare purposes, including such items as regulating hours of operation, use of hazardous materials, and trash removal.
OTNCP OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
President: Agnes Artemel
VP and Treasurer: Bruce Machanic
Secretary: Marian Clarke
Directors: Pat Hall, Marty Meisel, Peter Ramsberger, Bill Reagan, Mike Willsey, Dick Wyler (retiring)
Old Town North is the neighborhood of Alexandria that is north of Oronoco Street to the northern edge of the City, and east of Washington Street to the Potomac River. All residents, business owners, and employees within these boundaries are invited to be members of the Old Town North Community Partnership.
A FEW REQUESTS OF OUR READERS
If your homeowners’ association has a web site, please send us the address so that we may provide a link on our web site. Similarly, businesses within our boundaries are encouraged to provide their web site addresses; a special location for links will be provided.
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SIGN UP FOR OLD TOWN NORTH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP MAILING LIST
Please send an email with your contact info@oldtownnorth.org. Or complete and mail the form below to Old Town North Community Partnership, c/o Montgomery Center, 300 Montgomery Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.