The past month has been full of in-person events--and it has been a joy to see many of you even as we must continue to take care with COVID cases increasing. I will write Thursday or Friday on Roe v. Wade; we must act for choice and I ask you to read my note later this week on it.
The Board meetings focused on the ART Bus facility in the Green Valley/Shirlington area; we considered interim uses for the Quincy property across from Washington and Liberty High School; and we began consideration of the capital/infrastructure investments we will make over the next 10 years, the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
The County released a food security/hunger study, our parks moved from 4th to 3rd place in a national study, we opened two new public spaces in Green Valley (a town square and a park), and the missing middle housing study began to take center stage. I rappelled down a building. Buffalo broke our hearts; we are devastated and somehow must go on.
On May 11th, I was honored join County staff in marking Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, sharing brief remarks, & reading the Board's Proclamation honoring and celebrating our residents.
Board Meetings
Our ART bus system was the focus of the main items on our May agenda. The County currently uses a facility South on I-395 near Landmark Mall to repair and maintain our buses. We must upgrade our facilities to achieve our energy efficiency and renewable energy goals related to transportation. To do so, the Board approved a contract that will include electric bus chargers and solar panels in the space adjacent to I-395 in the Green Valley Civic Association that's close to Shirlington.
The new facility will be modern and environmentally sustainable. We will make the transition from natural gas to electric buses over time, with the end of 2025 the timing for the first significant step toward electric buses via purchase and charging at the new site in Shirlington. Environmental leaders advocated for a fully electric heating and air conditioning system. We did not reach that goal on this project but overall 81% of the facility and buses will be powered by renewable energy so this is a significant step forward.
With Latino Advisory Board this month to listen to this statewide organization and share a few thoughts.
The other issue the Board discussed at our May meetings was the Quincy site near Washington and Liberty High School. This site is necessary because we need temporary space to store buses during construction of the new ART bus facility. The discussion of this was not easy as neighbors spoke with concerns about it. The Board agreed to neighbors' request for a one year review and discussed the importance of long-term planning, after noting sound mitigation steps proposed by staff. We chose to move forward due to the urgency of the need and the end to our lease near the Landmark Mall. The mitigating steps, temporary nature of the use, and realities of the short-time we have for a county-wide facility were all factors in my vote.
I joined Beth and Mike McGinn to run/walk the Fairlington 5K. The cause raised funding to help find a cure for Ellie McGinn's rare disease. Go here to learn more: https://acureforellie.org/
The Capital Improvement Plan
At our recessed meeting, the County Manager presented his proposed plan to invest in the infrastructure and physical facilities necessary for Arlington to be well maintained and ready for the future. The plan will be considered over the next eight weeks and, eventually, will lead to the bonds that the County puts before the voters in November, which will include funding for the additional high school seats that Arlington Public Schools and the community needs to serve all students. Climate, biking infrastructure, and pedestrian safety via Vision Zero will all be among my priorities.
The Food Security Task Force continues to work away and the Urban Institute's report was made public earlier this month. Here's the report and a study: https://www.arlingtonva.us/About-Arlington/News/Articles/2022/Urban-Institute-Completes-Arlington-Food-Security-and-Access-Study We are now set to work on the report and take action by the end of the year. Big picture: we have work to do with food prices increasing.
Dr. Alfred Taylor, the long time prior leader of the Green Valley Civic Association, speaks to the crowd gathered for the opening of Jennie Dean Park.
Parks Across the County and in Green Valley
Arlington was recognized for our parks this past month and took two important steps to invest in our community's enjoyment. We moved from 4th nationally to 3rd nationally in our rankings on parks: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAARLINGTON/bulletins/3164967 We also opened the John Robinson Junior Town Square in Green Valley ( https://www.arlnow.com/2022/04/29/green-valleys-new-town-square-is-finally-opening-next-weekend/ ) and reopened Jennie Dean Park. https://www.arlnow.com/2022/05/20/jennie-dean-park-reopening-this-weekend-with-motorcycle-parade-baseball-history-celebration/ Both were wonderful milestones in our efforts to serve Green Valley and the county as a whole. Dr. Taylor's remarks on the history of Jennie Dean and the history of success overcoming barriers by Black Arlingtonians were inspiring. He is pictured above.
I participated in Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20th. Such a great way to get around and stay healthy!
Missing Middle Begins to Take Center Stage
Late April and early May marked the beginning of the next phase of the missing middle housing work. County staff has put a draft framework that is the first somewhat specific draft of a policy we will be considering over the coming months. To see that framework, go here for the 32 slides: https://www.arlingtonva.us/files/sharedassets/public/housing/documents/missing-middle/mmhs-phase-2-public-presentation_05.02.pdf I've also included a video below and a one page graphic that tries to capture the thinking behind the current draft.
Watch this 19 minute video to understand where we are on Missing Middle.
Missing middle is in draft form--I want you to understand about the details of the process and the initial parts to the proposal. The Civic Federation has raised concerns about process asking for an extension in initial consideration of this draft framework beyond May 27th. The Board has agreed to further consideration. The Board and I are ready to listen and engage on this. My inclination, to be fair, is that allowing at least duplexes seems like the best way to allow for housing types that will make homeownership and, to a lesser extent, rental units more affordable. I want to learn more about and engage on how this would apply to smaller and larger lots and exactly how transportation would work best. My mind is not set in stone, but the status quo does not work as well as it could for affordability now and, without action, the problem appears likely to worsen over time.
Graphic of the draft Framework. Learn more/see a larger version of this via the Analysis... bolded in blue: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Housing/Housing-Arlington/Tools/Missing-Middle
The draft framework proposes to allow up to 8 units for single family homes, in large single family lots. I will need to study the specific concerns more: parking, traffic, trees, schools, and stormwater, among others. There are preliminary analyses that address each issue, but much more engagement is needed. We will be considering these questions over the coming months deep into the Fall. To be clear, single family homeowners would be able to keep their own homes as is. Only at sale would this option be allowed if an owner wanted this type of change. As a result, it is estimated that about 20 single family homes would be converted per year. More tear downs happen each year in our County already. To be clear, more than 20 new lots per year would be allowed by right to change to units, but the estimate is a fair one. I believe this proposal would bring about gradual change, though I understand and respect the concerns many have shared.
Bringing Attention to Homelessness
I rappelled down a 14 story building to bring attention to homelessness in Arlington and Northern Virginia. It was safe. I was honored to do it for the cause, but I am also happy it is done :)
Looking a little nervous before rappelling 14 stories to help raise awareness and funds to address homelessness via a nonprofit New Hope Housing that works in Arlington. https://www.newhopehousing.org/
Buffalo
I am devastated by the lives lost in Buffalo. Most of you know I am in favor of strong steps on common sense gun safety. This tragedy reinforces the urgency surrounding this critical issue. The other searing truth that we must say plainly and loudly is that white supremacy and anti-black racism are active threats. That point is terrifying for us all, but especially for Black men and women. Three articles particularly speak to my thinking on this issue:
Eugene Robinson on replacement theory and white supremacy:
This tragedy has caused so much fear and anxiety. All of us must heed the truth that we are working through an extremely difficult time. We must care for each other and we must stand as allies with and for our Black sisters, brothers, neighbors, and friends.
Thank you for seeking for commitment, thoughts, and support as we work to stand as we must and make Arlington an even better, more just place.
