Open Space Master Plan

In cooperation with the Park and Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission, the Environmental Policy Commission and in conjunction with an extensive community process, Alexandria City Council approved a comprehensive open space master plan this year. This plan establishes a framework for addressing Alexandria's short- and long-term open space needs. It defines an approach that maximizes the City's limited open space opportunities by creating a system that builds upon the City's dense, urban conditions. It acknowledges the need to protect existing open spaces and identifies additional open space opportunities for the future.

Open Space from Dedicated Funding

As a follow up to the approved Open Space Master Plan, the City Council voted to dedicate the revenues derived from one cent of the City's real estate tax rate to the acquisition of open space beginning with the 2003 real estate taxes. This action will raise about $2 million per year and will provide the City significant funds to acquire additional open space.

Traffic Calming

During FY 2003, the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program implemented two traffic calming projects and assisted communities with an additional 12 projects, which are in various stages of development. The revised Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program Guide, which explains the process for citizens who wish to obtain traffic calming on neighborhood streets, was released, as well as the Program's web site, www.AlexTrafficCalming.org." The Traffic and Parking Board acted on eight applications for traffic calming projects. Some notable projects built during FY 2003 were on North Morgan Street and West Taylor Run Parkway. Traffic calming projects throughout the City have been effective with an average drop in 85th percentile speeds of approximately 8 mph when raised measures, such as speed cushions and speed tables, are included.

Woodrow Wilson Bridge Neighborhood Task Force

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Task Force continued its efforts to serve as a check on Bridge construction activity and help ease the impacts of this major roadway construction on Alexandria's neighborhoods. The Task Force, which has eight citizen members representing civic associations, is co-chaired by Mayor William Euille and Councilman Andrew Macdonald. The group, which meets monthly, has been instrumental in getting concessions for Alexandria citizens such as noise mitigation, haul route restrictions and work hour limitations that reduce the inconvenience and discomfort that nearby residents must endure.

Skateboard Park

Alexandria's first skateboard park, located at Luckett Field, was constructed in 2003. This successful initiative was a collaborative effort involving the City, many youth, and a group of private citizens who provided over $44,000 in contributions. Total project cost was approximately $400,000.

Essex House

Declining conditions at Essex House, a private high-rise apartment complex in Alexandria's West End, caused the City to form a task force to review conditions at Essex House and make recommendations to the City Manager. The Task Force included staff from six City departments, Alexandria City Public Schools, Winn Residential Company (property management company for Essex House), Homes for America (non-profit owners of Essex House), Alexandria Library, and the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority. The Task Force met monthly for six months and now meets on a quarterly basis.

The Office on Women's Domestic Violence Program opened up a satellite location in conjunction with the Alexandria Police Department at Essex House, primarily due to two domestic homicides and an escalating number of calls for service that were related to domestic violence. This community outreach office provides resource referrals, crisis counseling, safety planning, school supplies for children, cell phones for victims in danger, clothing and overall support for those in crisis. The office coordinated anti-domestic violence community events, developed a residents advisory board, and coordinated three community resource fairs to bring community resources into Essex House so that residents could become familiar with agencies that could assist them.

Conditions at Essex House have continued to improve. In August 2002, the occupancy rate at Essex House was 72%; in February 2003, the occupancy rate was 93%. Calls for service to the Alexandria Police Department for Essex House declined by over 20% in calendar year (CY) 2002 from CY 2001; in CY 2002, there were 343 calls for service, down from 434 calls in CY 2001.

Backflow Preventer Program

In order to address citizen needs relating to an aging public sanitary system, the City implemented the Backflow Preventer Program. The program addresses citizen needs arising during intense storms and periods of high groundwater, which can cause sewage to back up into residences and businesses.

The City is working on a Capital Improvement Program project to correct these problems in the Four Mile Run and Commonwealth sanitary sewer service areas. This project includes evaluation, design of needed repairs to sanitary sewers and manholes, and construction of these repairs.

The first phase of the project involves the Four Mile Run sanitary sewer area, to be followed by the Commonwealth area. Repair and rehabilitation work will consist of relining and replacing sanitary sewers in public rights-of-way that have been identified as damaged. The work will also include repairing leaking manholes and replacing manhole covers that now allow storm water run-off to leak into the sewers. Design is underway, and work in the Four Mile Run service area is expected to begin in the winter/spring of 2004 and to finish in spring of 2005. Work in the Commonwealth area is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2004 and to finish in the summer of 2005.

Hunting Towers and Hunting Terrace

The City worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to cap and reduce rents at Hunting Towers and Hunting Terrace. These two apartment complexes, which are owned by VDOT and are located on South Washington Street at the base of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, have been significantly impacted by the bridge construction. These actions reversed rent increases implemented after VDOT purchased the property in November 2001.

Arlandria Neighborhood Planning Process

In this process, the City brought Arlandria's business and residential communities together to identify shared goals, values and expectations for the future of the neighborhood. This led to community agreement on the need to enhance its neighborhood retail district by attracting new businesses, a goal to be achieved through zoning incentives, streamlined regulations and expedited development review. In response, a Neighborhood Retail (NR) zoning district was adopted, which eliminates the special use permit hearing process for a number of uses (such as restaurants and live entertainment) desired by the community. Specific standards were developed that allow these uses to be reviewed administratively, thus expediting applications. The NR zone provides flexibility in the application of parking regulations, and encourages small lot infill development.