TLHCA

Meeting to Discuss 5 Story Westover Apt. Buildling – September 28, 2006

Plans for five-story apartment building in Westover continue

Community meeting set for Sept. 28 to discuss impact on area

On Thursday, September 28th at the Swanson Middle School library, at 7:30 the Westover civic association will have a general membership meeting with the main topic being the construction/renovation plans for the Westover apartments. Westover CA has invited members of surrounding civic associations to join them in learning about the changes proposed by AHC, and voicing your concerns and questions. Please consider attending this meeting.

Arlington Housing Corporation (AHC) plans to renovate the Westover Apartments at the corner of Patrick Henry and Washington Blvd. It also plans to remove some existing apartments to construct a 5 story apartment building. The apartments would continue to have a mix of affordable and market rate units. Civic association representatives have met with AHC and have had ongoing discussions with the surrounding civic associations.

It is to the community’s benefit that AHC has shared its plans with the community at a point in the development process where our input can be considered. It is up to us to make sure that our thoughts are heard by AHC as well as the County Board. We are also encouraged that the supply of affordable housing in the Westover area may expand which helps arrest a precipitous decline in Arlington’s affordable housing stock.

There are some issues we need to explore further:

1. There is concern with the size, especially the height, of the proposed new
   building. The proposed 5 story structure will be an imposing presence, especially at the back of the property (16th and Longfellow), but also from the Westover commercial district, and especially during the winter months when tree cover will be minimal. This building size is unprecedented in our immediate area, and causes us great concern. It is inconsistent with the existing neighborhood profile and will materially change the neighborhood’s architectural feel.
2. There would be considerable additional traffic impact on both 16th and Longfellow Streets where the primary access for the new building and it’s parking garage would be sited. These streets are not large avenues, like Patrick Henry or Washington Blvd. They are (particularly Longfellow) relatively narrow streets that can barely carry two lanes of traffic especially with parallel parking.
3. Currently much of the parking is on neighborhood streets. Consideration should be given to providing adequate parking onsite and eliminating the need for off site parking, and certainly not increase parking spillover onto neighborhood streets or the Westover shopping area.
4. The current elementary school population in our area is at or over capacity. APS needs to know about and plan for this additional school population.
5. The lack of a setback for such a large building on Longfellow Street exacerbates
   this concern.