TO: Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) FROM: - - PDF document

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Park Development Division 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 414, Arlington, VA 22201

TEL 703.228.3322 FAX 703.228.3328 www.arlingtonva.us

TO: Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) FROM: Lida Aljabar, DPR DATE: June 13, 2014 SUBJECT: Park at 14th Street N. and N. Rhodes Street Dear members of the HALRB, I am writing to engage the Historic Affairs and Landmark Review Board in the naming of a new public park in the Fort Myer Heights North area. Arlington County will gain an approximately 8,000 square foot park at the intersection of 14th Street N. and N. Rhodes Street. The park will be developed as part of the Gables N. Rolfe Street site plan (SP #432). The Department of Parks and Recreation has spearheaded the planning and naming process for this public park. Recently, the Radnor Fort Myer Heights Civic Association (RAFOM) officially recommended the name “Three Oaks Park,” in reference to the three significant oak trees that will be preserved on the park site. Additionally, interest in the inclusion of an historic marker at the park site was expressed during the park planning. Attached for your convenience is a copy of the County's Park Naming policy, map showing the location of the park, a copy of the in-progress park and site plan concepts, and a statement of justification by the RAFOM Civic Association. In the following is a brief overview of the current proposal. Context Located in the Fort Meyer Heights neighborhood, the entire site for redevelopment is bounded by 14th Street N. to the north, N. Rhodes Street to the east, Fairfax Drive to the south and N. Rolfe Street to the west. LG Rolfe Street, LLC (the “Applicant”) proposes to redevelop the 2.17-acre site with three buildings: two residential buildings (approximately 386,521 square feet) that provides 395 housing units, and a County transitional living facility with 14 housing units (approximately 16,500 square feet), in addition to a public

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Park Development Division 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 414, Arlington, VA 22201

TEL 703.228.3322 FAX 703.228.3328 www.arlingtonva.us

• park. The site for the proposed public park at the corner of 14th Street N. and N. Rhodes

Street is noted in the Fort Myer Heights North Plan for significant trees worth preserving and its potential, once improved, to serve as a prominent gateway to the community. The Fort Myer Heights North Plan also speaks to the historic development of the neighborhood, characterized by garden apartments. The plan also identified several significant historic buildings in Fort Meyer Heights North, none of which are located on the Gables N. Rolfe Street site. The park planning public process began with a community open house and meeting on April 9th, 2014 and was followed by further collection of public input via an

• nline survey for a period of two weeks between April 30th and May 14th. The current

concept, provided as an attachment, includes pedestrian paths and boardwalk, a variety

• f seating, a children’s play feature and picnic tables. Other elements currently in the

concept that are unique to this site include an educational “tree timeline” to feature the significant trees that will not be preserved in this development, repurposing of these trees in the bench materials, and incorporation of a signage or gateway element in the seat wall that wraps the northern corner at 14th Street N. and N. Rhodes Street. For more information, please visit the County website: www.arlingtonva.us search “Gables

• N. Rolfe.”

We would be grateful to the HALRB for consideration of the proposed name, “Three Oaks Park,” or suggestion of an alternative name that also references the geographical, historical or ecological relationships of the site. The preference of your Board will be considered in the Park and Recreation Commission’s recommendation for park name to the County Board. The Park and Recreation Commission plans to address this item at its July 21 meeting. We would also appreciate the consideration of the appropriateness of a historic marker on the site, as well as its potential content and form. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Lida Aljabar Department of Parks and Recreation 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Ste. 414 Arlington, Virginia 22201 maljabar@arlingtonva.us

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Park Development Division 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 414, Arlington, VA 22201

TEL 703.228.3322 FAX 703.228.3328 www.arlingtonva.us

(703) 228-3336

ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICY FOR NAMING AND RENAMING OF COUNTY FACILITIES AND PARKS

Adopted by the Arlington County Board July 10, 1999 I. Criteria for Naming County Facilities: County facilities, including buildings and parks, shall generally be named according to the geographical, historical, or ecological relationships in which the site is located. Exceptions may be made in the following circumstances: A) To Commemorate an Individual’s Service: Facilities may be named after an individual who made significant contributions to Arlington County through participation in community, state, or national service. A facility can be so named five years or more after the individual is deceased. B) To recognize a Significant Contribution to a Facility: In selected instances, a county facility may be named after a business/individual/organization that makes a unique and extraordinary financial or other contribution to the development and/or usage of the facility being named. The merits and value

• f each such naming shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. It should not

be assumed that a financial contribution guarantees that a facility is named after the business/individual/organization. C) To help Identify the Facilities Purpose/Usage: A name may be assigned to a county facility if it helps to describe and identify the usage or purpose of the facility. D) To Identify the Facility with a Specific School: Facilities developed on a school site may be named according to the name of the school. II. Renaming County Facilities: Renaming a county facility can occur if: A) The above-stated criteria are met; B) A valid justification for renaming the facility is provided; C) Changing the name will not cause undue confusion within the community; and D) An appropriate level of community support exists. III.

Process for Naming County Facilities: A) The Park and Recreation Commission shall make recommendations to the County Board concerning the naming or renaming of parks, recreation, conservation, and public open space areas and related facilities. The Commission will seek comment from the following organizations when considering a facility naming or renaming request: Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board, Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee and the appropriate neighborhood civic association(s). The Park and Recreation Commission will synthesize the comments received and make a recommendation to the County Board. The County Manager will also present a recommendation to the County Board. B) The Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board shall make recommendations to the County Board concerning the naming or renaming of County buildings and facilities not mentioned in III.A. A consultation and recommendation process similar to that described in III.A. shall be followed in the naming or renaming of non-park or recreation-related facilities. grandle: approved naming policy

GABLES NORTH ROLFE

Parker Rodriguez, Inc.

06.04.2014 SCALE: 1” = 20’-0”

N

ILLUSTRATIVE SITE PLAN WITH PARK

GABLES NORTH ROLFE

Parker Rodriguez, Inc.

06.04.2014 SCALE: 1” = 10’-0”

N

PARK CONCEPT PLAN AND IMAGERY

14TH STREET NORTH N OR TH RHOD ES ST REET

TREE PRESERVATION AREA OPEN GREEN SPACE TREE TIMELINE CAFE TABLES PLAY AREA SEAT WALL NATURALIZED PLANTINGS TRASH AND DOG STATION BOARDWALK STAIRS ANIMAL PLAY FEATURES STEPPING STONE PATH CUSTOM BENCH BENCHES TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM

CUSTOM BENCHES NATURALIZED PLANTING NATURAL PLAY ELEMENT NATURE PATH W/ FEATURES CUVED SEAT WALL TREE TIMELINE STONE PATH / NATURAL PLAY BOARDWALK WITH BENCHES

RAFOM Civic Association Park Name Suggestion Statement of Justification June 16, 2014 ______________________________________________________________________________

• Ms. Lida Aljabar, Planner:

Radnor/Fort Myer Heights Civic Association (RAFOM) is pleased to have the opportunity to suggest a name for the new park to be created as part of the 'Gables Rolfe Street' development. Trees are important to people's quality of life and well-being. Therefore the RAFOM community advocated for "preservation of tree cover and significant trees" as two of the guiding principles in the Fort Myer Heights North Plan (FMHNP). Before adoption of FMHNP there had already been considerable tree loss, and the area continues to lose tree canopy (including one

• f the 19 significant trees listed in the Plan). Currently, four other listed significant trees are now

in poor to very poor health, and several more are slated to be removed as part of planned redevelopment projects (Gables Rolfe St (1 tree), Pierce-Queen (1 or 2 trees), Wakefield Manor (1 tree)). So today, of the original 19 trees listed in the 2008 Plan, no more than 10 or 11 healthy significant trees are to remain in the Fort Myer Heights North area. I mention all of the above to note that this park will contain three of those remaining healthy significant trees. Naming the park "Three Oaks Park" would help to highlight and underline the importance of these trees to the RAFOM community, and raise awareness of these issues. County staff has done an excellent job creating a design which will protect the trees to the greatest extent practical, while also incorporating compatible play elements, seating, boardwalk areas and other amenities for the public's enjoyment. Choice and placement of the amenities and every step of the construction process is mindful of the trees' health and protection. The consideration given the trees in the development process is another rationale for naming the park "Three Oaks". RAFOM citizens value trees, tree canopy and open space today more than ever. Thank you for considering our suggestion. Stan Karson, President RAFOM Civic Association