Barcroft Neighborhood Conservation Plan
Beautification
Arlington Hall
There is ugly barbed wire and high chain link fencing on the Arlington Hall property along South George Mason Drive. The State Department and National Guard have promised that the fences will be removed or replaced with more attractive landscaping. A County ordinance pro hibits barbed wire in Arlington. Further, Arlington's Master Transportation Plan envisages a parkway-like treatment of South George Mason Drive in this section, which clearly is not possible with high chain link fences. Barcroft residents would like further assurances that the barbed wire and chain link fencing will be removed as soon as possible.
Recommendation #33
Arlington Hall Streetscape
The County should negotiate with the Federal Government agencies occupying the Arlington Hall site for the immediate removal of the barbed wire from the Arlington Hall fences along South George Mason Drive, as well as landscaping to be incorporated in the new building plans to achieve the parkway effect called for in the Master Transportation Plan.
Columbia Pike
The County property at Four Mile Run and Columbia Pike is an eyesore and is badly in need of landscaping. The practice of letting weeds and brush grow on the site wastes a prime opportunity for beautification of the Pike. Formal landscaping of this spot would emphasize the crossing of the W&OD Trail and Four Mile Run Park, the County's most popular recreational asset. It would help to inhibit deposition of trash and debris, which have been a constant problem in that area. It also could provide a much more appropriate site for the Barcroft and Arlington Mill historical markers, which currently are located on the south side of the Pike where they are seldom seen or read.
Barcroft residents generally approve of the County's streetscape improvements on Columbia Pike in the area originally defined in the draft Columbia Pike Revitalization Plan. The Pike could be beautified and tied together by extending improved streetscape treatment westward through Barcroft to the County line.
Recommendation #34
Columbia Pike Improvements
A. The County should develop a landscaping plan for the entrance to Glencarlyn Park on the north side of Columbia Pike, including appropriate shrubbery to replace the weeds now growing there, relocating or screening the paper recycling bin, and relocating the Barcroft and Arlington Mill historical markers, now placed south of the Pike, if historically appropriate.
B. The County should extend the streetscape treatment on Columbia Pike, including wider curb lanes and sidewalks, from Walter Reed Drive westward to the County line.
Landscaping
Two places on Barcroft streets needed new landscaping when we began work on this Plan. One of them already has been landscaped and is being beautifully maintained by a cooperative effort of the residents at the intersection of South Abingdon Street and the Arlington Boulevard Service Road. The second location is at the intersection of South Pershing Drive, 3rd Street South and South Wakefield Street.
Most of Barcroft's other landscaping problems involve excessive brush or shrubbery, primarily at intersections. The BSCL periodically reminds residents of this problem in the Barcroft News, but questionnaire responses indicated that sidewalks or driver sightlines often are blocked by vegetation at 72 locations throughout the neighborhood. These are marked on Map #4, although they do change over time.
In the past, tall grass on the median strip between Arlington Boulevard and the Access Road has prevented eastbound drivers on the Access Road trying to reach South George Mason Drive from seeing traffic exiting from Arlington Boulevard. In 1989 the State improved its maintenance of this median strip.
Recommendation #35
Landscaping on Streets
A. The County should landscape the raised island in the intersection of South Pershing Drive, South Wakefield Street and 3rd Street South, in cooperation with the Beautification Committee of the Parks and Recreation Commission.
B. The County should enforce its shrubbery trimming regulations in Barcroft.
C. The County should inform State road crews when trimming along Arlington Boulevard is neglected.
Erosion Control
On the north side of Columbia Pike, between South Taylor Street and South George Mason Drive, a steep embankment erodes constantly, dumping mud onto the sidewalk below. Senior citizens living in the three apartment buildings to the west must cross this area to reach the shopping center at South George Mason Drive and Columbia Pike, and have complained that the mud is a hazard for them.
Recommendation #36
Erosion Control
The County should provide erosion control for the embankment along Columbia Pike between South Taylor Street and South George Mason Drive.
Utility Lines
Barcroft has above-ground utility lines supported by an extensive network of unsightly poles located between sidewalk and curb. The neighborhood would prefer underground utilities, but understands that this change would be very expensive. Should new technology lower the cost of moving utilities underground in the future we would support the change. Removing the utility lines and poles would contribute more to Barcroft's streetscape than any other single improvement.
Recommendation #37
Undergrounding of Utilities
The County, Virginia Power and C&P Telephone should continue to investigate ways of lowering the cost of placing utilities underground, and move Barcroft's utility lines underground as soon as it becomes economically feasible.
Neighborhood Identity Signs
Barcroft residents are justifiably proud of their neighborhood and are interested in defining the identity of the community in which they live. "Barcroft" signs at entrances to the neighborhood would help others identify our commuity.
Recommendation #38
Barcroft Neighborhood Signs
The County should erect Barcroft neighborhood signs at South Abingdon Street at Arlington Boulevard, and at 8th Street South at South George Mason Drive. If an appropriate design for a sign not requiring a large site is developed for County use, the neighborhood may consider recommending they be placed on South Taylor, South Wakefield and South Buchanan Streets at 9th Street South. A Barcroft School and Civic League Sign Committee will choose appropriate designs.
Tree Ordinance
Barcroft residents place a high value on the mature trees which help to give the neighborhood charm and natural beauty. Destruction of mature trees by builders has been a problem in past years in Barcroft. Despite concerted efforts, the neighborhood feels that existing regulations do not give Arlington County the ability to effectively defend even the most exceptional trees. Barcroft now has the County's survey of trees on public rightsof-way as a basis for eventually producing a neighborhood tree survey.
Recommendation #39
Tree Protection
A. The County should adopt a tree ordinance protecting mature trees when new construction is undertaken. The ordinance should not, however, restrict the right of the owner of an existing private home to take any desired action regarding trees on private property.
B. The neighborhood supports the County's adoption of an Urban Forestry Program to protect and nurture the County's trees.
This page was revised on: August 28, 2004.
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