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Category: Arlington History

Arlington Bookshelf:
An Incredible Look at Columbia Pike

Arlington Bookshelf:
An Incredible Look at Columbia Pike

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The newest addition to our Arlington Bookshelf is one of the most amazing photographic journeys one could take, much less here in Arlington, much less down our most diverse street – Columbia Pike. Published this month by the University of Virginia Press, Living Diversity: The Columbia Pike Documentary Project, is the extraordinary result of a team of five insightful and highly skilled photographers and interviewers portraying the contemporary life of people and sites along the exceptionally ethnically-diverse and rapidly-changing Columbia…

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Arlington. History. Survey. Take it.

Arlington. History. Survey. Take it.

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What about Arlington’s history is important to you? Where do you go to learn about our history as a community? How do you think our history should be collected, preserved and shared? Arlington is seeking the general public’s ideas on collecting, preserving, sharing the history of Arlington. This is part of an ongoing effort started in January 2015 when the County convened a task force to look at current county policies and practices as well as best practices and successful…

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Upcoming Meetings:
School Board & Stratford

Upcoming Meetings:
School Board & Stratford

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The Arlington County School Board will hold two meetings on the historic district designation of Stratford Junior High School in August. HALRB recommended designation at their June 2015 Public Hearing. No schedule is in place yet for action on this designation by the School Board or County Board. The first meeting is a a “Work Session” on the Stratford construction project. It will be August 11th at 7:00 PM in Room 101 at the Education Center, 1426 North Quincy Street….

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Summer Reading:
Arlington History

Summer Reading:
Arlington History

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What better way to relax at the beach or on a hammock in the mountains or on your own front porch here in Arlington than reading more about our great Arlington County. Since early 2014, we have been highlighting books and collection of books on Arlington County and our great history. Some are older books only available at the library (or on ebay) while others are brand new waiting to be discovered. As we’ve added readers and followers, we wanted…

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Arlington Bookshelf:
The Village and the Pike

Arlington Bookshelf:
The Village and the Pike

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In 2014, Arlington Village, one of Arlington’s early garden apartment projects, celebrated its 75th anniversary (1939-2014). As part of the commemoration of that milestone, long-time Arlingtonian Virginia Lillis Smith compiled a collection of stories and photographs about the neighborhood from friends and family. Lillis Smith grew up in Arlington Village and her deep ties allowed her access to uncover several rare and never-before-seen treasures. The Village and the Pike is an oral history of Arlington Village, a garden apartment complex…

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HALRB Votes to Designate Stratford Building

HALRB Votes to Designate Stratford Building

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Arlington County’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) voted unanimously to support designation of and adopt design guidelines for the Stratford School Local Historic District. Based on a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between then Arlington County Manager Carlee and then Arlington Superintendent Smith, the designation follows a slightly different path to approval than is outlined in the Zoning Ordinance (click here to read the MOU). According to Arlington Public School (APS) staff, the matter could go to the…

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Upcoming Hearing, June 17:
Stratford School Designation

Upcoming Hearing, June 17:
Stratford School Designation

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Stratford Junior High School is an incredible part of Arlington’s history. It is the first public secondary school in Virginia to integrate as well as an excellent example of International Style school architecture. The building and site meet seven of the criteria for local historic designation. Yet, although it is listed on the National Register, it has no local protection. On Wednesday, June 17, the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) will hold the first of six public hearings…

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Guest Post: A “Living Museum” about
Little Saigon

Guest Post: A “Living Museum” about
Little Saigon

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April 30, 2015, marked the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. After the war, many Vietnamese refugees settled in Arlington, Virginia, and the Clarendon neighborhood briefly became known as “Little Saigon.” On Saturday, a cultural heritage event took place in Clarendon to recognize this important history. The event featured a County Board proclamation, a temporary public art installation by Vietnamese-American artist Khánh H. Lê (now on view at the Center for Local…

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Clarendon Event May 9 Will Commemorate Arlington’s Little Saigon

Clarendon Event May 9 Will Commemorate Arlington’s Little Saigon

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On Saturday, May 9, 2015, as part of Clarendon’s Neighborhood Day celebration, the Arlington County Board, county staff, local artists and students, and members of the Vietnamese community will participate in a special program to honor Clarendon’s Vietnamese history, particularly the period of the late 1970s and 1980s when it was known as “Little Saigon.” All are invited to take part in this special event that will include a hands-on public art activity and self-guided smartphone tours of historic buildings…

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Preserved & Developed:
1812 North Moore Street

Preserved & Developed:
1812 North Moore Street

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Arlington’s newest and tallest building, 1812 North Moore Street, is the next chapter in the story of Rosslyn. Arlington County is undertaking a major planning study, Realize Rosslyn, to “continue Rosslyn’s transformation from an auto-centric area into a more walkable, vibrant and distinctive urban place that features great housing, retail and office space.” This is a long way from the early days of Rosslyn, when it was a haven for pawnshops, oil tank farms and auto sales and repair places….

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