[Archived] City of Alexandria Hosts Public Hearing on Concept Plan for Proposed Park at the New James Bland Development

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2010

News Highlights

• September 23 public hearing will provide a public forum for developer Eakin Youngentob Associates to gather public comment about the Concept Plan and potential park elements that would support community use of the site.

More Information

• alexandriava.gov/Recreation 

The City of Alexandria’s Park and Recreation Commission is hosting a public hearing to discuss the proposed concept plan submitted by Eakin Youngentob Associates (EYA) for a new public park to be located within the recently approved James Bland residential development, now known as Old Town Commons. The public hearing will provide a public forum for EYA to 1) gather community input about potential park elements that would support the community’s use of the site; and 2) discuss the concept plan for the site.

The hearing will be held Thursday, September 23, at the Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe St.), at 7 p.m. The proposed park is a required element of the development plan to serve the new residences and surrounding neighborhood.

The James Bland redevelopment is an 8.5-acre site within the Braddock East planning area and comprises five City blocks. A proposal by the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority and EYA for redevelopment of James Bland into a mixed income community was approved by the City Council in October 2008.
 
EYA will use the ideas generated from this meeting to refine the concept plan for the park. A revised final proposal will presented for approval by the Alexandria Park and Recreation Commission later in the fall. For more information on the plan, visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation.

Persons unable to attend the meeting can send written comments to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Attention: Laura Durham, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314, or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, please call Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator, at 703.746.5493, (TTY 703.838.4902), or e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.