The Honorable Walter Tejada
Vice Chairman, Arlington County Board
2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201

Dear Vice-Chairman Tejada,

We write to you today concerning the Rosslyn Highlands Park. You’ve indicated to Mark Antell that you plan to fight for at least a 30,000 square foot green park where the current Rosslyn Highlands Park is located. We believe that you thereby stand with the residents of Rosslyn. Given that you ran your first campaign stressing the importance of green space, you understand why we do not want to lose our public green space to private development. We sincerely applaud your continuing commitment.

Below are a few facts that may solidify your decision as ethically sound and correct:

* Other than the Wilson School / Rosslyn Highlands Park tract, there is no substantial playfield within walking distance of North Rosslyn. Eliminating that natural green space renders our neighborhood less family-friendly.

* Arlington County commercial space vacancy rates remain high while Rosslyn vacancy rates are the highest in the county at approximately 31%. Demand for additional commercial space at this time in Rosslyn remains dubious.

* Arlington County has just purchased land at North Quincy for $30 million dollars but insists that it cannot afford $12 million to repair or rebuild the Firehouse 10 on Wilson Boulevard. We believe that this constitutes a disregard for the needs of Rosslyn residents.

* No reason has been offered why bonding – as has been used everywhere else – is not being used for Firehouse 10 and Rosslyn Highlands Park. Again, we see unfair treatment. Over and over again Rosslyn is asked to give but does not receive benefits and amenities accorded other neighborhoods.

* NYC – as the model being used for placing fire houses in high-rise, private buildings – only has three such facilities. The City and FDNY realized long ago the errors made. We similarly encourage the County Board to give equitable time and treatment to residents when so many feel that commercial interests have received intense attention while community/resident needs have frequently gone unheard and unmet.

* No building in the direct vicinity of the park is as high as Penzance proposes to build. Any single building that Penzance wants to construct on its land should be in accord with the height of neighboring buildings.

We hope that you will continue to try to convince your colleagues of our mutual perspectives. Please call on us if we can help.

Kind regards,
Mark Antell, Board Member, North Rosslyn Civic Association
Neda Bolourchi, Vice President, Atrium Condominium Association
Anna Duran, Co-Chair, Friends of Rosslyn Highlands Park

cc: Arlington County Board Members; NRCA; FORHP