-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Ferguson CountyBoard@co.arlington.va.us
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 2:44 PM
To: Briggs, David W (WAS - X75001)
Subject: Staircase (Intranet Quorum IMA00119753)


Arlington County Board


December 17, 2002



Mr. David Briggs
dbriggs@hklaw.com

Dear David:

I am following-up on your email about the poor condition of the
staircase on Colonial Terrace and North Nash Street. I am glad you
reminded me of our conversation about this potential safety hazard.

Attached is a copy of the report I received from the County
Manager. Staff agrees that the stairs need repair. Although total
rehabilitation of the stairs is expected to occur when a future
development project is built, temporary repairs will be scheduled in the
next few months. For more information on this maintenance work, you can
call Ron Boyd or Dave Hundelt of the Department of Public Works at the
numbers listed in the report.

About the lighting, the report details the process for seeking
additional lighting in the public right-of-way. I hope more lights will
be installed in the future but ask you to start by contacting staff.
Feel free to contact Ram Sarma of the Traffic Engineering Division at
703-228-3726 or rsarma@co.arlington.va.us to pursue the lighting.

I appreciate your following-up with me on these matters. Let me
know if this response is adequate for now. If I can help in the future,
please feel free to contact me.


Sincerely,

Paul Ferguson
Member
Arlington County Board


********************************************

ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA
INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM

December 10, 2002

TO: Paul Ferguson, Member, Arlington County Board

FROM: Office of the County Manager

SUBJECT: 147151/2068620

Staff investigated the stairs and agrees that remedial measures need to be taken; the development project that will replace these stairs is not expected to occur for some time. Areas of the stairs that are cracked or where sections of concrete are missing will either be parged with concrete or cut out and repaired, depending on the particular area and the determination of the maintenance supervisor as to the appropriate type of repair. This will be repair patch work only, not a full rehabilitation of these stairs. The areas for focus will be near the bottom of the staircase where the more severe cracking and deterioration have taken place.

At this time, lighting will not be added. There are no plans to add lighting as part of the developer's site plan condition to replace these stairs in the future. The process for adding lighting to an existing street or walkway involves a determination of need by staff in the Traffic Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works as well as a petition signed by users of the walkway and adjacent neighbors. A preliminary analysis was done as a result of Mr. Brigg's inquiry, and the assessment was that adequate lighting currently exists from nearby street lights and building lights. Mr. Briggs noted, however, that when leaves are on the adjacent trees, the existing lighting is unable to illuminate the stairs adequately.

To expedite consideration of the lighting, Mr. Briggs may contact Mr. Ram Sarma of the Traffic Engineering Division at 703-228-3726 or rsarma@co.arlington.va.us to obtain the details about the necessary citizen process. It likely will be April or May of 2003 before a survey can be completed to assess the effect of the leaves. Mr. Briggs' initiation of the petition process and discussing types of lighting in advance may speed the process along if it is determined that lighting is appropriate. There is no guarantee that lighting will be found to be necessary at this location, but staff would like to offer the possibility of accelerating things rather than waiting until April or May to start the petition process.

Initiation of the concrete repairs, depending on weather and other maintenance priorities, could possibly occur in the next month or so. Mr. Briggs may contact either Mr. Ron Boyd, Field Representative for the Water/Sewer/Streets Division, at 703-228-6509 or rboyd@co.arlington.va.us, or Mr. Dave Hundelt, Engineering Supervisor, at 703-228-6539 or dhunde@co.arlington.va.us, for updates.

David Briggs has done a commendable service to the community by bringing this issue so forcefully to the Board's attention. The condition of the stairway is a very sore point for the community and one which we will need to continue to press the county on. The temporary patchwork is critical and may be sufficient for the time being, but we will need to stay involved in the process to ensure that the ultimate resolution is to our liking. If done properly, the rehabilitated stairway can be a beautiful entryway to the Colonial Terrace area. We will want to make sure that corners are not cut in the process.

We are now currently in the process of petitioning for installation of lighting for the Colonial Terrace stairs, as discussed in this message chain and elsewhere on the forum. The text of the current draft petition is printed below. The deadline for the petition is this Friday, so the civic association, working with area homeowner's associations, will have to move quickly on this.


PETITION FOR INSTALLATION OF LOW-VOLTAGE LIGHTING

WHEREAS the stairway leading from Colonial Terrace to North Nash Street in Rosslyn (the "Colonial Terrace Stairs") is both poorly lit and badly maintained, creating a continuing public hazard as well as an eyesore; and

WHEREAS the County will shortly be undertaking short-term, interim repairs which are expected to reduce the immediate public safety concerns relating to the Colonial Terrace Stairs, until such time as the stairs may be properly rebuilt, whether through the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee process, or through contributions from the developer that has already made a commitment to this project; and

WHEREAS the County has reportedly received a low-cost proposal to install low-voltage ground lighting adjacent to the Colonial Terrace Stairs, during the course of the upcoming short-term repairs, which could further alleviate current safety concerns at least until more complete, long-term repairs are conducted;

THEREFORE, the below-listed officers and directors of North Rosslyn civic and homeowner associations, all affected by the condition of the Colonial Terrace Stairs, jointly request and urge that the proposed low-voltage lighting be installed during the upcoming interim repairs, as a short-term solution to this public safety problem until a long-range solution may be devised and implemented.


NORTH ROSSLYN CIVIC ASSOCIATION

By: ___________________________________
Kenneth L. Marcus

Title: _President_________________________

Rosslyn Renaissance has been gracious enough to support our request for new lighting installation at the Colonial Terrace stairs. Their letter to the County stated as follows:


February 5, 2003

Mr. Ram Sarma
Arlington County Dept. of Public Works
2100 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201

RE: Signage for 1100 Wilson Blvd.

Dear Mr. Sarma:

The Rosslyn Renaissance Board of Directors at its February 5, 2003 meeting unanimously voted to support the request of the owners and residents of Colonial Terrace area of Rosslyn that lighting be installed along the staircase extending from Colonial Terrace to North Nash Street. It is our understanding that this work will be done in conjunction with the upcoming repair and rehabilitation of the staircase scheduled be undertaken by the County in the next several months.

The Board has long supported the renovation of this staircase, viewing it as an important link for the Colonial Terrace community to the core of Rosslyn. We appreciate the County's willingness to undertake these measures at this time.

Sincerely,



David W. Briggs
1st Vice President



Patricia Latour
Secretary



Cc: Ken Marcus, North Rosslyn Civic Association

This Rosslyn Renaissance letter, supporting North Rosslyn's request for new lighting for the Colonial Terrace staircase, apparently supercedes the first one, which appears above:


February 5, 2003

Mr. Ram Sarma
Arlington County Dept. of Public Works
2100 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201

RE: Colonial Terrace Staircase

Dear Mr. Sarma:

The Rosslyn Renaissance Board of Directors at its February 5, 2003 meeting unanimously voted to support the request of the owners and residents of Colonial Terrace area of Rosslyn that lighting be installed along the staircase extending from Colonial Terrace to North Nash Street. It is our understanding that this work will be done in conjunction with the upcoming repair and rehabilitation of the staircase scheduled be undertaken by the County in the next several months.

The Board has long supported the renovation of this staircase, viewing it as an important link for the Colonial Terrace community to the core of Rosslyn. We appreciate the County's willingness to undertake these measures at this time.

Sincerely,



David W. Briggs
1st Vice President



Patricia Latour
Secretary



Cc: Ken Marcus, North Rosslyn Civic Association

NORTH ROSSLYN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
"Bringing a Voice to the Residents of Rosslyn"


1922 NORTH ODE STREET * ARLINGTON, VA 22209 * 703-465-7963
www.northrosslyn.org



VIA U.S. MAIL AND
COURTESY COPY BY ELECTRONIC MAIL (WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS)

Ram Sarma
Arlington County Department of Public Works
2100 Clarendon Blvd., Room 706
Arlington, Va. 22201

Dear Mr. Sarma:

Thank you for your courteous, prompt and professional attention to the request by the North Rosslyn Civic Association (North Rosslyn) for the installation of low-voltage lighting on the Colonial Terrace Staircase. You have indicated that approval of such installation would be facilitated by the submission of a petition executed by North Rosslyn and two or three additional homeowners' associations located near the Colonial Terrace Staircase. With this letter, North Rosslyn submits its petition executed by North Rosslyn, the Rosslyn Mews Condominium Association, the Georgetown Vista Condominium Association, and the Atrium Unit Owner's Association of Virginia. North Rosslyn's petition provides in full as follows:

WHEREAS the stairway leading from Colonial Terrace to North Nash Street in Rosslyn (the "Colonial Terrace Stairs") is both poorly lit and badly maintained, creating a continuing public hazard as well as an eyesore; and

WHEREAS the County will shortly be undertaking short-term, interim repairs which are expected to reduce the immediate public safety concerns relating to the Colonial Terrace Stairs, until such time as the stairs may be properly rebuilt, whether through the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee process, or through contributions from the developer that has already made a commitment to this project; and

WHEREAS the County has reportedly received a low-cost proposal to install low-voltage ground lighting adjacent to the Colonial Terrace Stairs, during the course of the upcoming short-term repairs, which could further alleviate current safety concerns at least until more complete, long-term repairs are conducted;

THEREFORE, the below-listed officers and directors of North Rosslyn civic and homeowner associations, all affected by the condition of the Colonial Terrace Stairs, jointly request and urge that the proposed low-voltage lighting be installed during the upcoming interim repairs, as a short-term solution to this public safety problem until a long-range solution may be devised and implemented.

In addition, North Rosslyn understands that Rosslyn Renaissance has also joined in our request separately.

Having provided the requested submission, North Rosslyn would appreciate the opportunity to remain informed of the progress of the requested repairs and installation.

Again, we appreciate your cooperation and look forward to continued cooperation.

Very truly yours,


Kenneth L. Marcus
President

cc (email only, without attachments):

Paul Derby (Highview)
Kathryn Weathersby (Highview)
David Lubs (Rosslyn Mews)
Mark Antell (Georgetown Vista)
Joseph B. Famme (North Rosslyn)
Stephanie Benefield (Atrium)
John Seal (North Rosslyn)
David Briggs, esq. (Rosslyn Renaissance)
Cecelia Cassidy (Rosslyn Renaissance)
www.northrosslyn.org

Good news! Thanks to the combined efforts of North Rosslyn and several area associations -- as well as the initiative of David Briggs and Rosslyn Renaissance -- the County has accepted our petitition and agreed to install low-installation lighting on the Colonial Terrace staircase, as well as providing other much-needed temporary repairs. County staff member Ram Sarma reports that we can anticipate that the lighting will be installed by the end of March.

North Rosslyn's efforts, coordinated with Rosslyn Renaissance and various area homeowners' associations, was successful recently in moving the county to install low-voltage lighting along the stairway from Colonial Terrace down to Nash Street. However, county official Rom Sarna recently issued this warning in a letter to Rosslyn Renaissance, on which he copied North Rosslyn:
"[t]he contractor cautioned that any moving of any of those lights by anybody, will void the warranty on them. Appearently, the light at the top was moved by somebody. Please convey this information to all of your members, and let me know how these path lighting helping to lightup the staircase."

thanks,

Ram Sarma.