A New Mixed-Use Project for Arlandria!

Rendering of the Arlandria Center redevelopment
as seen from 4MR Park, above the Birchmere.

For the first time in a very long time, there is a plan to develop an under-utilized property in our very own neighborhood. The Arlandria Shopping Center (where MOM's and CVS are located) would go from an auto-centric, single-use property to a mixed-use, street-fronting property with first floor retail and apartments above. While The Arlandrian staff has been too busy to report on many urban planning and redevelopment related topics, this one's a doozy. This development would be a huge boon to the sustainability of the neighborhood.

From what we've seen so far, Arlandria Center, LLC, has done everything right in their proposed development. The project promises a large affordable housing contribution and complies with the unanimously approved 2003 Arlandria Small Area Plan (PDF) with a phased approach to keep Mom's Organic Market and CVS in the neighborhood. The developer is making believers out of us. Learn more about the proposal at 7pm on Wednesday, October 5th at the Four Mile Run Park Community Building (4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue).

Here is the City's Official Notice of the public meeting:

A Development Special Use Permit application has been filed to redevelop the Mt Vernon Village Shopping Center, where Mom’s Market and CVS are located. At this time, the application is scheduled to be heard by the Alexandria Planning Commission on November 1, 2011 and City Council on November 12, 2011.

The Mt Vernon Shopping Center site was one of several sites that were discussed for redevelopment in the 2003 Arlandria Plan. The current application addresses many of the design goals of the plan. The proposed project consists of two multi-family residential buildings that maintain the 50,000 sq. ft. of retail along Mt Vernon Avenue (approximately the same amount of retail that currently exists). Parking would be underground and within the building at grade. Streetscape improvements, including street trees, new bus shelters and sidewalk widening, would be made along Mt Vernon Avenue and Bruce Street. 

The developers will be holding a public meeting to discuss the project on Wednesday, October 5th and you will be notified as to the exact time and location for this meeting. If you have any questions in the meantime or if your civic association would like to be given an individual presentation about the project, please contact Maya Contreras, Urban Planner, in the City’s Department of Planning and Zoning, at 703.746.3816 or maya.contreras@alexandriava.gov

The Arlandria Center proposal
as seen from Mt Vernon Avenue.

4MRMarket Report: "Hanging in There" Edition

Delicious Fall Greens are now available!
Photo from Troo Food Liberation

There are 5 markets left this year, and 4MRMarket really needs your help to keep it viable throughout the fall. The back-to-school season is a very hectic time of year in any ordinary year, but hurriquakes make it even more so. Don't forget about your neighborhood, volunteer-run market.

Between bad weather and holidays, perhaps many summer market goers just got out of the habit. We've noticed a drop-off since summer, but the vendors are still there every Sunday, and they need you to make it worth their while. So if you enjoy having another great Farmers Market option in Alexandria, and specifically one in your backyard, please come out to shop on Sunday, from 8am - 1pm. The volunteers will be there no matter what, but the Farmers and Artisans can only come out if it they can meet the bottom line.

We're still gathering names for the chance to win one of four $5 Gift Tokens as our way to reward customer loyalty. Come to the 4MRMarket tent for a complimentary BuyFresh BuyLocal market bag. Bring it back to 4MRMarket and show it to a market manager in September and you will be entered in the drawing.

Here are other ways to help keep this community enterprise alive:

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at next week's market or pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).


DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MR Park. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund. More information here.


ANSWER. Do you like to bike to 4MRMarket? If so, please fill out this survey from the League of American Bicyclists to help get 4MRMarket certified as an official Bike Friendly Business.


HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4mrm@arlandria.org for more info.


READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter or via our website  and blog.

SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. 

---

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

Have a heart.
Sampling fresh sausage and variety meats.

• The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" (Shenandoah) - Natural, locally farm-raised black Angus beef, and now fresh, farm raised Pork, including bacon and andouille, chorizo, and breakfast sausage! (all flash frozen for convenience) 
• Pleitez Produce (Northern Neck) - A full range of locally grown produce, herbs, and more. 
• Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
• C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce. 
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies. 
• Simply Healthy Water (Vienna, VA) - Try Dennis and Eileen's homeostatic filtered water and see if it's something you want to be able to enjoy every day.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

Plan ahead and contact any of these great folks online if you'd like to shop virtually during the week.

VeloCity bike co-op will be on-site doing teaching bike maintenance and repair. And our 4MRMarket Tent will certainly be the host to some great community group.

VeloCitizen Kris bringing the mobile
bike repair shop to 4MRMarket

_______________

The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

(click here for directions)

Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4mrm@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

4MRMarket Report: "Bringing in the Harvest"

Delicious winter squash now in season!
Photo from whatscookingamerica

It has been a tough couple of weeks between the earthquake, hurricane, and massive amounts of rain. However, our hard working farmers and artisans have continued toiling away to bring you their top quality goods! Please come out and support your friendly, neighborhood market this week. The volunteers and vendors are still here, but as always, we need you to keep this great market going. And, as huge fans of fall veggies ourselves, we feel this is one of the best times of year for farmers market shopping. Come out and pick up your tried and true favorite fall veggies or try something new. Just the thought of coarsely diced root vegetables tossed in olive oil, salt, pepper and chopped rosemary is enough to make even the biggest fan of summer heat pine just a bit for the fall harvest season!


We checked in with C&T Produce to see what they'd have in store for us this week, and they said they'll have winter squash, several varieties of greens, and hopefully freshly dug up sweet potatoes (if the weather permitted).  Of course, all your favorite summer veggies are still in season, too.

We're still gathering names for one of four $5 Gift Tokens to our loyal repeat customers. Come to the 4MRMarket tent for a complimentary BuyFresh BuyLocal market bag. Bring it back to 4MRMarket and show it to a market manager in September and you will be entered in the drawing.

Here are other ways to help keep this community enterprise alive:

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at next week's market or pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).


DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MR Park. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund. More information here.


ANSWER. Do you like to bike to 4MRMarket? If so, please fill out this survey from the League of American Bicyclists to help get 4MRMarket certified as an official Bike Friendly Business.


HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4mrm@arlandria.org for more info.


READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter or via our website  and blog.

SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. 

---

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

4MRMarket products

• The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" (Shenandoah) - Natural, locally farm-raised black Angus beef, and now fresh, farm raised Pork, including bacon and andouille, chorizo, and breakfast sausage! (all flash frozen for convenience) 
• Pleitez Produce (Northern Neck) - A full range of locally grown produce, herbs, and more. 
• Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods. 
• Herban Avenues at AHHA Ranch (Lovettsville, VA) - Herbal remedies, amazing soaps, heritage breed chicken eggs, and a variety of herbs.
• C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce. 
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies. 
• Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese, yogurt and Pennsylvania honey.
• Simply Healthy Water (Vienna, VA) - Try Dennis and Eileen's homeostatic filtered water and see if it's something you want to be able to enjoy every day.
• Sweet Hearts Patisserie (Fairfax, VA) - a Northern Virginia based patisserie specializing in gourmet Victorian petit fours and other miniature sized pastries. Sweet Hearts petit fours are made in a variety of delectable flavors and designs, and make the perfect gift or tea time treat.

Plan ahead and contact any of these great folks online if you'd like to shop virtually during the week.

VeloCity bike co-op will be on-site doing teaching bike maintenance and repair. And our 4MRMarket Tent will certainly be the host to some great community group.

VeloCitizen Kris bringing the mobile
bike repair shop to 4MRMarket

_______________

The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

(click here for directions)

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4mrm@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

4MRMarket Report: "Fruits of Labor" Edition

We survived! Everything is pretty much in tact after the hurricaine and we are back in business. It's a holiday weekend and there's stuff you need to celebrate. We know where you should go. The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market will be open this Sunday September 4th.

The farmers, crafters, artisans and intrepid volunteers at 4MRMarket depend on your support to keep this thing alive. And to entice folks to come check us out, we are offering the chance at one of four $5 Gift Tokens to our loyal repeat customers. Come to the 4MRMarket tent for a complimentary BuyFresh BuyLocal market bag. Bring it back to 4MRMarket and show it to a market manager in September and you will be entered in the drawing.


Here are other ways to help keep this community enterprise alive:

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at next week's market or pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).


DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MR Park. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund. More information here.


ANSWER. Do you like to bike to 4MRMarket? If so, please fill out this survey from the League of American Bicyclists to help get 4MRMarket certified as an official Bike Friendly Business.


HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4mrm@arlandria.org for more info.


READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter or via our website  and blog.

SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. 

---

Here is we hope you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

4MRMarket products

• The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" (Shenandoah) - Natural, locally farm-raised black Angus beef, and now fresh, farm raised Pork, including bacon and andouille, chorizo, and breakfast sausage! (all flash frozen for convenience) 
• Pleitez Produce (Northern Neck) - A full range of locally grown produce, herbs, and more. 
• Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods. 
• Herban Avenues at AHHA Ranch (Lovettsville, VA) - Herbal remedies, amazing soaps, heritage breed chicken eggs, and a variety of herbs.
• C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce. 
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies. 
• Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese, yogurt and Pennsylvania honey.
• Chris Waters Furniture - Beautiful, rustic tables, bookshelves, and other furniture items, all handmade.
• Uncommon Knits (WV) - Handwoven linens made with 100% cotton and hand-stitched hems for your kitchen, dining room and bath. 
• Ron RLR-Designs (Herndon, VA) - Artistic photo prints to dress up any wall
• Simply Healthy Water (Vienna, VA) - Try Dennis and Eileen's homeostatic filtered water and see if it's something you want to be able to enjoy every day.
• Sweet Hearts Patisserie (Fairfax, VA) - a Northern Virginia based patisserie specializing in gourmet Victorian petit fours and other miniature sized pastries. Sweet Hearts petit fours are made in a variety of delectable flavors and designs, and make the perfect gift or tea time treat.

Plan ahead and contact any of these great folks online if you'd like to shop virtually during the week.

VeloCity bike co-op will be on-site doing teaching bike maintenance and repair. And our 4MRMarket Tent will certainly be the host to some great community group.

VeloCitizen Kris bringing the mobile
bike repair shop to 4MRMarket

_______________

The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

(click here for directions)

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4mrm@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

4MRMarket Special Report: "1st Thursday" Edition

Come on down to the Avenue in Del Ray tonight from 6-8pm to see 4MRMarket participate in 1st Thursday. We'll have a table with Gaver Nichols at the corner of Mt. Vernon and Raymond. We'll be there to talk about the Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market as well as the revitalization and expansion of Four Mile Run Park. And we'll have some giveaways and chances at gift tokens to use at 4MRMarket on Sundays.

About the event:

Sponsored by the Del Ray Business Association (DRBA), the season's last 1st Thursday will be held on September 1st beginning at 6:00 p.m. With the theme, Home Sweet Home, 1st Thursday is a wonderful opportunity to spend time on Mt. Vernon Avenue to learn about goods and services that make Del Ray a wonderful place to live, work, shop and play. Numerous realtors, architects, home services, home based businesses, and store front businesses will sponsor activities highlighting their Home Sweet Home offerings and will be set up along the Avenue between cross streets Hume and East Nelson.

If you’re not up to walking the entire Avenue, there will be FREE pedicabs courtesy of Sue Kovalsky, realtor with the Jen Walker Team and McEnearney Associates; Gretchen Wilkinson, Realtor, Homes of Alexandria Team and Weichert, Realtors; and Dr. Richard Stone, DDS. Pedicabs can take you up and down Mt. Vernon Avenue. Both ends of the Avenue will have special activities. A band will be playing at the East Nelson end, right by Eclectic Nature, where they’ll be giving away s’mores!. At Monroe Avenue, Potomac West Interiors will host a wine & cheese reception and will be holding a special contest for customers. Stop by and see architect Gaver Nichols at Raymond Avenue where he’ll conduct a tour of the Lofts of Del Ray and a block away, Nature’s Nibbles will hold a pet adoption.

At the center of the neighborhood in the Del Ray Farmers’ Market lot (Mt Vernon and E. Oxford), the Kate Moran Band will be playing and Sweetcheeks, will offer face painting for kids, courtesy of this month’s sponsor Jen Walker of McEnearney Associates. A few steps away, you can meet the owner of The Happy Tart, a gluten free bakery coming to the Avenue in the fall and sample “sweet” snacks at Vital Body and Mind Therapies and nostalgic treats at Immanuel Lutheran Church’s booth. Cross the Avenue and say hello to the folks from the DIY blog – they’ll be outside the Neighborhood Pharmacy. (a complete list of activities will be available on 1st Thursday). Alexandria Hyundai and ACKC will also host a band.

DRBA once again host the very popular scavenger hunt. Participants can pick up a form at the Del Ray Farmer’s Market lot or participating Avenue businesses. Follow the clues (and directions) for a chance to win prizes donated by neighborhood businesses, including (but not limited to) A Show of Hands, Bellies and Babies, Bungalow Homewares, Del Ray Patch, DIY Del Ray, Kiskadee, Jen Walker, Truly-Life natural soaps, Eclectic Nature, Vital Body and Mind Therapies, and Potomac West Interiors.


Finally, our featured non-profit for the September 1st event is Rebuilding Together Alexandria. Come and visit them at their booth in the Del Ray Farmers’ Market lot. They will be accepting donations to help in their important service to our community.

Questions? Email Karen Johnson, kaj2600@yahoo.com