A sense of place promotes community pride, as well as redevelopment
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| The street address of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandria, but, geographically, it can be considered to be in Annandale. |
By Dan McKinnon
There it was again. Another example in the press of how the
strange historical, geographical, postal, and the other types of district
constructs in place throughout Fairfax County inhibit a sense of place and
the community pride that goes with it.
strange historical, geographical, postal, and the other types of district
constructs in place throughout Fairfax County inhibit a sense of place and
the community pride that goes with it.
It has been almost 40 years since the inception of the
Fairfax County Commercial Revitalization Program. It has matured beautifully as
evinced by the recent reorganization of the county’s land use team; good
people doing better things.
An early precept borrowed from the Virginia Main Street Program
was to obtain physical and psychological change to a community such that pride
would lead to redevelopment, “downtown” activities, storefront appearance
improvement and landscaping, and more respect for the cleanliness of where
you drive through and where you walk through.
was to obtain physical and psychological change to a community such that pride
would lead to redevelopment, “downtown” activities, storefront appearance
improvement and landscaping, and more respect for the cleanliness of where
you drive through and where you walk through.
It was shown that public investment in community amenities would
incentivize business and property improvement not unlike country and state
incentives attract businesses that increase and broaden the tax
base. I was proud to work in that arena for over for 25 years.
incentivize business and property improvement not unlike country and state
incentives attract businesses that increase and broaden the tax
base. I was proud to work in that arena for over for 25 years.
Pride counts.
But one thing we did not achieve was to develop strategies on
fully gaining community identity. Do I live in Mantua, or do I live in Fairfax
County? Do I live in McLean, or do I live in Fairfax County? Do I
live in Springfield, or do I live in Fairfax County?
fully gaining community identity. Do I live in Mantua, or do I live in Fairfax
County? Do I live in McLean, or do I live in Fairfax County? Do I
live in Springfield, or do I live in Fairfax County?
What do I tell my rich relatives in Idaho? I want them to be
impressed.
impressed.
Last Thursday the Washington Post had a beautiful article on
three Northern Virginia high school student achievers who received awards at
the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious
high school science competition. One was a student from the Potomac School
in McLean. One was from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria. And
one was from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria.
three Northern Virginia high school student achievers who received awards at
the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious
high school science competition. One was a student from the Potomac School
in McLean. One was from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria. And
one was from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria.
Alexandria?
How did my county’s prestigious high school that is in walking
distance from my home in Annandale get shoved across Interstate 395 into the
City of Alexandria? No wonder my rich relatives in Idaho want to move to
Alexandria.
distance from my home in Annandale get shoved across Interstate 395 into the
City of Alexandria? No wonder my rich relatives in Idaho want to move to
Alexandria.
I have often asked the same question about beautiful Green Spring
Gardens, a stroll along a path from my home.
Gardens, a stroll along a path from my home.
My postal zip code is 22003 and my community place name is
Annandale. And I say “Annandale, Virginia” when the phone company asks, “city
and state, please?” I refrain from saying, “Do you mean, zip code and state?”
Annandale. And I say “Annandale, Virginia” when the phone company asks, “city
and state, please?” I refrain from saying, “Do you mean, zip code and state?”
My county is about to embark on a study of its future. Please
place this community conundrum into the planning hopper. Don’t let the U.S. Postal Service define us. We had small towns before zip codes.
place this community conundrum into the planning hopper. Don’t let the U.S. Postal Service define us. We had small towns before zip codes.
Perhaps we should discard dull “districts” and create “hamlets” “villages,”
“boroughs,” “townships,” or maybe even go back to “colonies.” At a minimum,
we can tell the Postal Service to get with us, so we do not have to get with
them.
“boroughs,” “townships,” or maybe even go back to “colonies.” At a minimum,
we can tell the Postal Service to get with us, so we do not have to get with
them.
Bragging rights count
P.S.: I don’t have rich relatives in Idaho. But you get the
message.
message.
Dan McKinnon is a former chair of the Annandale Central Business District Planning Committee.
