Seriously. We have a ravine that is full of trees and little trails plus a meandering stream. It's nice. I like it because it seems like an oasis in the midst of our urban environment. However, how much of your condo fees do you want to see in the Ravine?
I hear that some of the environmentalists don't want to light the Ravine because they want to keep it as natural as possible. Well, I'd like to feel comfortable walking the Ravine at night.
Common sense would say...if you can have signs in a National Park...I think our Ravine wouldn't be too tarnished to have some lights and a marker to say where the closest street exit is. Especially with some of the criminal happenings that have occurred down there.
Thoughts?
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15 comments:
Why add lights? You can walk along the sidewalk across from the ravine.
Why have the ravine in the Village if it is a place for crime and not usable after dark?
Do you really need to walk through the woods after dark? A walk during the day has more sights to see.
Fear not, dear AVO. With Arlington County eliminating the mosquito control program (while raising taxes) this year, the evironmentalists will soon have their way. And with the drainage "stream" even Rachel Carlson herself wouldn't go in there - crime or no.
With any luck, we can re-float the rain barrel idea too.
As far as I know, most of the "criminal activities" have taken place during the day...
Sorry, I actually have to work during the day and can't take walks around the Village. As far as criminal activities during the day are concerned, the AV Blast says otherwise such as mopeds found in the ravine and people setting fires.
As someone who has been affected twice by crime in the ravine area (stealing of my moped, and stealing of a cover for my new moped (which went unreported, because I'm not going to complain to someone over a $60 cover)), I would prefer to see some security improvements in the ravine area. While in general I do feel safe in Arlington Village, I think that any security improvements that are in line with Arlington Village's overall community feel would be a good thing.
This is the first I've heard of lighting the ravine. I think it's a terrible idea. We have enough light pollution as it is from stupid Walter Reed Rec Center. I don't think it would do anything to prevent the sort of crime that happens. My neighbor had his bikes stolen in broad daylight. Packages that have been stolen: that's been during the day. Big pile of nasty dog doo in my garden: during the day. How about a fence to replace the rusted, bent one?
Greenies ruin every attempt at improvement.
Park you moped in the back of your house, near your deck, not in the ravine. I keep important things out of sight.
I think this issue lacks clarity (like almost everything that occurs in AV). If the question is more lighting of the street and sidewalks (in the 'ravine' area), then Yes it is a good idea. I think I know the scooter in question noted here, and I get mad when I see it pushed over, because I know some thug-wanna-be in the area probably did it. If there were more lights wherever there is PARKING, then I think that is a good start.
If you want to light that little 'path', that goes from Barton to Edgewood, that's ridiculous. If you want to walk that path at 10pm, you are a clueless person.
I've said it many times here...what we 'get' for our fees is ridiculous. Condo fees should NOT be for every little suggested 'pet project' that comes along. Security and Safety ARE valid projects. These thug-wanna-bes will think twice when there are more lights where we should have light...and you can walk safer on the sidewalks (and to/from your car) when they are better lit.
What we get for our condo fees is really good given the low amount of the fee. The fees were not increased this year even though we all know that expenses are increasing.
Well-planned (as opposed to stop and go) security and safety projects are valid. But, adding more lighting to the parking lots and sidewalks won’t stop crime; as another poster noted, crime happens during the day too. Wherever you are, you have to think twice about walking to your car or going on walks after dark—it’s you’re responsibility to do so, particularly as petty crimes increase everywhere.
Speaking of security and safety projects, whatever happened to painting the unit numbers on the front of our units so that police and fire personnel can quickly find us in an emergency? Our unit numbers are not visible from the street, and I believe our required to be. Wasn’t that what a police walk through said. Painting the numbers would be a low-cost, high impact project.
I agree with those who have commented that safety entails many things other than extra lighting.It would be a shame (and a costly one) to route lights through the ravine.
For those who wish more visible house numbers, take a little brass polish and clean the numbers; they will stand out beautifully against a tarnished backplate.
Re: polishing the brass plates. Actually, the numbers aren't visible if you do what was suggested. Been there done that. That is why the Village painted the numbers!!!
I'm not sure where you've been or what you've done, but you can most certainly polish the brass numbers so they can be seen from the street. Of course, the unit must be close enough to the street to see the numbers.
Here's what you do:
Give me $100 and I'll come over and shine the numbers. I'll even coat it with some clear acrylic so it won't tarnish.
If you're a nice person I'll refund you $95.00 - but don't count on it.
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