What’s a few square feet – 131, to be exact – among friends?
That’s the question that goes to the Arlington County Board later this month, as their School Board counterparts are asking county officials to trim a sliver off South Walter Reed Drive to make way for construction of the new Arlington Career Center.
The slice of right-of-way is located between 7th and 8th streets South and is one of two that had been sought by the school system to facilitate construction of what, at more than $180 million, is the system’s largest capital project ever.
County Board members in June approved vacation of the other parcel (a portion of 8th Street South). The only holdup on the second parcel was not having enough time to advertise a public hearing for June.
Making the transfer decision easier: There are no known utilities under the land in question.
For those wishing a history lesson, modern-day South Walter Reed Drive in the vicinity began life almost exactly 100 years ago (Sept. 20, 1923) as Bingham Road. In 1934 it was renamed South Fillmore Street and somewhat later was renamed South Walter Reed Drive, although portions of the road closer to Arlington Boulevard retain the Fillmore Street designation.
