RESTON FOUNDER ROBERT E. SIMON JR. PASSES

From Reston Association today:  "Reston's founder, Robert E. Simon, Jr. passed away at his Lake Anne home on Monday, September 21, 2015.  He was 101 years old. ... "  Both The Washington Post and The New York Times published admiring obituaries, and local American University National Public Radio station WAMU 88.5 FM produced another of many broadcast segments on Reston, this time an October 15 brief discussion of the Simon legacy.  In addition to founding Reston, and hiring Architect Charles M. Goodman FAIA to design Hickory Cluster Goodman Houses ... often cited as his favorite among Reston First Village homes ... the visionary Mr. Simon was also known on a more personal level for his almost daily exercise walks through Hickory Cluster and his enthusiasm for stopping to chat with residents.  Bob enriched our lives immensely and we will miss him dearly.

HCA FENCE STANDARDS OPTIONS

HCA fence cluster standards described within 1998 General Resolution 6 were enacted to maintain reasonably consistent fence types as replacements for failing unreinforced concrete block rear patio walls, to increase rear patio privacy, or to open up rear patio views.  The standard provides Members with five options: (a) no fence or wall, (b) up to a 6 ft. tall screen of shrubs on private property, (c) a wood screen fence with floating faceboards on edge, (d) a solid wood fence with floating edge-to-edge faceboards, or (e) a concrete block wall.  The example above is one partially-compliant example of the (d) solid wood fence option.

However, the HCA standard does not include an option for popular shadowbox designs with front-and-back alternating-surface faceboards like the example at left.  Therefore, shadowbox fences built after enactment of the 1998 HCA fence standards are not compliant and may be cited as violations during HCA and RA resale or other inspections unless otherwise approved individually by RA DRB.  Members should consult HCA General Resolution 6 for more information, official text, and compliant fence elevation and section drawings.

RESTON MUSEUM EVENTS @ SEP 20 + OCT 17

The Reston Historic Trust and Museum help preserve and promote Reston's unique history.  Hickory Cluster played a key role in that history as part of the Reston First Village, and as an important work of Mid-Century Modern Architecture in Reston by Charles M. Goodman FAIA.  To help build RHT membership and financial support, RHT sponsors numerous events each year.  On Sunday, September 20, RHT will hold the Family Fun Day & Membership Drive with Reston Founder Robert E. Simon, Jr. on the Lake Anne Village Center plaza from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  And on Saturday, October 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., RHT will hold the 14th Annual Reston Home Tour.  Last year, more than 500 attendees visited Hickory Cluster to tour a newly-furnished Block 3 Type C1 Goodman House.  For more information, visit the Reston Museum website.

RA COVENANTS WORKSHOPS @ SEP 2015 - DEC 2016

RA will hold a series of Covenants Workshops during the next year to discuss DRB applications and processes, cluster standards, contractors, landscaping, composting, legal, parking, and pet issues with RA Members.  The series will start with an interactive ABCs of DRB Workshop from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 10 at RA Headquarters.  The complete 2015-16 schedule is available on the RA website, and RA requests RSVPs to covenantsworkshops@reston.org.  HCA Members may also make appointments to discuss specific covenants compliance issues directly with the RA Covenants Advisor for Hickory Cluster.  UPDATE ... RA will host an Updating Cluster Standards Hands-On Workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 12.

COUNTY HOME HAZMAT COLLECTION @ SEP 12

Many household items include toxic chemicals that might contaminate landfills, rivers, and drinking water if they are poorly stored or illegally placed in weekly trash collections.  To help prevent environmental pollution, Fairfax County maintains two permanent facilities and holds four annual Remote Collection Events to safely collect and dispose of Household Hazardous Waste like aerosol sprays, brake fluid, unbroken fluorescent bulbs, gasoline, glue, herbicides, insecticides, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, and rechargeable batteries.  HCA Members may safely dispose of these toxic items at the nearby McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12.  Home electronics and computer products also contain toxic materials that should be recycled through Best Buy or other local business programs rather than included in weekly trash.  Home Depot will recycle 20 lb. barbeque grill propane tanks at no charge or exchange them for full tanks for about $20.

RA DESIGN GUIDELINES HEARING @ SEP 24

HCA and other Reston homeowners legally agreed to comply with numerous covenants and restrictions when they purchased their homes.  Many of these covenants help protect the design intent, as-built architectural integrity, and property values of important works of Mid-Century Modern Architecture like Lake Anne Village Center, Hickory Cluster, Waterview Cluster, Coleson Cluster, and Golf Course Island Cluster.  An extension of those covenants are current RA Design Review Board Design Guidelines that govern general exterior changes to HCA Goodman Houses, some of which are specifically governed by HCA General Resolutions.  RA recently published proposed changes to DRB Design Guidelines and will hold a second public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24 at RA Headquarters.  RA encourages Members to attend and provide feedback.