HCA ENTRANCE ENHANCEMENT UPDATE

Common Area surrounding Hickory Cluster Goodman Houses is not just land left over after construction.  Architect Charles M. Goodman FAIA purposefully integrated landscape with his buildings as part of projects like Hickory Cluster, reflecting a modern vision of simplicity, continuity, and human interaction.  To maintain this legacy, Reston Association vested legal authority to maintain, improve, and beautify Common Area in the HCA Board of Directors through original Articles of Incorporation and Deed of Dedication founding documents.  Through at least 1975, HCA allowed limited private planting on Common Area, but reserved the right to take out any plantings on cluster property that did not harmonize with general cluster landscaping or that were poorly maintained.  And in 1988 and 1998, HCA developed and partially implemented clusterwide Common Area changes through professional landscape plans. 

More recently, HCA has discussed entrance enhancement concepts at public Board meetings and other meetings with individual Members since 2013, including at the May 2016 Annual Meeting.  Member and commercial architecture, landscape, and art professionals developed those concepts to complement HCA Goodman Houses and Common Area; to enhance cluster appearance and property values consistent with original Goodman designs and Modern Landscape Architecture principles; and to provide Block 1 and Block 3 Affected Neighbors with enhanced street privacy.  HCA received RA DRB approval for related single tree removal earlier this year, more than 2/3 Affected Neighbor approvals per HCA Bylaws, and extensive related guidance from HCA legal counsel.  HCA also advised an Affected Neighbor on April 19 in person and in writing of the tentative project schedule, and of related HCA Common Area and fence standards compliance requirements.  For more information, refer to the October 2016 HCA website post and/or contact project lead HCA Director Blake Travis.  UPDATES ... May 19:  HCA advised all Affected Neighbors via surface mail and emailed letters that work may begin as early as June 1, but most likely on June 15; HCA advised all Affected Neighbors to remove their private property from related HCA Common Areas no later than June 1, and to ensure compliance with HCA General Resolution 6 Fence Standards.  June 1:  The contractor just advised HCA that entrance project work will start on Friday, June 9, 2017, a change from the previous June 15 start date; HCA again advised Affected Neighbors via email messages to remove their private property from related HCA Common Areas, and to ensure compliance with HCA Fence Standards.