HCA COMMON AREA ... DOGGIE DUTY

ISSUE:  Dog pee, poop, and odors on trafficked HCA Common Areas and near other neighbors' homes, no matter how hard you try to pick it all up.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many if not most Members and their families are now at home working or in class full-time every day of the week.  Children now have more opportunities to play outdoors on HCA Common Areas, and our four-legged friends now have more opportunities for more outdoor walks.  

SOLUTION:  To keep HCA Common Area play areas healthy for children, to avoid killing Common Area grass and plantings, to avoid rotting-out light pole bases, and to keep Common Areas immediately surrounding your neighbors' Goodman Houses and parked cars free from unhealthy pee, poop, and related odors, please follow related HCA Governing Documents 1993 General Resolution 2, Code of Conduct Rules and Regulations, including paragraph 10: " ... walk dogs in the wooded areas, not in planters or on common grassy areas, not on traffic islands or where children play. ... "  Yes, it's a politely-stated enforceable rule.  Related HCA and Fairfax County rules are provided in the May 1, 2017 HCA Common Area Pet Walking community notice.

HCA COMMON AREA POWER WASH @ MAY 13-18

As announced via the recent snailmail notice at right, and continuing an annual service since 2012:
BLOCK 1 Wednesday, May 13 
BLOCK 2 Wednesday-Thursday, May 13-14
BLOCK 3 Friday, May 15 and Monday, May 18
This schedule is subject to change depending on weather and other factors.  HCA residents should remove all personal property stored on hardscape Common Areas, including planting pots and furniture, to allow contractor access and cleaning of all areas.  Residents should also relocate their vehicles parked near sidewalks if concerned about possible damage.  This work will include Block 3 front main entry door Common Area elevated landings and carriage house driveway aprons from building edge private property lines.

HCA NEW 2020 PARKING HANG TAGS @ SUN MAR 1

HCA distributed new Common Area parking hang tags in a February 3, 2020 mass mailing to all homeowner Members advising that new 2020 red hang tags replace current 2018 orange hang tags on March 1, 2020.  As stated within the enclosed letter and notice, landlords are responsible for providing these new hang tags to their tenants, and vehicles in violation of related HCA parking rules are subject to citation and towing.  Towed vehicle information is available in a previous HCA website post.  For other related issues, including a cling decal option, contact Managing Agent TWC.

HCA COMMON AREA POWER WASH @ MAY 21-24

As just announced via snailmail notice:
BLOCK 1 Tuesday, May 21 
BLOCK 2 Tuesday-Wednesday, May 21-22
BLOCK 3 Thursday-Friday, May 23-24 

This schedule is subject to change depending on weather and other factors.  Powerwashing will immediately follow May 20 clusterwide lawn mowing and plaza blowing.  Members should remove all private property stored on hardscape Common Areas to provide contractor access, and relocate nearby vehicles if desired to prevent possible personal property damage.  This work will include Block 3 front main entry door Common Area elevated landings and carriage house driveway aprons from the building edge property line.

HCA TO REPLACE OVERGROWN BLOCK 2 PLAZA TREES

As part of a 2016 Tree Risk Assessment, the HCA Consulting Arborist identified numerous HCA trees clusterwide that were at high risk of failing and of impacting people or property upon such failure.  The assessment included large overgrown Tree No. 27 at overall High/Extreme risk at the south end of Block 2, and large overgrown Tree No. 31 at overall High risk at the north end, both Little Leaf Lindens in Common Area above-grade circular planters.  Large, weakened, co-dominant limbs prone to fracture and failure were major safety concerns. 

In addition, neighbors have complained for years about adjacent home wall, window, and roof damage; excessive debris clogging roof drains and littering plazas; roots damaging planters and creating plaza trip hazards; annual Aphid infestations and sticky honeydew attracting invasive ants to trees and homes; and unhealthy plaza black mold that required expensive annual power washing.  For each tree, recommended annual pruning and pest control would cost as much as $900 during remaining 15 year life, and almost $500 for immediate safety cabling of large branches. 

In 2012, HCA replaced five Block 2 Common Area invasive species Bradford Pear trees impacting resident parked cars.  In 2014, HCA replaced a large overgrown Block 3 plaza planter Sycamore tree causing similar adjacent homeowner and Common Area problems. 

In April 2017, HCA agreed to remove Tree No. 27 pending required RA DRB application completion and approval, and to further discuss action on Tree No. 31.  Earlier this month, the HCA Consulting Arborist again evaluated both Block 2 Linden trees and recommended that HCA replace them with smaller, lower maintenance trees more consistent with available building and planter space.  HCA agreed, and is currently completing RA DRB applications and contractor proposals for existing tree and stump removal, planter soil preparation, new tree replacement, and a first-year watering plan.  UPDATES ... May 15:  HCA received RA DRB approval to remove both Trees 27 and 31.  July 24-26:  Contractor removed both trees as authorized, with stump removal soon, and replanting option decisions still pending.

RA HCA CLUSTER INSPECTIONS @ MAR 23+

In 2008, RA conducted visual exterior inspections of all 90 HCA Goodman Houses as requested by the HCA Board of Directors.  This resulted in a clusterwide flurry of home clean-up and repair that improved overall cluster appearance and property values for many years thereafter.

In 2018, RA will perform exterior visual walkthrough inspections of Hickory, Waterview, and Burchfield Woods Clusters, as requested by respective Boards of Directors, and according to RA schedules. 

HCA specifically requested in 2018 that RA focus on a limited number of less comprehensive Goodman House exterior items with high visibility property value impacts for which existing condition corrections are reasonably achievable by homeowners.  However, RA advised that its staff teams will perform inspections according to established RA processes, RA standards, and RA checklists used throughout Reston, without HCA-requested limits. 

Assistance for exterior home repairs may be available from RA Helping Homes, an on-going community service project, to eligible HCA Members who are who are elderly, disabled, or financially challenged and are unable to make those repairs through their own resources.  In 2016, RA Helping Homes provided assistance to four Reston homeowners.

For more information and most recent updates and revisions, including 2018 product equivalents and recommendations for 1993-98 HCA Cluster Standards colors, paints, and concrete beam coatings, see the dedicated HCA RA Cluster Inspections webpage. 

UPDATES ... April 24:  For more information about RA violation letter items cited, contact RA Covenants Advisor Vern James.  April 23:  The March 2018 v1.0 "color palette" paint and coating product equivalents reference page RA provided in April 19, 2018 violations letters is an early version, it contains errors later corrected in the March 28, 2018 current version, and HCA asked RA on March 29 to replace it.  The current version is available on the HCA Governing Documents page on this website.

HCA SPRING CLEAN-UP @ MAR 1-31

The HCA grounds maintenance contractor will begin Spring 2018 flowerbed and planter mulching and clean-up, plaza blowing, and tree debris removal next month in preparation for seasonal weekly mowing.  In addition, HCA Spring 2018 Cluster Clean-Up will be held March 1-31 to prepare for March 23+ HCA RA Cluster Inspections, and plaza power washing is also being planned.  During this period, HCA encourages Members to remove personal property stored on nearby HCA Common Areas, remove debris around Goodman Houses, stack fallen tree debris near the central RA footpath or HCA streets for contractor removal, and cut or remove vines from tree trunks and branches.  However, Members should not otherwise remove invasive species English Ivy from HCA Common Areas because it provides inexpensive ground cover that controls soil erosion.  Be careful to avoid Poison Ivy and similar plants.  Contact individual HCA Directors to coordinate special projects.

HCA 2018 PARKING HANG TAGS START @ TODAY

Managing Agent TWC advised Directors that they mailed new orange 2018 HCA parking hang tags to Members on Tuesday, January 30 based on TWC receipt of completed Member homeowner and tenant information forms.   This followed December 1, 2017 budget package and special January 19, 2018 mailings of the HCA parking hang tag notice and information form advising all Members of these updates.  Also in January, HCA Directors agreed to observe a one month transition grace period until March 1, 2018 at which time all vehicles parked on HCA Common Area, including carriage house carports, must fully display 2018 HCA hang tags or be subject to citation or towing.  All other HCA parking rules remain in effect.

HCA BLOCK 3 PARKING SPACE REPAINT @ NOV 17

From 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Friday, November 17, the repaving contractor will repaint Block 3 garage area parking space curbs to correct spelling and paint drip errors.  Vehicles normally parked in Block 3 spaces 319-321 and 333-342 must park elsewhere during this time to provide enough room for contractor work and equipment, and to avoid possible unintended vehicle paint damage.  The contractor will also yellow-paint a curb near space 319 missed earlier and a new replacement curb at the Block 3 entrance parking lot.  For more information contact HCA Director Michael Poss.

HCA ALL BLOCKS ROAD WORK FINAL @ OCT 30 - NOV 4

UPDATES ... November 10:  Consulting Engineer, Contractor, and HCA representatives reviewed budget status and open issues onsite to be resolved before project close-out.  November 3:  All work substantially complete ahead of schedule and all Blocks open for resident parking.  November 1:  Due to a later than planned start this morning, the contractor will not complete rescheduled Blocks 1-2 repaving/ repainting work until Thursday, November 2.  October 31:  Project running ahead of schedule and Blocks 1-2 @ Maple Ridge Rd. will now be repaved/repainted on Wednesday-Thursday, November 1-2 rather than Friday-Saturday November 3-4.  See Schedule Change / Update flyer at right, hardcopy to be distributed to all homes today.  October 19:  For October 30-November 4 final phase work, please refer to the fourth notice also distributed to each home.  Use that notice as your primary source for road work information if it conflicts with anything below.  October 11:  Block 2 concrete work will continue through today, Wednesday.  October 2:  Corrected and updated alternative parking reviewed by LARCA and UCP today.  October 6:  The contractor is running behind schedule, so weekday curb work will continue through Monday, October 9.  Corresponding weekday work areas remain no parking zones 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Rain today will delay work through at least Tuesday, October 10.  September 30:  Removed additional phases second draft notice, added third draft notice with revised schedules, awaiting alternative parking updates approvals as noted below.  September 28:  Removed additional phases first draft notice, posted second draft notice.  September 26:  Posted additional phases first draft notice. 

 

For October 4-6 Block 1 and Block 3 Common Area driveway apron replacement at 11524 and 11526 Maple Ridge Rd., and at 11507 and 11509 Hickory Cluster, refer to the third draft notice for multi-day temporary assigned parking information.  In addition to North Shore Drive public parking typically available most days and nights, HCA Director Michael Poss negotiated the following temporary alternative parking for displaced HCA Member vehicles:

BLOCKS 1-2 @ MAPLE RIDGE RD.
Lake Anne Reston Condominium Association (LARCA) Lake Anne Village Center main commercial parking lot at 11401 North Shore Dr., approximately 12 HCA vehicles per day, 24 vehicles per night, and all HCA vehicles must display HCA parking hang tags with numbers visible:
(1)  October 4-6 curb/landing replacement, and connector road guest parking area curb installation ... 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
(2)  October 30 end milling/grading/repair ... 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(3)  October 31 and November 1 milling/ grading/repair ... 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(4)  November 1-3 3-4 repaving/repainting ... 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. ... see photo at above right for LAVC Farmers Market no parking TOW AWAY AREA starting 5:00 a.m. Saturday, November 4.  Also note that the LAVC lot may start filling up Friday afternoon.  No Friday-Saturday November 3-4 displaced parking required.

BLOCK 3 @ HICKORY CLUSTER
United Christian Parish (UCP) lower parking lot with access just west of Hickory Cluster and exit between UCP and Lake Anne Elementary School, approximately 12 HCA vehicles per day, 24 vehicles per night, and all HCA vehicles parked in LARCA and UCP lots must display valid HCA parking hang tags with numbers visible:
(1)  October 30 milling/grading/repair ... 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(2)  November 2-3 repaving/repainting ... 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.

HCA BLOCK 3 ROAD WORK STARTS @ SEP 26

As previously announced, HCA planned to repair, resurface, restripe, and renumber all Maple Ridge Road and Hickory Cluster asphalt streets and parking spaces next month.  However, to ensure proper sealant curing with Fall temperatures cooler and earlier than expected, our consultant now recommends that we repair minor cracks, seal, restripe, and renumber the still relatively new former Block 3 garage area asphalt in September, not October.

This early Phase 1 will impact Block 3 parking spaces 322-348 from 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 26 through 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 27, weather permitting.  During that time, impacted Block 3 residents who normally park in this part of Hickory Cluster can instead park in the lower exit end of the United Christian Parish parking lot, or on North Shore Drive.  UCP graciously agreed to allow up to 13 HCA Block 3 vehicles during the day, and up to 26 vehicles at night, to park in their lot during Phase 1 repair and sealing work.  All must display HCA parking hang tags while on UCP property.  Vehicles with visible HCA hang tags that remain parked in the work area will be towed nearby at owner risk and expense, and vehicles without visible HCA hang tags will be towed at owner risk and expense to the Henry's Wrecker Service impound lot in Fairfax, VA.  For more towed vehicle information, see a related post on this website or call Henry's at (703) 471-0010.

HCA LOCKED SUV BURGLARY @ AUG 26

An HCA Block 2 carriage house Member resident reported today that someone stole a laptop computer from a locked SUV at about 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26.  Previous burglars targeted only unlocked HCA vehicles.  The burglary may have been linked to a similar incident reported Monday by RestonNow at adjacent Vantage Hill where an armed thief broke into another vehicle and fired five gunshots while getting away at about 6:20 a.m. the same morning.  Members should remove all valuables, lock their vehicles, and report early morning suspicious activity to Fairfax County Police by dialing 911.

HCA BLOCK 3 ENTRANCE LOT END NO PARKING

HCA will begin a long-overdue street asphalt repaving and repainting project within the next few weeks.  As part of that work, HCA has now posted and will paint the Block 3 entrance parking lot south end as a designated no parking area to be used only for backing out of adjacent east and west spaces.  Effective immediately, residents should park in east and west spaces only.  Residents parked in the end no parking area will be cited and towed at their expense without further notice.  For more information, contact repaving project co-lead Director Jeff Ashley.

HCA STREET ASPHALT REPAVING UPDATE

Repaving HCA Maple Ridge and Hickory Cluster streets was tentatively scheduled for 2011 within the 2010 Reserve Study, but due to other priorities HCA funded clusterwide pothole and crack repairs instead.  Then the 2015 Block 1 water main break and substandard Fairfax Water asphalt repairs, and Block 3 natural gas line problems and Washington Gas pavement repairs, made a difficult situation even worse.  So this year HCA is moving forward with a comprehensive street asphalt repair, replacement, and repainting project.  As discussed at the 2017 Annual Meeting, HCA recently retained a consulting engineering firm to provide expert review, core testing, survey, regrading, specification, contractor bidding, and construction management services to ensure long-term value.  Critical pre-bid tasks are now almost complete.  HCA anticipates October 2017 actual construction, and will post additional schedule and other details on this website.  Directors Michael Smith, who led the 2012-13 HCA asphalt footpath replacement project, and Jeff Ashley, RA, who led the 2015-16 HCA Block 3 retaining walls repair effort, are managing the street repaving project.  UPDATES ... August 1:  Consulting Engineer and HCA representatives held a Pre-Bid Conference with prospective contractors at Hickory Cluster to review the work and site.  Bids are due to TWC by 1:00 p.m. Friday, August 11.  HCA will discuss and award the work during Executive Session at the re-scheduled monthly Regular Meeting on August 23, 2017.  August 23:  HCA reviewed and selected one of three proposals submitted.  Work should begin 45 days from contract signing, and be complete in about 18 days from the proposed start date, weather permitting.

HCA COMMON AREA STORAGE COMPLIANCE @ AUG 1

This week TWC mailed the following Final Notice dated July 1, 2017 to all HCA residents:  " ... HCA has requested resident voluntary compliance with trash and private property storage standards numerous times during the past few years.  To the majority of residents who have cooperated, thank you for your community spirit and neighborly efforts.  To the small number of non-compliant residents, this is your Final Notice regarding trash/recycling material and containers:
(1)  Store on private property and out of public view ...
(2)  Set out at curb no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the day before pick-up
(3)  Remove no later than 6:00 a.m. the day after pick-up
(4)  Starting Tuesday, August 1, 2017, HCA will remove all trash/recycling containers and other private property stored on HCA Common Area at any other time without further notice. ... "  For more information, please refer to the 2017 Annual Meeting 2016-17 Review slide on the subject, and the complete Final Notice document.

HCA PARKING HANG TAG UPDATE

As advised in the May 1, 2017 Common Area Parking notice, parking hang tags and hang tag numbers must be visible at all times.  Vehicles without visible hang tags or numbers are subject to citation and towing.  In addition, 2015 hang tags lost and replaced, or otherwise unaccounted for, with the following numbers are now invalid and cannot be used for HCA parking:  Original or replacement tags 101, 113, 115, 116 125, 126, 127, 128, 133, 134, 159, 160, 191, 203, 204, 216, 225, 226, 237, 238, 253, 254, 281, 282, 285, 286 and 293 reported as lost; and replacement tags 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 294 and 295 unaccounted for due to clerical error.  Members who see these invalid HCA hang tags should report the vehicle description, license plate number, and location to a Director or TWC.  UPDATES ... May 10:  Hang tag 294 identified as Block 1 lost tag 216 replacement, list revised.  May 11:  Hang tag 292 identified as in use by Block 1 resident pending corresponding lost tag number, list revised.  June 27:  Block 3 lost tag 113 found, replacement tag 293 lost, list revised.  July 11:  Block 3 lost tag 101 replaced with tag 295 found at TWC, Block 3 lost tags 115-116 replaced with tags 309-10.  October 11:  Block 2 replacement tags 285-286 reported as lost in the mail and replaced with tags 287-288.

HCA SPRING CLEAN-UP @ MAR 1-31

The HCA grounds maintenance contractor will begin their Spring 2017 flowerbed/planter mulching and clean-up next week, March 6-10, in preparation for seasonal weekly mowing and related tasks.  And our tree maintenance contractor will begin removing HCA-approved high risk trees from now through about March 10.  In addition, HCA Spring 2017 Cluster Clean-Up will be held during the entire month of March 2017.  During this period, HCA encourages Members to remove vines from tree trunks and branches, remove debris behind rear row houses and carriage houses, stack fallen tree debris near the central RA footpath or HCA streets for April contractor removal, and remove personal property stored on nearby Common Areas.  However, Members should not otherwise remove invasive species English Ivy from HCA Common Areas because it provides inexpensive ground cover that controls soil erosion.  Be careful to avoid Poison Ivy and similar plants.  Contact individual Directors to coordinate special projects.

HCA LEAF REMOVAL STARTS @ MON NOV 14

Perfect Landscapes advised HCA that the first of three HCA Fall removals will start on Monday, November 14.  The second removal will be just before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and the third removal before the Christmas holiday weekend, weather permitting.  Based on RA guidelines, the contractor plans to blow and then remove leaves from HCA meadows, planters, flowerbeds, and plazas  rather than relocate them into the streambeds.  HCA will post more information here when available. 

HCA PLAZA POWERWASH @ MAY 16-20

As announced in a notice distributed to all Members as part of the 2016 Annual Meeting information packet, Block 1 plaza powerwashing starts today, Monday, May 16.  Block 2 is scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday, May 17-18, and Block 3 for Thursday-Friday, May 19-20.  The schedule is subject to change depending on weather and other factors.  Members should remove private property stored on Common Areas and relocate nearby vehicles to provide contractor access to plazas and related surfaces, and to prevent the chance of personal property damage.  Please refer to the notice above for more information.

HCA SPRING CLUSTER CLEAN-UP @ MAR - APR

The remainder of March and all of April 2016 will be annual HCA Spring Cluster Clean-Up time during which Directors will coordinate projects with other Members, including:
BLOCK 1
  Various tasks TBD ... Director Smith
BLOCK 2
  Remove Common Area debris behind rear patios ... Director Travis
  Remove Common Area streambed debris ... Director Poss ... DONE
  Remove plaza flower bed debris near 1153x ... Director Poss ... DONE
  Relocate parking island Dafodils to bed ... Director Poss ... DONE
BLOCK 3
  Remove Common Area debris behind rear patios ... Director Cohen
  Remove western storm drain blockage ... Director Poss ... DONE
  Clean central Common Area sheep sculptures ... Director Poss ... DONE
  Remove Common Area debris along North Shore Drive ... TBD
  Remove Common Area streambed overgrowth ... TBD

HCA also encourages Members to stack tree and other debris near curbs and footpaths for removal, remove private property stored on Common Areas, and remove ivy from tree trunks and branches.  However, Members should not remove English Ivy otherwise growing on HCA Common Areas because it provides inexpensive ground cover that effectively controls soil erosion, even though it is an invasive species.  HCA will remove stacked debris in early May, powerwash Common Area plazas in May, and post updates here when available.