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About Columbia Pike
Columbia Pike has often been described as "Arlington's Main Street," and it's easy to see why. The unique combination of local businesses, diverse neighborhoods, and everyday amenities along this busy corridor gives an international flair to Arlington. Columbia Pike is a little different from most of our other Urban Villages, in that it's not centered on a Metro station. Rather, the Pike is actually a major thoroughfare that stretches across southern Arlington, from Arlington Cemetery and Fort Myer in the East, all the way into Fairfax County at Arlington's western border. Bus service on the Pike is outstanding – the new Pike Ride initiative provides Metrobus and ART service with rush hour frequency comparable to Metrorail. More than three miles of the Pike lie in Arlington County, and the affordable housing along this corridor is home to more than a quarter of Arlington's population, as well as a quarter of its families. And residents are well-served by more than 500 businesses and 1.6 million square feet of commercial space.
Equally important in this area are the community institutions that only make the neighborhood ties stronger and increase the village feel that pervades in this area. A Sunday farmers' market offers fruits, veggies and other goodies from May to November. An annual blues festival showcases local and national talent each May. The Columbia Pike Artists Studios is a co-op that provides working and gallery space for local artists. A few blocks away, you'll also find the Walter Reed Community Center, with public meeting and recreational space, as well as community activities for locals of all ages. Since the sense of community is so important to this neighborhood, it only makes sense that the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization is another important community institution. CPRO is a public partnership that has been working for more than 15 years to encourage and guide the development of Columbia Pike. As this process continues and transportation system improvements are considered, CPRO is working to keep citizens involved so that the sense of community and tradition aren't threatened. Arlington's main street, while clearly quite different from Arlingtons other Urban Villages, is yet another great place to live, work, shop and play, and public transportation makes it easy. |
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Arlington's urban villages are walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods well served by public transportation. People who live in these neighborhoods are able to walk to shopping or to restaurants and hop on Metrorail, Metrobus or ART when they need to go anywhere else in the Washington Metro area. More about Arlington's urban villages. |
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But Columbia Pike certainly does have a central heartbeat. Many people consider the epicenter of the area to be the few blocks surrounding the intersection of the Pike and Walter Reed Drive, known historically as Penrose Station. Indeed, if the Pike is 'Main Street,' this area is the community's 'downtown'. A short walk will take you past a multitude of popular Thai and Salvadoran restaurants, the Arlington Cinema'n'Drafthouse, food stores ranging from full-service supermarkets to a health food co-op and ethnic specialty markets, local watering holes like The Cowboy Café, and even an authentic 24-hour diner (Bob & Edith's) that draws late-night crowds from around the Beltway.