It’s like a wave of revitalization has over taken Dogwood Cluster, according to Wally Krupkowski, president of the 80-unit neighborhood.
“Every time I look out my window I see somebody working on their home,” said Krupkowski, who’s lived in the aging cluster since 1990. “It’s really inspirational to see them doing all this.”
The cluster, built in the early 1970s, has been the benefactor of a joint Reston Association-Fairfax County project simply called Pilot Program. By working closely with the cluster, the program has encouraged the neighborhood to take the initiative to fix hundreds of maintenance and design violations.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, a neighborhood outreach coordinator, Carlos Cervantes, was hired to assist in the effort; his salary is split by the county and the Association.
For several months, with Cervantes paving the way, RA worked with the cluster to revise outdated cluster standards. Then, Cervantes and an RA covenants counselor spent weeks doing inspections of the cluster’s properties.
After the walk-throughs, RA found that 78 of the 80 units had maintenance violations, while 80 of 80 units had design violations.
“Some were minor, and some require serious work,” said Virginia Boehringer, RA Cluster and Condo Outreach Coordinator. “It ran the gamut.”
The long list of violations may have seemed overwhelming had it not been for the program, said Boehringer.
RA, particularly Cervantes, has been helpful communicating with residents, many of which are Spanish-speaking, telling them what to expect and what would be required, according to Krupkowski. “The project has really put a new face on the community,” he said.
Cervantes agrees. “It’s like a revival project,” he said.
NEW FENCES, new decks, new painted exteriors are just a few of the changes spreading through the community. “If the program wasn’t here it would be more difficult to make it happen,” said Krupkowski, who also acknowledged the leadership of fellow cluster board members for the turnaround, particularly Linda Albers and Heather Brown.
“We can see a big difference right now,” said Cervantes.
Boehringer added that 20 percent of the homes in the cluster have applied to update their windows or siding, both of which were targeted during the process to update the cluster standards.
“Even homeowners who have to do some pretty expensive repairs have expressed to us they’re pleased with the way the cluster is coming around in terms of visual aesthetics,” said Kirk Bowen, the RA covenants counselor assigned to the cluster.
RA officials agree that it will have a positive, long-term impact on property values. “It’s more than just how it looks,” said Bowen.
Boehringer said the approach, which she described as more comprehensive, will also be adopted at Southgate Cluster.
With continued support from the county, she hopes the program will be replicated at other clusters.