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I'm not convinced that transit is necessarily the most effective way to create a stronger "place identity" here, though it may help.

Is transit the only way to create a strong "place identity"? Maybe. After all, there are a lot of neighborhoods that were "rebranded" after their Metro stations, like Van Ness or White Flint (which, in turn, was named after the mall). But there are also other local landmarks that can be just as powerful, like Clarendon Circle in Arlington, which predated the Clarendon Metro station.

A better example for the "Alexandria section of Fairfax" might be Silver Spring. It may not have definite municipal boundaries like Alexandria, but Silver Spring has a downtown that everyone recognizes and a whole mess of other areas, some of which are 15 miles away, that all have Silver Spring addresses. I would say that many of these places, like Four Corners or White Oak, have a pretty strong identity. They don't have Metro stations, but they have recognizable landmarks, active community groups, or in the case of Kemp Mill, a a substantial religious affliation.

I don't know this part of Fairfax County very well, but in the near term, perhaps the best ways to improve the "place identity" of neighborhoods along Richmond Highway are a) taking advantage of existing landmarks, like major intersections, schools, or shopping centers and b) having engaged community associations who serve as brand ambassadors for their particular area. Transit can help, but its primary job is to move people around, not placemaking.

by dan reed! on Jun 26, 2012 2:50 pm • link • report