How Many Restons Are There? Dave Edwards, September 21, 2010

Is there a Reston Association North (the old First Homeowners Association), a Reston Association South (the old Second Homeowners Association), a Town Center Association, an RCIG Association, a Reston Community Center empire, renters vs owners ….How many Restons are there??

Now is the time to stop all the Reston parochialism. THERE IS ONE RESTON!!

It won’t be possible in the immediate future to solve the emotion question of “Who are we? Why aren’t we one Reston association?” Yes, the Hunter Mill Supervisor could make some decisions by fiat defining territorial boundaries, but we know the long-standing emotional scars this would leave. It would be great if all these fiefdoms would agree to merge tomorrow into one central Reston association, but this won’t happen. But aren’t there other ways to deal with this dilemma?

I see no solution other than forming an Alliance of Reston Residents Associations. Get all of the management / program organizations together formally on a regular basis to talk about differences, and also about common issues where joint participation would strengthen what is best for Reston.

It is very unfortunate that a Town Center Association was created independent of Reston Association. Understandable, but unfortunate. If the Town Center is not an integral part of the total Reston, then we as a community are in serious trouble. It is not surprising the Reston Association is very eager to prevent a further Balkanization of Reston. In most of the RCIG areas, it can make a strong case for incorporating the new residents into the Reston Association. After all, the imaginative programs and the lakes streams, woods, paths, swimming pools and tennis courts that every Reston resident assumes they own and can use are under the management of Reston Association.

However, the well-established Town Center Association is not going to implode tomorrow. The Reston Community Center, that is separate today only because Reston Association could not agree to assume the heavy responsibility of developing it 32 years ago, will not disappear as part of Fairfax County government. Its terrific schedule of programs but limited space will remain a vital Reston institution, even though there is some overlap with Reston Association programs.

Reston Association should attempt to include as much new residential development under its banner as it reasonably can. However, ultimately, rather than fight nasty border wars, ALL these entities are part of a single Reston. They have much more to gain as associates that talk to each other and work together than as turf war adversaries more concerned about furthering themselves that what is best for Reston.

Get together guys! Meet cooperatively and publicly on a very regular basis. Yes, you do meet now occasionally, but that’s not enough. Meet on a regular, scheduled basis. Talk about conflicting concerns and problems, but also talk about broader issues that affect the present and future well-being of all of Reston. You might even find areas where you can share responsibility. This is one Reston! Try to see it that way. Each organization should support the others if in doing so it makes a better Reston.

This is not pie in the sky, it’s simply pragmatic problem solving. Let’s all work together to keep Reston the GREAT place it is today. Let’s make it even better tomorrow.