Livability 22202

The Underground Challenge

Livability 22202 Underground challenge

The Challenge officially ended July 31, and there were a lot of great submissions. The contest videos will be rolled out soon and the judges will announce the winners.  In the meantime, see the recent article on the Underground and the Challenge here. 

Livability22202 needs your insights about the Crystal City Underground!

The three civic associations of Crystal City, Aurora Highlands and Arlington Ridge are sponsoring a challenge to spur creative thinking and thoughts about the future of the Underground. Please join in our conversation about this unique space in our community, and use your creativity in one, or all, of the challenges below.

We have some GREAT prizes to offer, and a notable group of challenge judges!!!

To prime your creativity, take a look at this collection of photos of the Underground, which you can use as material for any of your submissions if you wish!

Please join us in one, two, or all three of these Underground Challenges:

 

Challenge 1:  Write to Us

Give us your ideas for what the Underground could become in a creative context using one of the following writing prompts (or come up with one of your own)! You have a personal or professional relationship with the Underground, some strong feelings, or advice to give. Please have some fun with your creative writing and explore one or more of the following themes! (2 pages max):

  1. You’re a physician and/or a therapist, and your patient is the Underground.  Diagnose the patient’s problems, and provide a recommendation to get the Underground back on its feet and thriving. 
  2. The Underground is the protagonist in the hero’s journey [think Joseph Campbell, Star Wars, the Nats]. It was once the exciting new kid on the block, then hard times hit, causing it to question its very existence. Now the Underground may be poised for the ultimate comeback and triumph. Tell us that story and how it ends.
  3. Write a love letter to the Underground or a breakup letter – or both!

Use whatever form you like: limericks, poetry, short stories, cartoons and graphic stories. 

Challenge 1 Prizes!!

  • $100 Gift Certificate Grand Prize
  • $50 Gift Certificates to 2 Honorable mentions

How to Submit

Judges

  • Kim O’Connell, award winning writer, author, and essayist, and science writing instructor at Johns Hopkins University
  • Rick Hodges, writer and author of the novel “To Follow Elephants,” a 2019 Nautilus Book Award Winner

 

Challenge 2:  TikTok Underground

Tell us a story about the Underground through pictures or a short video (60 secs). The Underground has some quirks and problems, some features and some areas of neglect. Hint – the Underground is huge and has untapped potential! How can it be used in the future? What story can you tell? Choose a theme and snap away (some ideas below – but all themes welcome)!

  • Things I love
  • Funky Pictures
  • Favorite secret route
  • Travel thru time: different decades
  • Spots in the Underground that would be perfect for a (fill in the blank)!

Challenge 2 Prizes!!

  • $100 Gift Certificate Grand Prize
  • $50 Gift Certificates to 2 Honorable mentions

How to Submit

Judges

  • Eric Courtney, multiple award-winning cinematographer and former New York Emmy judge
  • Robert Siegel, former host of All Things Considered, National Public Radio

 

Challenge 3: Down to Business

“Uncle Jay B. Gee” has willed the Underground to you. You will now need to manage the complex and meet certain business goals in order to pay for the utilities, security, and maintenance of the space. Please write a one-page business plan describing how you will improve and manage the Underground, and consider the following:

  • Retail and other tenants – mix of uses, service uses, legacy uses to keep/cherish/promote
  • Attractions – what uses could go in the Underground that could attract visitors and help pay the bills?
  • What areas have the most opportunity to meet your business plan and are high priority?
  • What areas may be low priority within your vision?
  • Can the Underground sustain itself financially?

Challenge 3 Prizes!!

  • $100 Gift Certificate Grand Prize
  • $50 Gift Certificates to 2 Honorable mentions

How to Submit

Judges

  • Vincent Coluccio, Sr. Finance Manager – Prime

 

Challenge Guidelines

  • Creativity welcome!
  • No limit on number of entries
  • Open to all ages and places of residence
  • All submissions posted via social media must abide by the guidelines established via those platforms
  • Challenge sponsors will judge all submissions based on:
  • A great insight into the Underground
  • Following the specific guidelines for the challenge
  • Original and creative entry
  • By submitting, all entrants agree to allow material to be publicly shared on the Livability22202 website, social media, and at upcoming workshops
  • Entrant names will remain anonymous except for prize winners (with their consent)
  • Be mindful of supporting Underground businesses and patrons
  • Judges reserve the right to disqualify entries for unsuitable content at their discretion
  • Please provide your contact information with each entry and acceptance of the Challenge Guidelines

A note from the Underground Challenge sponsors

The three civic associations in 22202 (Crystal City, Arlington Ridge and Aurora Highlands) started a process to plan for the changes associated with Amazon HQ2.  This resulted in two major documents and several workshops. With the Covid-19, we had to postpone the remaining workshops. Because we currently don’t have the opportunity to get together for an in-person workshop, we would like to spark creative thinking and tap community knowledge about the future of the Underground. Please participate in one, two or all three challenges! We thank the National Landing Business Improvement District and JBGS property, where the Underground is located, for their participation and support in this citizen led effort!

We look forward to sharing great ideas and input from the community in upcoming discussions and workshops.

See the February 23, 2024, letter from Livability to Virginia Legislators on the Monumental Sports Arena

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