Cameron Station has been awarded the title of “Very Large Community of the Year” by the Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute in their 2023 Community Association of the Year contest. It is important to acknowledge that we are all integral parts of the Cameron Station Community Association, and it is through our combined efforts and dedication to our community, and our unwavering community spirit, that we have gained this well-deserved recognition. As we celebrate this honor, we're happy to share the essay submission by our neighbors Tricia Hemel and Pat Sugrue, which highlights what truly sets our community apart. 
What an unexpected delight! In the midst of Alexandria’s bustling West End, there is a peaceful residential oasis, with brick sidewalks and classic street lamps that evoke the charm of yesteryear, and with modern conveniences and facilities that place it squarely in the 21st Century.
Welcome to Cameron Station, former U.S. Army base, transformed in 1998 into a diverse community of townhomes, condominiums, and free-standing houses with green spaces everywhere you look.
What makes Cameron Station more than just a collection of houses, but rather a community of people, neighbors, and friends? To begin with, there are many places for neighbors to gather…
At the heart of the community is the Cameron Club, with rooms for meetings and social events, a fitness center, basketball court, and pool. Along Brenman Park Drive, the community’s main thoroughfare, you’ll find a cozy coffee house, unique Indian/Asian restaurant, a dry cleaner, dog groomer, dentist, and daycare facility.
At the edges of the community are an elementary school, which adds to the neighborhood’s appeal to families, and two city parks with athletic fields, walking and jogging paths, and ample space for all kinds of outdoor activities. Across the street are a library, dog parks, bicycle trails, retail stores, and restaurants. And just outside the community, there is a city bus to a variety of Alexandria locales and to Metro, which complements our own free rush-hour Metro shuttle.
What truly makes Cameron Station a community, however, and not just a nice place to live, is the connection neighbors feel to each other because of the community’s ongoing commitment to communication and community engagement.
The Communications Committee, in particular, is committed to keeping residents well-informed through a variety of different avenues of communication. The Compass newsletter highlights the joys of living in Cameron Station and delivers news about our neighborhood and city; the welcome packet for new residents is filled with information to ease the transition to their new homes; the website is a hub for accessing announcements, governance documents, and more; the weekly email blast provides timely information and updates; social media sites encourage community participation. And the monthly board of directors and committee meetings include “Resident Forums,” where any resident may speak.
We recognize, however, that Cameron Station is not an island. We are proud to be part of the City of Alexandria, and much of what happens in the city affects us, too. Our Civic Association communicates to residents what is going on “outside the wall,” tirelessly advocating for our neighborhood’s needs and working with other neighborhood civic associations and local government to protect our quality of life.
Cameron Station has grown over the past two decades, from a construction site with more dumpsters than houses, to a thriving community of 1,769 homes. We are very proud of our beautiful, diverse, welcoming community, and we thank you for the opportunity to explain why we believe Cameron Station should receive this important Community of the Year award.
Pat Sugrue is an original owner, moving to Cameron Station with her husband Tom in the fall of 1999. She was a member of the first Compass Crew, and later served as Editor-in-Chief for nine years. Pat’s professional career was in advertising – 30+ years in ad agencies in every department except art (no talent at all!); but her favorite position was copywriter, which she felt made a good fit for The Compass. She warns that she is here to stay, regardless of the format!
Tricia Hemel, with husband Vince, chose Cameron Station as their home in 2018, settling in Carlton Place Condominiums. An LSU graduate, Tricia spent 15 years in NYC in the wholesale apparel industry, specializing in marketing and sales. She currently serves as the chairperson of the Communications Committee and is dedicated to enhancing community communication. You can often find Tricia walking the neighborhood or enjoying engaging conversations at Cameron Cafe. Born in New Orleans, she proudly supports LSU (Geaux Tigers!) and cheers for Real Madrid (Hala Madrid!).
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