Arlington: Fire Station 10 Finds Its Temporary Home
After a summer of study, County Board stands by Wilson site selection.
The Arlington County Board launched into its 2016-2017 year with one of the most contentious issues in the county: the selection of a location for Fire Station 10. While the permanent fire station is under construction as part of the West Rosslyn Area Plan, a temporary fire station will have to be located on a nearby parcel. At the Sept. 24 County Board meeting, the board voted unanimously to place the temporary Fire Station 10 on the recreation field for a nearby school.
Basics of Arlington Affordable Housing
A look Arlington County’s efforts to preserve its affordable housing.
Since 2000, Arlington County has lost more market-rate affordable housing than it currently has.
Arlington: Responding to Hepatitis A Outbreak
Exposures have ended, but symptoms may still manifest.
Anyone who dined at a Tropical Smoothie Cafe around Aug. 9 may still be at risk for Hepatitis A. According to the Virginia Department of Health, a Hepatitis A outbreak has been traced to imported strawberries served at Tropical Smoothie Cafes. As of Sept. 2, there have been 37 cases in Northern Virginia, but experts say that number could still rise.
Arlington: Police Begin Body Camera Pilot Program
Testing camera models, assessing issues, determining costs.
Arlington has become one of the first jurisdictions in Northern Virginia to put cameras on patrol officers.
Arlington: Block Party Brings Police, Community Together
When the community interacts with police, Ashley Savage, the Arlington Police public information officer, says it’s usually not because everything is going well.
Arlington’s Pirate Cove
Tampa, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota NFL teams find homes in Arlington bars.
Most of Arlington cheers for the Redskins, but if you’re walking past Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill near the Courthouse Metro and hear a stray cheer for the Buccaneers, don’t be alarmed.
Arlington: Scores Grow, Gap Shrinks
Arlington Schools achievement gap still wide, but narrowing.
Arlington Public Schools have two top goals: making sure every student is challenged and engaged and eliminating achievement gaps.
Arlington County Fair Returns for 40th Anniversary
Fair to have 1970s theme.
Arlington may be part of the D.C. urban environment, but on Aug. 17 it gets back in touch with its rural roots with the Arlington County Fair.
Arlington: Inside the Artisphere's Office Space
New development at the Artisphere.
The Artisphere is gone. In its place near the Rosslyn Metro, workplace developer Regus will lease the space from owner Monday Properties to develop 45,000 square feet of new office space.
Arlington: National Debate Hits NoVa Infrastructure
Local politicians take sides in Presidential feud.
If Hillary Clinton is elected, the economy will grow by 10.4 million jobs nationwide while under a Trump administration, the economy would lose 3.4 million jobs. This was the finding of a recent report by Moody’s Investors Service economist Mark Zandi.
Arlington: Technology, Tradition and Transition at Kenmore
New interim principal discusses his predecessor's legacy and future of the school.
Becoming the new principal of Kenmore Middle School would be difficult enough, but David McBride is stepping into a role Dr. John Word had occupied for 18 years.
Arlington: End of Summer Safetracking
Metro gets back on track.
Surge 5 ended with a bang. On Friday, July 29, a Metro train derailed near the East Falls Church Metro Station.
Arlington: Groundbreaking for Transform I-66 Tolling Project
Garvey pitches parks overhead.
After 30 years of talking and planning, work is finally starting on the Transform I-66 project. Eight toll gantries will be installed along I-66 inside the beltway with tolling operations expected to begin in summer 2017.
New Homes for Arlingtonians in Need
“In terms of affordable housing, we had nothing but positive things to say about it.”
The long struggle against declining affordable housing in Arlington just received a boost. The expansion of the South Rhodes Street project near Columbia Pike will include 105 new committed affordable housing units. More than half of those units will be multi-bedroom apartments. At the July 20 County Board meeting, board members praised the new affordable housing and unanimously approved the project.
Arlington: Parents Decry Speed of Site Decision
County Board approves Wilson School as a temporary fire station site.
Just two weeks after Arlington County announced that it was planning on placing a temporary fire station on the future Wilson School site, the County Board unanimously voted to move forward with an agreement that would allow the fire station to occupy nearly half of the field space at the Wilson site until at least 2020.
Arlington: Lift Off for Potomac Gondola
A look at the initial feedback from citizens and advice from an existing gondola system.
The Georgetown-Rosslyn Gondola baffles people. The proposed tram alongside the Key Bridge has drawn a mixture of interest and confusion.
Arlington: Readying for Long Bridge Project
The Atlantic Gateway is underway. Gov. Terry McAuliffe discussed the details of the $1.4 billion plan to reform regional road and rail projects at Alexandria’s Union Station on July 8.
Ex-convicts Discuss Voting Rights Restoration
Arlingtonian ex-convicts meet with governor to discuss voting rights restoration.
The right to vote is one of the most fundamental American freedoms, and one denied to many Virginians released from prison on felony charges. On June 29, Gov. Terry McAuliffe met in Alexandria’s Northern Virginia Urban League with advocates for the restoration of ex-inmate’s rights.
Back to Business in Ballston
Nine new projects to provide retail, office and residential.
As the Ballston Mall slowly begins to continue towards new life, all across Ballston new development plants are emerging.
Arlington: Triumph Over Loss at Yorktown Graduation
Parents and students celebrate perseverance.
The Green Household is going to be a little quieter after graduation. On June 23, Viktor Green was one of the 440 graduates from Yorktown to walk across the stage at Constitution Hall in D.C. Viktor Green lives one block away from Yorktown High School, and so throughout the sports seasons the teams would come over to their house for lunches and snacks.
Arlington: The More Things Change at H-B Woodlawn ...
A new principal at H-B embraces an old school tradition.
H-B Woodlawn is a little different.
Arlington: Garvey Prevails
Incumbent County Board Chair defeats primary challenger.
After a split from the Arlington Democratic establishment following her opposition to the streetcar project and her support of independent John Vihstadt, County Board Chair Libby Garvey faced a primary.
Arlington: ‘A Lot of Project in a Little Space’
New condominium approved despite neighborhood concerns about density.
As Arlington County’s population continues to climb, projects are getting more densely packed together.
Arlington: The State of Affordable Housing
Arlington continues to struggle with loss of affordable housing.
With each year, Arlington becomes less and less affordable. According to David Cristeal, housing director for Arlington County, between 2000 and 2013, Arlington has lost 13,000 units of affordable housing.
Arlington: 1st Street Car-tastrophe?
County inaction prompts local social media campaign.
Around August last year, a car went speeding down 1st Street in the wrong direction.
Arlington: Building Better Businesses
County Board candidates talk commerce in local debate.
The core differences between the Democrats, and even the independent running for County Board, are slim. So when the three candidates met the evening of May 16 for a debate, the conversation centered around differing approaches to the same issues affecting the county.
Arlington: Gearing Up for Bike to Work Day
Local cyclists share tips for new riders.
On May 20, expect to see more Arlington commuters leaving the cars in the garage. Annual “Bike to Work” day encourages commuters to try out a car-free lifestyle, and some of the local experts are ready with tips for new riders.
Arlington: Schools To Dip Into Reserves
School Board sacrifices future budgets to avoid cuts in 2017.
The good news is that the Arlington School Board approved a budget without cutting any of the proposed programs from the $582 million budget the School Board sent to the County Board.
Arlington: Responding to Metro Delays and Closures
Arlington leadership and ridership look at upcoming Metro changes.
From elected officials to Metro riders just passing through, this has been the response to the long-awaited plan to fix the Washington Metro.
Arlington: Garvey, Gutshall in Democratic Primary
Democratic Primary pits incumbent Libby Garvey against establishment-backed newcomer Erik Gutshall.
Two years ago, County Board member Libby Garvey refused to back the Columbia Pike Streetcar.
Arlington Neighborhood Outlook: Along the Corridor
New retail and commercial spaces fill Rosslyn and Ballston.
Indoor-outdoor dining is the new trend, according to Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick.
Arlington County Board Passes Budget Mostly as Proposed
Affordable Housing Investment Fund gets boost from 2016 leftovers.
Between the County Manager Mark Schwartz’s budget proposal in February and the final adoption on April 19, little had changed.
Transitway Comes to Arlington
Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the launch of joint Arlington-Alexandria bus service.
“This is Arlington,” said Sandra Borden from the Crystal City Civic Association as she points across Glebe Road, “and over there, that’s Alexandria.”
Arlington: Streetscape Improvements for Rosslyn
With a series of new furnishings, the streetscapes of Rosslyn might start to look a little more vibrant. Within this year, Lucia deCorde, president and urban design director of the Rosslyn BID, said that Rosslyn residents and visitors will begin to see wayfinding posts, informational stalls, new benches and vegetation along the sidewalks.
Arlington: Community Leaders and Muslims Discuss Islamophobia
Promoting more than just tolerance.
Nader Hasan remembers riding bikes through Shirlington with his cousin. The two of them grew up in the area and watched fireworks together from one of the nearby hills. But the two boys from Arlington grew up into very different men. When Major Nidal Hasan murdered 13 people in Fort Hood in 2009 as part of an attempt to spread fear and hate, it forced his cousin Nader Hasan to confront extremism on both sides of his community and his country.
Arlington: The Undocumented American Story
Dinner with Beyer highlights difficulties facing undocumented immigrants in Northern Virginia.
The Pintos are an all-American family. Jerry Pinto, a 50-year-old man with a thick moustache, works in construction. He says he doesn't speak English and he lets his daughter do most of the translating.
Arlington: 22 Stories in Pentagon City
Developers ask for height exceptions for Metro Park 6.
Pentagon City is transforming. Tucked away between the Pentagon City Metro Station and Crystal City, the Metropolitan Park area is nearing the end of a complete rebuilding that began in 2004.
Arlington: Better Buses
Arlington County applies for funding to improve its public transit.
From better bus stops to shorter waiting times, if a series of grant applications from the regional and state authorities go through, Arlington’s public transit could see some new improvements.
Rosslyn Overhaul
Largest redevelopment on-record approved for Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood.
With five phases of development spread across 25 years, the newly approved Rosslyn Plaza will be the single largest redevelopment in the Rosslyn neighborhood. At the March 12 County Board meeting, the board unanimously approved five new buildings along the Rosslyn waterfront. The new project, proposed by Vornado/Charles E. Smith and Gould Property Company, will include 2.5 million square feet in office, residential, retail, and hotel space. However, while the County Board approved the project, some local residents were not as enthusiastic.
Arlington County Board To Consider Rosslyn Redevelopment Plan
Rezoning and phased development to be reviewed.
The aging Rosslyn Plaza Park could be undergoing a massive overhaul after the upcoming March 12 County Board meeting.
Arlington: High-Occupancy Discussion
Arlingtonians share concerns about upcoming I-66 expansion.
After a year of meetings and hearings, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is beginning to move into the final phase of outreach for the I-66 transformation projects. At a regional level, most of the criticism was centered around the new tolling and extended High Occupancy Vehicle restrictions. For Arlington, the concerns are a little different.
Arlington: County Board Clashes Over Playground Construction
If there’s one place in Arlington where you're likely to see more arguments than at a playground, it's the County Board. An argument between neighborhood residents against their civic association and the Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Committee escalated to a disagreement between members of the County Board, but one that ended with unanimous approval.
Arlington: Minding the Budget Gap
Quick look at the Arlington County Schools budget.
Arlington County has a revenue sharing agreement with the school system, where the schools automatically receive 46.5 percent of the local taxes revenue.
Arlington Budget Season Blooms
Looking at the basics of the 2016 Arlington budget.
The birds will be singing, the snow will be melting, and throughout spring, Arlington County staff and board members will spend most of their afternoons haggling over finances. On Feb. 23, the County Board will vote on County Manager Mark Schwartz’s proposed FY 2017 budget, and 2016’s budget session will officially kick off.
Arlington: Screening of 'Princess Bride' Draws Full House
Annual “Princess Bride” Valentine’s Day screening at Arlington Drafthouse.
Love. Revenge. A clever hero. A beautiful princess. Sword fights. “The Princess Bride” has everything anyone could want in a Valentine’s Day movie, which is how the classic film became an annual tradition at the Arlington Drafthouse, which shows the movie, along with a magic show or stand up, every Feb. 14.
Arlington: Completing the Street
Public feedback potentially left on the roadside.
How’s your sidewalk? If you live near a road where there’s no sidewalk on either side of the street, or the sidewalk is incomplete, your street might be be receiving a makeover courtesy of Arlington County. The new Neighborhood Complete Streets Program, approved by the County Board at its Jan. 28 meeting, could have a radical impact on the lives of some Arlingtonians.
Arlington: Gondola Project Gets Off the Ground
Board approves feasibility study for Rosslyn-Georgetown Gondola.
It's crazy enough that it just might work.
Arlington Enters Final Snow-Clearing Phase
The fallout of the 2016 massive snowstorm is coming to a close for Arlington.
Arlington: Beyer Reviews His Work in Congress
And gains Republican opponent in Mike Webb.
It’s been a little over a year since U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) took office, and both the first term congressman and his political opposition have been busy in that time.
Arlington: Transforming Four Mile Run
Neighborhood Outlook
Columbia Pike is the fastest growing area of Arlington. The Columbia Pike corridor is estimated to experience a 21 percent population growth, twice Arlington County’s anticipated 11 percent growth.