Major Water Main Break Shuts Down Part of Rt. 1
A major water main break will cause big-time traffic problems in Crystal City during the morning rush hour.
The southbound lanes of Jefferson Davis Highway (Route 1) are currently closed from I-395 to the McDonald’s near the Reagan National Airport access ramp. The county does not expect to reopen the road until tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at the earliest.
Public works crews are on the scene trying to repair three breaks in a 12-inch water main. Heavy digging equipment has been brought in due to part of the road collapsing under the weight of the water.
The county is warning residents and businesses in the area that they may experience low water pressure or a complete water shut-off. When the water pressure returns, residents should run the cold water tap for a few minutes to clear the pipes, the county advises.
Video from the scene, after the jump.
Optimism for Arlington’s Economic Present and Future
The current state of Arlington’s economy — recession and all — would make most other jurisdictions jealous, even during good years. And the county’s director of economic development sees even better times ahead.
“Arlington is still a highly attractive market,” Terry Holzheimer, the head of the county’s Arlington Economic Development (AED) office, told a gathering of developers, real estate brokers and business leaders this morning.
Citing a new AED study, Holzheimer said he expects job growth to continue (Arlington was the only local community with significant job growth from 2007 to 2009), residential and commercial rents to rise, and development to soldier on, eventually.
“Arlington is not built out by any stretch of the imagination… we have a lot more to build,” especially when the commercial lending markets clear out, Holzheimer said.
Holzheimer expects a lull in new construction over the next couple of years, since projects currently in the development pipeline have stalled due to a lack of financing. He does not expect the financing issues, which have been plaguing the entire economy, to be fixed this year.
Counting both residential and commercial development, 24 projects are currently under construction or beginning construction this year. 32 projects have been approved and are awaiting financing or site plan changes. 13 projects are in the review stage.
Street Art Comes to Crystal City
The sheer scale of Crystal City’s G-40: The Summit is large enough to impress at least one jet-setting local artist, who praised the exhibition while saying that he otherwise considers Crystal City to be an “upper class ghetto.”
Set in four vacant floors of an office building at 223 23rd Street, G-40 will feature more than 2,000 pieces of art from 400 artists. Each floor showcases artists from different cultural hubs: DC, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Several artists who were on hand at Monday night’s VIP and press reception said it’s the largest single-theme exhibit in the DC area in recent memory.
Much of the art, curated by Shane Pomajambo of Art Whino, is considered to be “New Brow” (formerly known as “Low Brow”), a raw, grungy, edgy genre strongly influenced by punk music, street culture and comic books. Don’t bring the kids, unless you want them to see some pretty graphic stuff.
G-40 officially opens to the public Wednesday at 5:00 p.m., with food and wine pairings by a group of local executive chefs, live painting, and music by DJ Sonny Cheeba. Attendance is free, but the food is extra.
Firefighters Investigating Hazmat Situation
The Arlington Fire Department is on the scene of a hazmat situation at N. Stuart St. & 9th St. N., near the Ballston Metro. Initial reports suggest a truck is leaking fuel into a storm drain.
Update at 3:00 p.m. — An ambulance was called for a man who was complaining of chest pains, apparently caused by the fumes. The hazmat situation itself appears to be under control.
Lyon Hall Erects Sign, Launches Social Media Presence
Note: See our latest news on Lyon Hall here.
Lyon Hall is announcing its presence to the world. The French-style brasserie, located a block from the Clarendon Metro, just erected some retro-themed outside signage. It has also launched a presence on Facebook and Twitter.
The owners, who first made their mark in Clarendon with Liberty Tavern, hope to open Lyon Hall by the end of the month. Their other Clarendon development, Northside Social, is expected to open around the same time.
Perhaps trying to distance itself from similar but pricey DC establishments like Brasserie Beck, Lyon Hall is promoting itself as a “casual and affordable” neighborhood restaurant.
Lyon Hall will feature seating for 231, including an outdoor patio and a private dining room. Food will be of the “French brasserie fare” variety, with a heavy German influence. The menu will include burgers, steaks, schnitzel, a variety of sausages and a raw bar.
The drink menu will feature 20 wines by the glass, 40 wines by the bottle, 20 beers on tap and a “wide variety” of bottled beers from France, Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic.
The restaurant is named after Frank Lyon, who developed the 1940s Streamline Moderne building in which Lyon Hall is housed.
