County Board members have directed staff to move more quickly in considering future uses of the Central Library and Lee Community Center parcels.
In a change from the plan as proposed by County Manager Mark Schwartz, Board members said on Tuesday that staff should hire a consultant in fiscal year 2029 to develop a plan for potential uses of the Central Library site in Virginia Square. That timeline will allow planning to advance on roughly the same timetable as consideration of future uses at the adjacent Quincy Park.
County Board member Susan Cunningham at July 21, 2026, meeting (screenshot via Arlington County)
County Board members went into their two-month summer break after 15 minutes of verbal fireworks over Missing Middle housing policies currently tied up in litigation.
Three Board members — Maureen Coffey, Julius “JD” Spain, Sr., and Takis Karantonis — castigated colleague Susan Cunningham for a proposal made without much advance notice at the tail end of the Board’s July 21 meeting.
Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose prices have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!
Please note: The properties featured here may be listed with other brokerages– but that doesn’t limit your options. Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to represent you, arrange showings, analyze value, and negotiate the best possible terms on your behalf. We understand the neighborhoods, pricing trends and market timing — and we usethat knowledge to your advantage.
As of July 20, there are 176 detached homes, 60 townhouses and 275 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 37 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:
Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.
Empty retail bay to be filled by Tiki Thai at 244 19th Court S. in Crystal City (staff photo by Ryan Cole)
Crystal City residents will have to wait a little longer for the neighborhood’s latest Thai restaurant.
Tiki Thai was originally expected to open sometime this summer or fall at 244 19th Court S., on the ground floor of the Reva apartment building. The owner now says that timeline has been pushed back to summer 2027.
What if restaurant rankings reflected what diners actually buy and where they choose to return instead of who writes the loudest review?
Tasti is a new Arlington-built restaurant discovery app that creates rankings from verified receipt data. Scan a receipt after dining and Tasti identifies the restaurant and dishes, adds that information to the community rankings, and keeps your personal spending private.
Sidewalk conditions on N. Glebe Road between I-66 and Langston Blvd (staff photo by Ryan Cole)
County Board candidates have varied takes on how the local government should address gaps in neighborhood sidewalks.
Although the local government has a plan to address missing sidewalk links, it “will take years and years” to implement, County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said at the July 20 forum sponsored by the Douglas Park Civic Association.
A towering cloud behind a North Arlington home, as storms build to the west (staff photo)
If it feels like the weather forecast has been letting you down lately, a growing number of meteorologists say you may not be imagining it.
They point to a quieter problem playing out well above our heads: the National Weather Service has been launching fewer weather balloons, and the resulting gaps in data may be making forecasts less reliable — especially for severe weather.
Weather balloons carry instruments called radiosondes that measure temperature, humidity, pressure and wind as they rise through the atmosphere. That information is among the most valuable data forecasters have. A recent NASA analysis found balloon readings did more to reduce errors in 24-hour forecasts than any single satellite instrument or aircraft data across the Northern Hemisphere.
The Weather Service began scaling back launches in March 2025, citing staffing shortages, and more than 25 sites are now routinely pushing their morning launches to midday, according to Capital Weather. The agency has lost roughly 600 employees to layoffs and buyouts over the past year, CBS News reported.
Forecasters say the missing morning data is most worrisome on days when severe storms are possible.
Meteorologists and an emergency manager told Politico that absent balloon data likely contributed to a poorly predicted tornado outbreak near Kansas City in April. Many Great Plains offices delayed morning launches to noon that day, NBC News reported, too late for the models that run shortly after 7 a.m. — and a tornado watch went up only about 30 minutes before the first twister.
Arlington-based meteorologist Matthew Cappucci, who recently broke down the issue on Fox 5, didn’t mince words on X:
Have weather forecasts seemed less accurate lately? There's a major contributing factor: nearly half the morning weather balloons in the Lower 48 are "missing."
This is an ongoing crisis that is degrading critical severe weather forecasts that we all rely on. It's having real,… pic.twitter.com/xMajo4MzUs
How much any of this affects forecasts here is up for debate. Because weather generally moves west to east, some meteorologists argue a missed launch out West can ripple downstream and dent forecasts on the East Coast. Others counter that balloons are a small slice of the data feeding modern models, and that the biggest effects are likely felt closer to the Plains.
The Weather Service, for its part, disputes that forecasts have suffered. A spokesperson told Capital Weather the agency has seen “no evidence of degradation” in its models, pointing to satellites, aircraft and other sensors that help fill the gaps.
Arlington readers have had reason to keep an eye on the forecast lately, from a snowy winter to tornado watches this spring and the threat of severe storms earlier this week. Whether local forecasts have actually slipped is hard to prove — but some seem to have a gut feeling one way or the other.
So today we’re asking: have you noticed weather forecasts getting less accurate recently?
County Attorney Ryan Samuel (screenshot via Arlington County)
Arlington’s county attorney is warning leaders to think carefully about the pros and cons of any potential governance changes.
Also, to become a city — an option sought by some advocates of changing the local governance structure — Arlington would have to wait until at least 2032, County Attorney Ryan Samuel told County Board members on Tuesday.
Sitting amid the greenery at The Crossing Clarendon (courtesy George Brazier)
Bank Robbery Arrest — Police have charged a D.C. man, 36, after a bank robbery in the Crystal City area. The suspect handed a teller a note demanding cash on July 21 in the 1400 block of S. Eads Street, then fled, according to police. No weapon was shown and no one was hurt. [ACPD]
Arrest At Arlington House — A man is being held without bond after allegedly assaulting a federal officer at Arlington House, the historic mansion at Arlington National Cemetery. Prosecutors say he was cited for trespassing July 13, found the next morning in a second-floor bedroom and injured an officer while resisting arrest. [Patch]
Sentencing For Abuse Images — An Arlington man, 35, was sentenced to nine years in prison for receiving child sexual abuse material, federal prosecutors said. Investigators recovered dozens of illicit images and videos from his devices after searching his home last October. The FBI’s Washington Field Office investigated the case. [Justice Department]
Goldman Buys Pentagon City Tower — An affiliate of Goldman Sachs has bought The Milton, a 253-unit apartment high-rise at Pentagon Centre in Pentagon City, for $142.3 million — about $562,000 a unit. Seller Kimco Realty developed the 11-story building at 1446 S. Grant Street in 2022 and is reshaping the Costco-anchored shopping center. [WBJ]
VC Fund Eyes Arlington — Roadrunner Venture Studios, an Albuquerque-based startup investor, plans to open its first office outside New Mexico in Arlington this fall, likely in Rosslyn or Pentagon City. CEO Adam Hammer told WBJ the space would serve as a hub for portfolio companies meeting with federal officials in defense, energy and biotech. [WBJ]
Ube’s Having A Moment — Ube, the sweet purple yam long popular in Filipino cooking, is booming across the D.C. area — including at Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream in Westover. Owner Toby Bantug, who once pulled it from the menu, said it’s now “our most popular flavor in all three shops,” outselling vanilla. [WTOP]
Eataly Confirmed For Tysons — Eataly has confirmed it’s coming to Tysons Corner Center, its first location in the D.C. region. The New York-based Italian food and retail chain will open in 2027 in the two-story space vacated by American Girl, featuring restaurants, quick-service counters and an Italian marketplace. [FFXnow]
It’s Thursday — Look for sunny skies Thursday with a high near 80 and a light north wind at 3–7 mph. It stays mostly clear overnight, with a low around 63. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
The weather will be partly sunny in the morning, becoming fully sunny later in the day, with a high of around 80°F. Expect a gentle north wind at 5 to 7 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to about 63°F and calm winds. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to discuss it on our new Disqus-powered community message board.
Renderings of the planned residential buildings at 1401 Wilson Blvd and 1400 Key Blvd (via Arlington County)
A large-scale redevelopment project at the site of a Rosslyn parking garage that featured in the Watergate scandal was approved with robust support from Arlington officials.
The County Board unanimously voted in favor of the 831-unit project at 1401 Wilson Blvd and 1400 Key Blvd, which will feature two 27-story residential towers, 602 parking spaces and 29,000 square feet of retail, including a grocery store.
As the summer is winding down, Art House 7 is gearing up for August Classes! Offerings include painting, drawing, cartooning, mixed media, and printmaking. Some highlights: Animals of the Serengeti, k-2nd; Digital Art, 4th-6th grades; Painting Metal with Watercolor, Adults. Classes are 3-4 weeks: a short commitment for a lot of creative output. Check out everything on our website.
