March, 2012 | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published March 26, 2012 at 8:35AM | Updated March 26, 2012 at 10:11AM

Faith-Based Advocates Seek More Affordable Housing — A coalition of local churches and community advocates is asking Arlington County to quadruple the amount of tax support it devotes to affordable housing. At a large gathering on Saturday, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) also expressed support for Arlington refocusing its affordable housing efforts to benefit those in the lowest income brackets. [Sun Gazette]

New Metrobus Service Coming — To help make up for a forthcoming service change that will mean six additional minutes of waiting time for trains between the Pentagon and Rosslyn, Metro is expanding bus service between Crystal City and Rosslyn. [Dr. Gridlock]

News

End of the Road for 10th Street Bridge

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2012 at 3:35PM

It’s sayonara for the 10th Street bridge over Route 50.

Assuming rainy weather doesn’t interfere, the bridge is set to be torn down this weekend. Police closed the bridge this morning in anticipation of the demolition, which is being done as part of the Route 50/Courthouse Road interchange project. As a result of the demolition, drivers heading east on 10th Street will now only be able to take the ramp to westbound Route 50, instead of being able to take the bridge over to the eastbound lanes of Route 50 toward D.C.

Around Town

Apartment Building Planned for Courthouse Delayed

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2012 at 2:45PM

The Washington Business Journal reports that this month the Arlington County Board gave the developer behind the proposed Tellus apartment building an additional three years to get the project off the ground.

Construction had been set to begin in 2010, but “changing market conditions” mean that the building is still just a twinkle in the eye of its architect. For now, a 60s-era office building remains at 2009 N. 14th Street, where construction would be well-underway had the money been available to build the apartment complex.

News

Tap Water Change Coming on Monday

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2012 at 1:15PM

On Monday the taste of your tap water may be changing as the Washington Aqueduct conducts its annual “spring cleaning.”

Residents may notice a distinct “chlorine” taste and smell in the water for the next seven weeks. Local water authorities issued the following press release about the change:

Feature

Your Beermonger: Local Breweries and Brewpubs

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2012 at 12:15PM

Editor’s Note: This sponsored column is written by Nick Anderson, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway).

We’ll be taking a quick detour from wrapping up our series focusing on Belgium this week to take a look at one of the best and most important topics pertaining to beer right now: local breweries.

News

Virginia Highlands Sprayground Won’t Open Until 2013

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2012 at 11:18AM

County officials say the project schedule has been extended while they take “some additional measures to ensure cleaner water enters the storm sewer from the sprayground.” That may be a disappointment to residents who were hoping to have a new place for their kids to cool off this summer.

We reported in 2010 that the sprayground — the county’s most elaborate water park yet — was originally scheduled to open by Memorial Day 2012. Now, we’re told, the county hopes to begin construction late this summer, which will allow the sprayground to open on Memorial Day weekend 2013.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Use County Land for Affordable Housing?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2012 at 10:04AM

“‘Public land for public good’ is a battle cry making its way up the Arlington agenda,” writes Charlie Clark in his Our Man in Arlington column for the Falls Church News-Press.

The idea, Clark reports, is that existing county-owned land should be used to create affordable housing, reducing the cost of affordable developments by eliminating the need to purchase land from private landholders. Advocates say both unused and already-developed county-owned parcels could be utilized for affordable housing. For instance, an affordable apartment building could be built atop a surface parking lot or a fire station.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2012 at 8:55AM | Updated March 23, 2012 at 9:40AM

Low Attendance at Tax Rate Hearing — At a public hearing last night, it only took half an hour for the County Board to hear all the speakers for and against raising Arlington’s real estate tax rate. In the end, those in favor of raising the tax rate to pay for additional government services outnumbered those who wanted less spending. [Sun Gazette]

Frida Kahlo Exhibit Closes Sunday — Arlington’s exclusive and much-publicized exhibit of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s personal photos will come to a close this weekend. Hours have now been extended on Sunday, the last day of the exhibit at Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd). The remaining hours are: Friday 4:00 to 11:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 to 11:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 to 8:00 p.m.

News

Road Closed Due to Serious Accident

By ARLnow.com

Published March 22, 2012 at 9:23PM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 2:28PM

(Updated at 11:00 p.m.) S. Carlin Springs Road was closed between 5th Street and 7th Road tonight due to a serious accident between a Jeep and a moped.

Around 8:00 p.m., the Jeep driver was trying to make a left turn onto 6th Road when the SUV and the moped collided, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. Officers arrived on the scene and found the moped rider, an adult male, lying on the ground. He was taken to a local hospital via ambulance with what were thought to be critical injuries.

Traffic

Scooter, Taxi Involved in Accident on Glebe Road

By ARLnow.com

Published March 22, 2012 at 4:52PM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 2:27PM

The scooter’s owner was largely uninjured and was not taken to the hospital, according to police. No word on which party, if any, was found to be at fault.

Southbound Glebe Road was partially blocked for 15-30 minutes during the accident response.

Traffic

Construction, Detours Set for New Pike Interchange

By ARLnow.com

Published March 22, 2012 at 3:57PM

Starting this spring — as soon as final regulatory approvals are issued — crews will begin work on the first of eight construction phases that will stretch through August 2015. During that first phase, a detour will be constructed, using the north interchange ramps to provide a signalized, at-grade intersection on Washington Boulevard.

That detour is expected to be used for 3 to 5 weekends per year, starting this summer, when crews need to shut down Columbia Pike for demolition of the existing Washington Boulevard bridge and construction of a pair of new spans, just east of the existing bridge. The detour will also include facilities for pedestrians.

News

County Launches ‘OpenArlington’ Online Forum

By ARLnow.com

Published March 22, 2012 at 2:51PM

OpenArlington encourages residents to give their opinions on specific topics introduced by a county moderator. The first question — “What would make it easier for you and others to engage with Arlington County Government?” — has so far drawn five responses from residents.

In addition to suggestions about having an “Arlington County Ombudsman” or finding better ways to engage with those who do not have a computer, there have also been off-topic requests to fix a specific street light, for better traffic light synchronization, and for traffic control at Kenmore Middle School after events like school concerts.