News

Morning Notes for May 18, 2026

Sun and shade on a Clarendon sidewalk Sunday evening (courtesy George Brazier)

Board OKs Townhouse Plan — County Board members on Saturday voted 4-0, with JD Spain, Sr., abstaining, to approve the proposed 47-townhouse Waverly Ridge development at 2134 N. Taylor Street in Waverly Hills. The 2.8-acre site is located just south of Langston Blvd. and currently is home to several unoccupied single-family homes. An abandoned earlier plan had called for a senior-living facility on the site. —Scott McCaffrey

Apartment Stairwell Robbery — “The male victim was in the stairwell of a residential building when the two male suspects entered the building. One suspect approached and struck the victim with what appeared to be a firearm… The suspects then assaulted the victim further, threatened him with the firearm and demanded his clothing and personal belongings before fleeing the scene.” The incident was reported in the 900 block of S. Buchanan Street Thursday night. [ACPD]

Clarendon Offices For Sale — Two Clarendon office buildings at 3001 and 3003 Washington Blvd have hit the market as owner KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III winds down. “They’re winding down this REIT vehicle, and they’re returning their proceeds to their investors,” a Newmark exec told the Washington Business Journal. [WBJ]

Boulevard Opens on Wilson — “A polished American restaurant named Boulevard opened this spring along Wilson Boulevard, complete with a separate rooftop bar that’s giving a Tulum-meets-Mykonos vibe.” The 8,000-square-foot space at 2915 Wilson Boulevard, the former Wilson Hardware, features bao bun sliders, pasta, sushi rolls and a third-story rooftop bar called Solset. [Eater]

Plane Pizza Party — Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight delayed at National Airport got an unexpected treat: the pilot “stepped off the plane, ordered pizza for the entire flight, then served it to each passenger himself,” the airline said. [Fox 5]

Douglas Park Garbage Faceoff — “Garbage standoff in Douglas Park: American Disposal faced off with Bates on the right to [s]ervice Randolph [Street].” [Amac/Bluesky]

Beyer Welcomes F.C. Return — “I was grief-stricken to lose Falls Church! I am very happy to have the opportunity to represent this wonderful community again,” U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) told the Falls Church News-Press. The April 16 redistricting referendum moves Falls Church back into Beyer’s 8th Congressional District, which spans “from Arlington to Yorktown” under the new map. [Falls Church News-Press]

Spanberger Signs Assault Weapons Ban — “Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed legislation banning the sale and manufacture of certain semi-automatic firearms, prompting immediate lawsuits from gun-rights groups.” The law, which takes effect July 1, makes it a misdemeanor to buy, sell, transfer, import or manufacture an “assault firearm,” defined to include semi-automatic rifles or pistols accepting magazines of more than 15 rounds. The NRA and U.S. Department of Justice have both filed or pledged legal challenges. It’s one of a number of bills signed by Spanberger last week. [WTVR, Virginia Mercury, WDBJ, WTOP]

Trump’s Heroes Garden Planned — “President Donald Trump plans to build an exhibit of statues featuring prominent Americans in a tightly regulated park along the Potomac River, potentially opening a new legal fight over whether his administration is ignoring the approvals process that typically governs Washington’s monumental core.” The National Garden of American Heroes would be built in West Potomac Park. Survey work has also begun at the proposed triumphal arch site between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. [Associated Press]

World-Record Fireworks Eyed — “Trump allies want to smash the Guinness World Record for the world’s biggest fireworks show, planning over 30 minutes of pyrotechnics in D.C. this July 4.” Breaking the record — set in the Philippines in 2016 — will take more than 810,904 fireworks. The day has been declared a National Special Security Event, with the Secret Service taking the lead on coordinating security. [Axios]

Single-Stair Plan Advances — “This week, the state’s Board of Housing and Community Development advanced a proposal to allow single stairways in four-story buildings, setting it up for potential adoption in the next state code requirements.” Backers say the change could unlock housing on smaller lots, while firefighters have raised safety concerns. [Virginia Mercury]

Commercial Space Rebounds — “Commercial space across Greater Washington continues to fill up as companies move beyond remote work.” CBRE’s Ian Anderson said regional office, retail and industrial occupancy has risen for three consecutive quarters, totaling 3 million square feet, with the gains mostly concentrated in Northern Virginia. [WBJ]

Homelessness Ticks Up — “Homelessness in the D.C. region ticked up slightly from 2025 to 2026, according to a new report from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.” The region reported 9,790 people experiencing homelessness, up 131 or about 1% from 2025. D.C. saw the largest numerical increase, and Montgomery County saw the largest decline (down 26%). [WTOP]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 95 today, with southwest winds 1–10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. Overnight will be mostly clear with a low around 72. [NWS]

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  • Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. The ARLnow staff byline is used for the Morning Notes and reporting done by an editor or other member of our full-time staff.