Plans to redevelop a Columbia Pike retail strip as a 247-unit apartment building have fallen through.
Following a year and a half of delays and recent issues with vermin and vandalism, the would-be developer has filed to abandon former ambitions and return the Fillmore Gardens Shopping Center to its former status as a strip mall.
Over the past couple of weeks ARLnow has reported on a pair of lawsuits against Arlington County.
There’s the ongoing suit against the Missing Middle zoning changes, which has the support of at least two candidates for County Board. And there’s a lawsuit against the Pentagon City Sector Plan, by condo residents upset about proposed development on the RiverHouse site potentially being detrimental to their property values and view of D.C.
The approval of Missing Middle and the sector plan both had supporters and outspoken critics when approved unanimously by the County Board.
Both suits ultimately rely on technicalities. An appellate judge in the sector plan suit rejected more substantive arguments about the proposed development and instead nullified the plan based on an insufficiently descriptive legal notice ad. The Missing Middle suit, meanwhile, primarily argues that the changes were insufficiently advertised and inadequately studied for potential impacts.
One could argue that such suits hold the Board accountable for discrepancies in its processes, while at minimum delaying policies that some people strongly disagree with. One could also argue that it’s a waste of taxpayer money that delays policies that duly elected representatives supported and still support.
Regardless of the reasons why, today we’re asking readers: do you support these lawsuits against the county?
Photo via Joe Gratz/Flickr
Rosslyn-Based Solidcore for Sale — “A little over a year after taking over a majority stake in the fitness chain Solidcore Holdings LLC, its private equity-equity owners are reportedly exploring a sale of the Arlington company.” [Washington Business Journal]
Ballston-Based Company Expanding — “A Northern Virginia technology firm plans to establish a new 57,000-square-foot research-and-development facility across in Montgomery County to accommodate its growing workforce. [BlueHalo’s] headquarters is in Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood and it also has offices in Chantilly, Reston, Herndon and Leesburg.” [Washington Business Journal]
Low Turnout for Caucus — “Turnout of 1,941 votes was about 1.2 percent of Arlington’s 160,000 active registered voters, emblematic of a race that was both out of sight and out of mind of the large majority of the county’s residents. While there likely will be other candidates in the Nov. 5 School Board race, being endorsed by the Arlington County Democratic Committee is all but tantamount to election.” [Gazette Leader]
Commission Vote on Israel-Hamas — “Citing several factors, the Arlington County government’s Human Rights Commission has opted against taking a stance in the ongoing Israel-Hamas fighting. Activists wanted commission members to support a military ceasefire in the region. But on a 7-1 vote, commission members on May 9 decided they should contain their efforts largely within the county’s 26 square miles, leaving the planet’s 197 million other square miles to others.” [Gazette Leader]
Missing Arlington Teen — “Arlington County Police are asking the public’s help in locating [a] 15-year-old… who was last seen Saturday in the 2400 block of S. Glebe Road. Police described [him] as standing 5-foot-11, with brown eyes and black hair.” [Patch]
Marymount Commencement Recap — “Is there a doctor in the house? In the Garrett family, there are now two. Shantia Garrett, a teacher in the Baltimore city school system, earned a doctorate in education during May 12 commencement exercises for Marymount University’s College of Health and Education. Appropriately enough for Mother’s Day, Garrett became a second-generation Ed.D. holder, following in the footsteps of her mother.” [Gazette Leader]
Public Feedback on DCA Noise — “Alexandria is looking to gather more public feedback on an issue that’s impacted Old Town since the popularization of the jet engine: noise from Washington National Airport (DCA). Alexandria, Fairfax County and Prince George’s County have hired Vianair Consulting to spearhead a collaborative effort… to recommend changes to DCA airspace and flight procedures.” [ALXnow]
Metro Considering Bus Changes — “With your help, Metro has developed our #BetterBus 2025 Proposed Network, the one that better serves you! The public comment period is NOW OPEN.” [Twitter, WMATA]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and potential thunderstorms after 5pm, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high of 72°F. South winds will range from 8-11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph, with a 70% chance of precipitation and rainfall of a tenth to a quarter inch. Tuesday night brings a low of 62°F, south winds of 6-10 mph, a 90% chance of precipitation, and additional rainfall amounts between a quarter and half inch. [NWS]
We’re about a month out from summer. That means you’ve still got time for spring cleaning!
Lexi Grant, an operations manager at Well-Paid Maids, shared her go-to spring cleaning tips with WTOP News. Step one? Declutter. Get rid of items you don’t use, find space for items that need a home and organize those areas.
Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — May 13, 2024.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect showers and potential thunderstorms after 5pm, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high of 72°F. South winds will range from 8-11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph, with a 70% chance of precipitation and rainfall of a tenth to a quarter inch. Tuesday night brings more showers, possibly a thunderstorm, with a low of 62°F, south winds of 6-10 mph, a 90% chance of precipitation, and additional rainfall amounts between a quarter and half inch. See more from Weather.gov.
“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.”
– Emily Dickinson
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
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A cyclist was hurt and a man was robbed by a trio of robbery suspects over the weekend.
The wild incident started shortly before noon on Saturday, on a cul-de-sac street in the Donaldson Run neighborhood.
Say hello to the charming Topaz!
This bundle of joy is the newest Adoptable Pet of the Week and is currently in foster through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
A high school student from Arlington was recently awarded a 2024 Princeton Prize in Race Relations for her work in helping to advance racial equity within her school community.
Marlene Reyes, a junior attending Arlington Tech at the Arlington Career Center, is among 28 high school students nationwide recognized by the university for their contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their schools and communities. The prizes are awarded by region.
Here in Arlington, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of the most and least expensive townhouses sold last month (April 2024).
Most expensive townhouses sold
A forthcoming apartment building at the former site of a Wendy’s in Courthouse is named — wait for it — The Wendy.
The 231-unit building, which broke ground in late 2022, is expected to open this fall, according to signage.
Our Arlington therapy practice is thrilled to introduce Kaley Payne, B.A., Masters Intern, who currently has openings for new clients, at reduced rates:
“I am especially passionate about helping teenagers and college-aged women. As a younger therapist myself, I feel that I can connect with this demographic on a very personal level.
