ARLnow.com | ARLnow

County Tax Rate to Drop By a Penny

Published April 17, 2014 at 9:50AM | Updated April 17, 2014 at 12:04PM

The County Board last night directed the County Manager to reduce the tax rate in its Fiscal Year 2015 budget from $1.006 per every $100 in assessed value to $0.996.

That penny corresponds to about $6.6 million in reduced revenue for the county. However, the tax and fee burden on the average Arlington taxpayer will still rise about 4.6 percent, thanks to an increase in property assessments and increases in solid waste and water-sewer fees.

Around Town

RedRocks ‘Relaunches’ On Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published April 16, 2014 at 4:45PM

The restaurant, located in the Penrose Square shopping center at 2501 Columbia Pike, is “relaunching” after a year in business due to lower-than-expected sales, according to co-owner Doug Baj.

“It’s been a little bit challenging, the whole Columbia Pike corridor,” Baj said. “I’m probably not the only business owner to voice that.”

Feature

Disrupt Fitness: Fresh, Fit Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published April 16, 2014 at 3:30PM | Updated April 22, 2014 at 4:14PM

Editor’s Note: The following biweekly column is sponsored and written by Disrupt Fitness.

Maybe it’s a backlash against a nation full of fast and processed foods. Or maybe it’s to counteract the sedentary desk-job lifestyle that tends to come with a career.

Events

E-CARE Recycling Event Set for Saturday

By ARLnow.com

Published April 16, 2014 at 2:20PM

The event is held every spring and fall at Thomas Jefferson Middle School (125 S. Old Glebe Road). The E-CARE on Saturday is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“E-CARE is an event where Arlington residents can safely dispose of household hazardous materials and recycle bikes, small metal items, shoes, clothing and bed frames among other things,” according to an event listing.

Feature

Arlington Pet of the Week: Thor and Loki

By ARLnow.com

Published April 16, 2014 at 12:30PM

This week’s Pet(s) of the Week are two pups who share a house and the names of Norse gods.

Here’s what Thor and Loki’s owner had to say about her divine dogs:

News

Street Closed Due to Nauck Gas Leak

By ARLnow.com

Published April 16, 2014 at 11:40AM

Initial reports suggest a public works crew struck a one-inch gas line on the 2100 block of S. Pollard Street, near Fort Barnard Park and the intersection with S. Walter Reed Drive.

Arlington County police and firefighters are on the scene. Washington Gas was considering ordering an evacuation of houses in a two block radius, but measuring devices indicated that the gas had dissipated, according to scanner traffic.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 16, 2014 at 9:05AM | Updated April 16, 2014 at 9:26AM

Arlington Has Highest Tax Burden for the Poor — Arlington County has the highest tax burden for low income people in the D.C. area, according to a new study. In response, County Board Chair Jay Fisette suggested that the higher taxes go to providing more services, like affordable housing and better public schools, compared to other jurisdictions. [WAMU]

Op-Ed: Lower The Tax Rate — Local fiscal watchdog Wayne Kubicki says that the the County Board should reduce the property tax rate by 1.5 cents by utilizing part of the $37.1 million in unspent funds left over from Fiscal Year 2014. Kubicki suggests calling the tax rate reduction a “Vihstadt Dividend.” [InsideNoVa]

News

County Still Reviewing Sky-High Real Estate Assessments

By ARLnow.com

Published April 15, 2014 at 3:55PM

Rien Tong in Clarendon in 2014 (file photo)

ARLnow.com first reported in Februrary that numerous businesses in the Clarendon area — mostly bars and restaurants — saw their real estate assessments skyrocket this year, in one case nearly 200 percent. A week later, the county announced that it would review “all commercial real property assessments with a 50 percent or greater increase from calendar year 2013.”

That review is continuing, with Donnellan telling the Board that she had “no projection as to when it would be completed.” In an earlier interview with ARLnow.com, Rick Melman, Arlington’s director of real estate assessment, said he expected the review to wrap up by the end of May.

Feature

Ask Adam: Top 7 Ways to Win a Bidding War

By ARLnow.com

Published April 15, 2014 at 2:30PM

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Adam Gallegos of Arlington-based real estate firm Arbour Realty, voted one of Arlington Magazine’s Best Realtors of 2013 & 2014. Please submit your questions via email.

Q. My wife and I are in the North Arlington market for a single family home and have dealt with the frustrations of losing out on competitive situations. We have lost a few homes recently while bidding 3-4 percent above ask, waiving all contingencies, writing a heartfelt letter, putting down a large EMD along with 20 percent down payment, yet we were still not even the top three contenders with our offer.

Weather

Freeze Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published April 15, 2014 at 1:30PM

Temperatures are expected to fall throughout the day and drop below freezing tonight, prompting forecasters to issue a freeze warning.

The freeze warning is in effect for Arlington and the rest of the D.C. area until 9:00 tomorrow morning. Periods of rain and perhaps even a brief bout of snow is expected between now and then, as a cold front passes through the area.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 15, 2014 at 9:45AM | Updated April 15, 2014 at 10:02AM

Arlington Family Returns to Boston Marathon — The Walls family of Arlington will be returning to Boston this week to finish the marathon they didn’t get to complete last year because of the April 15 bombings. John Walls was in the grandstands on Boylston Street, waiting for wife Cindy and daughter Katie to cross the finish line, when the first bomb exploded across the street. John captured video of the ensuing chaos on his smartphone. Cindy and Katie were among the thousands of runners who did not get a chance to finish the race. They’re running again this year. [WTOP]

Dozens of Arlingtonians to Compete in Marathon — A record 112 runners from Arlington are signed up to run the 2014 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21. The race is the world’s oldest annual marathon and widely considered the world’s most prestigious. [InsideNoVa]

News

Howard Dean to Campaign for Don Beyer in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published April 14, 2014 at 6:00PM | Updated February 13, 2024 at 11:26AM

Former Vermont governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean will be coming to Arlington tomorrow (Tuesday) to campaign for congressional candidate Don Beyer.

Dean is scheduled to attend a “spring picnic” for Beyer at the Overlee Community Association clubhouse (6020 Lee Highway) from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The event is free but RSVPs are requested.