Author: ARLnow.com

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.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Amazon Makes Local Donations — Amazon has made a some substantial recent donations to local charitable organizations. Arlington-based Doorways for Women and Families received $100,000 from Amazon “in COVID-19 relief to keep survivors safe in housing and hotels,” while newly-created Project Headphones received $75,000, which “allows us to get headphones with mics for all grade levels in @APSVirginia.” [Twitter, Twitter]

Clement Blasts ‘Missing Middle’ Housing — “‘Missing middle’ may be two words totaling 13 letters, but depending on which side of the Arlington political divide you are on, it may qualify as a single four-letter word. The proposed housing policy, which in theory aims to find ways to stop Arlington from becoming an enclave of the very wealthy with some low-cost housing thrown in as fig leaf, came under withering attack from a veteran campaigner during the recent Arlington Committee of 100 County Board debate.” [InsideNova]

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News

Work Underway on Apartment Site Across from HQ2

By ARLnow.com
Construction at 400 11th Street S. has started in Pentagon City (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Construction activity has started on a 19-story, 306-unit residential building across from Amazon’s future HQ2 in Pentagon City.

The apartment tower is being built at 400 11th Street S., next to the DoubleTree Hotel, Lenox Club apartments, a Verizon telecommunications facility, and the recently-built Altaire apartments.

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Around Town

You Can Now Get a Hurricane “To-Geaux” in Courthouse

By ARLnow.com
Bayou Bakery in Courthouse (photo courtesy Bayou Bakery)

(Updated on 9/30/20) It’s not quite the full Bourbon Street experience, since you can’t drink them on the sidewalk, but you can now get frozen Hurricane cocktails to go in Courthouse.

Bayou Bakery (1515 N. Courthouse Road) is now serving carry-out Hurricanes in 16-oz pouches, the restaurant said in a press release. Also newly available frozen: The Dude, “a White Russian meets a Mudslide.”

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Around Town

List: Businesses That Have Closed in Arlington Since the Start of the Pandemic

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3 p.m.) Some local businesses are making it through the pandemic just fine, but others are still struggling.

Restaurants — particularly those that rely on sit-down and bar business — are among the hardest hit. In New York City, a new report said that 9 in 10 restaurants couldn’t pay their August rent. Here in Arlington, one long-time local restaurant owner estimated in April that 30-40% of restaurants could ultimately close as a result of the pandemic.

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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Crystal City Water Park to Get Big Upgrade — “JBG Smith Properties is pitching a major makeover for a small park at the heart of its Crystal City holdings, envisioning some new retail and even a bar atop a water feature. The developer filed plans with Arlington County earlier this month requesting an additional 6,100 square feet of density for the 1.6-acre park, located across the street from JBG Smith’s massive ‘Central District’ project at 1770 Crystal Drive.” [Washington Business Journal, Twitter]

Vote By Mail Facts — “The first round of vote-by-mail ballots have been sent to people who requested them, but it’s not too late to request yours. Ballot applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 23. To help you understand how voting by mail works — and feel confident in submitting your ballot — we’ve broken down the facts you need to know.” [Arlington County]

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News

County Seeking Feedback for Police Practices Group

By ARLnow.com

As the nation continues to face a reckoning about race and police shootings, Arlington’s new Police Practices Group is seeking feedback on how local law enforcement is performing.

The work group has rolled out a community feedback form that allows Arlington residents to weigh in on topics like use of force, police training, body cameras, mental health, traffic enforcement and a potential civilian review board.

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Schools

APS Outlines Return Timeline, As County Considers Community Centers for Supervised Learning

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County is considering a plan to host some children of working parents in community centers for supervised learning, while Arlington Public Schools readies its plan for a return to in-person learning.

The use of community centers would be a relief valve for families that are unable to have a parent stay home during the day and do not have the means to pay for daytime child care. It would serve as an interim step until APS again offers full-time, in-person learning — whenever that may be.

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Around Town

Cafe Pizzaiolo in Shirlington to Be Replaced by ‘Neo-Neapolitan’ Pizzeria

By ARLnow.com
Cuisine from Stellina Pizzeria (Photo by Rey Lopez, courtesy Stellina)

A restaurateur and chef who both hail from Italy are planning to open a new pizzeria in Shirlington.

Antonio Matarazzo and Chef Matteo Venini will be opening an Arlington outpost of their “modern, fast-casual pizza concept, Stellina Pizzeria,” which offers a “modern interpretation of the classic pizza counter,” according to an announcement this morning.

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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Air Force Memorial (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Amazon Buys Hotel Next to HQ2 Site — “Amazon.com Inc. has purchased the Residence Inn by Marriott in Pentagon City with plans to demolish it and expand its second headquarters, the company tells the Washington Business Journal. Acorn Development LLC, an Amazon subsidiary, paid $148.5 million for the building and its 1.5-acre site at 550 Army Navy Drive.” [Washington Business Journal]

Trail Roundabout Now In Use — A new roundabout along the Custis Trail is now in use, improving safety at a formerly hazardous T-intersection in Bon Air Park. [Twitter]

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