Alex Koma | ARLnow

Following Amazon’s Big Announcement, JBG Smith Sketches Out Plans for New ‘National Landing’

Published November 13, 2018 at 11:40AM | Updated November 13, 2018 at 1:00PM

A multimodal transit hub planned for Crystal City to coincide with Amazon's arrival. (via JBG Smith)

(Updated at 1 p.m.) Amazon’s arrival in Crystal City and Pentagon City seems set to completely transform developments already planned for the area.

The company’s big announcement today (Tuesday) that it would split its planned second headquarters between Arlington and New York City represents a major windfall for JBG Smith, the largest property owner across the newly dubbed “National Landing” — an area including Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard. The developer had long sought to fill thousands of square feet of vacant office space in the neighborhoods, much of which will now presumably be occupied by Amazon’s 25,000 workers attached to the project.

News

BREAKING: Amazon Will Split ‘HQ2’ Between Crystal City, Long Island City

By Alex Koma

Published November 13, 2018 at 9:57AM | Updated November 13, 2018 at 10:51AM

(Updated at 10:35 a.m.) After months of breathless speculation, Amazon has made it official and announced that it is coming to Arlington — but the county isn’t alone in winning the tech giant’s second headquarters.

The tech giant announced today (Tuesday) that it will split its $5 billion investment for an “HQ2” between Crystal City and Long Island City in Queens, confirming earlier reporting of the last-minute switch. Nashville will also receive 5,000 jobs as part of the arrangement.

Opinion

ARLnow Holiday Weekend Discussion

By Alex Koma

Published November 9, 2018 at 6:00PM

The long weekend is finally here, but the weather hasn’t exactly been all that welcoming.

While the rain soaking the region is set to clear out by the end of the night, the forecast calls for temperatures to drop quite low indeed for Veterans Day weekend.

Around Town

Barley Mac Waiter Lauded for Saving Patron from Choking on Cauliflower

By Alex Koma

Published November 9, 2018 at 1:45PM

Barley Mac in Rosslyn (file photo)

Barley Mac is earning high marks from diners these days for perhaps the best possible reason — one patron says a waiter at the Rosslyn restaurant saved her life a few months back.

A woman with the Yelp username “Taylor E.” posted a review of the eatery last Thursday (Nov. 1), awarding Barley Mac a full five stars not only for a quality meal, but in commemoration of the time a server at the restaurant saved her from choking on a particularly large piece of cauliflower.

News

Metro Shuts Down Crystal City, Reagan National Stations Over Holiday Weekend

By Alex Koma

Published November 9, 2018 at 10:45AM

Expect major delays on Metro’s Blue and Yellow lines this holiday weekend, as the rail service is shutting down both the Crystal City and Reagan National Airport stations to allow for some major construction work.

Starting today (Friday) and running through Monday, Metro will run shuttle buses between the Pentagon City and Braddock Road stations to compensate for the closures. Trains will operate on substantially extended headways as well, particularly on Saturday and Sunday, and Metro is warning of heavy delays across the two lines.

News

Old Glebe Civic Association Angles to Expand Its Boundaries

By Alex Koma

Published November 9, 2018 at 9:45AM

The Old Glebe Civic Association is eyeing an expansion, planning to scoop up a few additional streets from neighboring Country Club Hills.

The group is currently hoping to add about three blocks to its boundaries, targeting homes that aren’t currently part of any civic association. In particular, the OGCA is looking at adding homes along Dittmar Road as it meets 35th Street N., N. Abingdon Street as it meets 36th Street N. and two cul-de-sacs off N. Vermont Street (one on 35th Road N. and one on 36th Street N.).

Around Town

Artists Paint New Murals on Exterior of Goody’s in Clarendon

By Alex Koma

Published November 8, 2018 at 4:15PM | Updated November 9, 2018 at 8:40AM

New artwork on the walls of Goody's in Clarendon

Update, Friday at 8:30 a.m. — After this article was published, a county spokeswoman told ARLnow that zoning officials were “not aware of the mural at Goody’s.”

“A zoning enforcement inspector will be visiting the site to further investigate this matter,” spokeswoman Helen Duong wrote in an email.

News

JUST IN: Two Washington-Lee Students Charged for Posting Baseless School Shooting Threats

By Alex Koma

Published November 8, 2018 at 2:50PM

A pair of students at Washington-Lee High School are now facing criminal charges after they allegedly posted baseless threats to carry out a shooting at the school on social media.

Arlington Police say the two students posted a Snapchat video last Wednesday (Oct. 31) which “contained verbal and written threats of a possible shooting at the school.”

Around Town

Wendy’s on Columbia Pike Closes for Major Renovations

By Alex Koma

Published November 8, 2018 at 1:45PM

Wendy's on Columbia Pike, under renovation

The Wendy’s on Columbia Pike has temporarily closed for major renovations.

Workers are currently in the process of fully overhauling the fast food restaurant, located at 3431 Columbia Pike, stripping away some of its exterior and clearing out its interior as well.

News

Westmont Shopping Center on Columbia Pike Could Soon Be Torn Down, Redeveloped

By Alex Koma

Published November 8, 2018 at 10:45AM

Westmont Shopping Center on Columbia Pike

The Westmont Shopping Center, located at the intersection of S. Glebe Road and Columbia Pike, could soon be torn down and redeveloped into a new mixed-use building.

A developer has submitted plans to the county looking for permission to build a six-story building on the lot, long home to shops and restaurants including a Boston Market and an INOVA Urgent Care. The proposal calls for about 250 new apartments on the site, sitting above 23,225 square feet of retail space.

News

As Pentagon City Transitway Expansion Gains Steam, County Convenes Open House Tonight

By Alex Koma

Published November 8, 2018 at 9:45AM

Metroway buses for the Crystal City-Potomac Yard Transitway (Photo via Arlington County)

Arlington is gearing up to extend its bus rapid transit system to better connect Crystal City to Pentagon City, and county officials are inviting people to learn more about the project at a meeting tonight (Thursday).

The county is holding an open house to show off details of the planned Crystal City-Potomac Yard Transitway extension, running from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Crystal City Shops (2100 Crystal Drive).

Around Town

Health Food-Focused ‘Dirt’ Plans Expansion in Ballston Exchange Next Year

By Alex Koma

Published November 7, 2018 at 3:45PM

A rendering of Dirt, coming to the Ballston Exchange (courtesy of Dirt)

A new eatery coming to Ballston is inviting diners to eat “Dirt” — not quite literally, though.

The Miami-based restaurant plans to open its first location outside Florida in the Ballston Exchange development, located at 4121 Wilson Blvd, according to a press release.