Dan Egitto | ARLnow

Project to slow down turning vehicles seeks feedback on effectiveness

Published September 23, 2024 at 1:15PM

An intersection included in Arlington's hardened centerlines safety pilot (via Arlington County)

Arlington County is collecting feedback on a pilot program meant to improve pedestrian safety by causing turning vehicles to slow down.

Respondents have until Wednesday to submit their thoughts on the impacts of the centerline hardening project, which installed raised speed humps and flexible delineator posts at five busy intersections.

News

Arlington prosecutor launches task force for possible voter intimidation and fraud

By Dan Egitto

Published September 20, 2024 at 2:00PM

Poll workers check-in voters at the David Brown Planetarium polling site for June 2024 Democratic primaries (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Arlington’s top prosecutor is stepping up measures “to ensure safe and fair elections” in November.

The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington and Falls Church announced today (Friday) that it has established a task force “to rapidly respond to and investigate any reports of voter intimidation, interference, or fraud.”

News

Failure to yield is top cause of “near miss” traffic incidents in Arlington, study finds

By Dan Egitto

Published September 20, 2024 at 11:45AM

All-way stop sign at N. Quincy Street and 9th Street N. in 2023 (courtesy Arlington County Dept. of Environmental Services)

A new analysis of incidents where people were nearly hit with a vehicle finds that “failure to yield” is the No. 1 risk factor in Arlington.

The study by Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets, a pedestrian safety advocacy group, found that roughly 70% of responses listed this issue as the top cause of “near misses,” followed by speeding and obstructed bike lanes.

News

A local woman is competing on the USA Network competition show “The Anonymous”

By Dan Egitto

Published September 20, 2024 at 9:00AM | Updated September 20, 2024 at 9:33AM

Bismah Ahmed competes on Episode 4 of "The Anonymous" (courtesy of Rico Torres/USA Network)

A member of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors has landed a spot on a USA Network competition show.

Bismah Ahmed, a lobbyist who also serves as vice chair of advocacy at the Chamber, is a contestant on “The Anonymous” — a reality show of strategy and deception in which players compete for a prize of up to $100,000.

News

How office-to-apartment conversions could become easier in Arlington

By Dan Egitto

Published September 19, 2024 at 3:55PM

WeWork / WeLive in Crystal City, in 2016 (file photo)

Arlington County is considering ways to make it easier to turn office buildings into apartment buildings.

A request to advertise public hearings on a new county policy and zoning changes related to office-to-residential conversions received unanimous approval from the Arlington County Board on Saturday.

Events

Glencarlyn Library to celebrate over 100 years with festivities this weekend

By Dan Egitto

Published September 19, 2024 at 1:15PM

Glencarlyn Library (via Arlington Public Library)

Glencarlyn Library is celebrating over 100 years in operation with a rededication and family friendly festivities this weekend.

The library opened in the fall of 1923. It will honor its extensive history on Saturday afternoon with displays of historic photos, a talk about Glencarlyn in the 1920s and remarks from officials including Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey, a press release says.

News

Despite county efforts, permitting problems persist in Arlington

By Dan Egitto

Published September 19, 2024 at 9:45AM

The Permit Arlington Center at 2100 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Though Arlington has been taking steps to streamline its permitting process, evidence of continued inefficiencies and delays can be seen at organizations around the county.

Just last month, two business owners — one aiming to open a new restaurant and nightclub in Clarendon and another opening a retro sports bar in Shirlington — told ARLnow that a lack of county permits was hindering their progress.

News

Additional density and more corporate hotel rooms approved for Pentagon City

By Dan Egitto

Published September 18, 2024 at 3:55PM | Updated September 18, 2024 at 4:11PM

The current office buildings at 601 and 701 12th Street S. (via Google Maps)

More corporate hotel rooms and up to 1.8 million square feet of development are on track to come to Pentagon City following votes last weekend.

An approved amendment to the Pentagon City Phased Development Site Plan would allow for the redevelopment of two aging office buildings just east of the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. The change does not come with specific plans for new development, but tentative proposals call for up to 1,675 new dwelling units and 70,000 square feet of retail space.

News

Feedback sought on 1,515-unit RiverHouse development plan in Pentagon City

By Dan Egitto

Published September 17, 2024 at 3:45PM

Renderings of proposed development at RiverHouse (via Arlington County)

Arlington is collecting feedback on a plan to bring over 1,500 new apartments to the RiverHouse development in Pentagon City.

Respondents have until Sunday, Sept. 22 to submit feedback on a site plan application to bring 1,515 more apartments to 1111 Army Navy Drive, 1400 S. Joyce Street and 1600 S. Joyce Street. This round of public feedback kicked off on Sept. 9.

News

Monroe Park set to expand in $900,000 property purchase

By Dan Egitto

Published September 17, 2024 at 1:15PM

Monroe Park (via Google Maps)

The Arlington County Board has approved a $900,000 property purchase in order to expand Monroe Park.

This is the second such purchase the Board has greenlighted in the Douglas Park neighborhood this summer, following a $1.1 million acquisition of a property next to the Douglas Park recreation area in July.

News

Arlington accepts $20.7M for work on new Crystal City Metro entrance

By Dan Egitto

Published September 17, 2024 at 11:15AM

A rendering of the planned new entrance to the Crystal City Metro station (via Arlington County)

Arlington has accepted an additional $20.7 million in federal and state funds as work on the new entrance to the Crystal City Metro station moves forward.

The Arlington County Board approved the hefty appropriation on Saturday. The Federal Transit Administration provided 80% of the funds, while 20% comes from the Virginia Dept. of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).

News

JUST IN: Amazon going back to five days a week in office

By Dan Egitto

Published September 16, 2024 at 3:45PM

Amazon HQ2 in May 2023 (photo courtesy Amazon)

Amazon has announced plans to return employees to working in person five days a week.

The company, whose Arlington employees currently work from HQ2 at least three days a week, is “going to return to being in the office the way we were before the onset of COVID.”