Author: Dan Egitto

Dan Egitto is an editor and reporter at ARLnow. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously reported at the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.

News

Arlington has failed to collect over $1M in alarm registration fees over the past few years

By Dan Egitto and Jared Serre
A Ring alarm keypad (photo via Ring)

Arlington has failed to collect more than $1 million in security alarm registration fees over the past four years, according to county data.

The Arlington County Board passed an ordinance in 2020 requiring all alarm owners to pay a $25 annual registration fee for every alarm system. Based on the estimated 13,492 systems in the county at the time, the county was expected to generate an additional $337,000 in revenue every year.

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News

More clean energy, new emergency management sites proposed in $4.5B Arlington plan

By Dan Egitto
A meeting on the proposed 2025-2034 CIP (via Arlington County/YouTube)

A proposed $4.5 billion investment plan for Arlington County includes more investment in clean energy, mental health services and emergency preparedness over the next decade.

The proposal, presented by County Manager Mark Schwartz on Tuesday, is nearly $600 million bigger than the previous 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) passed in 2022. It involves the county taking on more debt, including $174 million in bond referenda for voters to consider in November.

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News

Stronger pedestrian and bike safety measures proposed for busy Rosslyn road

By Dan Egitto
N. Lynn Street and 19th Street N. (via Arlington County)

Bicyclist and pedestrian safety upgrades are slated to come to a portion of N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn.

People have until Wednesday, June 5 to submit feedback on a resurfacing project focused on Lynn between 17th and 19th streets.

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News

Radio show with AIM origins earns national recognition

By Dan Egitto
WERA control room in 2015 (Courtesy of Paul LeValley/AIM)

A radio show that got its start at Arlington Independent Media has received recognition at the national level.

“Choose to be Curious,” run by former AIM president and producer Lynn Borton, won the Alliance for Community Media Foundation‘s Hometown Media Award for best audio programming by an independent producer. The award will be formally presented in June at a conference in San Jose, Calif.

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News

Office-to-apartment conversions in Arlington’s sights as new project opens in Skyline

By Dan Egitto
Three Collective apartment towers, converted from offices, on Leesburg Pike in Skyline (courtesy of Private Label)

The first of three towers in a major office-to-residential conversion project has opened in Skyline.

Three Collective, a trio of older, 16-story buildings converted to apartments on the 5000 block of Leesburg Pike, will ultimately lease 675 units with one-, two- and three bedroom configurations. Resident amenities include a large indoor dog park, a bowling alley, a VR gaming lounge and arcade, “social kitchens” and an indoor/outdoor amphitheater, a press release says.

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News

Looser parking restrictions approved for Arlington businesses

By Dan Egitto
Parking meter in a performance parking zone in Ballston (staff photo)

Looser parking restrictions for businesses have arrived in Arlington.

The Arlington County Board unanimously voted on Tuesday to reduce parking minimums for many commercial establishments, while also removing some red tape around off-site parking and shared parking lots.

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Events

Armed Forces Cycling Classic returning to Crystal City and Clarendon next week

By Dan Egitto
Armed Forces Cycling Classic (image via Armed Forces Cycling Classic)

Top cycling teams from around the country and abroad are coming to Arlington next week for the 26th Armed Forces Cycling Classic.

The races begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 1 with the non-competitive Challenge Ride in Crystal City, open to hobbyists, serious competitors and Corporate Challenge teams alike. Following that is the women’s pro/amateur Crystal Cup race at 10:25 a.m. and the men’s Crystal Cup at noon.

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News

Arlington parks remain No. 5 in national ‘ParkScore’ rankings

By Dan Egitto
Walking path in Lacey Woods Park on a sunny day (staff photo)

Arlington’s parks have maintained their ranking as some of the best in the country for the seventh year in a row.

Arlington ranks fifth in the national “ParkScore” rankings released today — the same spot that it held last year, but behind its No. 3 ranking in 2022. The county’s parks have ranked among the top 5 in the nation since 2018.

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News

Eminent domain fight heats up over Columbia Pike property

By Dan Egitto
Sandra Fortson, conservator for the owner of 1802 Columbia Pike, speaking to the County Board on May 18, 2024 (via Arlington County/YouTube)

Arlington’s efforts to take a privately owned property on Columbia Pike are attracting mounting criticism.

An Arlington County Board candidate, the Arlington View Civic Association, an anti-Missing Middle group, and the property’s conservator have all taken aim at ongoing eminent domain proceedings at 1802 Columbia Pike.

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Around Town

Puppet shop seeks new location as Crystal City Underground set to close

By Dan Egitto
Puppet Heaven in the Crystal City Underground (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Alban Odoulamy has been selling puppets out of his shop in the Crystal City Underground for 28 years.

Opening as “La Marionette” in April 1996, that shop — now Puppet Heaven at 1750 Crystal Drive — has shifted locations over decades, but it’s always stayed in the subterranean mall. However, following last month’s announcement that all shops must vacate the shopping area, what Odoulamy says is the D.C. area’s only dedicated puppet store is one of many businesses in need of a new home.

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Around Town

New restaurant and bar opens in former ‘Rebellion on the Pike’ space

By Dan Egitto
An empty box hangs in place of a sign a few weeks after Cornerstone restaurant opened at 2900 Columbia Pike in April (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A new restaurant and bar has opened at the former site of Rebellion on the Pike.

Cornerstone opened its doors last month at 2900 Columbia Pike, serving up hearty plates like chicken pot pie, beef chili and seafood pasta along with beers, wines and signature cocktails at its full bar.

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News

More sexual health outreach needed, Arlington LGBTQ+ group tells county

By Dan Egitto
Doctor on a computer (Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash)

An Arlington LGBTQ+ group is calling for better county outreach related to sexual health.

Equality Arlington, which advocated for greater county spending on LGBTQ+ issues this budget cycle, applauded a new $25,000 marketing budget set aside for Arlington Public Health. The group hopes this funding can increase awareness about sexual health testing, prevention and treatment services including a county STI clinic.

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