Dan Egitto | ARLnow

Road safety, environmental impacts emphasized as County Board passes $4.5B capital plan

Published July 24, 2024 at 3:30PM

County Board members discuss the FY 2025-2034 CIP (via Arlington County/YouTube)

Extra emphasis on road safety, environmental resiliency and facilities upgrades is included in the final draft of Arlington’s latest 10-year Capital Improvement Plan.

The Arlington County Board yesterday (Tuesday) approved a $4.5 billion Fiscal Year 2025-2034 CIP, outlining planned investment in county infrastructure and assets. Changes between the original proposal presented in May and the final draft include:

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Affordable housing complexes near Rosslyn and in Long Branch Creek designated as ‘revitalization areas’

By Dan Egitto

Published July 24, 2024 at 1:30PM

Units in the Marbella Apartments set for renovation (via Google Maps)

The county has designated a pair of affordable housing complexes as “revitalization areas” in an effort to help them secure more funding.

The new designation, which the Arlington County Board approved on Monday, affects renovation projects at Arna Valley View in Long Branch Creek and sites C, D and E of the Marbella Apartments project near Rosslyn. It is meant to help with a funding application at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Program.

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Land purchase for new Columbia Pike fire station approved

By Dan Egitto

Published July 24, 2024 at 11:30AM

Land at 5519 Columbia Pike, the proposed new site of Fire Station 7 (via Google Maps)

The Arlington County Board has approved a $4 million land purchase to build a new Columbia Pike fire station.

Fire Station 7 is slated to be built on two parcels of land next to Serrano Apartments at 5519 Columbia Pike — near Bailey’s Crossroads and about two miles away from the former Fire Station 7 in Fairlington that shuttered in 2019.

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Arlington trades ‘View of DC’ access in Rosslyn for $14 million Gateway Park investment

By Dan Egitto

Published July 23, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated July 23, 2024 at 11:46AM

The Central Place office tower in Rosslyn (via Google Maps)

The Arlington County Board has agreed to trade public access to the “View of DC” observation deck in exchange for a $14 million investment in a nearby park.

The deal unanimously passed yesterday (Monday) despite concerns from some community members about deprioritizing views in Rosslyn, as well as a 5-2 vote from the Arlington Planning Commission asserting that the decision is not in accord with the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

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Recovery houses for up to eight people proposed for single-family Arlington neighborhoods

By Dan Egitto

Published July 22, 2024 at 3:55PM

Certified recovery residences with up to eight people might soon be allowed in single-family Arlington neighborhoods.

With limited exceptions, the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance currently allows no more than four people to live in a single-family home unless they are “related by blood, marriage or adoption.” But a county staff report recommends changing county code to provide explicit support for recovery residences, which offer drug- and alcohol-free housing to people with substance abuse disorders.

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Fewer parking spots proposed for Clarendon apartment building, despite some objections

By Dan Egitto

Published July 22, 2024 at 1:30PM

The planned Joyce Motors project at 1020 N. Irving Street (via Arlington County)

A developer is seeking to build fewer parking spots at a Clarendon apartment building, despite objections from two civic associations.

A requested site plan amendment for the Joyce Motors project would remove a portion of a planned parking garage, reducing the number of residential parking spots from 155 to 119. Developer Orr Partners also seeks to build 10 fewer residential units — 231 as opposed to 241 — but increase the project’s gross floor area by 1,629 square feet.

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Arlington Memorial Trail project faces delays over environmental review requirements

By Dan Egitto

Published July 19, 2024 at 3:45PM

Scooting along the existing trail near Arlington National Cemetery (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A new trail connecting Columbia Pike to the Arlington Cemetery Metro station could come later than anticipated due to unexpected environmental assessment requirements.

A request to have Arlington County assume control over a portion of the Arlington Memorial Trail project — previously known as the Arlington National Cemetery Wall Trail — is scheduled for consideration at an Arlington County Board meeting on Monday.

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Proposed VHC Health expansions return for vote after delay over community concerns

By Dan Egitto

Published July 19, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated July 19, 2024 at 1:55PM

Proposed additions to VHC Health (via Arlington County)

Proposed expansions at VHC Health are returning to the Arlington County Board after community concerns led officials to postpone making a decision last month.

A requested site plan amendment would allow for the expansion of several units in the hospital, including the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department and Cardiac Cathlab. In a presentation last month, VHC Health particularly highlighted the benefits of increased ER capacity as well as improvements to behavioral health care.

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ART bus storage at Virginia Square parking lot could continue one more year

By Dan Egitto

Published July 19, 2024 at 10:30AM

The current ART bus storage area at 1425 N. Quincy Street (via Arlington County)

Temporary storage of county buses at a Virginia Square parking lot could continue for another year.

A use permit for 1425 N. Quincy Street, currently used as a storage site for 29 ART buses, was previously renewed in January and scheduled for a six-month review. Now, a county report recommends renewing the permit until July 31, 2025 — at which point work on the permanent ART Operations and Maintenance Facility in Green Valley should be complete.

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NEW: Red light cameras coming to four additional Arlington intersections

By Dan Egitto

Published July 18, 2024 at 4:45PM

Red light cameras in Rosslyn (file photo)

Red light enforcement cameras are scheduled to begin operating at four Arlington intersections starting Sept. 1.

Installation of the cameras has already begun, the county said in a press release, and they will operate at the following intersections:

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Compromise proposed for Columbia Pike property after eminent domain fight

By Dan Egitto

Published July 18, 2024 at 1:45PM | Updated July 18, 2024 at 2:02PM

Proposed easements at 1802 Columbia Pike (via Arlington County)

County staff have proposed a compromise for a Columbia Pike property that officials originally considered acquiring via eminent domain and demolishing.

An agreement with the conservator for the property at 1802 Columbia Pike is scheduled to go before the Arlington County Board on Monday.

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Amid election doubts, Arlington Democrats plan a push for turnout in progressive stronghold

By Dan Egitto

Published July 17, 2024 at 3:45PM

Election Day 2022 in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

In the face of growing election doubts within the Democratic Party, Arlington progressives are planning a push for voter turnout in what is historically a Democratic stronghold.

Arlington tends to heavily favor Democrat in presidential elections. President Joe Biden received 80.7% of Arlington votes in 2020, while Hillary Clinton carried 75.8% of the county’s votes in 2016.