Author: Jo DeVoe

News

NAACP alleges current Missing Middle proposal could run afoul of fair housing laws

By Jo DeVoe
A duplex in Halls Hill (via Arlington County)

(Updated at 6:15 p.m.) The Arlington branch of the NAACP — previously a champion of Arlington’s Missing Middle housing proposal — is claiming the proposal now being deliberated is in danger of violating federal and state fair housing laws.

After hearing nearly 200 public speeches and convening three meetings in mid-January, the Arlington County Board approved a request to authorize hearings on proposed zoning changes that would allow small-scale multifamily buildings with up to six homes in districts zoned exclusively for single-family detached homes.

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News

Brooklyn Bagel pleads for parking after curbside spots ceded to bike lane in Courthouse

By Jo DeVoe
A new bike lane outside Brooklyn Bagel Baker in Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Many drivers have circled around blocks in Arlington, looking for a quick parking spot to slide into and pick up a mobile food order.

Or they may have skirted around a car double parked in a bike or vehicle travel lane, hazards flashing, rather than waiting for a spot to appear.

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News

EXCLUSIVE: Key School community reeling from reportedly botched response to written, racist threat of gun violence

By Jo DeVoe
Key Elementary School in 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated on 2/3/23 at 11:55 a.m.) Many parents of children at Key Elementary School are outraged at the way a possible threat of gun violence by a student was handled by administrators.

The mother of the child who was targeted told ARLnow what happened the day the threat occurred, on Jan. 19, and the fallout. Parents say school leaders took too long to involve the police and are now providing piecemeal updates that raise more questions than answer them.

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News

APS parents plan march to show support for students and demand action on youth opioid epidemic

By Jo DeVoe
Police and firefighters on scene of a reported overdose at Wakefield High School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 9:55 p.m. on 2/3/23) A coalition of parents will be marching on Friday at Wakefield High School to encourage students not to use drugs and to demand a countywide response to in-school opioid use.

The planned silent demonstration responds to an apparent drug overdose on school grounds discovered yesterday morning (Tuesday). An unconscious student was found in a boys bathroom and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Medics evaluated four additional kids at the school and students were released early so police could conduct an investigation.

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News

New pedestrian plaza and office renovations in Crystal City to be completed this spring

By Jo DeVoe
The renovated Century Center buildings, now called 'Crystal & Clark' (staff photo)

Renovations to a pair of office buildings in Crystal City, including the construction of a new pedestrian plaza, are set to wrap up this spring.

Work kicked off last year at the Century Center towers, located at the intersection of Crystal Drive and S. Clark Street. Some older retail space between the buildings, previously known as Century One (2450 Crystal Drive) and Century Two (2461 S. Clark Street), was torn down to make room for the plaza.

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News

Arlington author wins two literary awards for her novel ‘Freewater’

By Jo DeVoe
Amina Luqman-Dawson (courtesy photo)

Fairlington author Amina Luqman-Dawson has received two awards for her novel, “Freewater.”

The middle-grade book about a secret community of formerly enslaved people living in the wilderness received both the John Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Book Award from the American Library Association. The awards were announced yesterday (Monday).

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News

Food security coalition gets to work tackling hunger in Arlington

By Jo DeVoe
Arlington Assembly of God kitchen (courtesy of Stephanie Hopkins)

A new coalition will tackle how Arlington nonprofits and county government distribute food and support people who are food insecure.

The group held its kick-off meeting at Central Library last week, attended by 65 people. It will be focused on three areas: improving food access, increasing outreach to the community and making systemic change through policy advocacy.

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Feature

Arlington Economic Development trains entrepreneurs in business basics with two-day ‘bootcamp’

By Jo DeVoe
Arlington Economic Development small business 'bootcamp' on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 (staff photo)

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow, Startup Monday is a weekly column that highlights Arlington-based startups, founders, and local tech news. Monday Properties is proudly featuring 1515 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn. 

Last week, 15 entrepreneurs spent two days training in a business “bootcamp” hosted by the BizLaunch team of Arlington Economic Development.

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News

Plaza’s public peeing problem prompts possible portable provision, permanent potty planning process

By Jo DeVoe
The Shelton Apartments and the John Robinson, Jr. Town Square (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The area around the John Robinson, Jr. Town Square has a public urination problem.

The square used to be a grassy area with trees, until it was closed off for the construction of the neighborhood hub. With nowhere else to go, people began relieving themselves on the sidewalk along 24th Street S., we’re told.

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Workers laying foundation for new ART bus facility in Green Valley

By Jo DeVoe
ART Bus facility construction in Green Valley (via Arlington County)

(Updated 3:40 p.m.) Work is ramping up on a new Arlington County bus maintenance building and parking garage in Green Valley.

Crews are set to wrap up laying the foundation for the Arlington Transit (ART) Operations and Maintenance Facility at the end of this month, says Dept. of Environmental Services spokeswoman Alyson Jordan Tomaszewski.

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News

Del. Hope files legislation to exempt scouting troops from personal property taxes

By Jo DeVoe

Local Boy Scouts of America and Girls Scouts troops in Virginia may get some tax relief — if a local lawmakers succeeds in modifying the state constitution.

Inspired by the testimony of one Arlington Boy Scout, Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) has introduced legislation that would exempt property owned and used by the organization “solely for the purpose of supporting” troops from personal property taxes.

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News

A recent mini-rash of student deaths is part of deepening mental health crisis among local youth

By Jo DeVoe
The Arlington Public Schools Syphax Education Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

There has been a mini-spate of deaths and reported suicide attempts among Arlington Public Schools students in the last month, ARLnow has learned.

A middle schooler died after Christmas and a high schooler died in mid-January, according to sources in the school community.

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