Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

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Review board criticizes new changes in requirements for historic district applications

By Scott McCaffrey
The Febrey-Lothrop estate on Wilson Blvd was razed before achieving historic-district status (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Changes to the form used to seek historic-district status for Arlington properties may make the process more onerous for applicants.

That was the view of a number of Historical Affairs & Landmark Review Board (HALRB) members, who were informed of the change by staff on Feb. 19 — three months after the revisions went into place.

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Federal workers pack Arlington town hall as county braces for impacts of DOGE

By Dan Egitto and Scott McCaffrey
A town hall for federal workers and contractors at Central Library in February (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Over 200 people packed a standing-room-only town hall yesterday (Tuesday) to discuss how federal workforce cuts are personally impacting Arlington residents.

The event for federal employees and contractors came as Arlington County is considering an $11.5 million increase to its budget stabilization reserve in response to ongoing federal shake-ups.

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Historically Black neighborhoods fight to preserve community in Arlington

By Scott McCaffrey
Mural at Langston-Brown Comunity Center (screenshot via NAACP presentation)

Facing ongoing gentrification issues, Arlington’s historically Black communities are trying to preserve the social cohesiveness that helped residents triumph over past struggles.

“It used to be [that] when something happened, the community coalesced. It’s not what it used to be — some people don’t want to be bothered,” said Wilma Jones, who has written extensively about her Halls Hill/High View Park community.

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County Board votes 4-1 to advertise 1-cent increase in real-estate tax rate

By Scott McCaffrey
2025 County Board (screenshot via Arlington County)

County Board members on Tuesday night voted 4-1 to advertise a 1-cent increase to Arlington’s real-estate tax rate.

That compares to no increase proposed by County Manager Mark Schwartz, and would, if fully adopted, raise a typical homeowner’s tax bill 4.7% year-over-year.

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County leaders promise ‘honest conversation’ on Va. Square ART-bus battle

By Scott McCaffrey
ART buses move through the Quincy site in Virginia Square in 2023 (via BVSCA)

County Board members have promised more follow-up with residents who lived with the contentious placement of Arlington Transit buses on a N. Quincy Street government parcel.

“We need to do an after-action evaluation,” Board Chair Takis Karantonis said on Saturday after the matter was brought up during the Board’s public comment period.

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New Arlington climate policy adopted as advocates press for aggressive action

By Scott McCaffrey
Flooding from July 8, 2019 storm in Arlington (via Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board has unanimously adopted a new policy statement on the county’s response to changing climate conditions.

But some on the same side of the issue as the five elected officials urged them to move even more quickly and aggressively.

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News

APS may shutter ‘Integration Station’ program for coming school year

By Scott McCaffrey
An Integration Station classroom (via APS)

Pre-K students attending Arlington’s Integration Station program could be moved to neighborhood-based classrooms next year.

Last week, parents were informed that Arlington Public Schools’ new budget proposal will include moving students currently attending Integration Station — at 4770 Langston Blvd — “closer to their home schools” within the district.

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Melwood affordable housing project approved in 4-0 County Board vote

By Scott McCaffrey
Rendering of Melwood site redevelopment proposal (via Melwood and Wesley Housing)

County Board members on Saturday (Feb. 22) approved zoning changes needed for Melwood and Wesley Housing to move forward with a controversial mixed-use project near Crystal City.

The 4-0 vote, with one abstention, allows for plans to build a five-story building with 105 committed-affordable units to move forward. It came after nearly five hours of public comment and Board discussion.

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School funding, tax rates keys to budget discussion in Falls Church

By Scott McCaffrey
Feb. 19, 2025, City Council agenda-setting meeting (screenshot via Falls Church)

It may come down to more school funding or homeowner tax relief as Falls Church city leaders start mulling over budget options for the coming year.

Although the formal presentation of draft city and school-system budgets is more than a month off, city officials now have a better idea of the fiscal condition of the 2.2-square-mile locality.

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NEW: $1.7B Arlington budget proposal calls for higher meals tax, restrained schools transfer

By Scott McCaffrey
County Manager Mark Schwartz (screenshot via Arlington County)

No tax-rate rise for property owners, but increases in the meals tax and charges for some county services, are part of the $1.69 billion draft fiscal 2026 budget unveiled Saturday (Feb. 22) by Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz.

The proposal represents an increase of 2.2% from the current spending package. Schwartz said it aims for a balance between meeting core needs, addressing concerns from homeowners about tax burdens, and contingency planning for uncertainty in federal spending and the economy.

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Clarendon’s legacy of ‘Little Saigon’ could receive historic marker

By Scott McCaffrey
A Vietnamese-operated shop at Wilson Blvd and N. Hudson Street, circa 1987 (photo by Michael Horsley, via Echoes of Little Saigon Project)

A marker celebrating a former cluster of Vietnamese businesses known as “Little Saigon” could be coming soon to Clarendon.

The concept design for a tabletop marker saluting the collection of Vietnamese restaurants and stores that once flourished in the neighborhood received approval from Arlington’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) on Wednesday.

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