Vernon Miles | ARLnow

Transportation Commission Butts Heads Over Density in Missing Middle Study

Published February 10, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated October 17, 2022 at 10:49AM

Arlington County is currently working through a plan to add more options for housing through zoning changes, but there was disagreement during a recent Transportation Commission meeting over whether greater diversity of housing types will actually help with affordability.

Staff at the Transportation Commission noted that what’s being built these days are typically either condos and apartments or huge single-family homes. Townhouses and smaller, “starter” homes are more rare, resulting in a shrinking supply of housing accessible to young families.

News

New Colonial Village Townhouses to Replace Home from the ’20s

By Vernon Miles

Published February 7, 2020 at 1:30PM | Updated February 7, 2020 at 2:15PM

Plans for the 1731 N. Veitch Street townhouses (photo via Arlington County)

Plans to build seven new townhouses on N. Veitch Street in the Colonial Village are are moving forward, replacing a farmhouse built in 1920.

Seven townhouses would fill the parcel of land at 1731 N. Veitch Street, each four-stories tall. The new townhouses aren’t part of the Colonial Village development but are considered part of the Colonial Village neighborhood.

Around Town

Arlington Church Donates $250,000 for New Home for People With Disabilities

By Vernon Miles

Published February 7, 2020 at 9:05AM

Last week a local church presented non-profit CRi with a check for $250,000 to support the building of a new home for those with mental health needs and developmental disabilities.

The donation was funded by the congregation of Grace Community Church, which holds services at Thomas Jefferson Middle School (125 S. Old Glebe Road) in Arlington.

Around Town

Taco and Tequila Joint Bartaco Under Construction in Ballston Quarter

By Vernon Miles

Published February 6, 2020 at 11:10AM

Bartaco in Ballston Quarter (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

It might not court the controversy of the new Columbia Heights Taco Bell Cantina, but national taco and tequila chain Bartaco is coming to Ballston Quarter.

The restaurant is one of the last remaining pieces for the recently-renovated mall, which has seen numerous eatery openings over the last year. It will be located adjacent to the Quarter Market food hall, with a new outdoor dining area in the Quarter Market courtyard.

Around Town

Glencarlyn Resident Fights Back Against Street Becoming Lover’s Lane

By Vernon Miles

Published February 5, 2020 at 11:10AM

4th St. S in Glencarlyn (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

If you’re looking to spice up your love life for Valentine’s Day, some Arlington residents have a very simple request: please don’t do it on 4th Street S. in the Glencarlyn neighborhood.

Used condoms and smutty doorbell camera footage are evidence of the dead-end street’s transformation into a defacto lover’s lane. It’s not the kind of crime that will make regional news, but at least one resident on 4th Street said it’s been frustrating for locals.

Around Town

“Italy is Coming” to Former Alto Fumo in Clarendon

By Vernon Miles

Published February 4, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated February 4, 2020 at 12:19PM

New signs in former Alto Fumo (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

It looks like shuttered Italian restaurant Alto Fumo (2909 Wilson Blvd) is being replaced by another Italian restaurant.

The restaurant closed earlier this month and, while at least one manager said the location was planning to reopen, the closure was permanent. Signs outside the building indicate that the new restaurant will offer options similar to Alto Fumo, however, and will open sometime this spring.

Traffic

Va. Square Bus Station Closes Pending New Pedestrian Improvements

By Vernon Miles

Published February 3, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated February 3, 2020 at 2:21PM

Washington Blvd and N. Nelson Street (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A bus station on Washington Blvd is temporarily closing for improvements to an intersection a couple blocks north of the Virginia Square Metro station.

The intersection of Washington Blvd and N. Nelson Street is considered a “hot spot” of crashes, according to an Arlington County project webpage. It’s located on the northeast corner of Quincy Park, one block from Washington-Liberty High School, and several blocks from intersections that have seen a number of notable crashes involving pedestrians.

Feature

Crystal City Startup Aims to Make Turning Homes Into Energy Generators More Accessible

By Vernon Miles

Published February 3, 2020 at 12:15PM | Updated February 5, 2020 at 8:45AM

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

A Crystal City-based startup that works to integrate energy generated at home with the electrical grid is looking to scale up operations and create a better product, thanks to new some new funding.

Around Town

Mezeh to Open Tomorrow in Ballston Quarter

By Vernon Miles

Published February 3, 2020 at 10:50AM

Mezeh in Ballston Quarter (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Fast-casual Mediterranean grill Mezeh is scheduled to open tomorrow on the Glebe Road side of Ballston Quarter mall (4238 Wilson Blvd).

The grand opening is scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with the restaurant then reopening from 5:30-8 p.m. According to a press release and signs around the restaurant, visitors can get a free bowl with purchase of a drink, though steak or lamb bowls are $1.50 extra.

News

Arlington’s Health Department Is Preparing for a Coronavirus Outbreak, Just in Case

By Vernon Miles

Published January 31, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:23AM

Coronavirus (photo via CDC/Unsplash)

With the Virginia Health Department investigating a second possible case of coronavirus in Northern Virginia, Arlington County is preparing for the worst-case scenario: a local outbreak.

Kurt Larrick, assistant director of the Arlington County Department of Human Services, said in an email that the Arlington County Public Health Department is taking several steps to monitor the disease.

News

County: Replacement of Bridges Lost in Last Year’s Flooding is Budget Dependent

By Vernon Miles

Published January 30, 2020 at 4:55PM

The return of several bridges lost in last summer’s flooding will depend on the upcoming Arlington County budget, officials tell ARLnow.

Arlington homes, businesses, parks and some infrastructure suffered significant damage last year during the July 8 flash flooding. Among the casualties of the storm were seven bridges in parks throughout Arlington.

Around Town

AIM’s Longtime Executive Director to Step Down Next Month

By Vernon Miles

Published January 30, 2020 at 11:45AM

After 27 years at Arlington Independent Media (AIM), executive director Paul LeValley is stepping down as the organization’s executive director.

In a letter to friends and colleagues, LeValley cited ongoing health concerns as the reason he’s stepping down. He plans to remain active in AIM, which holds media training classes while operating Arlington’s public access cable TV channel and local radio station WERA 96.7, as a member of the organization.