An Arlington chef and business owner from New Orleans is feeling both pain and hometown pride in the aftermath of the city’s terror attack on New Year’s Day.
David Guas, owner of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery in Courthouse, first heard about the tragedy on Wednesday morning. Hours earlier, an attacker had driven a truck into a New Year’s Eve crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and wounding about 30 others.
A person died and another was hospitalized after a major crash on the GW Parkway on New Year’s Day.
The crash happened around around 11 p.m. on the southbound Parkway near Roosevelt Island and exits to I-66 and Route 50.
The accession of JD Spain, Sr., to the County Board on Wednesday (Jan. 1) marks the first time in nearly 45 years that the seat changed hands via a general, rather than special, election.
Spain’s three immediate predecessors in the seat — Libby Garvey, Barbara Favola and James Hunter III — each came to office via a special election after their predecessors resigned:
Requiem for the Underground — “Two weeks before her own lease ran out, Elaine Demos could do little but pace inside her shoebox of a gift store and gaze out at what was left of the Crystal City Underground. This suburban, nominally subterranean Northern Virginia shopping mall — a maze of kitschy mom-and-pop stores below office buildings and above a Metro station — had once seemed like something from the future.” [Washington Post]
Big Crash Near Chain Bridge — Yesterday, from Dave Statter: “N. Glebe Road just before Chain Bridge in Arlington is now shut due to a water main break. Hmmm. Is that related to this morning’s chain reaction crash involving as many as 14 vehicles? That occurred around 7:45 a.m.” [Twitter]
New Year’s Eve Road Rage — “The male victim and male suspect were each driving their vehicles when they became involved in a dispute at the intersection of Crystal Drive and Potomac Avenue. The victim and suspect then parked and exited their vehicles in the 3600 block of S. Glebe Road where a physical altercation ensued during which the suspect struck the victim with an unknown object, causing a laceration. The suspect then damaged the victim’s glasses, and stole the victim’s electronics.” [ACPD]
Local Alcohol-Free Options — “A quarter of Americans say they completed Dry January in 2024, according to CivicScience, an opinion analytics platform. If you’re feeling sober-curious this year, or you’re among the 38% of people who never have alcohol, these restaurants have just the mocktail for you.” [Arlington Magazine]
Johns Hopkins Expanding to F.C. — “After opening its second location in the commonwealth in December at 4102 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington, the Baltimore health system announced its third location will be in Falls Church. Johns Hopkins recently inked a lease with Trammell Crow Co. for 68,000 square feet at The Wellness Center, 7171 Cardinal Lane. It’s part of the 1.2 million-square-foot West Falls mixed-use project.” [WBJ]
It’s Friday — Expect rain and snow showers after 1pm, with mostly cloudy skies, a high near 42, and southwest winds of 5-11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. There’s a 50% chance of precipitation. For Friday night, there’s a slight chance of snow showers before 10pm, clearing up to mostly clear skies and a low of 25. The northwest wind will be around 16 mph, gusting up to 26 mph, and the precipitation chance is 20%. [NWS]
Expect a days-long closure of N. Glebe Road near Chain Bridge due to emergency water main repairs.
The busy commuter route was closed Thursday afternoon between Chain Bridge Road and Military Road. Outbound traffic from D.C. is being diverted onto Chain Bridge Road, while northbound traffic heading toward the District is being rerouted onto Military Road.
The old Days Inn sign is down and a new fence is up at an Arlington Blvd (Route 50) site slated for redevelopment.
However, there are still no active construction or demolition permits for 2201 Arlington Blvd, a 251-unit project that the Arlington County Board approved in July 2023.
Proposals for new and expanded support of lower- and moderate-income Arlington homeowners could run into budget headwinds in 2025.
County staff closed out 2024 by presenting a host of proposals to County Board members. They aim to support those priced out of the county’s housing market, as well as those who already are homeowners but are having difficulties maintaining their properties.
Arlington County police are looking for a man who brandished a gun at a woman whose car he broke into.
The incident happened Monday afternoon in a Ballston area parking garage. Police say the victim confronted the man and grabbed her wallet back from him after finding the suspect rummaging through her car.
Lightning Strikes Monuments — The brief New Year’s Eve thunderstorm produced lightning strikes that could be seen striking the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. [Bluesky, Bluesky]
Metro Steps Up Security — “On behalf of the Metro Transit Police Department, we are deeply saddened by the devastating events in New Orleans, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this senseless tragedy. While there are no known threats to Metro, MTPD has heightened security across the system out of an abundance of caution. Customers may notice an increased police presence as a result.” [Twitter]
Group Raises $30k for Nonprofits — The Arlington chapter of The Links, Incorporated, presented $30,000 in grants to support nonprofit organizations at its “Holiday Jingle & Mingle” celebration. “This is about more than grants — it’s about building relationships and creating pathways for change,” said Lavern Chatman, the organization’s community-partnerships chair. [Arlington Links]
D.C. Office Vacancy Ticks Down — “D.C.’s office vacancy rate is on track to decline — ever so slightly — for the first time in years, according to fresh quarterly numbers from real estate services firm JLL, though whether this about-face evolves into a trend is still to be determined. The District’s vacancy rate fell to 19.9% in the fourth quarter, down from 20% last quarter.” [WBJ]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 40 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 11 to 16 mph and gusts up to 28 mph. For Thursday night, the conditions will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 29 degrees and a west wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
Two people were shot in a Ballston apartment building early New Year’s Day amid a chaotic night in parts of Arlington.
Police were dispatched to the Rixey building at the Marymount University Ballston campus just after 1 a.m. for a report of a person with a gun on an upper floor of the building. That floor is used for short-term rentals by an “apartment hotel” service, according to scanner traffic.
Its leadership may be changing, but the role of Arlington’s Economic Development Commission will remain vital in 2025, its members believe.
The body is “filled with professionals … that can offer guidance and perspective,” said Bill Dunn, the commission’s outgoing chair, at its December meeting.
New Year’s County Closures — Arlington County offices, community centers, libraries and other facilities will be closed Wednesday for New Year’s Day. Libraries are also closing early today (Tuesday). Parking meters will not be enforced on Wednesday. [Arlington County]
Attempted Robbery in Pentagon City — “At approximately 7:10 p.m., the female victim was in the bathroom of a commercial property when she was approached by four female suspects who physically assaulted her and attempted to steal the victim’s shopping bags and jewelry. The victim ran out of the bathroom and the suspects followed. A security guard intervened, and all four suspects fled the scene on foot.” [ACPD]
Year of Record Warmth — “With 2024 mostly in the rearview, another year enters the weather books — one that will be remembered for persistent and record-breaking warmth, recurrent drought and several significant weather events… And it’s now official: Cooler December weather couldn’t keep the year from becoming the city’s warmest on record.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and possible thunderstorms from 1pm to 4pm, intensifying after 4pm with a high of 58°F and southeast winds at 5-11 mph, gusting to 20 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with rainfall amounts ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. On Tuesday night, showers mainly before 7pm with a low around 42°F, and a west wind at 9 mph. New Year’s Day will be mostly sunny, breezy, and with a high near 48°F, accompanied by a west wind at 11-20 mph, gusting up to 34 mph. [NWS]
