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.
Mob Assault at Yorktown HS — “5200 block of Yorktown Boulevard. At approximately 12:33 p.m. on July 17, police were dispatched to the report of an assault with injury. Upon arrival, it was determined that four juvenile male suspects assaulted the male victim following a verbal dispute. The victim was transported to an area hospital for minor injuries and released. Petitions are pending for Assault by Mob for the four juvenile suspects.” [ACPD]
Breakfast Pop-up in Rosslyn — “Rosslyn workers and residents will have a new breakfast pit stop starting next week with the opening of EggSnob, a pop-up inside celebrity chef Kevin Tien’s Hot Lola’s at 1501 Wilson Blvd. The breakfast sandwich pop-up will be a change for chef Dario Arana-Rojas, the chef and owner of Saoco Cuban Eats in Chevy Chase, Maryland.” [WTOP]
Local GOP Wants Musk Bucks — “The chairman of the Arlington County Republican Committee would like a word with Elon Musk… ‘We’d like to talk to you,’ Hurtt posted on social media from Milwaukee, where he was attending the Republican National Convention. His ask? Moolah for local Republican efforts. ‘$10,000 could go a lot further in Arlington than $45 million elsewhere,’ he wrote.” [Gazette Leader]
Airport Union Declares Victory — “Thousands of airport workers at @Dulles_Airport & @Reagan_Airport have won paid sick leave, thanks to @32BJSEIU members’ years-long fight for justice! TY to everyone who stood with the workers. Together, we’ll keep fighting for paid leave for all working families!” [Twitter]
Arlington Co. Touts AI Tech — “Axios HQ — the team that ‘makes internal comms work’ with software, training, and strategic consulting — has developed a groundbreaking AI-powered assistant to enhance its software. It is built for communicators by communicators.” [Business Wire]
Near Park Near Crystal City — “The North Potomac Yard extension of Potomac Yard Park is almost ready to be opened to the public. The park is a 4.5-acre extension of the currently constructed Potomac Yard Park with a mix of active, passive and social uses, but the big selling point is connecting the Potomac Yard Trail to Four Mile Run.” [ALXnow]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 88°F during the day. Winds from the north at 5-9 mph will become a light easterly breeze in the afternoon. As for Friday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low temperature around 72°F and a gentle south wind of 3-6 mph. [NWS]
A gas leak prompted the complete closure of a section of Columbia Pike during Thursday’s evening rush hour.
Fire department units were dispatched to the scene around 4:45 p.m, leading to Pike being shut down between S. Courthouse Road and S. Scott Street.
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:
The Arlington County Board is considering a proposal for a childcare center on the third floor of the newly constructed Saint Timothy and Saint Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church (STSA) in Green Valley.
However, the proposal, introduced by the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) in April, has raised concerns among nearby residents worried that the childcare center’s size and rooftop playground will create traffic and noise issues.
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.
Thieves have been increasingly targeting the Ballston area Target store, making it a frequent destination for police dispatches lately.
Arlington crime reports for July so far contain some 20 theft offenses for the 700 block of N. Glebe Road, where the store is located. The police department identifies crimes by block number and generally does not identify which specific businesses were the victim of crimes.
Empathy Sign Creator Talks — “‘If we can’t show empathy within the Beltway, it’s hard to have hope,’ says a local man who started hanging hand painted signs that read ‘Empathy’ throughout the D.C. area three years, not as a political act, but a way of giving back. Living with a rare form of cancer, hanging the signs is this former teacher’s way of saying thank you to the medical professionals and community that help keep him alive.” [Instagram]
Yorktown Baseball Standouts Drafted — “Right-handed pitcher Nate Knowles was chosen in the fourth round (124th pick overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays. Then catcher Jacob Friend was selected in round six (179th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds. The Division I college players had standout junior seasons in 2024, Knowles for the College of William & Mary and Friend at Davidson College.” [Gazette Leader]
Uncertainty About Compass Union Vote — “Compass Coffee and workers at seven locations in Washington, D.C., and Virginia, comprising five potential bargaining units, will face a period of extended uncertainty following a union election Tuesday. The union, Compass Coffee United, led at all bargaining units, with 22 votes cast in favor of the union and none cast against it. About 101 voters were challenged and their ballots were impounded by the NLRB without being opened and counted.” [Restaurant Dive]
Fresh Market Opening Nearby — “A national grocery chain originally inspired by open food markets in Europe is plotting an expansion in the D.C. area. The Fresh Market has landed deals to open stores at Reston Station and West Falls, the mixed-use development currently under construction on Falls Church City’s former high school campus, the Washington Business Journal first reported.” [FFXnow]
It’s Thursday — Isolated showers and possible thunderstorms after 5pm, partly sunny skies, and a high near 89 with north winds at 8 mph. Precipitation chance at 20%. Thursday night, scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, followed by isolated showers until 11pm, partly cloudy skies, and a low around 69 with north winds at 7 mph. Precipitation chance at 30%. [NWS]
Knowles picked by Rays, Friends selected by Reds
What interesting timing.
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.
Arlington County is eyeing a $1.1 million real estate purchase to expand Douglas Park.
Buying and deconstructing a home for sale at 4030 16th Street S. — listed in the Public Spaces Master Plan as a priority expansion site for Douglas Park — would add a S. Randolph Street entrance to the five-acre recreation area south of Columbia Pike. The property has a total footprint of 13,346 square feet, or about 0.31 acres, according to a county report.
Flood Watch Today — A Flood Watch is set to take effect at 2 p.m. today as “thunderstorms this afternoon and evening could have intense rain rates exceeding 2 inches per hour. If locally repetitive or prolonged thunderstorms develop, flash flooding could occur in flood prone urban and suburban areas.” [National Weather Service]
New County Comms Honcho — “Erika Moore has been named Arlington County’s next Assistant County Manager for Communications and Public Engagement. In this role, she will provide vision and leadership for how the County continues to intentionally expand and diversify its outreach efforts and community input opportunities around all aspects of the County government operations.” [Arlington County]
Veep Weep for Youngkin — “The Arlington County Democratic Committee took to social media to mock Gov. Youngkin for not being selected as Donald Trump’s running mate… ‘Sorry, Glenn – you are stuck being in Virginia,’ the posting said.” [Gazette Leader]
New Restaurant Week Participant — From the Arlington Chamber of Commerce: “Exciting News! Crystal City Restaurant is participating in Arlington Restaurant Week October 14 – 21! Get ready to enjoy a week of great food at special prices.” [Twitter]
Exciting News!
Crystal City Restaurant is participating in Arlington Restaurant Week October 14 – 21!Get ready to enjoy a week of great food at special prices. Learn more at https://t.co/QeWrtval4z#RestaurantWeek #ARLRestaurantWeek pic.twitter.com/0CG7NviJbC
— Arlington Chamber VA (@ArlVAChamber) July 16, 2024
Arlington Ups Invasive Battle — “The Arlington County government on July 22 is expected to sign on as a member of a regional consortium to address invasive species. For a cost of $10,000 per year, the county will become a core member of the National Capital Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management.” [Gazette Leader]
New Local Heat Records — “In D.C., the high temperature climbed to 104°F on Tuesday, tying the longest streak of consecutive 101°F or hotter days, set during the Dust Bowl era of 1930. It also tied the daily record for the sizzling summer of 1988.” [Axios, Twitter]
It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms between noon and 2pm, followed by more showers and potential thunderstorms, with a high near 97 and heat index values up to 107. Southwest winds at 5-9 mph, and an 80% chance of precipitation with new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch. For Wednesday night, anticipate showers and thunderstorms. The low will be around 74, with southwest winds at 5-7 mph, an 80% chance of precipitation, and new rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch. [NWS]
