Arguments about the way Arlington approved Missing Middle have taken center stage this week in the civil trial over last year’s hotly contested zoning amendments.
Testimony on behalf of the plaintiffs concluded yesterday (Wednesday) as attorneys continue to argue that Missing Middle zoning changes should be invalidated because they say the county improperly advertised the changes and failed to adequately study them, among other allegations.
Firefighters are battling a blaze at a postal facility near Shirlington.
They were dispatched to 2565 Shirlington Road in Green Valley around 10:45 a.m. after receiving multiple calls about a dumpster that was on fire next to a building. The address corresponds with the U.S. Postal Service Shirlington Annex.
Five juvenile suspects were detained by police Wednesday evening, potentially in connection to the series of thefts from the Clarendon Lululemon store.
It started with officers observing a group of teens outside of the activewear store at 2847 Clarendon Blvd, which since mid-June has seen at least four thefts involving groups of young suspects grabbing armfuls of merchandise and fleeing.
Historic Marker for Gay Rights Activist — “The Virginia Board of Historic Resources has approved a historic marker that will honor Washington Blade co-founder Lilli Vincenz. The Arlington County Historic Preservation Program sponsored the marker that will be located at 817-829 S. Carlin Springs Road… The marker will be the first one in the state that specifically highlights LGBTQ history.” [Washington Blade]
More on IHOP Fight — From Dave Statter: “Police say the 100 degree fight yesterday caught on video at the Ballston IHOP also involved a knife. According to @ArlingtonVaPD, the man who showed the knife is the same one who an officer used OC spray on and then cuffed.” [Twitter, ACPD]
After Storm Sky — In case you missed it, there was a rainbow and a spectacular sunset last night after the storm went through. [Twitter, Twitter, Twitter, Twitter, Capital Weather Gang]
After the storm. What. A. Sky. 💥 (Looking over 395 in #Arlington) @capitalweather @dougkammerer @SteveRudin7News @laurynricketts @CapitalJeff @STATter911 @davebied @ARLnowDOTcom @StormHour pic.twitter.com/HiOyqnjrRb
— Hillary Howard (@HillaryHowardDC) July 11, 2024
Community Awards Recipients — “The Arlington Community Foundation has announced 2024 recipients of its William T. Newman Spirit of Community Awards. Jeannie Broyhill, Dr. Raymond Hoare and Marty Swaim were selected for the honors, to be bestowed in November.” [Gazette Leader]
Lease Renewal Signals Future Changes — “A defense department agency recently negotiated a short-term lease extension, though not for as long as it wanted, in an aging JBG Smith Properties office a stone’s throw from HQ2 in Crystal City, which might be poised for redevelopment not too far over the horizon. JBG Smith did not want to re-up for the ‘long-term’ the Washington Headquarters Service’s 46,000 square feet at 1235 S. Clark St. when that lease expired in April, ‘due to a repositioning of its portfolio in Crystal City.'” [Washington Business Journal]
Free Slurpees Today — “Here’s one way to cool down: Head over to 7-Eleven for a free Slurpee on Thursday. July 11 marks the convenience store chain’s 97th birthday and what’s become known as National Slurpee Day, when 7-Eleven gives away free Slurpees to celebrate.” [USA Today]
Missing Middle in MoCo — “In Montgomery County, Maryland, County Council President Andrew Friedson told reporters Monday, ‘When it comes to the housing shortage that we face, we need to do something.’ He said solutions could include the proposal to allow duplexes, triplexes and even quadplexes in areas where only single-family homes were permitted.” [WTOP]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 91 degrees with a westerly wind at about 6 mph. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with a low near 73. There is a 50% chance of showers during the night. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by ksrjghkegkdhgkk
Don’t look now but carjackings have become relatively rare in Arlington over the past few months.
There were four carjackings in Arlington during the first half of 2024, according to Arlington County police. That’s a third of the 2023 total during the same time period.
Five new long-haul flights are coming to Reagan National Airport. It’s now up to the U.S. Department of Transportation to decide which ones.
Eight airlines met Monday’s deadline to apply for the daily roundtrip flights, which will be exempt from the airport’s general 1,250-mile service perimeter. That follows the May passage of an FAA reauthorization bill that allowed the five new flights, to the strenuous objection of local elected officials concerned about delays and safety.
A busy Arlington supermarket would be sold to facilitate the planned merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, the companies publicly disclosed.
The Harris Teeter in the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center at 2425 N. Harrison Street would be divested to C&S Wholesale Grocers under current plans. The store would not close but might be rebranded.
Local Restaurants on ‘Hottest’ List — “A new restaurant by David Guas, the celebrity chef behind Arlington’s Bayou Bakery, was included among the Eater DC’s hottest new restaurants list for July, according to food-focused news outlet. Located at 6641 Old Dominion Drive in McLean, Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen spotlights small farmers and fishermen.” Arlington restaurants on the Eater list are the recently opened Láylí in Clarendon and NiHao in Crystal City. [Patch, Eater DC]
FCPD Makes ABC Store Theft Arrests — “An Arlington County police spokeswoman, meanwhile, was asked whether there was evidence of a link between the Fairfax suspects and any of the more than 150 ABC store thefts there so far this year. ‘The investigation into thefts at Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores in Arlington County are ongoing and detectives continue to work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to determine if any Arlington cases are linked regionally,’ ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage told our sister site ARLnow.” [FFXnow]
IHOP Fight Caught on Camera — From Dave Statter: “In this heat? Two men had a 100 degree, knock-down, drag-out fight outside the IHOP in Ballston a short time ago. The fight included a headbutt and ended with one of the men getting sprayed and taken down by the first arriving @ArlingtonVaPD officer.” [Twitter]
In this heat? Two men had a 100 degree, knock-down, drag-out fight outside the IHOP in Ballston a short time ago. The fight included a headbutt and ended with one of the men getting sprayed and taken down by the first arriving @ArlingtonVaPD officer. Video via @SafetyVid.… pic.twitter.com/kqoVNUGl8z
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 9, 2024
South Block Expanding to Springfield — “For Arlington-based South Block, it is part of a much larger expansion that will take it outside of the D.C. area. Private equity firm Savory Fund, which invests in locally-based food concepts, invested in South Block earlier this year, fueling its expansion on the East Coast to as many as 50 locations within the next five years.” [WTOP]
Dems to Start Local Canvassing — “Likely with the hope there will be more clarity as to their national standard-bearer by then, Arlington Democrats on July 13 will launch canvassing for the Nov. 5 election. ‘We’ll gather to mobilize our community and spread the word about our progressive vision for a brighter future,’ party leaders said in looking for volunteers. ‘Together, we’ll knock on doors, engage with voters and build momentum for positive change.'” [Gazette Leader]
Flyover Planned Tonight — From AlertDC: “The US Military will be conducting a flyover in the area of the National Mall on Wednesday July 10, 2024, at 7:45PM.
It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 5pm. Otherwise, expect a mostly sunny day and a high near 95, and a heat index reaching up to 105. South winds at 8-14 mph, gusting up to 21 mph, and a 30% chance of precipitation. Wednesday night, storms are possible, mainly before 2am, while partly cloudy skies bring a low of 77. South winds will be 8-11 mph, turning west after midnight, with a 50% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Brian Gannon
As the much-anticipated Missing Middle trial began this week, the Arlington NAACP is arguing that the case has wide-ranging implications for racial equity.
In a 55-page amicus brief filed in advance of opening statements on Monday, the local NAACP chapter argued that single-family zoning has racist origins and that undoing Missing Middle would be a step backward for racial progress.
An eight-story apartment building could be replacing an aging Clarendon office building, where a new restaurant just opened.
A development application for 3033 Wilson Blvd, filed last week by Carr Properties, calls for 312 units of housing ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments. The building across from the Clarendon Metro station would have a parking garage with 344 spaces, plus almost 7,000 square feet of retail space.
Arlington County police are looking for three suspects who went behind the counter of a local 7-Eleven and stole cash and merchandise.
The strong-arm robbery happened this past Saturday night, around 8:30 p.m., on the 1500 block of S. Fern Street in Pentagon City.
Clement on Spain’s Tax Exemption — “Should an elected official who does not pay property taxes, either as a homeowner or indirectly through rent payments to a landlord, have a say in discussing and setting tax rates in Arlington? That’s the question posed by County Board candidate Audrey Clement, who in an e-mail to supporters pointed out that the Democratic nominee for County Board uses a state law giving disabled veterans the ability to apply for property-tax exemptions.” [Gazette Leader]
School Board Elects New Chair — “The Arlington School Board held its annual organizational meeting for the 2024-25 school year and elected Mary Kadera as Chair and Bethany Zecher Sutton as Vice Chair. The terms for the new Chair and Vice Chair begin immediately and will continue until June 30, 2025.” [Arlington Public Schools]
Huske’s Olympic Confidence Grows — “Yorktown High School grad Torri Huske will represent the United States once again, and is a favorite to win gold in the 100 fly according to Swimming World Magazine. Huske qualified for her spot in two events at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials: the 100 fly and the 100 free. She says her experience representing the USA in Tokyo in 2020–and subsequent competitions on the international stage–will only strengthen her game this time around.” [Arlington Magazine]
ACPD Training Today — The Arlington SWAT team and other first responders will be holding a training exercise in the Old Glebe neighborhood this afternoon and evening. Such exercises are regularly held in neighborhoods, at vacant homes set for demolition, and involve realistic-seeming actions and gear, but no live ammunition.
It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly sunny and hot day with a high near 97 and heat index values up to 106, along with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. South wind will be at 5 to 7 mph. For Tuesday night, there’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, with partly cloudy conditions and a low of 79. The south wind will be 6 to 8 mph and precipitation odds remain at 20%. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Michael Coffman
