An Arlington firefighter noted for his problem-solving ability, passion for the community and conspicuous moustache has received statewide recognition.
Lieutenant Henry Spencer was just named Virginia Firefighter of the Year, the Arlington County Fire Department announced today.
The Arlington County Board is considering a potential property tax hike that could be even higher than what County Manager Mark Schwartz proposed.
Board members yesterday (Tuesday) voted 5-0 to advertise hearings on a maximum property tax rate of $1.038 per $100 of assessed value, a 2.5 cent increase from 2023. That is 1 cent higher than the increase of 1.5 cents that Schwartz proposed in his $1.62 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025.
Body Found in Ballston Home — “The new owners of a property in Arlington County, Virginia, found human remains during a walk-through Monday afternoon, police say. Officers were called to ‘suspicious circumstances’ in the 1300 block of N. Taylor Street at about 4:50 p.m., according to Arlington County police. The property is located in the Ballston area. The medical examiner is working to identify the person and determine how they died.” [NBC 4, Fox 5]
Local GOPers Blasts Alexandria Arena — “As Republican leaders in Northern Virginia, we are deeply disappointed by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposal to commit nearly $1.5 billion in state funds to subsidize billionaire Ted Leonsis’ relocation of the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Potomac Yard. As residents living just a few miles from the proposed stadium site in Alexandria, our concerns about the project are also profoundly personal.” [Substack, ALXnow]
A Woodbridge man is facing a litany of charges after an attempt to flee from police ended in a crash with injuries.
Arlington County police say the 26-year-old was driving drunk around 11 p.m. last night when an officer tried to pull him over for erratic driving. The suspect drove off, according to police, and soon crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Scott Street.
There’s more evidence that Arlington is an expensive place to live.
The county has moved to No. 7 on a list of the priciest rental markets in the country, up from No. 10 last year.
Construction on the planned pickleball courts for the Walter Reed Community Center is expected to begin by the end of this year.
The Arlington County Dept. of Parks and Recreation announced the next steps for the hotly contested project and unveiled 90% complete designs last week. The project is set to go out for bid this spring and a contract is expected to go to the Arlington County Board for approval in the summer.
A budget proposal from Arlington’s county manager would increase the average homeowner’s tax and fee burden by $500.
But the budget does not include adequate funding for the police and fire departments, according to unions for both.
Signs for the new Ballston Harris Teeter are up, signaling that the first phase of the three-part project is nearing completion.
Last month, the owner applied for an occupancy permit for the new grocery store, which tenants do before they can officially move in. Inspection is still pending, per the county website.
Goodwill Development Approved — “On Saturday, the Arlington County Board unanimously approved plans from Goodwill and Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) for a 128-unit development at the site of the Goodwill retail store and donation center at the intersection of South Glebe Road and Arlington Boulevard.” [UrbanTurf]
Board Takes No Position on Gaza — “Arlington County Board members on Feb. 24 decided against getting into the foreign-policy arena, turning down a request to issue a resolution calling for a cease-fire in ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas. The request came during the board’s public-comment period, and as board members knew of the subject matter in advance, County Board Chairman Libby Garvey was ready with a response.” [Gazette Leader]
A 25-year-old woman is facing a number of charges after a series of crashes.
Police say the Arlington resident first crashed into a parked car with people inside along Washington Blvd, shortly before 10 p.m. this past Thursday. She allegedly fled that scene but soon crashed into another car, causing her vehicle to flip over, Arlington County police said.
Looser parking requirements could encourage more gyms and shops to fill Arlington’s commercial real estate vacancies, the county believes.
The Arlington County Board on Saturday unanimously voted to have staff research possible changes to the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance and advertise requests to amend it. In addition to slashing parking minimums for gyms, the county is considering whether to allow parking lots to designate more spaces for compact cars.
Arlington County police are conducting a death investigation along Langston Blvd, near Rosslyn.
A body was found in a wooded area late Sunday afternoon. Officers remain on scene today, collecting and documenting evidence. There’s no word yet on whether police consider the death to be suspicious.
