(Updated at 9:30 a.m. on 8/23/23) Arlington County’s efforts to electrify transit just jolted forward.
Arlington’s transit system, ART, is getting its first batch of battery electric buses, or BEB, as it pursues carbon neutrality by 2050, according to a press release. The vehicles will be deployed in late 2024 after work wraps up on the new Operations and Maintenance Facility on Shirlington Road.
A total of 28 Arlington-based companies are featured in this year’s Inc. 5000 list, which ranks the nation’s fastest-growing privately owned companies.
Several Arlington-based firms that made the list specialize in technology such as AI, machine learning, cybersecurity and cloud computing. Others perform various professional services for the federal government, including information technology, financial consulting and engineering.
Arlington is “most desired city by renters” in the United States for the second month in a row, according to a rental website.
From RentCafe.com’s August Rental Activity Report:
Tax Delinquency Rate Reaches New Low — “It took some elbow grease to get there, as it always does, but the Arlington County Treasurer’s Office again has achieved another in a long string of record-low tax-delinquency rates. ‘Amazing,’ Treasurer Carla de la Pava said in announcing the annual rate of 0.157 percent during a celebration held Aug. 15.” [Gazette Leader]
Body Found Under Chain Bridge — “An investigation is underway after a man’s body was pulled from the Potomac River by first responders on Wednesday evening. DC Police, alongside DC Fire and EMS, conducted an extensive search of the area underneath the Chain Bridge in Northwest after receiving a report of an individual seen submerged in the water below.” [WUSA 9, Twitter]
National Airport is set to get some sweeping changes intended to make it easier to get around, park and rent a car.
DCA’s convenience for Arlington residents is a major selling point but the airport has its downsides, including traffic jams of sometimes epic proportions.
Arlington County police are looking for a man who exposed himself to at least two women Monday morning.
The first incident happened around 8:30 a.m. on the 3500 block of S. Ball Street, in the Crystal City area near Potomac Yard. The second happened just over an hour later on the 400 block of 12th Street S. in Pentagon City, near the Lenox Club apartments.
Ballston Quarter ‘Still Struggling’ — “The mall is ‘still struggling, still [at] significant risk,’ said Shawn Venstrom, who represented Chicago-based property owner Brookfield Properties at a July 19 hearing of the Board of Equalization. At the moment, ‘there is no retail demand for this type of center,’ Venstrom said, noting that the mall’s leasable space is only three-quarters occupied and customer traffic remains down due to an ongoing slog in getting employees back in the office post-COVID.” [Gazette Leader]
County Fair Opens Today — The Arlington County Fair is kicking off today at 5 p.m. It will run through Sunday night, with indoor and outdoor activities. [ARLnow]
A noted local community activist is facing more charges in connection to a second alleged sexual assault.
Arlington County police say that Julio Basurto would drive up to Clarendon’s nightlife district early in the morning and offer women a ride, then would sexually assault the victim in his car.
(Updated at 10:20 a.m.) With half of its planned HQ2 now open in Pentagon City, Amazon is planning to leave most of its leased spaces in Crystal City.
Once the leases expire for temporary Amazon offices at 1800 S. Bell Street and 2100 Crystal Drive, in 2023 and 2024, respectively, JBG Smith intends to “take off-line and entitle [them] for alternate uses,” per a new report.
Neighbors Rail Against VHC Project — “Issues related to the $250 million in new facilities that recently opened on the campus are still ‘causing great pain’ to the neighbors, said board chairman Christian Dorsey. Concerns about stormwater, noise and traffic continue to be raised by those who live near the hospital’s North George Mason Drive campus, added County Board member Matt de Ferranti… In a diplomatic response, Stanton said VHC officials are listening.” [Gazette Leader]
VHC Expanding in Fairfax County — “VHC Health is making a big push to bring its health care services closer to Fairfax County residents. With a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Wednesday (Aug. 9), the health system introduced its new Vienna practice to the community as part of a building-wide open house at 527 Maple Avenue, which also recently welcomed the gym Advanced Fitness & Sports Performance… In less than two years, the nonprofit has opened clinical offices in Annandale, Tysons, West Springfield and Kingstowne on top of the Vienna practice.” [FFXnow]
Arlington County police used a Taser to subdue a man over the weekend after an officer was allegedly punched along Columbia Pike.
The fracas happened around 10 p.m. Friday near the intersection of the Pike and S. Walter Reed Drive. The incident that drew the police response was initially reported to be a stabbing but later turned out to just be a dispute.
Some Arlington residents may have hit another pitfall while registering for fall classes with the parks department.
It appears some may have been charged more than once for the same purchase, according to social media posts and receipts reviewed by ARLnow. The Arlington County Dept. of Parks and Recreation confirmed this afternoon that it has heard from registrants who have been inadvertently charged multiple times.
