Three years ago this month, Amazon started setting the stage for construction of the first phase of its second headquarters.
Since then, construction work has continued on-pace, with banners across the Pentagon City site, located at the corner of 13th Street S. and S. Eads Street, heralding a 2023 arrival.
Lee Name Stays on Arlington House — “A 19th-century general has survived a 21st-century battle. Efforts during the recently concluded session of the U.S. Congress to remove Robert E. Lee’s name from the National Park Service’s Arlington House memorial failed to make much progress. And if it didn’t find success when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress, such a proposal is more unlikely now that Republicans control, albeit narrowly, the U.S. House of Representatives.” [Sun Gazette]
One Week for Comment on Parkway Plan — “The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comment on a proposed plan and environmental assessment to improve the southern portion of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Mount Vernon Trail. The project would improve safety and address maintenance needs along the parkway and the trail. Comments will be accepted through January 18th.” [National Park Service]
(Updated at 5:55 p.m.) All three candidates looking to replace Sheriff Beth Arthur, who retired at the end of last year, say they have ideas for changing how the jail is run.
They each say their ideas could help save the lives of those detained in jail, which is overseen by the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office.
Apple Store Temporarily Closed — The Apple Store in Clarendon is closed at least through Friday, according to posted hours on the company’s website. No reason for the closure was given but construction is ongoing at The Crossing Clarendon shopping center, where it’s located. [Apple]
Local Civic Figure Dies — “A Democratic activist for over 40 years, Amy [Appelbaum] campaigned for local candidates, donated to many causes, and marched for the Equal Rights Amendment and reproductive rights. She was employed for two decades as an aide to state legislator James Almand and served on the Arlington Board of Equalization for Real Estate Assessments for ten years. Amy was recognized as a ‘Person of Vision’ by the Arlington County Status of Women Commission in 2004 for her community volunteer work.” [Legacy]
Arlington County has selected two developers — Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing and D.C.-area developer EYA — to oversee the construction of affordable housing within an apartment complex in Crystal City.
They’re committing to provide 844 units, of which 655 will be committed affordable units and the remaining will be market-rate, in the Crystal House Apartments at 1900 S. Eads Street, near Amazon’s second headquarters.
Arlington County police are investigating after someone fire a gunshot at an apartment building in the Shirlington area.
The incident happened Saturday night on the road that leads from Shirlington to Fairlington, during an apparent argument inside the building. No one was hurt and police are still investigating in an effort to find a suspect.
Anti-Missing Middle Rally — “Hundreds of people gathered in Arlington Sunday afternoon to protest a Missing Middle housing proposal that opponents complained is ‘deeply flawed’ and is getting rushed through the county’s approval process.” [Patch]
New Deputy Police Chiefs — “Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn is pleased to announce the appointment of Captain LaTasha Chamberlain and Captain David Giroux to the position of Deputy Chief of Police… The appointments follow the retirements of two long-term Deputy Chiefs. Deputy Chief Daniel Murray, the agency’s longest tenured member, retired in January 2023 following 45 years of dedicated service and Deputy Chief Michael Dunne retired in June 2022 following 38 years of dedicated service.” [ACPD]
Arlington County is surveying residents and businesses to understand how they use broadband internet service and if their access can be improved.
The results of the survey are part of a $250,000 study that could inform ways to bridge the digital divide between residents with good internet connectivity and those without it, using the county’s existing fiber-optic network, dubbed ConnectArlington.
Arlington County has accepted a site plan application for a senior living facility proposed to replace a church in the Alcova Heights neighborhood.
Sunrise Senior Living, a McLean-based senior living provider, proposes to demolish a church building at 716 S. Glebe Road to build a four-story, 60-foot-tall building with 108 assisted living units, 55 parking spaces, common and service areas, a covered porch and an outdoor garden.
An 18-year-old Arlington man is facing multiple charges after a dispute led to an alleged gun brandishing and then a foot chase.
The incident started Wednesday afternoon in the Arlington Mill neighborhood, just north of Arlington’s western end of Columbia Pike. It ended with the suspect being detained near the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Walter Reed Drive — and then, according to scanner traffic at the time, leading police on a brief foot chase while in handcuffs.
FDIC Sues Arlington — “The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is suing Arlington County for a tax refund, alleging the county assessed its Virginia Square office buildings too high during the pandemic years, perhaps portending more such quarrels if office vacancy remains high and drives down values. The FDIC owns a handful of parcels just north of the Virginia Square-GMU Metro station.” [Washington Business Journal]
Condo Fire Near Rosslyn — “Scanner: ACFD is on scene of a fire in a unit at the Memorial Overlook condo building near Rosslyn. Sounds like most of the fire is out but they’re looking for additional flames in the ceiling and evaluating one potential injury.” [Twitter]
Arlington’s only production brewery is set to close in late spring, but its owners remain hopeful about moving to a new location.
New District Brewing Co. in Green Valley is closing at the end of May, co-owner Mike Katrivanos confirmed to ARLnow. Memorial Day weekend is currently scheduled to be the brewery’s last days of operation at 2709 S. Oakland Street.
