Arlington is proposing to lower speed limits near schools across the county to 20 mph as the county’s second year of Vision Zero enters the rear-view mirror.
This Saturday, the Arlington County Board is set to hear a proposal to expand these slow zones to all schools, after many people said they felt safer walking, biking and driving in 13 school zones where the speed limit has already dropped to 20 mph.
(Updated at 4 p.m.) Two weeks before Christmas, someone has apparently stolen a nativity scene from a church in the Barcroft neighborhood.
But the pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church (825 S. Taylor Street), Wayne Fredericksen, is turning the other cheek.
Biden Visits Arlington — “President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden helped pack presents for children and encouraged holiday cheer as the White House marked the 75th anniversary of Toys for Tots at an event hosted by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The event at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in northern Virginia is part of Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative.” [Associated Press]
W-L Wins Choir Contest — “Thanks to all of the votes from YOU, @WLchoirs was selected the winner of the WASH-FM Christmas Choir Competition!” [Twitter, WASH-FM]
A new developer has reprised long-dormant plans to turn a house, a large tree and two surface parking lots near Courthouse into apartments.
D.C.-area developer Fortis Companies proposes building a 166-unit, 12-story apartment tower at 2025 Fairfax Drive, along a frontage road for Route 50 that dead-ends in front of a complex of historic brick apartment buildings. It also proposes an underground parking garage and an interior walkway between the nearby apartments and Fairfax Drive.
Arlington Planning Commission is set to discuss Missing Middle housing in a blockbuster pair of meetings this week.
The first is happening tonight at 7 p.m., in the County Board room at Arlington County government headquarters (2100 Clarendon Blvd). County staff are set to give a presentation before the floor is opened to public comment from dozens of speakers.
(Updated at 11:10 a.m.) A theft suspect in a U-Haul managed to flee from police in Pentagon City last week.
The theft happened just before 4 p.m. at or near the Pentagon Row shopping center. The suspect, a woman, reportedly stole a large quantity of clothing and beauty items before fleeing in a rental truck driven by second suspect, a man.
RCA Building Trades Hands — “A joint venture led by McLean’s Jefferson Apartment Group has acquired the former RCA building in Rosslyn for $55.5 million, more than a year after gaining county approval to replace it with a multifamily high-rise… With the acquisition complete, demolition is anticipated to begin in February or March, a JAG spokesperson said in an email.” [Washington Business Journal]
Google Maps Leading Drivers Astray? — From Dave Statter: “@googlemaps still tells drivers to make the dangerous move from SB Boundary Channel to I-395S Exit 8C. Many do.” [Twitter]
A man tried to steal a gun from an Arlington gun store last week but was chased down by a store manager as he tried to flee.
The incident happened Thursday around 6:30 p.m. at Nova Armory, which is now located at 2607 Wilson Blvd in Clarendon.
Arlington County police are investigating the death of a man found unresponsive in a park along Columbia Pike.
Police were called around 10 p.m. Friday night for a man lying on the ground and not moving near the intersection of Columbia Pike and Four Mile Run Drive, which is also in proximity to the bike trail.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to cross the river into Arlington next week.
“On Monday, December 12, as part of the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative, the President and the First Lady will travel to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia to participate in a United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots sorting event, in celebration of Toys for Tots’ 75th Anniversary,” the White House announced Friday afternoon.
Four people suffered minor injuries Wednesday night during a pellet gun drive-by shooting.
The incident happened on the 3200 block of Columbia Pike, just east of S. Glebe Road, around 6 p.m. It involved 3-4 male suspects in a white SUV, including the shooter of the airsoft gun, who is believed to be in his 20s.
A pedestrian bridge in the Rosslyn area is closed after inspectors founds something worrisome.
The bridge over Route 50, connecting N. Fairfax Drive and Fort Myer Drive in the Radnor-Fort Myer Heights neighborhood, was found to have deteriorating concrete in sections, according to Arlington County. The span is closed while crews work on repairs.
