News | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published March 29, 2022 at 7:30AM

Cherry blossoms in Pentagon City in 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Changes Coming to ‘Crossing Clarendon’ — “Our central greenspace, The Loop, will be expanding to offer more spaces to walk, shop, relax and explore The Crossing Clarendon. This renovation includes natural planting and landscaping, a modern play structure for the kids, upgrades to the water feature, increased pedestrian zones, and updated seating for our visitors. Construction is slated until late 2022.” [Instagram]

HQ2 Is Attracting Companies, Investors — “The National Landing area, which encompasses Crystal City, Pentagon City and part of Potomac Yard in Arlington, has an $8B development pipeline, $2.5B of which is from Amazon, National Landing BID President Tracy Sayegh Gabriel said… Neighborhood leaders, developers and brokers said that HQ2 is drawing new global investors and commercial tenants to seek opportunities in the area.” [Bisnow]

Ballston Macy’s proposal draws concerns about density, land use

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 28, 2022 at 3:55PM | Updated March 28, 2022 at 4:32PM

A rendering of the proposed development for the Ballston Macy's department store (via Arlington County)

Concerns are emerging about a proposed residential redevelopment that would replace the Macy’s in Ballston.

Insight Property Group proposes to demolish the longtime department store and vacant office building at 685 N. Glebe Road and replace it with a 16-story, 555-unit apartment complex atop a grocery store. In response to online engagement, it is adding a second, 1,400-square-foot retail space on the ground floor.

Arlington boathouse boosters launch website to track progress on the project

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 28, 2022 at 10:30AM

Crew boats in the Potomac River at twilight near Rosslyn (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

There is a new sign of progress on the 30-year-old project to build a boathouse in Arlington.

In anticipation of planning and design work kicking off this year, the Arlington Boathouse Foundation — an organization that exists to ensure residents one day can launch non-motorized boats, such as kayaks, into the Potomac from the county’s shoreline — has launched a new website.

TSA nabs pistol-packing Arlington man at DCA

By ARLnow.com

Published March 28, 2022 at 9:45AM

"This gun and ammunition were detected by TSA in a traveler’s carry-on bag at Reagan National Airport on March 24" (photo via TSA)

A local man is facing federal charges after bringing a handgun to Reagan National Airport.

The unnamed Arlington resident had a gun and five bullets found in his carry-on luggage at the airport’s security checkpoint, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 28, 2022 at 7:30AM

Pastel colors in the skies over the National Mall during peak bloom weekend, as seen from Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Traffic Restricted on Deteriorating Bridge — “As a result of a bridge inspection today, Friday, March 25, engineers closed the existing southbound lane of the West Glebe Bridge between Arlington and Alexandria due to further degradation of structural beams. The northbound lane of the bridge over South Four Mile Run will remain open, making the bridge one-way to traffic and requiring a detour for southbound automobiles. The bridge’s maximum load rating of 5 tons will remain in place with a critical need for heavier vehicles – primarily buses and dump trucks — to comply for public safety.” [Arlington County]

Graupel Covers Fields, Prompts Tweets — An ice pellet downpour covered the ground in parts of Arlington on Saturday afternoon: “Well that was wild… heavy downpour rain and graupel swept through near Clarendon.” [Twitter, Twitter]

NEW: Asian food chain Wagamama coming to former Oz space in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Published March 25, 2022 at 4:30PM

Food at Wagamama (courtesy photo)

A British restaurant chain serving “Asian food inspired by the flavors of Japan” is coming to Arlington.

Wagamama is expected to open in Clarendon this summer, the company announced. It will be located in a 5,100 square foot space at 2950 Clarendon Blvd — formerly home to Oz Restaurant and the short-lived La Tagliatella — and will be the first D.C. area location for the company.

Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, Jason Miyares spar over prosecutorial reforms

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 25, 2022 at 11:45AM

Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti at an NAACP and Black Lives Matter rally and march in 2020 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares visited Arlington yesterday (Thursday) to launch a political fund aimed at unseating progressive prosecutors.

The reform-minded approach of “left-wing liberal prosecutors” has “directly resulted in higher crime in our communities and they must be stopped,” Miyares said in a statement that specifically called out Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano.

BREAKING: U.S. Marshal Service, ACPD on scene of fatal leap from building

By ARLnow.com

Published March 25, 2022 at 10:30AM | Updated March 25, 2022 at 4:09PM

Law enforcement on scene of a reported fatal jump from an apartment building (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) A person is dead after leaping from an upper floor of an apartment building on Columbia Pike, amid a federal law enforcement presence at the complex.

Arlington police and medics were dispatched to the Infinity Apartments at 955 S. Columbus Street shortly after 10 a.m. for a person who jumped from the building and was in cardiac arrest. Responders were told to expect plain clothed U.S. Marshals Service personnel on scene.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 25, 2022 at 7:30AM

Cherry blossoms and Amazon's HQ2 construction in Pentagon City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

County Prepping New Tree Study — “Arlington leaders may take their next crack at guesstimating the number of trees in the county – a topic not without political as well as environmental ramifications – early in 2023, if all goes according to plan… estimating the cost at $100,000 to $150,000.” [Sun Gazette]

New Name for GMU Arlington Campus — “George Mason University announced today that its Arlington Campus will be renamed Mason Square as the new centerpiece of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor for multi-disciplinary talent and business development, as well as a civic and cultural destination. Also being announced is Fuse at Mason Square, the name of the new technology-forward building that is the heart of Mason’s commitment to growing Northern Virginia’s next-generation workforce. A groundbreaking ceremony for Fuse at Mason Square will take place April 6.” [Press Release]

JUST IN: Fire reported in parking garage of Columbia Pike apartment building

By ARLnow.com

Published March 24, 2022 at 12:50PM | Updated March 24, 2022 at 1:07PM

File photo

(Updated at 1:05 p.m.) Firefighters are investigating the source of dark smoke seen billowing out of a Columbia Pike apartment building’s parking garage.

The smoke was seen coming out of the garage entrance at the rear of the Pike 3400 building, at the southwest corner of the busy intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Glebe Road. A large fire department response was dispatched to the scene around 12:30 p.m., though the smoke has since largely abated.

Rep. Beyer faces packed slate of challengers in 8th District race

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 24, 2022 at 11:35AM

The US Capitol Building on Inauguration Eve (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

A full slate of candidates is vying to unseat Rep. Don Beyer as Arlington’s representative in Congress.

Beyer has held onto his 8th District seat — which includes all of Arlington County, the cities Alexandria and Falls Church, and portions of Fairfax County — since he replaced the retiring Rep. Jim Moran in 2014.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 24, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated March 24, 2022 at 9:09AM

Heavy rain along the Potomac River, with Rosslyn in the background (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Mysterious Bug Bites Reported — Arlington residents are against dealing with red and intensely itchy bug bites, the cause of which is so far unclear. One theory is that last year’s scourge of oak mites are back. [Facebook, WUSA 9]

Catalytic Converter Thefts in Fairlington — “A resident has reported that the catalytic converter on their Toyota Prius was stolen during the night March 21, 2022. The converter was physically cut away from the vehicle. There have been 7 similar thefts of catalytic converters reported from the Fairlington neighborhoods.” [Twitter]