News | ARLnow.com

DoD to Track Local Helicopter Noise Complaints in Defense Bill Poised for Senate Passage

Published December 10, 2020 at 10:30AM

Complaints over helicopter noise in Arlington are likely to soon be better tracked by the federal government.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a veto-proof version of the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act, and it includes a provision directing the Secretary of Defense to “develop a process to receive, track, and analyze complaints of military rotary wing aircraft noise in the National Capital Region that are registered on the noise inquiry websites of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Dulles International Airport.”

Prelude to Demolition for Circa 1907 Dominion Hills Mansion?

By ARLnow.com

Published December 10, 2020 at 9:30AM | Updated December 10, 2020 at 10:21AM

The Febrey-Lothrop estate on Wilson Blvd was razed before achieving historic-district status (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

A permit filed with Arlington County suggests that a potentially historic house in Dominion Hills may not be long for the world.

The Febrey-Lothrop House at 6407 Wilson Blvd, also known as the Rouse estate, has been the subject of sale speculation this year. The 9 acre property on which it sits is considered to be a “generational” land acquisition opportunity for the county and a prime site for a potential residential development, should it sell to a developer.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 10, 2020 at 6:00AM

Modification to Red Top Development — “As currently proposed, the building would have 269 residential units instead of the previously-approved 247. The unit mix will span from studios to two bedrooms, and the ground-floor units will have private entrances, including a lone three-bedroom unit. The development will also include 134 vehicular spaces and 108 bicycle spaces on a below-grade level.” [UrbanTurf]

Spotted: First Snowflakes of the Season — The first snowflakes of the season in Arlington fell yesterday. Though the few flakes that briefly fell did not amount to any degree of accumulation, it was enough to prompt a few social media posts. [Twitter, Twitter]

Civic Associations Release Ideas for Making 22202 Zip Code More ‘Livable’

By Jo DeVoe

Published December 9, 2020 at 5:15PM | Updated October 17, 2022 at 11:26AM

Soccer and field hockey at Long Bridge Park, with the Boeing building and Crystal City/Pentagon City skyline in the background (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A new report released by three local civic associations says tenant protections, more housing options and community amenities would make the 22202 zip code livable.

But significant barriers — including a history of exclusionary zoning to a lack of political will from leaders — are holding the area back, the neighborhoods say.

Arlington Prepares for First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine

By James Cullum

Published December 9, 2020 at 2:00PM

Arlington could have the COVID-19 vaccine as early as the end of this month, but the first shipment of doses won’t be available to the general public.

Nearly a half million healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents across Virginia at risk of being infected will get the first doses from the Virginia Department of Health, and it is not yet known when the rest of the public will get the vaccine.

Garvey Still Confident in Dorsey, Despite Fraud Allegation in Bankruptcy Case

By ARLnow.com

Published December 9, 2020 at 11:40AM

Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey says she has confidence in her Board colleague Christian Dorsey, despite his continued legal and financial troubles.

As first reported by the Washington Post, Dorsey’s long-running personal bankruptcy case was dismissed by a federal judge last week after Dorsey overstated his debt obligations in “an act of overt misrepresentation,” according to the bankruptcy trustee.

Yet Another New Coronavirus Caseload Record for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published December 9, 2020 at 10:35AM

Arlington’s cumulative coronavirus case count has passed the 7,000 mark, only two weeks after it crossed 6,000.

By contrast, it took more than 70 days over the summer to go from 2,000 to 3,000 cases.

I-66, Numerous Roads Around Rosslyn to Close for Hotel Implosion

By ARLnow.com

Published December 9, 2020 at 9:30AM

Holiday Inn set for demolition in Rosslyn (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

I-66, Lee Highway and numerous local roads around Rosslyn will be temporarily blocked Sunday morning for the planned implosion of the former Holiday Inn hotel.

The 18-story hotel tower at 1900 N. Fort Myer Drive is set to come down around 8 a.m. Sunday “as safety, crowd control and weather conditions permit.” The implosion will make way for a new mixed-use development featuring a 25-story residential tower and a 38-story hotel tower.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 9, 2020 at 7:30AM

A man crosses Columbia Pike during the evening rush hour (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

County Lauded for LGBTQ Inclusiveness — “Arlington scored 100 points out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s 9th annual Municipal Equality Index for its high standards of inclusiveness and protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities. While Arlington has been a top-ranked community in the past, this year it was recognized for adding gender identity/expression protections to its Human Rights ordinance and providing all-gender bathrooms in County-owned offices and facilities.” [Arlington County]

Traffic Cam Feeds Back On — After a few weeks of Arlington’s web-based traffic camera feeds being off due to technical issues, the feeds are back on. The traffic cameras can also now be viewed on the My Arlington mobile app. [Twitter]

Henry Clay Park Set to Be Renamed for Indigenous Activist Who Lived Nearby

By Jo DeVoe

Published December 8, 2020 at 3:45PM

Henry Clay Park and the home of Indigenous author and activist Zitkala-Ša (Image via Arlington County)

A park that’s under construction a few blocks south of Clarendon is expected to get a new name.

Arlington’s Park and Recreation Commission is recommending Henry Clay Park be renamed Zitkala-Ša Park, after a prominent Indigenous activist and author who lived in Lyon Park. The County Board is set to consider the name change at its Saturday meeting.

County Board Considering Major Stormwater Project at Reed School Site in Westover

By James Cullum

Published December 8, 2020 at 2:20PM

A 2020 diagram of the vault at Cardinal Elementary School (via Arlington Public Schools)

(Updated at 2:30 p.m.) A project that could help the Westover area with its flooding problem is on the Arlington County Board agenda this weekend.

The Board on Saturday is slated to consider an agreement with Arlington Public Schools to build a stormwater detention vault under the athletic fields of the Reed Elementary School site in Westover.

UPDATED: Police Find Missing Senior Near Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Published December 8, 2020 at 1:40PM

Update at 1:50 p.m. — The missing man has been found along Army Navy Drive, near 28th Street S., according to police radio traffic. He was located as a result of ACPD’s Project Lifesaver technology.

Earlier: Arlington County police are looking for a missing senior in Crystal City, Pentagon City and other surrounding neighborhoods.