News | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published September 29, 2020 at 6:00AM

Work continues on the Netherlands Carillon in September 2020 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

New Name for Green Valley Park — “A year after it was first proposed, the renaming of Nauck Town Square in honor of a longtime Green Valley civic leader looks headed to success. The name ‘John Robinson Jr. Town Square’ has won the support of the Park and Recreation Commission, Neighborhood Conservation Advisory Commission, Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) and the civic associations of Green Valley, Shirlington and Douglas Park.” [InsideNova]

Beyer Blasts Trump Taxes –“The revelation that Donald Trump paid almost no personal income taxes for many years is not surprising, but it is outrageous. Far more important, however, is Trump’s use of the government for his personal benefit rather than that of the American people.” [Press Release]

Democratic Precinct Captain Booted for Supporting Independent School Board Candidate

By ARLnow.com

Published September 28, 2020 at 3:55PM | Updated September 28, 2020 at 9:16PM

Heather Keppler said in an email obtained by ARLnow that she was pressured to step down as the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s captain for the Lexington precinct because of her support of Symone Walker, a “lifelong Democrat.”

Though School Board races in Virginia are technically nonpartisan, with no party designation next to candidate names on the ballot, Arlington Democrats endorse candidates each year through a party caucus. Walker, a federal employee, initially sought the endorsement, but withdrew after another candidate filed complaints about her candidacy being a Hatch Act violation due to her federal employment.

Man Arrested After Accidentally Firing Bullet into Apartment Below

By ARLnow.com

Published September 28, 2020 at 12:30PM

File photo

An Arlington man was arrested last night after police say he accidentally fired a bullet into the apartment below his.

The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on the 3800 block of Columbia Pike, a couple of blocks west of S. Glebe Road.

County’s Rate of New Cases Still Holding Relatively Steady, Amid Renewed National Worries

By ARLnow.com

Published September 28, 2020 at 10:45AM | Updated September 28, 2020 at 11:02AM

Arlington’s rate of new coronavirus cases increased slightly over the weekend, but kept within a range held since early September.

Fifty-four new cases have been reported since Friday, bringing the trailing seven-day average of new daily cases to 16. That is within the 12 to 18 cases per day range that has held since Sept. 4.

Rosslyn Dog Park Is Getting Closer to Becoming Reality

By ARLnow.com

Published September 28, 2020 at 9:45AM

Location of future interim Rosslyn dog park (via Arlington County)

Planning is underway for a temporary dog park in Rosslyn that could eventually become permanent.

The dog park will be built in an underutilized grassy area on the west end of Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway). The current plans call for it to be divided into a 8,000 square foot section for large dogs and a 2,900 square foot section for small dogs.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 28, 2020 at 6:00AM | Updated October 17, 2022 at 11:26AM

Amazon Makes Local Donations — Amazon has made a some substantial recent donations to local charitable organizations. Arlington-based Doorways for Women and Families received $100,000 from Amazon “in COVID-19 relief to keep survivors safe in housing and hotels,” while newly-created Project Headphones received $75,000, which “allows us to get headphones with mics for all grade levels in @APSVirginia.” [Twitter, Twitter]

Clement Blasts ‘Missing Middle’ Housing — “‘Missing middle’ may be two words totaling 13 letters, but depending on which side of the Arlington political divide you are on, it may qualify as a single four-letter word. The proposed housing policy, which in theory aims to find ways to stop Arlington from becoming an enclave of the very wealthy with some low-cost housing thrown in as fig leaf, came under withering attack from a veteran campaigner during the recent Arlington Committee of 100 County Board debate.” [InsideNova]

Work Underway on Apartment Site Across from HQ2

By ARLnow.com

Published September 25, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated September 25, 2020 at 5:17PM

Construction at 400 11th Street S. has started in Pentagon City (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Construction activity has started on a 19-story, 306-unit residential building across from Amazon’s future HQ2 in Pentagon City.

The apartment tower is being built at 400 11th Street S., next to the DoubleTree Hotel, Lenox Club apartments, a Verizon telecommunications facility, and the recently-built Altaire apartments.

Arlington’s Coronavirus Test Positivity Rate Is Falling

By ARLnow.com

Published September 25, 2020 at 10:50AM

Arlington’s coronavirus metrics are pointing in the right direction, though there remains a baseline of new cases in the county.

The county’s test positivity rate is now 3.1%, down from 5.1% on Sept. 1, according to the latest Virginia Dept. of Health data.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 25, 2020 at 7:30AM

Crystal City Water Park to Get Big Upgrade — “JBG Smith Properties is pitching a major makeover for a small park at the heart of its Crystal City holdings, envisioning some new retail and even a bar atop a water feature. The developer filed plans with Arlington County earlier this month requesting an additional 6,100 square feet of density for the 1.6-acre park, located across the street from JBG Smith’s massive ‘Central District’ project at 1770 Crystal Drive.” [Washington Business Journal, Twitter]

Vote By Mail Facts — “The first round of vote-by-mail ballots have been sent to people who requested them, but it’s not too late to request yours. Ballot applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 23. To help you understand how voting by mail works — and feel confident in submitting your ballot — we’ve broken down the facts you need to know.” [Arlington County]

County Seeking Feedback for Police Practices Group

By ARLnow.com

Published September 24, 2020 at 1:30PM

As the nation continues to face a reckoning about race and police shootings, Arlington’s new Police Practices Group is seeking feedback on how local law enforcement is performing.

The work group has rolled out a community feedback form that allows Arlington residents to weigh in on topics like use of force, police training, body cameras, mental health, traffic enforcement and a potential civilian review board.

‘Floral Sky’ Art Installation Introduced at Market Common Clarendon

By Scott Fields

Published September 24, 2020 at 9:15AM

The “Floral Sky” installation at Market Common in Clarendon (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Though we are well out of spring, a new bunch of flowers has bloomed in Clarendon.

A new sculpture entitled “Floral Sky” was installed Saturday at the corner of Clarendon Blvd and N. Edgewood Street at Market Common Clarendon.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 24, 2020 at 6:00AM | Updated October 17, 2022 at 11:26AM

Air Force Memorial (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Amazon Buys Hotel Next to HQ2 Site — “Amazon.com Inc. has purchased the Residence Inn by Marriott in Pentagon City with plans to demolish it and expand its second headquarters, the company tells the Washington Business Journal. Acorn Development LLC, an Amazon subsidiary, paid $148.5 million for the building and its 1.5-acre site at 550 Army Navy Drive.” [Washington Business Journal]

Trail Roundabout Now In Use — A new roundabout along the Custis Trail is now in use, improving safety at a formerly hazardous T-intersection in Bon Air Park. [Twitter]