News | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published June 24, 2019 at 7:30AM | Updated June 24, 2019 at 8:36AM

Helicopter Complaints Continue — “Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), one of the lawmakers who requested the study, said that helicopter noise is ‘our number one constituent complaint’ and that the number of complaints has risen steadily since he took office in 2015.” [Washington Post]

Early Morning Apartment Fire — “Units were called to 2400 blk 27th Ct S for fire in 4 story garden apt. On arrival crews found balcony #fire on floors 1 & 2 being controlled by #firesprinklers. Fire extinguished, no extension inside. No injuries.” [Twitter]

County Board to Hold Meeting on 5G Technology Installation Regulations

By Airey

Published June 21, 2019 at 1:30PM | Updated June 21, 2019 at 2:46PM

5G Technology could be coming to Arlington (Image via Christoph Scholz/Flickr)

(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) Whether or not Arlington County chooses to make a small code change could have a big impact on how quickly the county rolls out 5G wireless technology.

The new technology promises faster mobile data speeds and a network more capable of real-time connections to “smart city” infrastructure like driverless cars, among other benefits. But 5G requires many small devices with antennas be installed throughout an area to work — and that’s where plans hit a snag in Arlington.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 21, 2019 at 7:55AM

U.S. Marine War Memorial, aka Iwo Jima Memorial (Flickr pool photo by Brian Irwin)

Auditor Looking at Economic Development Funds — “Are economic-incentive funds provided to corporations by the Arlington County government being doled out in accordance with agreements? The county government’s auditor is going to take a look… The audit, already under way, will look only at whether terms of agreements are being complied with; overall effectiveness of the sometimes controversial economic-incentive policy ‘is not part of the scope.'” [InsideNova]

Suspicious Letter at Fort Myer — “Joint Base Myer Henderson-Hall police and other agencies investigated a suspicious letter this afternoon that was delivered on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. It was determined to not have any dangerous substance on or in it.” [Twitter]

Rosslyn Boathouse Project Advances, But Some Opposition Looms

By Airey

Published June 20, 2019 at 4:45PM | Updated June 20, 2019 at 5:02PM

Diagram of planned boathouse structures (via Arlington County)

The Rosslyn boathouse project is one step closer to setting sail, thrilling some local officials but also facing opposition from some local residents.

The National Park Service ushered the project along to a new phase this week, announcing that the proposed site for the boathouse in Rosslyn will have no significant environmental impact. This closes NPS’ environmental assessment of where the boathouse could be located that has dragged on for seven years, and means the design phase can begin.

Arlington to Start Testing New Permitting System Next Month

By Airey

Published June 20, 2019 at 3:35PM

Arlington county's permitting system could be getting an overhaul starting next month

Arlington is considering a new online system that would digitize the county’s permitting system.

The new system aims to move the Permit Office’s application process into a digital database while phasing out paper applications. Staff is expected to start testing the system — now dubbed “Permit Arlington,” after formerly being known as “One-Stop Arlington — next month.

Crime Report: Businesses Robbed, Trashed in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Published June 20, 2019 at 2:30PM | Updated February 28, 2020 at 10:50AM

File photo

A man was arrested early Sunday and charged in a pair of robberies in the Crystal City area.

Police say 41-year-old Christopher Uglialoro first robbed a business at knifepoint on the 1800 block of Jefferson Davis Highway, around 1:45 a.m. He then robbed another nearby business, on the 400 block of 23rd Street S., around 2:15 a.m., according to police.

Two Columbia Pike Apartment Communities Slated for Redevelopment

By Airey

Published June 20, 2019 at 1:30PM | Updated June 20, 2019 at 3:34PM

Map showing the Greenbrier Apartments

Two apartment communities along the Columbia Pike corridor could soon be getting major facelifts.

Developers are planning to build a new three-to-four story affordable residential building to replace Arlington View Terrace, a 77-unit apartment complex at the 1400 block of S. Rolfe Street, according to a presentation last week to the county’s Form Based Code Advisory Working Group.

New Bus Enhancements for I-66 Approved

By Vernon Miles

Published June 20, 2019 at 11:10AM

Metrobus (file photo)

New projects approved by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) could improve some bus offerings around Arlington.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted yesterday (Wednesday) to use nearly $20 million in toll revenue to fund commuter projects along I-66.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Snapped Utility Pole Blocks Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com

Published June 20, 2019 at 9:50AM | Updated June 20, 2019 at 12:19PM

Broken utility pole and downed wires along Lee Highway (photo courtesy @mgnchny/Twitter)

(Updated at 12:20 p.m.) All lanes of Lee Highway appear to be blocked after a utility pole reportedly snapped and caused wires to fall across the street.

The incident happened around 9 a.m, just east of the East Falls Church neighborhood. The broken pole was not believed to have been caused by a crash, Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Ben O’Bryant told ARLnow.

Coffee Beanery Coming to Virginia Square

By Vernon Miles

Published June 20, 2019 at 9:00AM

Coffee Beanery coming to Virginia Square

Coffee Beanery, a coffee chain with locations across the northeast, is coming to Virginia Square sometime over the next few months.

“The store in Arlington is currently scheduled to open in either late July or mid-August,” a representative of the company said on Facebook.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 20, 2019 at 7:45AM | Updated June 20, 2019 at 8:25AM

Arlington Loses Top Economic Development Official — “Christina Winn, one of the lead Arlington officials tasked with luring Amazon to the county, is taking over as Prince William County’s top economic development official.” [Washington Business Journal]

Marymount Prez Wants to Double Enrollment — “Irma Becerra hit the ground running the moment she took over the Marymount University presidency… her chief goal is as straightforward as it is ambitious: Double the school’s size in the next five years.” [Washington Business Journal]

Electric Scooters to Stay on Arlington Streets for Another Six Months

By Vernon Miles

Published June 19, 2019 at 3:30PM

Lime dockless scooters on the street in Ballston (file photo)

The Arlington County Board needs a little more time to see how it likes e-scooters and e-bikes.

At a County Board meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the Board voted to extend the e-scooter and e-bike pilot project through Dec. 31. to allow for continued public comment and additional time for analysis.