Update at 6:10 p.m. — The federal government is open tomorrow. Federal workers has the option of unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework, says the Office of Personnel Management. Arlington County government is also open with a telework option.
Arlington’s congressional delegation is weighing in on tomorrow’s complete closure of the Metrorail system for safety inspections.
All Metrorail service will be suspended Wed., March 16, for emergency inspections: https://t.co/OPr8Ia6Vgt #wmata pic.twitter.com/YEXPL1cm2s
— Metro Forward (@wmata) March 15, 2016
Vida Fitness Coming to Ballston? — D.C.-based Vida Fitness is reportedly planning a 30,000 square foot gym in Ballston. The plan depends on County Board approval of a site plan amendment for the as-yet-unbuilt final building in the Liberty Center development. Given the high office vacancy rate, local developer Shooshan Co. is proposing to reconfigure what would have been a 20-story office building into a 22-story building that mixes residential, office and retail space. [Washington Business Journal]
‘WeLive’ Close to Opening in Crystal City — WeWork recently opened its new coworking space at 2221 S. Clark Street in Crystal City. Now, the company is nearing an opening for “WeLive,” a communal living space in the same building. WeLive is opening “very soon” and the company is now giving tours to prospective tenants, we hear. A second WeLive location, in Manhattan, recently opened for “beta testing.” [Fast Company]
Earlier: The Arlington County Board approved a trio of two multi-million dollar contracts at its meeting on Saturday.
First, the Board was to consider a $4.85 million contract, with a $0.73 million contingency, to add a third level to the existing two-level parking garage at the Arlington Trades Center near Shirlington.
Police say the Jimmy John’s sandwich shop at 1138 N. Irving Street was robbed just after 9 p.m.
“A male subject entered a restaurant and robbed the employee at gunpoint,” police said. “The suspect entered, displayed a firearm and instructed the employee to open the register. He fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.”
A runaway Arlington Transit bus rolled downhill and smashed into at least four parked cars and a motorcycle early this afternoon.
The crash happened around 12:30 p.m. on the 800 block of S. Greenbrier Street, in the Arlington Mill neighborhood near Columbia Pike.
Major Rosslyn Development Approved — A sweeping five-phase redevelopment of 7.65 acres of prime Rosslyn real estate was approved unanimously by the Arlington County Board on Saturday. The Board approved the framework for the development, though final approval will be necessary for each phase. Developers Vornado and Gould Property Company expect to complete the project over the course of 25 years. [Arlington County]
Gun Store Saga Continues — Who owns NOVA Armory, the gun store that’s planning to open in Lyon Park despite community opposition? The man who speaks on behalf of the business and holds its federal firearms sales license isn’t saying, exactly. Dennis Pratte declined further questions after describing it as “a female, minority-owned business” and stating “I may or may not be the owner.” Meanwhile, county leaders say there’s nothing they can legally do to prevent the store from opening. NOVA Armory is planning to a grand opening on March 26. [Washington Post, InsideNova]
Update at 2:20 p.m. — Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld has written a letter to customers in which he warns of more single-tracking delays during the evening rush hour and a total shut down of a portion of the Silver, Orange and Blue lines in D.C. starting at 9 p.m.
Dear Metrorail Customer,
The Denver Post and other local media reports that Rom lost control on an intermediate trail at Copper Mountain Resort and crashed into a tree. Rom was wearing a helmet but died of blunt force trauma.
The incident happened Wednesday and was the second skiing death in Colorado that day.
Arlington County Police are conducting a death investigation in Bluemont Park (601 N. Manchester Street) this morning.
A body was found inside a van in the park’s parking lot, said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.
An accident at the Central Place construction site in Rosslyn shut down N. Lynn Street earlier this morning.
The accident happened around 6:45 a.m. Lynn Street was closed at Wilson Blvd due to the emergency response.
The incident happened Wednesday around 1:30 p.m., at the intersection of S. Glebe Road and West Glebe Road, on the Arlington-Alexandria border near I-395.
Police say a verbal dispute turned violent when one of the drivers — both drivers were men — got out of his car and smashed the other’s car window with the bat, striking him with the bat and broken glass in the process.
