Yesterday’s winter storm brought quiet streets and winter fun to Arlington, even as fluffy snowfall turned to icy sleet.
Snow blanketed the streets, which were mostly empty except for the occasional car or snowplow, and iconic views, including those in Arlington National Cemetery. At the same time, local kids — who have the day off from school today (Monday) — took to the parks for sledding and other merriment.
A cafe from the team behind Sfoglina is opening in Rosslyn, in the same office building as the Italian restaurant.
Signage for the all-day cafe by Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi, first reported by the Washington Business Journal, has appeared in the lobby at The Towers at 1100 Wilson Blvd.
Welcome to Kami’s Korner where we’ll take a deep dive into Arlington’s condominium market by focusing on what’s coming next. From emerging developments to shifting trends, this space will spotlight the opportunities and insights shaping the future of condo living in Arlington.
Many of you have asked about best practices when it comes to buying a new condominium. Some of us only want new and are willing to pay a premium for the best in current design. There are several recommendations and insights here that will help you get what you want.
First decide what type of condominium you need… size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking needs, or separate office, followed by a list of wants such as level of building service, amenities on-site, space for dining for six, balcony, open floor plan, and natural light. (Here she goes again.) Not to be sexist about it, but females generally are better shoppers and come with a preconceived set of non-negotiables.
Identify the areas you would consider living, such as Arlington or Old Town… but not wanting to go as far as Tysons, Reston, or DC. People don’t buy condominiums in places they aren’t familiar with or already spend time in, unless relocating entirely. Many upcoming communities put up signage and a website first which makes early interest hyperlocal. Register as a VIP on the website early and you will get regular communication, time to consider the offering, and learn when pre-sale will begin.
Once open, come early in pre-sale. You’ll get the pick of the litter. This is particularly important if you want something larger and are interested in the best views. Prospects are smart and pick the best floorplans first. If you have some idea of your ideal size and price point it makes good use of everyone’s time. Once you make a selection, expect to leave a 10% deposit as this is pretty standard in the industry. The developer generally has their own contract and it’s written much in their favor but not unreasonably so. Pricing this early is usually not negotiable… the price is the price. But you can purchase with some confidence since all buyers are getting the same terms and the developer has a shared interest in protecting values through delivery while sales are ongoing.
You do not need to be fully qualified for financing to come out and look but it’s wise to have some idea of what you can afford. Most builders give incentives for paying cash or using their title company and lenders. Often your contract might even offer a short financing contingency in exchange for considering them.
Once firmly under contract, a buyer might have 12- 18 months to prepare for the move. How blissful. This is one of the best parts of buying early in pre-sale. Moving is daunting, especially if you have been in your current homes for 30 years and the thought of moving seems excruciating. Decide what to take, sell/donate, and hire a proper interior designer to space plan and create a unique home that reflects your tastes. All with the time to do it properly.
Something to note. Finishes have gotten more high end, brands carry weight, and there is less customization offered these days. Gone are the days of going to a design center. If you know you are getting a Sub Zero refrigerator included you probably won’t ask if there are other options available. (more…)
A drunk driver who struck and killed a woman in a head-on collision on GW Parkway has been sentenced to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Carlos Hernandez Romero — who did not have a driver’s license and who was driving 80 mph in the wrong direction the night of Jan. 1, 2025 — admitted to aggravated DWI manslaughter, according to a press release from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for Arlington and Falls Church.
This Memorial Weekend: Argentine Festival USA Returns May 23
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Two Virginia ABC stores, one in Crystal City and one just off of Langston Blvd, are closing their doors.
The first is expected to close in February and the other will close in March.
Join Jadin O’Brien, Olympic athlete, 3x NCAA pentathlon champion and 10x All-American (heptathlon) winner for this in-person and virtual 5K. This event is sponsored by The Alex Manfull Fund to raise awareness and advance research on debilitating infection-associated neuroimmune disorders (including PANS and PANDAS) that affect young people. The 5K is part of the organization’s 36 Hours for PANS and PANDAS Advocacy in Motion event. Runners will receive a Finisher’s Medal, Technical (Drifit) Event Shirt and A Chip Timed Event. The event commemorates the life of Alex Manfull, who died at age 26 due to PANDAS. Susan and William Manfull established the Fund in their daughter’s name with the vision that no life ever again be cut short—or interrupted—by these illnesses. Learn more at TheAlexManfullFund.org.
If Arlington residents see immigration enforcement operating in the county, some local elected officials are advising them to call 911.
County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti and Board member Takis Karantonis encouraged calling the emergency number. De Ferranti noted at a meeting on Saturday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “have no legal requirement to tell us when they come into our community.”
County Board members voted unanimously on Saturday (Jan. 24) to approve redevelopment of the vacant Inn of Rosslyn motel site for new apartments.
“We are facing a housing crisis. This crisis is today,” Board member Takis Karantonis said in support of the proposal by Monument Realty to construct an eight-story building totaling 141 units, including 13 committed-affordable units.
Don’t drive this morning unless you absolutely have to.
That’s the message from local and state officials who are still working to clear roads amid freezing conditions.
Flights Resuming at DCA — “Great news! Flights will gradually return to DCA on Monday. Confirm your itinerary directly with your airline. Thanks to our hard-working snow team who drove around the clock to plow, broom and de-ice the airfield.” [Reagan Airport/X]
Burglaries on Columbia Pike — “The suspect broke a window of a closed business in the 5500 block of Columbia Pike before fleeing the scene. A short time later, police were dispatched to another closed business in the 5000 block of Columbia Pike for a burglary alarm. It was determined at approximately 3:32 a.m., the suspect forced entry into the business by shattering a window, rummaged through the interior, stole merchandise and fled the scene.” [ACPD]
Robbery Suspects Arrested — “@ArlingtonVaPD looking for a pair of robbery suspects last night, quickly found them sitting at a bus stop six blocks away.” [Dave Statter/X]
Officers Go Sledding — “From assisting disabled motorists to braving a seriously gnarly sledding hill, ACPD has been hard at work today ensuring the weather doesn’t disrupt our commitment to caring for and connecting with our neighbors.” [ACPD/X]
Firefighters Help Motorist — “On the way back from a call, R109 stopped to give a helping hand. Looking out for our community, on and off the call.” [ACFD/X]
Possible Buyer for Compass — “Caffè Nero, a London-based chain of coffee houses, has cast a $2.9 million bid to acquire substantially all of Compass Coffee’s assets, ending more than two weeks of speculation about the identity of the stalking horse bidder following the D.C. company’s Jan. 6 Chapter 11 filing.” [WBJ]
WAMU Reporter Departing — “Just heard on “The Politics Hour” that WAMU Northern Virginia reporter @margaretbarthel is leaving to head abroad. Such a loss.” [Martin Austermuhle/X, Margaret Barthel/X]
Post Layoffs Coming — “Massive layoffs coming to Washington Post… rumor inside Post is that sports desk could be shuttered entirely… foreign desk will be hit hard too.” [Dylan Byers/X, Natalie Korach/X]
Alexandria Eatery on Yelp’s Top 100 — “A Del Ray restaurant is one of three Virginia eateries to make Yelp’s annual list of the “Top US Restaurants” released earlier this week. Matt and Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar just made the rankings, coming in at No. 100 out of the 100 spots featured.” [ALXnow]
Tysons Casino Bill Advances — “A Virginia Senate subcommittee has advanced the Tysons casino bill, setting it up for further consideration after its 2025 defeat in a House of Delegates committee. The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted 5-3 today (Friday) in favor of the legislation from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) to add Fairfax County as an eligible host for a casino.” [FFXnow, Sen. Scott Surovell/X]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with highs around 27 degrees and northwest winds from 11 to 16 mph, potentially reaching 28 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear and dangerously cold, with lows near 2 degrees and wind chills as low as -7, due to a west wind of 7 to 10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Flickr pool photo by Brian Gannon
Arlington County community centers, libraries and other facilities will be closed Monday as the cleanup continues from today’s winter storm.
About 7-8 inches of snow and sleet fell in Arlington. Hours of sleet has resulted in an especially dense and heavy covering over local roads and sidewalks, making plowing and shoveling more difficult.
