County Board members are promising a detailed written response after Lyon Park residents accused the local government of cutting down and carting off a “gateway” tree without cause.
The removal came despite efforts of the Lyon Park Citizens Association to preserve the tree, which had been located for the past 40 years on an island in the middle of N. Fillmore Street near 3rd Street N.
Arlington per-square-foot sales prices for homes hovered just below $500 in November, the second-highest in the region and up ever so slightly from a year ago.
For the month, the average cost per square foot for the 145 residential properties changing hands in Arlington was $498, according to figures reported Dec. 10 by MarketStats by ShowingTime. That was up by just under 1% from a year before, but slightly trailed the average of $504 recorded in Arlington for the first 11 months of the year.
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…)
As Arlington’s fleet of snowplows rumbled to life after this weekend’s snowfall, the vehicles bore a new set of playful names submitted by local residents.
They’re just as pun-packed as last year’s.
This Memorial Weekend: Argentine Festival USA Returns May 23
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Pike Project Approved — “The Arlington County Board gave final approval at its Saturday meeting to a major redevelopment project at 2601 Columbia Pike in Arlington, Virginia. “The Elliott” will be a 6-story, mixed-use property, with 271 apartments and about 15,000 square feet of retail space. It will replace the Fillmore Gardens shopping center on Columbia Pike, east of Walter Reed Drive.” [WTOP]
Gov. Shares Hanukkah Message — “In moments of darkness, we are reminded that faith, resilience, hope, and joy endure. The story of Hanukkah teaches us that even the smallest light can push back the darkness. As we reflect today, Suzanne and I wish our Jewish neighbors in Virginia and across the nation a safe and meaningful Hanukkah. May this Festival of Lights bring peace, comfort, joy, and renewed hope to you and your families.” [Gov. Glen Youngkin/X]
Police: ‘No Known Threats’ — “Throughout December and the winter holidays, officers are conducting proactive patrols throughout Arlington including conducting extra checks near all places of worship in the County. ACPD continuously monitors critical incidents occurring in the United States and throughout the world and works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners at the local, state and national levels on identifying any possible safety concerns impacting Arlington and our region.” [ACPD/X]
Car Fire on I-395 — “Last night, E109 responded to a vehicle fire on SB I-395 just before Shirlington Circle. Upon arrival, crews found an SUV fully involved in flames. E109 quickly extinguished the fire. There were no injuries to the driver or our firefighters. FMs will be investigating the cause.” [ACFD/X]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny conditions and a high temperature of around 30 degrees during the day, with the northwest wind of 7 to 11 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon. Tonight, there will be partly cloudy skies, with the temperature dropping to a low of about 21 degrees. The south wind will be blowing at 5 to 7 mph before becoming light and variable after midnight. [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.
A collaborative Summer Solstice gathering hosted by Inner Seasons and Spiritual Enhancements.
The Summer Solstice marks the peak of the sun’s power, the moment in the Wheel of the Year when light is at its fullest expression. In many traditions, this is the season of radiance, visibility, and creative fire. It is the time when nature stands unapologetically in her fullness, inviting us to do the same.
Main roads and highways around Arlington are mostly clear, after an inch or less of snow fell across the county.
Traffic cameras show mostly wet roads, though many neighborhood streets remain snow-covered after the overnight snowfall. The last of the flakes stopped falling in Arlington around 8 a.m.
Arlington and the rest of the immediate D.C. and Baltimore metros are now under a Winter Weather Advisory.
There is now less uncertainty about whether there will be accumulating snowfall. Flakes are set to start flying late Saturday or early Sunday, with 1-3 inches expected to fall by the time the precipitation wraps up Sunday morning.
Good Friday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 12, 2025.
Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.
Here is what’s going on Saturday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Here are the events planned for Sunday:
Expect a mostly cloudy day with a high near 45 and a southwest wind around 6 mph. On Saturday night, snow showers are likely, possibly mixed with rain, before turning into all snow after 4am. The low will be around 29, with calm winds shifting to north at 5 to 8 mph after midnight. The chance of precipitation stands at 80% with new snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches possible. See more from Weather.gov.
“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum. 👋
State Sen. Barbara Favola (D) is stepping into a new role as chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee on the other side of a recent battle with cancer.
When the Virginia General Assembly convenes in January, Favola, who announced in May that she had been diagnosed with uterine cancer, will be only two months removed from the end of chemotherapy treatments.
Between them, girls and boys varsity public high-school basketball teams in Arlington have six regular-season rivalry games scheduled this season.
The first contest was a boys clash Thursday night, Dec. 11, when the host Wakefield Warriors (3-1) lost to the Yorktown Patriots (4-1) by a 73-41 score in Liberty District action.
