A federal commission has approved the design concept for the 250-foot triumphal arch that President Donald Trump wants to build at Memorial Circle.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted to approve the concept at its meeting today (Thursday). Its members, all appointed by Trump, will review an updated design before taking a final vote at a future meeting.
Arlington’s surge in property crime during and after the pandemic was the highest in the country by one measure, exceeding large increases in other urban areas.
Between 2020 and 2024, crimes against property — including larceny, vandalism and motor vehicle theft — increased by 60.5% in Arlington, home security company Vivint reported yesterday (Wednesday). The next-highest increase among studied localities was in Chicago (up 56.2%) followed by New York City (up 54.7%).
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.
My last article about what makes a good condominium building received some positive feedback, so at your request, we’re continuing the conversation. This time, we’re moving inside the front door to discuss something that can make or break your daily experience: the floor plan.
And trust me, I’ve seen some doozies.
A great floor plan can make a condominium feel spacious, comfortable, and effortlessly livable. A bad one can leave you wondering who approved it in the first place.
Getting it right from the beginning is critical. Unlike a single-family home, a condominium’s footprint is largely fixed by the building’s structure, including the location of support columns, plumbing stacks, and other elements you can’t simply move because they’re inconvenient. Even seemingly minor changes, such as relocating walls, may require condominium association approval.
And because condominiums generally offer less square footage than townhomes or detached homes, every inch has to earn its keep.
Sometimes, you can’t quite explain why a floor plan feels wrong. Maybe the feng shui is off. Maybe you can see the powder room toilet from the hallway. Maybe two doors collide when opened at the same time, as if they’re competing for the same parking space. Or perhaps the kitchen and closets look as though they haven’t been updated since shoulder pads were fashionable.
Whatever the reason, you know it when you see it.
So, which features are worth paying for? And which ones look fabulous on paper but fall flat in real life?
Here’s my ranking of the floor plan features that matter most.
1. Entertaining Space: The Heart of the Home
Some would argue this is the most important consideration of all. I agree.
Your kitchen, living room, and dining area are where you’ll spend much of your waking time at home. They’re where you cook, read, relax, watch television, entertain friends, pursue hobbies, and occasionally wonder why you walked into a room in the first place.
The question is whether these spaces work together.
Does the kitchen connect naturally to the dining and living areas? Can you prepare dinner while chatting with guests without feeling banished to the culinary corner? Is there enough room to entertain without everyone having to shuffle sideways past the dining table?
And what about the view and natural light? Ideally, the living room gets the best seat in the house—not the bedroom, where you’ll be spending much of your time with your eyes closed.
But entertaining space isn’t just about entertaining. A well-designed living area should feel equally inviting on an ordinary Tuesday night when it’s just you, a good book, and absolutely no plans to go anywhere.
The ultimate test? Does the space make you think, “I love being home”? Better yet, “I don’t need to go anywhere else.”
Under new ownership, a longtime pizzeria on Langston Blvd is receiving a brand new look, name and internationally inspired menu.
Zesto Pizza has replaced Citi Pizza and Wings, ushering in a new menu and interior renovations at 5127 Langston Blvd. Led by Arlington chef Tushar Chawda, the revamped business plans to soft open tomorrow (Friday), offering up “global fusion pizzas” and appetizers inspired by international cuisines.
“The Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium is seeking to fill three vacancies on its 2027 Board of Directors. Interested candidates seeking information and an application can find details at the FOAP Elections web page. The deadline for submission is Nov. 15, 2026.”
An Arlington probation officer warned a judge last year that a local man — now charged with attempted rape — was on the verge of a slippery slope of increasing violent crime.
Luzvin Orvando Garcia Moran, whose arrest has also caught the attention of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) because of his immigration status, remains in jail following a violent attack in Clarendon.
Large Ensemble Concert
Featuring Andrew Nixon (cello) and Victor Lin
(viola), joining ISQ for the famous Schubert
String Quintet and the warm and autumnal
Brahms first String Sextet, Op. 18.
Tax rates on real estate and meals won’t increase, but the car tax rate might, as Falls Church City Council members work to finalize a $134.3 million budget package.
Council members voted 7-0 Monday night (April 13) to advertise a real estate tax rate of $1.185 per $100 assessed valuation, unchanged from the current rate. That becomes the highest rate that could be adopted when the budget package comes to a final vote on May 11, although a lower rate could be set.
Details remain to be worked out, but County Board members have informally decided not to eliminate gymnastics programming or close Cherrydale Library in the coming year.
Details on both decisions are likely to come into clearer view this afternoon, when Board members hold their budget markup session starting at 2:30 p.m. Final budget adoption is slated for next Wednesday, April 22.
Columbia Pike leaders hosted a formal ribbon cutting yesterday (Wednesday) on street and sidewalk improvements that had snarled the busy corridor for years.
Local business leaders, numerous staff from the Department of Environmental Services (DES) and all five members of the Arlington County Board attended the event, which marked “substantial completion” of a project intended to improve the experience of bus riders, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists alike.
Lebanese Taverna Founder Dies — Tanios “Tony” Abi-Najm, who opened the original Lebanese Taverna in a former Greek diner in Arlington in 1979, died April 8 at age 94 in Byblos, Lebanon. “What he built went far beyond a business,” his son Dany said in a eulogy. “He introduced Lebanese food — and Lebanese culture — to so many.” [Washington Post]
House Passes ALERT Act — The House of Representatives approved aviation safety legislation 396–10 Tuesday, implementing all 50 NTSB recommendations from the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision at Reagan National that killed 67 people. Rep. Don Beyer (D), whose district includes DCA, called the bill “an incredible step forward” but urged the Senate to strengthen it. [FCNP, WTOP]
Anti-Drone Lasers Near DCA? — The FAA and Pentagon reached an agreement in early April to use anti-drone laser systems at the southern border, raising questions about whether similar technology could be deployed in D.C.-area airspace. During post-crash congressional hearings, Sen. Ted Cruz revealed the Secret Service and Navy had tested counter-drone systems near Reagan National just weeks after the deadly midair collision. [WJLA]
Pilots Meow at DCA — Delta and American Airlines pilots at Reagan National went viral after an air traffic control clip caught them making animal noises over the radio. “You guys, you need to be professional,” a controller is heard saying. [CBS News/X]
Woman Struck by Driver — A woman suffered serious, non-life threatening injuries early Wednesday morning near Route 1 and 23rd Street S. after a verbal dispute escalated to a physical altercation, according to police. The suspects allegedly struck the victim with their vehicle as they fled the scene around 1:40 a.m. [ACPD]
Rosslyn Fire Station Blocked — “Delivery drivers parking wherever they want is a big enough problem but parking in front of a fire station takes it to a new level,” a resident posted. “Both vehicles were unattended with flashers on.” [Brian Gannon/X]
New Alarm Vendor — Arlington County has begun using a third-party vendor, Alarm Program Systems, to administer its security alarm registration and false alarm enforcement program. All residential and commercial alarm systems must be registered with ACPD, with annual permits costing $25. There are also fee for an excessive number of false alarms. [Arlington County]
Girl Scouts Thank Snow Crew — Girl Scouts of Troop 60116 stopped by to thank Arlington County’s winter storm response team, their newest official “Hometown Heroes.” “Cookies yes, snowcrete no!” the Department of Environmental Services posted. [Arlington DES/X]
Virginians Turn on Data Centers — Only 35% of Virginia voters would be comfortable with a new data center in their community, down from 69% in 2023, a Washington Post-Schar School poll found. Prince William County, meanwhile, has abandoned the legal defense of its prior approval of a 1,700-acre data center campus near Manassas National Battlefield Park. [Washington Post]
Spanberger’s Charts Moderate Course — Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed laws raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2028 and banning ghost guns while vetoing gambling measures and bills she said would weaken public safety. She has vetoed eight bills and proposed changes to at least 180 — more than her most recent Democratic predecessor. [Axios]
Va. Joins Popular Vote Compact — Gov. Spanberger signed a bill adding Virginia to the National Popular Vote Compact, an agreement among states to award electoral votes to the nationwide popular vote winner. The compact now has 222 electoral votes committed, 48 short of the 270 needed to take effect. [NPR]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 92 degrees and southwest winds of 3–10 mph, gusting to 20 mph. Rain showers are possible after 8 p.m., with an overnight low around 69. [NWS]
There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
Good Wednesday 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 — Apr 15, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 92°F and a light southwest wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Thursday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 69°F. There’s a 30% chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m., with winds shifting from southwest at 6 to 8 mph to west after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.”
– W.P. Kinsella
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! 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.
Please join us for an Open House at St. Charles Preschool on November 13th at 9:30 am to learn more about our Christ-centered, nurturing preschool community! Applications for the 2027-28 school year will be opening that day on our school website.
Our school offers:
