Clients line up outside the Arlington Food Assistance Center in Green Valley, Nov. 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)
WASHINGTON (AP) — With the combination of the longest government shutdown, the mass firings of government workers and a fresh cut in federal food aid, the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington is bracing for the swell of people who will need its help before the holiday season.
The food bank, which serves 400 pantries and aid organizations in the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and two Maryland counties, is providing 8 million more meals than it had prepared to this budget year — a nearly 20% increase.
Trevor Fullen (7) scored Washington-Liberty's touchdown against Langley (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)
With a lopsided loss in their final regular-season football game Friday night (Nov. 7), the Washington-Liberty Generals finished third in the Liberty District standings.
The host Generals (7-3, 4-2) were blown out by the Langley Saxons, 42-7, in the high-school contest.
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…)
The weather will start off partly sunny, eventually transitioning to full sunshine with temperatures reaching around 68°F and a mild west wind at 7 mph. On Saturday night, expect a slight possibility of showers after 1am, while the sky remains partly cloudy and temperatures drop to about 50°F. A gentle southeast wind will blow at 3-5 mph, with a 20% chance of rain. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
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. 👋
Plane at Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Reagan National Airport is “expecting significant delays and cancellations through this evening due to air traffic reductions.”
The airport urged those with flight reservations “to monitor their flight status closely with their airline,” according to a social post Friday afternoon. As of 5 p.m., the FAA listed average flight delays of four hours at Reagan National, attributing the delays to “staffing” issues.
A 23-year-old man is accused of using an air pistol to shoot people and vehicles from inside a South Arlington apartment early yesterday morning (Thursday).
The Arlington County Police Department was dispatched around 4:40 a.m. to a report of a shooting just off of Columbia Pike, in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, according to a press release. They arrived to find two men who had been struck by projectiles, suffering “minor injuries.”
While supportive of redrawing congressional boundaries, one of Arlington’s state legislators isn’t convinced that it will guarantee her party more seats in the House of Representatives next year.
“This is sort of a risky business,” Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) said at a community roundtable yesterday (Thursday). “It could go either way. It is not a magic bullet.”
Arlington Ridge Road bridge (staff photo by Vernon Miles)
One side of a 1950s-era bridge over Four Mile Run will close for reconstruction beginning next week.
The west side of the Arlington Ridge Road bridge, which crosses from Arlington into Alexandria just south of S. Glebe Road, will close next Wednesday to all vehicle and sidewalk traffic. It will remain inaccessible for about 11 months while crews demolish and reconstruct the southbound side.
O'Connell's Mackenzie Barbato advances the ball in the state final (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)
The Bishop O’Connell Knights bounced back from a major defeat in regional action to win the four-team Northern Virginia Independent Schools State Invitational girls soccer tournament.
With a 2-0 home victory over the third-seed St. Paul VI Catholic Panthers in the Thursday (Oct. 6) title game, the top-seeded Knights (14-2-1) won the crown for the second straight year and fourth time in five seasons.
