Michael Wardian competing at a race in May (courtesy of Michael Wardian)
An Arlington ultramarathoner with a history of extreme athletic stunts is preparing for one of his most ambitious challenges yet: seven back-to-back 50K races on all seven continents.
Michael Wardian, a 51-year-old Arlington Forest resident who ran across the entire country from coast to coast in 2022, has already competed in the World Marathon Challenge twice before, running a full marathon every single day in a different part of the world. Later this month, he’ll be back in action with an even loftier goal — seeking to beat the world record for the even longer 50K option.
Workers calling for unionization at Hyatt Regency Crystal City in 2024 (courtesy of UNITE HERE Local 25)
Representatives of both the business community and organized labor voiced skepticism at a recent forum that an end to Virginia’s right-to-work law is on the horizon for 2026.
“Right to work is not a big thing to us right now,” said Don Slaiman, political coordinator for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26.
This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at[email protected].
Question: How much of an impact do you think the ROAD to Housing Act will have on housing affordability in Arlington?
Answer: The Road to Housing Act became law ten days ago, with the stated goal of improving housing affordability in the United States.
I don’t see many policies in the Act that will improve affordability in the Arlington/Northern VA/DC Metro markets, outside of incentives for more affordable multi-family housing, but there are policies that should improve affordability in other markets that are more saturated with institutional investors that own swaths of single-family homes (e.g. Atlanta and Phoenix) and for manufactured/mobile homes.
The Local Conversation Needs to Change
If we are going to improve affordability in our market, most of the change has to be done locally/regionally, not nationally, but it requires a paradigm shift in how we discuss and solve for housing affordability.
Affordability Disconnect: Near Term Expectations Not Realistic
A disconnect between housing affordability expectations and reality prevents the right community and political conversations from happening. We expect/demand housing affordability immediately, ignoring the difficulty, and consequences, of achieving it that quickly.
Stable and healthy housing affordability is a long-term process requiring gradual change over a 10-15+ year period.
Demand-Side Solutions Won’t Work
Demand-side solutions, such as lower interest rates or easier financing, artificially inflate home values, as seen during the COVID-era housing boom and early 2000s. They are not a good long-term solution to affordability because they push values even higher (along with your property taxes) and affordability gets worse when rates/lending normalize and no longer provide artificially low monthly payments.
Supply-Side Solutions Are Not Immediate
Most policy discussions focus on supply-side solutions: building more/faster and denser housing (e.g. Arlington’s Missing Middle/Expanded Housing Option), incentivizing more existing home sales, or disincentivizing concentrated ownership by companies and individuals. Econ 101 tells us that more supply = lower prices = affordable housing (winner winner!).
This is the only path to stable, long-term housing affordability…BUT, at current interest rates, prices must drop 30-35% in the United States to become affordable, at current income levels. A 30-35% drop in home values would devastate the economy, so a supply-side solution won’t (shouldn’t) provide immediate affordability. (more…)
Crafted Boutique Salon's future location at 2300 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
A pair of experienced hairstylists who used to work together in Clarendon are reuniting to open a new salon in Courthouse.
Crafted Boutique Salon is aiming to open by March 1 at 2300 Clarendon Boulevard, in Courthouse Plaza, stylists Baylie Madaj and Katy Felice told ARLnow.
One More Page Books owner Eileen McGervey poses for a portrait on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 in Arlington. (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)
Approaching its next milestone in East Falls Church, a 15-year-old bookstore is looking back at achievements from organizing a young adult book festival to getting a visit from President Barack Obama.
One More Page Books, an independent bookseller at 2200 N. Westmoreland Street, will celebrate 15 years in business with an anniversary event next Thursday, Jan. 22, from 6:30-8 p.m.
Join the Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts at the 34th Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2026 featuring live jazz, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities in the heart of Rosslyn! This year’s lineup is bringing a diverse mix of performers and bands redefining the jazz music genre including Plena Libre, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Parlor Greens, and Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band.
MLK Day of Service 2023
at Washington-Liberty High School (via Volunteer Arlington/Facebook)
Performances, speeches and a day of service in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. are coming to Arlington this weekend.
Speeches from local civic activists and motivational speakers are coming to the Wakefield High School Auditorium from 5-6:30 p.m. on Sunday, along with performances from a lyrical dancer, an elementary school choir and middle school step team.
Rhodeside Grill at twilight (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Democratic Nominee Selected — “Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) has been declared the winner in a firehouse primary for Virginia’s 39th District Senate seat, defeating three opponents with 70.6% of the 4,647 ballots cast. Bennett Parker received 3,281 votes, followed by former Del. Mark Levine with 807 votes (17.4%), Charles Sumpter with 321 votes (6.9%) and former Vice Mayor Amy Jackson with 238 votes (5.1%).” [ALXnow]
Legislative Session Underway — “The proposed redistricting amendment could go before the state’s voters as soon as April if it clears the Senate as expected. Democratic leaders promised Wednesday to unveil potential new maps by the end of the month… The measure was among a group of big-issue amendment proposals that advanced on largely party-line votes. The others would enshrine same-sex marriage, secure access to abortions and automatically restore voting rights to people who complete felony sentences.” [Washington Post]
Governor’s Last Address — “In his final State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday evening, outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin offered a sweeping defense of his four-year tenure, arguing that Virginia is stronger economically, fiscally and educationally than when he took office in January 2022, as he prepares to hand power to Abigail Spanberger, who will be sworn in as the state’s 75th governor this weekend.” [Virginia Mercury]
Youngkin Touts State Finances — “Virginia’s revenues are $1.2B ahead of forecast! The strong year-over-year increase is not noise, it’s real. It reflects strong job creation, rising incomes, healthy consumer activity, and disciplined fiscal stewardship.” [Gov. Glenn Youngkin/X]
‘Inn’ Comes to F.C. Woman’s Bedside — “A few weeks ago, [Chef Patrick O’Connell of The Inn at Little Washington] received an email from Falls Church resident Ashley Brumbaugh, 42. She was hospitalized at UVA Health Haymarket Medical Center while being treated for life-threatening liver disease. A devoted foodie and seasoned traveler, Brumbaugh found herself longing for the pleasures of fine dining she once enjoyed while globe-trotting and visiting Michelin-starred restaurants.” [N. Va. Magazine]
Good Samaritans Help Driver — “Let’s hear it for the kind people who stopped to help a driver apparently having a seizure in the intersection of Army Navy and S. Fern Street in Arlington a few minutes ago.” [Dave Statter/X]
Verizon Outage Resolved — “Verizon Communications said Wednesday night that it had resolved an hourslong, widespread outage that prevented customers from making calls and sending messages. The problem, which started at around noon Eastern time, affected wireless voice and data services for some customers, particularly in the eastern half of the country, a Verizon spokesman said. The company said at around 10 p.m. ET that the outage had been fixed.” [WSJ, USA Today]
Letter: No to Rent Control — “There is a more humane and sustainable way to address housing affordability in Arlington. Rather than lobbying Richmond for anti rent gouging powers, local leaders should focus on removing barriers to building more housing—streamlining zoning, easing density limits, shortening permitting timelines, and letting a variety of housing types emerge where demand exists.” [Letter to the Editor]
Letter: No to Killing Deer — “Arlington parks are beautiful sanctuaries, natural spaces of peace, relaxation, and learning. Arlington residents cherish the presence of deer in our parks and neighborhoods. Deer bring joy to our lives and enhance the quality of our entire community. Killing deer with guns and teaching our children that violence is an acceptable approach to resolving environmental challenges does not reflect the values of Arlington County residents.” [Letter to the Editor]
It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 32 degrees with a west wind at 17 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 22 degrees, a west wind of 9 to 14 mph, and gusts up to 26 mph. [NWS]
Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of 32 degrees with a west wind at 17 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 22 degrees, a west wind of 9 to 14 mph, and gusts up to 26 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” – Jim Rohn
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.
