President Donald Trump has been floating plans for a new arch monument at a heavily trafficked roundabout near Arlington National Cemetery.
Depicting a winged “Lady Liberty” flanked by two eagles, the monument — called “Independence Arch” in mock-ups but now known by the informal name “Arc de Trump” — would stand in a traffic circle on the Virginia side of Memorial Bridge, about a quarter mile from the Arlington Cemetery Metro station.
A North Arlington community center may close as soon as next spring for a multimillion-dollar maintenance project.
That’s when the Madison Community Center will begin undergoing $6.7 million in renovations, bringing a new roof, climate control system, windows, better lighting and other improvements to the lower-level fitness center and adjacent restrooms, according to a county webpage.
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…)
Bavarian snacks, live music and yard games are all planned this weekend at a new “Blocktoberfest” street festival hosted by the Clarendon Ballroom.
The event takes place this Saturday between O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub and the Liberty Tavern, at Wilson Blvd and N. Irving Street. The Clarendon Ballroom promises “a full-scale street festival packed with Bavarian cheer, music, and beer garden vibes.”
It’s been another busy fall for ARLnow’s local reporters, with lots of scoops and detailed community reporting.
But we need your help. The ongoing federal government shutdown has dampened our advertising sales at a crucial time of year, creating financial headwinds for our newsroom. To maintain our current staffing levels — the highest they’ve been since our founding nearly 16 years ago — we’re counting on readers like you to join the ARLnow Press Club.
When you become a Press Club member, you’re not just supporting local journalism — you’re getting something valuable in return. Members receive a “pro” version of our afternoon newsletter with easy-to-skim summaries, plus a sneak peek at our coverage plans every weekday morning, so you’re always a step ahead on what’s happening in Arlington.
We’re proud to cover the Arlington community at a level that very few suburban locales receive anywhere in the country. But sustaining that coverage takes resources, and in challenging times like these, your support makes all the difference.
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Flickr pool photo by Joanna Hiatt Kim
Join Kaiser Permanente for Healthy at the Harbor, a free community health and wellness event taking place Saturday, June 6, from 11 am to 4 pm at National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Bring your family and friends for free full day of fun, fitness, and preventive care along the waterfront.
Throughout the day, Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians will offer no-cost health screenings, alongside a health and wellness expo focused on preventive care education. A lively Kids’ Zone will keep children active and entertained with spin-art bikes, face painting, balloon art, games, and more.
Timberland has opened a new store at the mall in Pentagon City, joining a lineup of recent and upcoming additions at the shopping center.
The shop opened last weekend on the mall’s second level with a “a full assortment of footwear, outerwear and accessories for men, women and kids,” including the brand’s popular leather boots. The opening comes as the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City is expected to welcome several new businesses over the next few months.
Arlington voters are casting ballots ahead of Election Day in numbers that could set a new high for years that don’t include the presidential race.
“We’re on track to see record early voting turnout in a non-presidential election,” county election director Gretchen Reinemeyer told ARLnow. “As of the end of Monday, there’s been a 48% increase over the same timeframe in 2021.”
With their worst game of the season behind them, the Wakefield Warriors won’t dwell on the lopsided setback, because the high-school football team has an Arlington rival next up on the schedule.
Wakefield (3-3, 0-2) lost to the host Langley Saxons, 56-7, in Liberty District action Friday night (Oct. 10). Next up on its home field Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., Wakefield hosts the district-leading Yorktown Patriots (4-3, 3-0).
Some members of two Arlington advisory bodies are unhappy with changes being imposed on their groups’ responsibilities.
A joint meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Committee and Pedestrian Advisory Committee last week offered a chance for the groups reporting to County Manager Mark Schwartz to lay out the new ground rules that Schwartz has requested. But the general sentiment on those advisory groups was that the changes could be costly to transportation planning in the long run.
Thieves Pepper Spray Witness — “At approximately 6:36 p.m. on October 14, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined two female suspects entered the business, collected merchandise and exited the store without payment. A witness confronted the suspects as they entered their parked vehicle, during which the passenger, Suspect Two, deployed pepper spray before both suspects fled the scene in the vehicle.” [ACPD]
Flyover Scheduled Today — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an Aircraft Flyover in the NCR over Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, October 16 at approximately 11:10AM.”
More Federal Layoffs Planned — “The Trump administration could slash more than 10,000 federal jobs during the government shutdown, White House budget director Russell Vought said Wednesday. “We want to be very aggressive where we can be in shuttering the bureaucracy, not just the funding,” said Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget.” [CNBC, Axios, Associated Press]
Reporters Vacate Pentagon — “Nearly every Pentagon reporter from almost every major media outlet in America turned in their press badges Thursday, after refusing to endorse the Defense Department’s new rules that they say would make it impossible to do their jobs independently.” [Axios, WTOP]
No Info on Paused Federal Grants — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration is not providing Virginia legislators or the public details of hundreds of millions of dollars of paused federal grants, according to records requests and documents acquired by VPM News and WAMU.” [VPM]
GOP Shows Reply Texts — “We texted Arlington Democrats earlier this week about an 11-year-old victim of Richard Kenneth Cox. Here are some responses from Arlington Dems and the original text.” [NSFW: Arlington GOP/X]
Beyer Tackling Energy Costs — “Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today led 21 U.S. Representatives representing districts within the PJM Interconnection service territory, the largest power grid operator in the United States, to demand that PJM take key steps to address skyrocketing energy bills for American households.” [Press Release]
Fintech Week in Pentagon City — “Promising to bring “the brightest minds in finance, technology, and regulation to explore the future of fintech,” DC Fintech Week got underway at Amazon HQ2 on Tuesday.” [DC News Now]
Doc Looks at W&OD Trail History — “A new PBS documentary is airing this weekend, and it features Northern Virginia’s own Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail… Harnik says the W&OD Trail — which partially opened in 1974 in the City of Falls Church with the help of NOVA Parks and Dominion Energy — was instrumental in pushing the national rails-to-trails movement forward.” [FFXnow]
Warm End to Month? — “Looking ahead at DC’s weather thru back half of October: Lots of highs in the 60s to near 70 — close to average or a little above. A few chances of rain (next one Sunday night); we need it!!! Watching tropics at end of month.” [CWG/X]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature around 62 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 9 to 14 mph and gusts reaching up to 26 mph. Thursday night will be clear with the temperature dropping to a low of around 42 degrees, while the north wind continues to blow at approximately 8 mph. [NWS]
