Arlington and Virginia economic development officials have landed the big prize — Amazon — and now are hoping that the e-commerce and cloud computing giant’s arrival will help them lure other West Coast tech firms.
Victor Hoskins, Arlington Economic Development Director, said Friday at the DCA Live Big Growth Summit in Crystal City that he and state officials have taken trips to Silicon Valley and other West Coast locales in an effort to convince companies to consider moving or opening offices in Arlington.
New Elementary School at Reed Site Approved — “The Arlington County Board today approved a new elementary school for up to 732 students at the Reed site, 1644 N. McKinley Road, in the Westover neighborhood. The Board voted unanimously to approve a use permit amendment for Arlington Public Schools to renovate and expand the existing Reed School/Westover Library to create a neighborhood elementary school.” [Arlington County]
Here’s Where Amazon is Coming, Exactly — Amazon will be leasing office space at three JBG Smith buildings in Crystal City: 241 18th Street S., 1800 S. Bell Street and 1770 Crystal Drive. Amazon also agreed to buy two JBG-owned land parcels in Pentagon City that are approved for development: PenPlace and the remaining portion of Metropolitan Park. [Washington Business Journal]
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.
What defines luxury in housing? It’s perhaps the most overused word in the English language. I recently saw a sign for “Affordable Luxury Apartments” and smiled to myself. Arlington, particularly Rosslyn, with communities like Turnberry Tower, Pierce, and Gaslight Square, has achieved critical mass in luxury condominium options. The condo market in Arlington continues to get better, consumers demand more thoughtful design, and local product becomes more desirable. For new condominiums, luxury is really made up of two factors: price point of the offering (a reflection of location, unit finishes and quality of plan), and condo fees (amenities, level of service.)
Pricing is predominantly set by the location. A majority of value is determined by neighborhood desirability, socio-economics of its residents, quality of schools, convenience to employment, retail, transit, market factors, and social centers. Arlington has all of these in spades!
This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment.
People don’t see insulation so they don’t necessarily think about it. The reality is that insulation has a significantly greater impact on the average home’s energy use and comfort than windows or doors.
All the cold and snow that marred Thursday now seems to have dissipated, setting up a cool and crisp fall weekend.
The forecast for the countdown to Thanksgiving seems to call for a bit chilly, but otherwise pleasant, weekend. Be sure to check out our event calendar if you’re looking for ways to enjoy the weather.
Comedians from hit TV shows and movies are coming to Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) over the next month.
Aasif Mandvi from The Daily Show is set to perform mid-December. He joins a lineup of comedians featuring Darrell Hammond, one of the longest running cast members on Saturday Night Live, and Bobby Lee from Chelsea Lately.
With Thanksgiving coming up next week, holiday season preparations are right around the corner. Arlington residents in search of a Christmas tree can head to these spots to pick out the perfect pine.
The Optimist Club of Arlington will start its annual tree sale next at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23 in the Wells Fargo Bank lot along Lee Highway (2213 N. Glebe Road). The sales will end around Dec. 21 depending on availability, according to a press release.
Uber mapping vehicle parked along Lee Highway (photo courtesy David J.)
Uber is mapping streets around Arlington.
A reader spotted an Uber mapping vehicle parked outside of Arrowine at the Lee Heights Shops on Lee Highway around lunchtime today. The driver was nowhere to be seen but might have been getting lunch at a nearby restaurant.