School leaders are still trying to find out what, if anything, a February letter from a federal agency means for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in Arlington.
A Feb. 14 letter from the U.S. Department of Education gave institutions an April 12 deadline to comply with a new interpretation of “nondiscrimination obligations” in order to continue receiving federal funding.
A stricter policy on banning riders from the Metro system has some leaders optimistic about better safety in Northern Virginia.
Beginning June 2, the policy will allow the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to impose longer bans on people arrested for sex crimes or assaults on Metro employees and customers.
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…)
Looking to attract more people to your upcoming local gathering?
Submit it to ARLnow’s event calendar and connect with locals searching for things to do in our community. Thousands of Arlington residents turn to our calendar when planning their activities. Free basic listings help spread the word about your event, while paid promotional options give you premium visibility with featured placement on the site, in our email newsletter, and on social media.
Reach over 500,000 monthly ARLnow readers with just a few clicks. Our engaged local audience actively seeks community experiences and new things to do right here in Arlington.
Fill more seats at your next gathering! Use the link above or the button below to submit an event today.
Photo by Eric Rothermel on Unsplash
A group of Arlington Girl Scouts has received high honors for adding new “see me” flags to two Wilson Blvd intersections.
Twenty fifth graders from Ashlawn Elementary School saved funds from cookie sales to add baskets of bright red flags to N. Livingston and N. Liberty streets in February. Last month, Girl Scouts of the USA recognized their efforts with a Bronze Award — the highest honor a junior Scout can earn for community service.
St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington is hosting its monthly run & walk social on June 18th (Thursday) at 6:30pm. The 3 or 4 mile run (or walk) will start in the back parking lot (off N. Stafford St.) and end at St. Agnes. Participants can enjoy complimentary pizza afterwards. Drinks are BYOB. Extra points if you wear Catholic school swag. Thank you Father Oetjen, who started off our May run from Court House to/from the Marine Corps War Memorial with a prayer (and ran a competitive pace). Also, thank you to the Notre Dame and Georgetown alumni who wore their schools’ colors!
Please RSVP at the link, so we know how much pizza to get. Thank you!
Recently constructed apartments in Arlington are among the smallest in the country — and they’ve been getting smaller over time, a new report finds.
The average new Arlington apartment has shrunk by 70 square feet over the past decade, according to data from the real estate site RentCafe. At an average of 809 square feet, the county’s apartments rank as the 20th smallest out of 100 U.S. localities analyzed.
Animal-loving filmmakers have tales to tell at a pair of upcoming dog- and cat-themed film festivals on Columbia Pike.
The 2025 New York Cat & Dog Film Festivals are coming to the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse at 2903 Columbia Pike. It’s a two-night event on Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7 “celebrating the love, charm, and companionship of our feline and canine friends.”
Add another type of gold medal to Torri Huske’s swimming accomplishments.
The Arlington resident and 2021 Yorktown High School graduate recently won her initial individual first-place medal in the NCAA women’s national championships in this year’s Division I meet.
County Unemployment Rate Up — Arlington’s jobless rate was 2.7% in February, according to new Virginia Employment Commission data. That’s up from 2.5% in January and 2.1% a year before. In February, Arlington had 150,037 employed in the civilian workforce. The number looking for jobs was 4,189, an increase from 3,814 a month before and 3,413 a year ago. –Scott McCaffrey
Violent Bike Theft Near Rosslyn — “The juvenile male victim was outside on his bike when he was assaulted by four known juvenile suspects. Following the assault, two suspects stole the victim’s bike and subsequently fled the scene. The victim sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital and subsequently released following medical treatment. During the course of the investigation, officers identified the four juvenile male suspects in their teens and obtained petitions.” [ACPD]
Another Rainy I-395 Crash — “It happened again: When it rains, watch out for I-395S near the Arlington Ridge Rd overpass. The latest crash at this spot was around 11:45. There have been so many crashes there on wet roads I am convinced there’s standing water or something else going on with the left side of the road at that point.” [Dave Statter/X]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly cloudy day with temperatures reaching near 69°F, and a calm wind turning south at 5-7 mph in the morning. Monday night will likely bring showers and possibly a thunderstorm, with a low temperature around 58°F. There is a 60% chance of precipitation at night. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Flickr pool photo by ksrjghkegkdhgkk
The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL AUTHORITY (ABC) for a
Retail Restaurant or Caterer Application – Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Consumed On and Off Premises
(Type(s) of license(s) applied for) license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.
Trading as: Yu Noodles
(Trade Name)
1515 Wilson BLVD, STE 102
(Exact street address of where business will trade)
Arlington
(City/Town)
Arlington County Virginia 22209
(County) (State) (Zip + 4)
NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or (800) 552-3200.
