Damages from a burst pipe at Arlington County’s government headquarters have caused several public meetings to relocate and reduced hours at Courthouse Library.
Flooding at 2100 Clarendon Blvd resulted in “extensive water damage to portions of multiple floors of the Bozman Government Center, including the Arlington County Board Room,” county spokesperson Ryan Hudson told ARLnow.
A taqueria on the lower level of Ballston Quarter has closed permanently.
Bartaco is now shuttered at 4238 Wilson Blvd. The New York-based franchise spent over four years in the mall’s lower-level food hall.
When your home no longer feels quite right, it can be hard to know what to do next.
Maybe your family needs more space, your layout no longer works, or your 1940s Cape Cod is simply ready for a modern update. Deciding whether to remodel, rebuild, or move requires thoughtful planning and a clear understanding of the costs, timelines, and trade-offs involved.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Every home, lot, and family is different, which is why working with an experienced local builder can help you make a more informed decision.
Here are four key questions to ask before you decide.
For many Arlington homeowners, the neighborhood is the reason they bought the home in the first place. If your neighbors, schools, walkability, or favorite local spots make Arlington feel like home, remodeling or rebuilding may be worth exploring before deciding to sell.
If you plan to stay for the next five years, a thoughtful remodel or addition can help preserve the location and character you love while improving the home’s functionality. However, if you truly see this as your “forever home”, a larger renovation or a teardown-and-rebuild might be a better option to give you the space and comfort you need, without trying to force an older home to work around its existing limitations.
Some homeowners choose to phase renovations over time. That approach can work well, as long as you start with a clear master plan to ensure each stage supports the next and avoids costly rework later.
On the flip side, if you plan to sell soon, a smaller-scale remodel, such as a kitchen renovation, might make more sense to avoid overinvesting in a project that may not recoup its full value.
Arlington is unique because much of a home’s value comes from the land and location. This means that, in general, Arlington property values will always support just about anything you would like to do to your house or property. The real question is how much you want to invest.
A major renovation, addition, or new custom build may affect appraisal and financing differently. New construction often appraises higher initially than a similar remodeled home, but over time, a well-executed renovation can ultimately be worth more than a newly built home.
As you plan a renovation, you may reach a point where building new makes more sense than continuing to work around an older home’s limitations. A new build can provide a more functional layout, better efficiency, and stronger long-term value. On the other hand, some homeowners considering new construction may find that a thoughtful remodel and addition can accomplish everything they need while making their dollars go further.
That is why understanding the numbers early matters. (more…)
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Monday that he hoped to bolster Virginia’s rainy-day fund by $300 million in light of economic uncertainty surrounding the White House’s overhaul of federal jobs and its impact on the state’s workforce.
Arlington has once again ranked among the best “cities” to live in the United States — and an Arlington neighborhood stands at No. 1.
The county has maintained its No. 4 spot in the 2025 Niche ranking of the nation’s most liveable neighborhoods. That’s the same spot it held in 2024, but is below its No. 2 ranking in 2023.
A collaborative Summer Solstice gathering hosted by Inner Seasons and Spiritual Enhancements.
The Summer Solstice marks the peak of the sun’s power, the moment in the Wheel of the Year when light is at its fullest expression. In many traditions, this is the season of radiance, visibility, and creative fire. It is the time when nature stands unapologetically in her fullness, inviting us to do the same.
It’s a good time to refrain from that roaring backyard campfire or careless toss of smoking material.
Winds are expected to pick up this afternoon (Tuesday) which, in combination with the current severe drought conditions in Arlington and Northern Virginia, have prompted warnings of an elevated fire threat.
Falls Church officials are considering requiring future commercial developers to meet minimum tree-planting requirements.
The number of projects that any change could impact might be small, however.
After more than 17 years, Arlington and Alexandria’s Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources is headed to retirement.
Kudos for Kirsten Conrad, who has many fond memories of her time at the extension, poured in from colleagues at the local, regional and state levels at a March 17 reception honoring her tenure.
A man who tried to intervene in a dispute was chased by a drunk, knife-wielding suspect last week, according to Arlington County police.
The incident happened Friday evening in the area of the Queens Court Apartments in Rosslyn, along 18th Street N. No one was hurt but the suspect is now facing a couple of felony charges.
Local ‘Buycott’ Supports Costco — “On Saturday, March 15, over 100 Black women from across the country who are members of the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) staged a large-scale “buycott” at Costco in Arlington, Va., to deploy the power of their purses in support of corporations who value diversity, equity and inclusion.” [Afro]
Neighborhood College Apps Open — “Arlington County will offer its Neighborhood College program this spring for Arlingtonians who want to become more involved in their community. Applications for the spring session are due by Friday, April 4, 2025.” [Arlington County]
ICYMI: Build or Renovate Event — Arlington homeowners got unique local insights on the build-vs-renovate decision at a panel discussion hosted by ARLnow earlier this month. Now available online, the discussion features experts from MR Custom Homes, DeFalco Home Design, Alair Homes and US Bank, and was moderated by real estate columnist Eli Tucker. [Apple Podcasts, YouTube]
F.C. Resident Survey Results — “Falls Church residents are overwhelmingly happy with just about everything in their home town, including their local newspaper, a comprehensive survey conducted by a professional outfit shows. The results of 20 minute conversations with about 400 city residents were presented to the F.C. City Council.” [FCNP]
F.C. Development Clears Hurdle — “The Planning Commission voted unanimously (6-0) to approve the Quinn Site Plan application at their March 19, 2025, meeting. The Commissioners expressed appreciation for the responsiveness of the Quinn developers to their concerns. It was also agreed that the development will pump their sanitary sewage to the Arlington County treatment plant.” [Falls Church Pulse]
It’s Tuesday — Clouds will increase throughout the day, with a high of around 61 degrees and a southwest wind blowing at 7 to 11 mph. On Tuesday night, there is a 50% chance of rain before 2 am, followed by mostly cloudy conditions and a low temperature of around 41 degrees. [NWS]
