An approved EHO project at 5041 25th Street S. in the Claremont neighborhood in October 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)
In the months since a circuit court judge struck down Arlington’s Missing Middle zoning changes, one of the initiative’s core goals appears to have backfired.
Beyond increasing the county’s overall housing stock, one of the main stated intentions of Missing Middle was to address a trend of developers tearing down existing single-family homes to replace them with larger, more expensive single-family homes.
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!
Spring colors in Clarendon (courtesy George Brazier)
ACPD Arrests Sexual Assault Suspect — “A 35-year-old man is in custody after abducting a woman and attempting to sexually assault her in Seven Corners… Through security footage, detectives learned the suspect was driving a 2008 Ford Escape and had traveled to Arlington County. Arlington County Police were notified and located El Moctar Mohamed M’Bareck, 35, of Falls Church and took him into custody.” [FFXnow, FCPD]
State May Support ‘Microtransit’ Pilot — The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation has proposed spending $2 million in support of Arlington’s microtransit pilot program in the coming year. If grant funding is approved in coming months, county officials would need to provide a $500,000 match. —Scott McCaffrey
Exit Sign Fixed on I-395 — “Confirmation… that the Exit 8B 110N to Rosslyn sign on I-395S is finally positioned properly after the @VaDOTNOVA work overnight.” [Dave Statter/X]
GMU Student Visas Revoked — “More than a dozen international students at George Mason University have recently had their visas terminated or revoked by the federal government, the university says. The U.S. departments of state and homeland security apparently changed the statuses of 15 students without any involvement by or prior notice to university officials.” [FFXnow]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 64 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at about 7 mph. For Thursday night, the skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures dipping to around 47 degrees. The calm wind will shift to a southerly direction at approximately 5 mph after midnight. [NWS]
Expect sunny skies and a high near 64 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at about 7 mph. For Thursday night, the skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures dipping to around 47 degrees. The calm wind will shift to a southerly direction at approximately 5 mph after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
Residents worried about our urban forest, their neighbor’s tree, or the declining oak in their own yard can apply now for a seven-week course to learn about trees and become a volunteer Tree Steward with Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria.
The Rosslyn skyline (Photo courtesy of Clyde Group)
Though federal workforce reductions will likely cause fluctuations in office space this year, Northern Virginia’s most sought-after properties are expected to remain valuable.
A new data analysis from Savills US notes some “encouraging signs of recovery” in the first quarter of this year, but anticipates a bumpy ride for the region’s commercial properties as shakeups at the federal level play out.
The Easter Bunny at Astro Beer Hall in 2024 (via Astro Beer Hall/Facebook)
The upcoming weekend is packed with family-friendly events to celebrate Easter and springtime.
Still planning your weekend? Here’s a look at some of the upcoming seasonal festivities, including a spring plant sale, free arts and crafts and several Easter egg hunts across Arlington and Falls Church.
A 42-year-old Arlington man is facing several charges after police say he threw a rock at a fire truck last night.
ACPD was dispatched to the intersection S. Walter Reed Drive at 19th Street S. just after 6 p.m. Tuesday after a firefighter reported that a man standing at a bus stop was throwing rocks at passing vehicles, including their fire truck.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) continues to throw his support behind federal job cuts and heightened tariffs, despite many Virginia officials’ and economists’ warnings of economic fallout.
In a CNBC interview yesterday (Monday), Youngkin acknowledged the pain that President Donald Trump’s economic decisions have already caused many Virginia residents. However, he argued that the layoffs are in the United States’ long-term interests and argued that tariffs will accelerate investments across the United States, including in Virginia.
The planned location of Paragon Theaters on Founders Row in Falls Church (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
The silver screen has found a new home in the Little City.
Paragon Theaters is set to open a new two-story theater with seven auditoriums, a bar, dining service and seating for over 600 moviegoers at 112 Founders Avenue next month.