Arlington’s signature program celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday attracted large crowds to Kenmore Middle School this weekend.
A little rain at the end didn’t dampen the spirits of attendees or the success of Arlington HistoryFest, which earned an estimated 2,000 attendees on Saturday. Sponsored by the Arlington Historical Society, it represented the major local effort connected with the national birthday celebration.
Later this year, Arlington will mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and salute the efforts of public-safety personnel who saved innumerable lives at the Pentagon that day.
No police officers, sheriff’s deputies or fire department personnel lost their lives at the Pentagon that day. But last Friday’s Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony was a reminder that many would carry physical and emotional scars of 9/11 with them for years to come.
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.
If you are in the market for a new Arlington condominium today, bring a flashlight. There is absolutely nothing to see and it’s a total ghost town. This isn’t a lack of buyer interest. I start by blaming the lingering, multi-year COVID hangover where no projects got designed, financed, or approved for several years since we didn’t know if the world would continue. Construction costs then further paralyzed commercial real estate and rising interest rates also crashed the party. No model units exist, no fancy preview sales offices or even a basic website landing page.
Want a place under 1,500 square feet? Pack your bags for Alexandria. Want a completely different suburban vibe? Enjoy the commute from McLean or Reston. The big local guessing game is simple. Who actually crosses the finish line first? Will it be 1501 Langston Boulevard? The upcoming tower at One Rosslyn? Or the old Key Bridge Marriott site known as Potomac Overlook?
Place your bets now. None will begin before roughly 2029 if all goes well.
If you are in the market and don’t want to wait until 2029 for these new communities to make a buying decision, you might consider the latest luxury condominium in Arlington in Rosslyn, Pierce. This stunning community sold out in 2024 and there hasn’t been another new condominium community since. Let’s look at some of what the community offers.
A Real Option: Pierce
With 104 residences spanning 27 floors, Pierce offers expansive floor plans with premier interior finishes. At the height of sophisticated condominium living in Rosslyn, it boasts showstopping Potomac River and DC skyline views through dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows, generous private balconies, high-end finishes, and excellent floor plans. It has some of the best views in town and has aged well. Full disclosure on the building management: My friend is the board president and my company hired the resident manager so the building is run flawlessly. The finances are actually in order.
The Bragging Rights (By The Numbers)
Buying here requires serious financial muscle. Of the 104 residences, 38 were under $1.5M, 51 were from $1.5M–$2.5M, and 15 were over $2.5M. Pierce’s average size is 1,894 sq ft, making the average price $1,910,000. With an average price per square foot of $1,033/sq ft, it is one of the top five residential buildings in Northern Virginia.
Who Lives There
The typical buyer isn’t a single 20-something. 65% of the buyers were couples and the average age among the buyers was 53. 35% were from Northern Virginia and another 33% were from out of the area, which was driven by the volatile job market during COVID. 65% of those buyers in Virginia were already in Arlington and 20% were retired. Just 13% actually commute into DC so Northern Virginia’s economy is doing just fine. About 60% used a trusted agent to make their purchase and that is typical across all similar new communities.
Arlington Public Schools officials are urging school families to take extra care in the wake of a series of cyberattacks against a key online resource used by the school system.
The school system uses Canvas, a learning-management system for teachers and students that parents can access on a limited, opt-in basis.
Dems Eye Court Overhaul — Virginia Democrats are exploring an “audacious and possibly far-fetched” proposal to replace the entire state Supreme Court by lowering judges’ mandatory retirement age, the New York Times reported, in response to Friday’s ruling that struck down their redistricting map. Former Rep. Jim Moran, who represented Arlington for 24 years, called the idea “just a bridge too far.” [NYT]
Pentagon City 5K Closures — Sections of S. Joyce Street and Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City will be closed from 8–10:30 a.m. this Sunday (May 17) for the Girls on the Run 5K. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. [Arlington County]
D.C. Golf Course Deal — D.C.’s three public golf courses will remain open after the Interior Department and the National Links Trust reached an agreement Friday night. The deal gives the nonprofit a new long-term lease, with the federal government overseeing renovations — though key details about the proposed East Potomac overhaul remain unresolved. [NBC 4, Washington Post, WJLA]
Health Officials on Alert — Virginia has reported 20 measles cases so far this year, with public health officials warning of an expected uptick as summer travel season begins. Separately, a Virginia traveler who was aboard a cruise ship with a deadly hantavirus outbreak has returned home and is being monitored by state health officials. [Virginia Mercury]
Push for Braille Ballots — Tate Jordan, a legally blind Prince William County voter, is pushing for Braille ballots in Virginia after struggling to cast a provisional ballot in last month’s special election. “Every person has a right to vote, and it was a loss of my independence as a person,” he told NBC Washington. He’s working with state Sen. Danica Roem (D) on the change. [NBC 4]
It’s Monday — Expect a 30% chance of rain through the early afternoon, otherwise mostly cloudy skies with a high near 67 and a north wind around 10 mph. Skies clear overnight, with a low around 45. [NWS]
New Legal Notice — Applicant seeks wine/beer on/off-premises, mixed-beverage license; 30-day objections. [Public Notices]
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.
*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. :)
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
A stabbing in the Arlington Heights neighborhood sent a man to the hospital with serious injuries Saturday night.
It happened around 8 p.m. on the 300 block of S. Fillmore Street, between Columbia Pike and Route 50. A man was stabbed in the neck during a fight inside a house, according to scanner traffic. Police, already on scene after being dispatched there an hour-and-a-half earlier for another fight, reportedly encountered blood-splattered walls and found the injured man.
A police standoff inside a Columbia Pike 7-Eleven ended with gunfire.
Around 9 p.m. several ambulances were dispatched to the standoff on the 3600 block of Columbia Pike, after reports of shots being fired. One person — the wanted man who barricaded himself in the store — was reported to be shot multiple times by police and critically wounded. Medics were also sent to treat at least several officers for unspecified injuries.
Good Friday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — May 8, 2026.
Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.
Here is what’s going on Saturday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Here are the events planned for Sunday:
Today, expect a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. It will be cloudy in the morning, turning mostly sunny by afternoon, with a high of 74°F. Southwest winds will reach around 11 mph, with gusts up to 21 mph. On Saturday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m. The sky will then be mostly clear, with a low of 56°F and a light southwest wind. See more from Weather.gov.
“Difficulties in life are intended to make us better, not bitter.”
– Dan Reeves
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum. 👋
A threat that turned out to not be credible prompted a lockdown at two Arlington schools Friday morning.
It happened shortly before noon at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and nearby Alice West Fleet Elementary, after a caller threatened imminent violence, according to scanner traffic.
A Falls Church burial ground nearly as old as the nation itself will soon have its history explored in a new tour series throughout the coming year.
A series of monthly walking tours will explore Oakwood Cemetery and the lives of some of those interred there. The first tour will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24, followed by a series of monthly tours planned through November.
