If you are a parent of young kids, you obviously know CoComelon. And now the YouTube hit is coming to life in Arlington.
The DoubleTree Crystal City Hotel (300 Army Navy Drive) is set to host “CoComelon Party Time” this weekend. The event from May 3-5 will feature various experiences for children, including their favorite characters — JJ, Cody, Nina and more — dancing and engaging in themed activities.
It’s a challenging real estate market out there.
Home sales were down in March, both in Northern Virginia and nationally. Prices remain elevated while inventory is tight and mortgage interest rates are well over 7%.
This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at [email protected].
Question: How much of an impact do you think the ROAD to Housing Act will have on housing affordability in Arlington?
Answer: The Road to Housing Act became law ten days ago, with the stated goal of improving housing affordability in the United States.
I don’t see many policies in the Act that will improve affordability in the Arlington/Northern VA/DC Metro markets, outside of incentives for more affordable multi-family housing, but there are policies that should improve affordability in other markets that are more saturated with institutional investors that own swaths of single-family homes (e.g. Atlanta and Phoenix) and for manufactured/mobile homes.
The Local Conversation Needs to Change
If we are going to improve affordability in our market, most of the change has to be done locally/regionally, not nationally, but it requires a paradigm shift in how we discuss and solve for housing affordability.
Affordability Disconnect: Near Term Expectations Not Realistic
A disconnect between housing affordability expectations and reality prevents the right community and political conversations from happening. We expect/demand housing affordability immediately, ignoring the difficulty, and consequences, of achieving it that quickly.
Stable and healthy housing affordability is a long-term process requiring gradual change over a 10-15+ year period.
Demand-Side Solutions Won’t Work
Demand-side solutions, such as lower interest rates or easier financing, artificially inflate home values, as seen during the COVID-era housing boom and early 2000s. They are not a good long-term solution to affordability because they push values even higher (along with your property taxes) and affordability gets worse when rates/lending normalize and no longer provide artificially low monthly payments.
Supply-Side Solutions Are Not Immediate
Most policy discussions focus on supply-side solutions: building more/faster and denser housing (e.g. Arlington’s Missing Middle/Expanded Housing Option), incentivizing more existing home sales, or disincentivizing concentrated ownership by companies and individuals. Econ 101 tells us that more supply = lower prices = affordable housing (winner winner!).
This is the only path to stable, long-term housing affordability…BUT, at current interest rates, prices must drop 30-35% in the United States to become affordable, at current income levels. A 30-35% drop in home values would devastate the economy, so a supply-side solution won’t (shouldn’t) provide immediate affordability. (more…)
Man Beaten and Robbed — “4600 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive. At approximately 3:42 p.m. on April 24, police conducted follow-up on the late report of an assault. The preliminary investigation indicates at approximately 1:00 a.m. on April 21, the male victim exited his parked vehicle when an unknown suspect approached, assaulted him and stole his wallet. The victim sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The victim later located fraudulent activity on his bank statement.” [ACPD]
Greens Endorse Natalie Roy — From Roy’s newsletter: “Arlington Greens voted to endorse Natalie Roy for the Arlington County Board in the June primary in Arlington. Greens chairman John Reeder cited Roy’s environmental background and strong support for advancing Arlington to a carbon-free community by 2050… Arlington Greens opposed Missing Middle zoning that would endanger Arlington tree canopy and unpaved green space without providing any affordable rental housing for lower-income Arlington tenants.”
Rangers Bar in Clarendon — “It’s a patch of blue in a region where they Rock the Red. No, I’m not talking an electoral map. I’m talking about the Colony Grill, a Northern Virginia restaurant that’s become an outpost for New York Rangers fans in the Washington area. About 245 miles separate Madison Square Garden from the Colony Grill, but you wouldn’t have known it Friday, when about 50 members of the D.C. Rangers fan club packed the place.” [NHL]
‘The Crossing’ Profiled — “Located between Ballston and Rosslyn, The Crossing Clarendon is a premier outdoor Arlington shopping center featuring upscale retail and dining options. Explore a selection of 38 national and regional food, lifestyle, and fashion businesses along Clarendon Boulevard and North Fillmore Street.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Hikes Near Arlington — “Time to dust off those hiking boots, fill up your hydration pack and lose yourself in the natural beauty and tranquility of the woods. We asked the staff at Arlington’s favorite camping and sporting goods store, Casual Adventure, for recommended hikes within a two-hour drive, from easy-breezy to expert–and even overnight trips. Put these destinations on your list.” [Arlington Magazine]
High Temp Possible Today — “Upper 80s to low 90s could tie or beat area record-high temperatures — 91 degrees is the record high for April 29 at Reagan National Airport. Skies look sunny until mid- to late afternoon. That’s when there’s a slim (10 percent) chance of seeing a few thunderstorms pop. If any storms develop, one or two could have brief hail or a strong wind gust.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high of approximately 89 degrees, with a west wind at 5 to 7 mph that will turn southward in the afternoon. As for Monday night, it will be mostly clear with a low temperature around 65 degrees and a south wind at about 7 mph. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by coworking provider Industrious. ARLnow has been based in an Industrious office for several 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 Arlington locations.
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 — Apr 26, 2024.
*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.
The southbound lanes of N. Glebe Road were blocked at N. Woodstock Street due to a crash involving a school bus.
The crash happened around 4:15 p.m. Friday, near Glebe Elementary School, and involves the bus and a car. Two students were on board the bus but no injuries have been reported, according to initial reports.
The Arlington County Fire Department has a new plan for the next five years centered on recruitment, retention and employee wellbeing.
ACFD’s first-ever strategic plan, released earlier this month, is part of an effort to refocus the department around core values. Based on community and employee concerns about staffing, health and workplace culture, the agency developed the document to solve problems and improve existing systems.
The Jimmy John’s in Clarendon appears to have closed, perhaps for good.
Situated at 1138 N. Irving Street, around the corner from O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub, the fast-casual sandwich chain first opened in 2014 underneath The Beacon Clarendon apartment complex.
An extended day employee at a local elementary school allegedly showed porn to kids.
The 18-year-old man from Fairfax County was arrested and is facing several charges, including possession of child pornography, Arlington County police announced Friday morning. Investigators are now seeking additional victims, beyond the three already identified.
Arlington County police will be stepping up traffic enforcement over the next few weeks as part of the annual spring Street Smart campaign.
The regional road safety initiative aims to remind drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike to pay attention and follow traffic laws. It runs through May 19 and will include two high-profile enforcement events in Arlington, starting this coming Monday.
