The Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center at 4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive (file photo)
While County Board members have agreed to save gymnastics programming, advocates now fear that a proposed hike in participation fees may still make the programs inaccessible for many families.
Sam Luchessi speaks to School Board members (screenshot via APS)
An Arlington eighth grader brought the fight for boys volleyball to last week’s School Board meeting.
Sam Luchessi, a student at Kenmore Middle School, pressed Board members to include funding in their fiscal year 2027 budget so the sport could be added at the high-school level. The Arlington school system already funds girls volleyball, with competition in the fall.
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.
New signs for Van Leeuwen in Ballston (staff photo by Katie Taranto)
Arlington’s third Van Leeuwen ice cream location is preparing to open in Ballston.
Signage for the national ice cream chain has appeared within the last few days on the ground floor of 4075 Wilson Blvd, in part of the former Rustico Restaurant space. The business has eyed the location since last May, according to permit records.
The proposed redevelopment project at 3130 Langston Blvd (via Arlington County)
County Board members on Saturday approved one major redevelopment project in the Langston Boulevard corridor, but deferred action on a second.
Board members voted 5-0 in support of plans by Rooney Properties to raze the Walgreens site at 3130 Langston Blvd, replacing it with a mixed-use property rising 12 stories and containing up to 300 apartment units plus 7,200 square feet of ground-floor retail.
Join the Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts at the 34th Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2026 featuring live jazz, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities in the heart of Rosslyn! This year’s lineup is bringing a diverse mix of performers and bands redefining the jazz music genre including Plena Libre, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Parlor Greens, and Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band.
Dental office at 815 W. Broad Street with Broadfalls Apartments in rear (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
The effort to redevelop an unusually sized parcel on W. Broad Street in Falls Church has hit headwinds.
Both city staff and the Falls Church Planning Commission have raised concerns about incomplete information in a plan to raze a dental office at 815 W. Broad, replacing it with a facility that would serve similar uses but would be more than five times larger.
Flowers at the Whole Foods in Clarendon (courtesy George Brazier)
Officers Hurt in Condo Arrest — A man was arrested Friday evening after injuring five Arlington police officers during his removal from an unoccupied condo in the 1800 block of Columbia Pike. “He assaulted several officers and was eventually put into custody after officers tased him and deployed a K9,” police said. One officer was hospitalized as a precaution and charges are pending. [WJLA]
Sunday Funday Chaos — Clarendon’s Don Tito required significant ACPD and ACFD response Saturday evening, as noted by public safety watcher Dave Statter. “It started with a fight just before 5:30, apparently leaving one of the staff injured. Other customers surrounded police as officers had a man handcuffed in front of an ACPD SUV. As that calmed down, police called EMS for someone who was drunk.” [Dave Statter/X]
Overnight Crash Cleanup — Arlington DES crews spent an overnight shift cleaning up after a crash at S. Glebe Road and S. Eads Street near Pentagon City. “Instant intersection modifications made at 2:15a,” Dave Statter posted, sharing video of the aftermath. [Dave Statter/X]
Weekend Road Closures Planned — ACPD will close a number of streets for two events next weekend: the Arlington Festival of the Arts in Clarendon (April 25–26) and the Earth Day Every Day Festival (April 26). Washington Blvd, N. Highland Street, Cherry Hill Road and parts of N. Woodrow Street will see closures. [Arlington County]
HALRB Approves Sign Honoring Campbells — Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board members on April 15 approved designs for new commemorative markers honoring Edmund and Elizabeth Campbell in Shirlington. The new signage will replace aging signs honoring the late couple’s contributions to civic life. —Scott McCaffrey
Cathedral Wins Design Award — “The recent renovation to the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington was recognized with a 2026 Commercial Palladio Award, a premier national award that spotlights architectural excellence,” the Arlington Catholic Herald reports. The award went to Arlington-based firm O’Brien and Keane Architecture. [Arlington Catholic Herald]
Beyer Wants Kash Out — “We’ve seen the failures of Kash Patel’s inept leadership play out again and again in some of our most high profile investigations since last January… Patel is unfit to lead and is putting our national security at risk,” Rep. Don Beyer (D) posted in response to an Atlantic article reporting concerns from Patel’s colleagues at the FBI. [Rep. Don Beyer/X]
It’s Monday — Expect scattered rain showers today with a high near 55 and gusty northwest winds of 9–15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. Overnight lows will dip to around 34 degrees under mostly clear skies. [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.
Mostly sunny with a high of 82°F and east winds at 6 to 10 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. Showers likely Saturday night after 2 a.m., with increasing clouds and a low of 52°F. Winds will shift from southeast to northeast, gusting up to 20 mph. There’s a 60% chance of rain, with less than a tenth of an inch expected. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
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. 👋