Construction along Crystal Drive in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
APS Boundary Adjustments On Tap — “It’s a part of the job description that leads one to question the sanity of those who seek to serve on local school boards. Arlington school leaders are planning three consecutive years of boundary adjustments to accommodate significant shifts in student populations across the county.” [Gazette Leader]
Storm Damage on Ft. Myer — From Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall: “Lee Avenue is temporarily closed due to tree removal. Our hard-working DPW team is aware of the damage from recent storms and is doing the heavy lifting across the base to clean it up.” [Twitter]
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.
Dark Star Park Day (photo courtesy by Anice Hoachlander and Elman Studio)
Architecture, art and the sun are all coming together Tuesday morning, August 1, for Dark Star Park Day.
Dark Star Park in Rosslyn features several concrete spheres, installed in 1984, whose shadows will perfectly align with their markings on the ground tomorrow morning only.
Join DC Road Runners and Potomac Valley Track Club for our annual Family Night at the Track and Meet of Miles. The event is open to runners of all ages and paces as well as nonmembers.
This event hosts 400 meter and 800 meter races for kids ages 1-8, as well as multiple 1-mile heats for participants of all ages. There is also a 3K race that is open to participants of all ages.
New District Brewing in Green Valley (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
New District Brewing will be serving the last of its beer at next month’s Arlington County Fair.
When the Green Valley-based brewery officially closed its taproom in May, owner Mike Katrivanos told ARLnow then that the plan was to serve the last of its beer at June’s Columbia Pike Blues Festival and then at the fair. That remains the plan, we’re told.
International startup accelerator ZEBOX is using Arlington office to help bridge the gap between startup companies and large corporations around the world.
Map showing approximate location of sexual battery incident on trail (via Google Maps)
Arlington County police are looking for a man who sexually abused a boy on a local trail.
The incident happened around 9 a.m. Sunday morning, on a trail near the intersection of Route 50 and Carlin Springs Road. That’s near Kenmore Middle School, Bluemont Park and the W&OD Trail.
(Updated at 2:20 p.m.) Firefighters are on scene of a fire investigation at Arlington County’s Water Pollution Control Plant.
Initial reports suggest that smoke is coming from a portion of the sewage plant along the 3200 block of S. Eads Street, near Crystal City. The fire department is trying to determine the source of the smoke.
Anabelle Lombard poses in front of the Supreme Court (Photo courtesy of the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards)
Local activist Anabelle Lombard was awarded $36,000 for her leadership work with Generation Ratify, a youth organization aiming to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
The prize comes from the Helen Diller Family Foundation, which awards the prize annually to 15 Jewish teens who have made outstanding contributions through service and leadership.