Events

Arlington will be hosting a 17-year-old race to honor police officers who have died in the line of duty.

This is the second time that the county will host participants in the National Police Week 5K. The 17th annual event will be held on May 13.


News

APS Sub’s Class Activity Questioned — “An Arlington Public Schools 8th grade student and his mother are demanding answers after they tell 7News a long-term substitute teacher forced him to pick up cotton with his face for a game… ‘Other students participated. The activity featured a player from each team taking turns. Using only their nose, the players were challenged to move the cotton balls one at a time from one end of the table to a bowl at the other end of the table. The object was [to] see who could move the most cotton balls,’ said district spokesperson Frank Bellavia.” [WJLA]

Rental Scooter Charging Ban Reminder — From the Arlington County Fire Department: “Recent changes to the statewide fire prevention code makes it ILLEGAL to charge commercial electronic transportation devices within multi-family residential buildings!! Personal devices are still OK but are capped at 1 device per 200 Sq Feet of living space.” [Twitter]


Sponsored

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: Does the cost of renting a home in Arlington increase at a similar rate as the cost of buying a home in Arlington?

Answer: The cost of renting and buying a detached home increases at a similar rate, but the cost of renting a condo has outpaced the cost of buying a condo.

Condo Rents Rising Faster than Condo Prices

Since 2020, the cost of renting a detached home in Arlington increased at a similar rate as the cost of buying a detached home; 26% and 28%, respectively.

However, the cost of renting a condo increased significantly faster than the cost of buying a condo; 21% and 6%, respectively.

Sale Price to Rental Rate Multiple Shifts with Interest Rates

The table below shows the average price and $/SF of buying a detached home or condo relative to the average annual rent for a detached home or condo, in Arlington. Higher multiples show that buying is becoming more expensive relative to renting.

Takeaway: Condo buyers are more rate sensitive than detached home buyers and are more likely to rent (higher rental demand = strong condo rent appreciation) than buy (weakened purchase demand = low condo value appreciation) when interest rates increase. Notice how quickly the sale price to rental rate multiple drops from 2020/2021 to 2022/2023 (rates skyrocketed spring/summer 2022). (more…)


Around Town

It’s the day after Valentine’s Day and Janet Saedi is tired.

It was extremely busy and a bit “overwhelming” at Essy’s Carriage House last night, she tells ARLnow, while taking a breather at a white-clothed table adorned with fresh cut flowers right before the lunch rush. Janet cooks, manages, and does ordering for the restaurant.


Around Town

A murder of crows is set to fly from Shirlington soon, which may mean less bird poop around a shopping center and apartment complex.

Droppings are once again scattered over pavement patches, planters and awnings around the retail center. The yearly return of crows to Shirlington is partly to blame, but so are a number of other birds, like sparrows, pigeons and grackles, says Catherine Sevcenko, of Diva Crows, an organization in Northern Virginia that cares for injured crows and ravens.


News

Arlington and its neighbors are getting an early start on an annual tap water change.

The Washington Aqueduct, which serves Arlington, D.C. and part of Fairfax County, is preparing for a reservoir rehabilitation project. As a result, the yearly “spring cleaning” practice of switching water disinfectants is kicking off a month early.


News

Civic Associations Want Say in VHC Plan — “Plans by VHC Health (Virginia Hospital Center) and the Arlington County government for a new [mental health] facility on South Carlin Springs Road have drawn concern from the leaders of two adjacent civic associations. ‘We are disappointed that no effort was made for meaningful engagement with us prior to the finalization of the letter of intent,’ wrote Julie Lee, president of the Glencarlyn Civic Association, and Brian Glosh, president of the Forest Glen Civic Association, in a letter to County Board members and hospital officials” [Gazette Leader]

Protest in Rosslyn Yesterday — “There’s a small anti-war protest currently underway in Rosslyn, in front of Raytheon HQ at 1100 Wilson Blvd. It’s organized by the group Code Pink and scheduled to go until 12:30.” [Twitter]