(Updated at 9:40 p.m.) After years of consideration, and multiple days of public testimony and County Board discussion, one of Arlington’s most contentious local proposals in memory is becoming a reality.
The Arlington County Board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to approve allowing smaller multifamily structures — also known as Missing Middle — in what were heretofore neighborhoods of only single-family detached homes.
Arlington County’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation says it has a surfeit of programs for teens — but not enough teens to fill them.
Between July 2021 and June 2022, DPR logged 6,350 visits to its teen programs, down from 46,500 visits during the same span of months across 2018 and 2019. The dramatic drop was caused by the cancellation of programs during the 2021 fiscal year, according to County Manager Mark Schwartz’s proposed budget.
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.
What defines luxury in housing? It’s perhaps the most overused word in the English language. I recently saw a sign for “Affordable Luxury Apartments” and smiled to myself. Arlington, particularly Rosslyn, with communities like Turnberry Tower, Pierce, and Gaslight Square, has achieved critical mass in luxury condominium options. The condo market in Arlington continues to get better, consumers demand more thoughtful design, and local product becomes more desirable. For new condominiums, luxury is really made up of two factors: price point of the offering (a reflection of location, unit finishes and quality of plan), and condo fees (amenities, level of service.)
Pricing is predominantly set by the location. A majority of value is determined by neighborhood desirability, socio-economics of its residents, quality of schools, convenience to employment, retail, transit, market factors, and social centers. Arlington has all of these in spades!
The Old Bike Shop closed earlier this year in Lyon Park, after a decade in business, but a new bike shop is moving in.
Vélocity Bicycle Cooperative, based at 2111 Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, announced today that it plans to open at the 2647 N. Pershing Drive storefront — down the road from Clarendon — in the next couple of weeks.
A nearly decade-old 5K race through Fairlington supporting a local girl with a rare disease is canceled, possibly indefinitely.
Since 2014, hundreds of Arlingtonians and visitors have participated in the Fairlington 5K, which raises money to fund research for a cure for leukoencephalopathy, or LBSL. The disorder affects the brain and spinal cord of Wakefield High School student Ellie McGinn.
Tree Steward Fall Training Applications Open
Residents worried about our urban forest, their neighbor’s tree, or the declining oak in their own yard can apply now for a seven-week course to learn about trees and become a volunteer Tree Steward with Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria.
(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) Ikea is planning to open a small-format “Plan and Order” location in Pentagon City this summer.
The company made the announcement this morning. The 5,000 square foot location will be opening at the Pentagon Centre shopping center at 1201 S. Hayes Street, home to Costco and across the street the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall.
Today, Wednesday, could be the day that the Arlington County Board allows the by-right construction of 2-6 unit homes in the county’s lowest density neighborhoods.
The scheduled vote on proposed zoning amendments, known by the shorthand Missing Middle or Expanded Housing Options, would culminate nearly a year of intense discussion since a draft was published in May and updated in November, and before that, more than a year of study and public engagement.
Missing Middle Makes National News — “It took a progressive Virginia suburb 8 years to let developers build apartments instead of single-family houses. It shows how hard it is to build middle-class housing in the US.” [Business Insider]
Replacement for DCA Terminal Floated — “That document – a draft issued by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority – suggests making a request of federal funding totaling $637.5 million for replacement of what long had been known as Terminal A… But Rob Yingling, a spokesman for the airports authority, told the GazetteLeader it should not be inferred that inclusion on the list means a plan, or a pricetag, for replacement of the banjo terminal actually is in the works.” [GazetteLeader]
Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Today we published articles that were read a total of 16176 times… so far.
The following are the most-read articles for today — Mar 21, 2023.
A teenage girl on an electric scooter was seriously injured after colliding with a driver near Washington-Liberty High School earlier this afternoon.
Shortly after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, police were dispatched to Washington Blvd and N. Quincy Street, in the Virginia Square area, for the report of a crash with injury, a police spokeswoman told ARLnow.
