A James DeVita campaign sign (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
An Arlington County Board candidate is threatening legal action if the county government places new limits on people’s ability to put campaign signs in public medians.
“I guarantee you that if they try to pass legislation to ban median signs, I will file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law as a violation of my First Amendment rights,” James DeVita told ARLnow. “I will also seek an injunction to prevent any such law from going into effect.”
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.
To understand where the market is today, let’s look at how the condo market has changed. What began as an affordable housing alternative for first-time homebuyers has become the pinnacle of true luxury urban living typical of a world-class city. Let’s explore the 20-year evolution of new condos in Arlington.
Early 2000s: Affordability Focused. Condominiums in the early 2000s were aimed primarily at first-time homebuyers. Affordability was key and this type of housing in Arlington wasn’t glamorous quite yet. The market was steady and interest rates, at just under 7% in 2001, were deemed attractive. Most buildings had 100- 200 units and the average size for a new condominium in Arlington was 950 sq ft.
Mid-2000s: Market Heats Up. In 2003 the market began to pick up speed, fueled by the abundance of financing and essentially loans that required no documentation or proof of affordability. During this time Ballston saw several apartment to condo conversions. Condo units were generally designed as apartments so unit sizes were smaller among all unit types. Finishes were acceptable but not great. This is when granite countertops became the epitome of quality.
New builds like Liberty Center in Ballston shifted the average size down while finish quality and livability of design improved. It was probably the best building of that generation. Like many others at that time there was a rush to buy and buildings were very successful in pre-sale. (more…)
Arlington's Quentin Powers with Jeopardy host Ken Jennings (via Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)
Yorktown High School graduate Quentin Powers is appearing on “Jeopardy!” tomorrow (Tuesday) following his return from U.S. Peace Corps service abroad.
Powers, 25, will be one of three contestants on the episode airing at 7:30 p.m. on WJLA-TV. The 2018 Yorktown graduate said he auditioned for the game show while serving in the Peace Corps in East Timor, an island nation located in southeast Asia.
Signature Theatre in Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Signature Theatre earned more Helen Hayes Award nominations than any other theater company in the Washington region this year.
The Shirlington-based theater received 28 nominations across five productions, leading all 38 theaters recognized by Theatre Washington for the 42nd annual Helen Hayes Awards, announced last Monday (Feb. 23). Its most-nominated production was “The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical” with eight nominations, followed by “Play On!” with seven and “Fiddler on the Roof” with six.
Families with children ages 3 months through 12 years old are invited to tour our facility, meet our staff, and learn more about the programs we offer. This is a great opportunity to explore our classrooms, ask questions about enrollment, and see firsthand what makes Little Lambs Academy a nurturing and engaging environment for children.
An icy halo around the moon early Monday morning (staff photo)
Another Wardian Wow — “Fresh off setting a seven-continent 50K record, 51-year-old Michael Wardian has reportedly run the fastest known time for the double Arlington trail loop.” [ARLnow/X]
Potomac Bacteria Levels Dropping — “D.C.’s Health Director Ayanna Bennett said regular bacteria testing shows levels are dropping and in the District section of the river restrictions will be relaxed so boaters, rowers and others can go back onto the water. “In the D.C. waters we consider it safe for you to have contact with the Potomac and that advisory will be announced as lifted on March 2,” she told the audience.” [WTOP, WJLA]
Acquisition for Legal Startup — “Arlington startup BriefCatch has completed its first acquisition, securing patents for writing and editing tools tailored to the legal field. BriefCatch founder and CEO Ross Guberman declined to share the price the company paid for the Seattle area’s WordRake LLC. He indicated the deal could be a precursor to other acquisitions as part of the company’s strategy to build “a one-stop legal writing platform” for its law firm customers.” [WBJ]
Crash on Camera — “A red-light running, hit and run just before midnight on S. George Mason at S. Columbus. The pickup appears to have hit a pole after the intersection collision. It was found abandoned a few minutes later at a nearby apartment complex by @ArlingtonVaPD.” [Dave Statter/X]
Budget Sessions Start Tomorrow — “The public is invited to attend any of the Budget work sessions, either in person or via the county’s livestream. The public will also have the opportunity to provide testimony at the Budget (3/24) and Tax Rate (3/26) Public Hearings. ” [Arlington County]
Blood Drive Today — “An emergency community blood drive is scheduled for Monday, March 2, in Arlington. The drive aims to address a sharp reduction in the blood supply caused by widespread winter storm cancellations across the Washington region… Fire Works American Pizzeria & Bar, located at 2350 Clarendon Blvd. near the Courthouse Metro station, will host the event. The blood drive will run from 12 to 4 p.m.” [Patch]
Rehab Services at Culpepper Garden — “Culpepper Garden, the largest low-income retirement community in the National Capital Region… announced that it has selected Goodwin Rehabilitation to establish a therapy and exercise program on-site at its Arlington, VA, retirement community.” [Goodwin Living]
Coldest Winter in Awhile — “The data is in. Washington, D.C. just had its coldest meteorological winter in 23 years. However, with only 9.6” of snow, it was not a snowy one. Impressive temperatures for a massive urban heat island!” [Chris Martz/X]
Winter Weather Update — “Some freezing rain is looking increasingly likely early Tuesday morning across areas along & west of the I-95 Corridor. Any ice accumulation looks to be minimal. However it could lead to slick spots on elevated surface like bridges and overpasses.” [WWG/X, CWG/X]
New Legal Notice — Restaurant seeks ABC license for on/off-premises wine, beer, mixed beverages. [Public Notices]
It’s Monday — Snow may fall starting from 1pm with a high near 36, and 50% chance of precipitation. A cloudy day is expected with northeast winds of 6 mph, shifting southeast in the afternoon. Monday night, snow could turn into rain or freezing rain between 1am and 4am, and continue past 4am with a low around 30 and 80% chance of precipitation. Accumulations of ice and snow are expected to be minimal. [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.
Pedestrian struck at Route 50 and Irving Street (via traffic cam/SafetyVid)
A 25-year-old Arlington woman has been arrested and charged with felony hit and run in connection with an early-morning crash on Route 50 that left a pedestrian critically injured.
Valeria Galdo Camacho turned herself in to police at the Magistrate’s Office at approximately 11 a.m. today (Sunday), the Arlington County Police Department said in a press release.
Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo)
Arlington’s congressman and both of Virginia’s U.S. senators condemned today’s military strikes on Iran, calling the attack unconstitutional and demanding that Congress reconvene.
The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran overnight, with strikes hitting areas across the country including around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. President Donald Trump, in a video announcing “major combat operations,” called on Iranians to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against their government.
Expect sunshine and a high of around 62 during the day, accompanied by calm winds shifting to the south at about 5 mph. As for Saturday night, the skies will remain mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to approximately 42 and a gentle breeze coming from the southeast. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain
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. 👋