Ballston | ARLnow.com

County Allows APS Parking at Buck Property, Though Site’s Future Still Uncertain

Published June 18, 2018 at 1:45PM | Updated May 29, 2019 at 1:35PM

The former Buck property at 1425 N. Quinn Street (photo via Google Maps)

Someday, the Buck property near Ballston could be home to a new school, or for other county-owned facilities or offices — but for now, it’ll merely be used for parking for some school employees.

The County Board voted unanimously Saturday (June 16) to allow the school system to use 48 parking spaces at the site for at least the next two years. The School Board approved a similar initiative on May 30, clearing the way for Arlington Public Schools to park its “white fleet” at the site (1425 N. Quincy Street) and free up some space at the county’s Trades Center.

News

New Ballston Quarter Pedestrian Bridge Delayed Until 2019

By Alex Koma

Published June 15, 2018 at 10:45AM

A rendering of the new Ballston pedestrian bridge (via Forest City)

The developer behind the renovated Ballston Quarter mall is pushing back its plans to open a new pedestrian bridge over Wilson Blvd, as part of a host of proposed changes to the project.

Forest City had originally hoped to open the overhauled bridge connecting the mall to 4201 Wilson Blvd and the Metro station in time for stores to begin opening this fall. Yet work on the bridge is “currently behind schedule and is now expected to be completed in the winter or early spring of 2019,” according to a report prepared for the County Board.

News

Arlington Chamber Backs County Efforts to Win Amazon’s HQ2

By Alex Koma

Published June 11, 2018 at 10:45AM | Updated June 11, 2018 at 11:06AM

Arlington’s business community is throwing its support behind the county’s efforts to land Amazon’s second headquarters.

The county’s Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 750 businesses in the area, penned a letter to the County Board Friday (June 8) expressing its “utmost support” for Arlington’s work to secure the vaunted HQ2.

Around Town

Istanbul Grill Now Open for Business Near Ballston, Offering Traditional Turkish Fare

By Alex Koma

Published June 8, 2018 at 10:50AM

Istanbul Grill near Ballston (photo by Alex Koma)

A new Turkish restaurant is now open for business near Ballston.

Istanbul Grill started serving up kebabs and other traditional Turkish fare yesterday (June 7), according to owner Turgut Yiğit. The new eatery, located at 4617 Wilson Blvd, replaces long-time Mexican restaurant El Ranchero.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 8, 2018 at 9:05AM

Arlington Rocks the Red — It was lit in Arlington during last night’s Stanley Cup Finals — literally. In Rosslyn, a swath of red and the words “ALL CAPS” was projected onto a prominent office building. In Ballston, the lights atop another office building were switched to red. [Twitter, Twitter]

Young Caps Fan Provides All the Luck — Parker Matthews, a 7-year-old Arlington resident, kept finding four leaf clovers on the ground during the Washington Capitals’ playoff and championship run. She would display the lucky keepsakes in front of the TV during games. [NBC Washington]

Around Town

Earl’s Sandwiches to Shutter Ballston Location, Though Clarendon Store Staying Put

By Alex Koma

Published June 7, 2018 at 5:00PM

Earl’s Sandwiches is planning to close down its Ballston location next Friday (June 15).

The local sandwich shop announced the decision on its Facebook page yesterday (June 6). The location at 4215 N. Fairfax Drive, across from the Ballston Metro station, opened back in 2012.

News

County Hoping to Start Work on Mosaic Park Overhaul in Ballston Next Year

By Alex Koma

Published June 7, 2018 at 1:45PM

Mosaic Park design (via Arlington County)

Arlington County is now hoping to kick off construction work on an overhaul of Ballston’s Mosaic Park early next year, following years of delays prompted in part by cost overruns.

County officials are planning to finish renovations at the park, located at 538 N. Pollard Street just behind the Gold’s Gym parking lot, by the end of 2019. Planners unveiled an updated timeline for the park’s renovations at a community meeting last Wednesday (May 30), along with detailed designs for new features like a playground, plaza and athletic courts.

News

Would Amazon HQ2’s Arrival Supercharge Arlington’s Growth Or Just Change its Timing?

By Alex Koma

Published June 5, 2018 at 3:00PM

Concerns abound about how the arrival of Amazon’s second headquarters might squeeze an already space-starved county — but could HQ2 merely speed up population growth in Arlington that would inevitably happen over time even if Amazon chooses another location?

It’s a possibility that county leaders say they’re increasingly beginning to consider, as Arlington has emerged as a top contender to earn HQ2, among its competitors both locally and nationally.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 23, 2018 at 9:00AM | Updated May 23, 2018 at 9:22AM

Ballston Mall Garage Floods — “The heavy rain that roared through our region Tuesday evening did more than just saturate the ground. A parking garage near the Ballston Mall in Arlington County was transformed into a figurative beach complete with waves.” [WJLA]

Officials Reconsidering No-Left-Turn Sign on Route 50 — The late Carrie Johnson’s last act of civic activism may be bearing fruit. County officials are reaching out to the community in an effort to reconsider a no-left-turn sign on Route 50 at N. Irving Street. [InsideNova]

Around Town

Ballston Quarter Unveils 12 New Restaurants, Including the Return of Chick-Fil-A

By Alex Koma

Published May 17, 2018 at 1:30PM

Ballston Quarter rendering (courtesy photo)

Ballston Quarter mall is unveiling 12 new restaurants with plans to open in the development, bringing the shopping center’s total to 22 confirmed eateries ahead of its scheduled re-opening this fall.

Forest City, the company that owns and manages the under-construction former Ballston Common Mall, announced the line-up of eateries today (Thursday). Some of the restaurants will be located in the development’s 25,000-square-foot “food hall,” while others will be spread throughout the mall or even located in the apartment building attached to the project.

News

ACFD Battles Kitchen Fire Near Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published May 15, 2018 at 9:10AM | Updated May 15, 2018 at 9:48AM

Arlington County firefighters are on scene of a kitchen fire on a residential block near Ballston.

The fire was reported shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday on the 4800 block of Fairfax Drive, in Bluemont. The blaze has since been extinguished but firefighters are still checking for hotspots and working to ventilate the structure.

Around Town

Podcast: Ballston BID CEO Tina Leone

By Alex Koma

Published May 11, 2018 at 5:55PM

Tina Leone speaks at a Ballston BID launch event in 2013 (file photo)

Plenty of big changes are on the way for Ballston, and Business Improvement District CEO Tina Leone has a front seat to all the latest developments.

Join Leone and ARLnow’s Alex Koma for a conversation about the future of the Ballston Quarter development, the shifting landscape of the neighborhood’s transportation needs and much more.