Columbia Pike | ARLnow.com

Board Expected to Defer Pines of Italy Permit Request

Published April 18, 2012 at 2:30PM

Due to concerns from police and the Arlington Heights Civic Association (AHCA), the recommendation is to defer the permit request until the board’s September 15 meeting. Police note previous violent incidents at this site, and suggest future trouble could arise based on the history with the property’s management. AHCA opposes the permit due to the potential for crime and noise to impact neighbors.

A letter from the AHCA president says representatives met with the three partners of the property to address resident concerns. The property apparently is divided into a restaurant, a hookah bar and a night club and has one partner for each entity. The partners reportedly said the entertainment permit was not needed for the restaurant or hookah bar to do business, but wouldn’t specifically say it was for the club.

News

Washington Blvd Bridge Project in Beginning Stages

By Katie Pyzyk

Published April 17, 2012 at 2:45PM | Updated April 17, 2012 at 3:24PM

The project has been about two decades in the making, and VDOT spokeswoman Joan Morris says it finally got underway this week. Right now, it’s still in the very preliminary stages while workers set up a field office and work out logistics.

The revamp is supposed to have eight stages, and is slated to run through August 2015. Once the first stage gains steam, a detour will be constructed for use on certain weekends. VDOT says traffic may need to be re-routed during off-peak hours, but efforts will be made to keep lanes clear during the morning and evening rush hours on weekdays.

News

Board to Address Permits for William Jeffrey’s Tavern

By Katie Pyzyk

Published April 17, 2012 at 11:40AM

The entertainment permit would cover the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. every day of the week. However, restaurant owners indicate they only intend to provide live entertainment and dancing during late evenings on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and for brunch on Sundays.

Although the restaurant is in a mixed-use building, county staff points out it is not directly adjacent to any housing, and would therefore not disturb residents. Permit reviewers also believe allowing William Jeffrey’s Tavern to have live entertainment would assist in achieving the county’s goal of revitalizing Columbia Pike. For these reasons, the recommendation is to allow the permit.

News

Obama Headquarters to Open on Columbia Pike

By Katie Pyzyk

Published April 13, 2012 at 11:00AM

According to a recently created Facebook page and the Arlington Democrats website, the grand opening of the Obama for America office is taking place from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Visitors are encouraged to attend the event to meet staff and other supporters, as well as learning about neighborhood teams throughout the county.

In addition to asking for monetary support for the campaign, the Arlington Democrats are looking for volunteers and donations of supplies for the headquarters.

News

Crime Report: Wine as a Weapon Edition

By ARLnow.com

Published April 11, 2012 at 2:56PM | Updated January 9, 2018 at 3:13PM

The Days Inn on Columbia Pike is back on the Arlington County crime report this week. The motel, which has been the scene of at least three prostitution busts in the past several months, was the scene of a fight late last night.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 04/11/12, 3000 block of S. Columbia Pike. Between 10:30 pm on April 10, and 12:30 am on April 11, a known subject struck a victim in the head and face with a wine bottle during an argument in a hotel room. The victim sustained several lacerations and was transported to an area hospital. The suspect fled the scene and a warrant was obtained for malicious wounding.

Events

Arlington Home Show and Expo Coming Next Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published April 6, 2012 at 1:30PM

As it has in the past, the show will feature dozens of home builders, contractors, vendors, architects, inspectors, real estate agents, gardeners, lenders and nonprofits, as well as housing, zoning and inspection representatives from Arlington County.

“Whether you are a resident looking to improve your home, an experienced contractor or a landlord managing rentals, the 2012 Arlington Home Show & Expo offers a convenient one-stop shop to ‘Ask an Expert’ and learn of new ways to update your home,” said an Arlington County press release. Arlington’s Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development is jointly sponsoring the event with the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO).

News

Sewage Spill Reported in Four Mile Run

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2012 at 1:28PM | Updated April 6, 2012 at 5:38PM

Update on 4/6/12 — The advisory for Four Mile Run has been lifted.

Arlington County is reporting a sewage spill near Columbia Pike and S. Dinwiddie Street, next to Four Mile Run.

Around Town

Shelves in Place at Columbia Pike ABC Store

By ARLnow.com

Published March 26, 2012 at 10:49AM

It appears that the new state liquor store at 2940 Columbia Pike is getting closer to opening.

The recognizable ABC logo has been placed on the store’s window, and a surprisingly large expanse of shelving can be seen inside the store. Virginia ABC officials, however, say an official opening date has not been chosen yet.

News

Video: Articulated Buses on the Pike?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 26, 2012 at 9:40AM | Updated March 26, 2012 at 12:21PM

Critics of the Columbia Pike streetcar have been pushing the idea of articulated buses as a cheaper and more flexible alternative to streetcar service.

Traffic

Construction, Detours Set for New Pike Interchange

By ARLnow.com

Published March 22, 2012 at 3:57PM

Starting this spring — as soon as final regulatory approvals are issued — crews will begin work on the first of eight construction phases that will stretch through August 2015. During that first phase, a detour will be constructed, using the north interchange ramps to provide a signalized, at-grade intersection on Washington Boulevard.

That detour is expected to be used for 3 to 5 weekends per year, starting this summer, when crews need to shut down Columbia Pike for demolition of the existing Washington Boulevard bridge and construction of a pair of new spans, just east of the existing bridge. The detour will also include facilities for pedestrians.

News

Crystal City Streetcar May Get Built Before Pike Streetcar

By ARLnow.com

Published March 15, 2012 at 9:50AM

Arlington and Alexandria are jointly planning a five-mile streetcar line to run from the Pentagon City Metro station, across 12th Street to Crystal Drive, down Crystal Drive to Potomac Yard, and then down Route 1 to the Braddock Road Metro Station.

The Route 1 Corridor Streetcar Conversion Project, as it’s called, is currently in the environmental assessment, alternative analysis and conceptual engineering phase. That phase of the project should wrap up around mid-2013, we’re told. Roadwork on Crystal Drive set to begin this summer, meanwhile, will quietly begin to set the stage for what will eventually be a dedicated bus transitway along Crystal Drive, an interim step before the streetcar becomes operational.

News

Sheraton Evacuated Due to Bomb Threat

By ARLnow.com

Published March 13, 2012 at 1:55PM | Updated March 13, 2012 at 4:21PM

(Updated at 4:20 p.m.) Police are questioning a “person of interest” in connection with a bomb threat at the Sheraton National hotel on S. Orme Street this afternoon.

The building was evacuated around 1:45 p.m. after a bomb threat was phoned in to the hotel. The caller claimed a bomb had been planted on street level and was going to detonate at 3:00 p.m., according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. Police shut down S. Orme Street between Columbia Pike and Southgate Road (the entrance to the Marine Corps’ Henderson Hall) as a precaution.