Columbia Pike | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published December 30, 2021 at 7:30AM

Hotel Redevelopment Plan Paused — “The redevelopment of one of Arlington’s oldest hotels looks to be on hold indefinitely, as the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic disrupt the hospitality-focused project. Grant Investment Properties is asking county planners for more time to complete its overhaul of Rosslyn’s old Best Western Iwo Jima, now known as the Red Lion Hotel Rosslyn Iwo Jima, at 1501 Arlington Boulevard. A site plan for the project projected that it would be finished by March 2022, but the Chicago-based firm filed papers last week to ask for an extension through March 2025.” [Washington Business Journal]

Proposed APS Changes Questioned — “Based on feedback from the Arlington School Board, the Arlington Public Schools system is focusing on what they call more equitable grading practices. The preliminary proposal calls for: No late penalties for homework… No extra credit… Unlimited redoes and retakes on assignment… No grading for homework.” [WJLA, Washington Post]

Around Town

Alcohol-free restaurant replacing Purple Lounge finally set to open early next year

By Matt Blitz

Published December 22, 2021 at 10:30AM

Eska Restaurant and Hookah Lounge on Columbia Pike (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Eska, a family-friendly eatery and hookah lounge that is replacing the troubled Purple Lounge on Columbia Pike, is finally set to open around Feb. 1, the owner tells ARLnow.

The alcohol-free restaurant will highlight Arabic culture, owner Layth Mansour says. But its opening has been delayed by months, due in part to permitting issues and Mansour’s health.

News

Del. Lopez files bills strengthening tenant protections after Serrano saga

By Jo DeVoe

Published December 21, 2021 at 3:00PM

Del. Alfonso Lopez during his 2019 bid for re-election (file photo)

A half-dozen bills are set to hit the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates in January that were inspired by the poor conditions at the Serrano Apartments and other Virginia affordable housing properties.

After residents exposed poor living conditions at the Columbia Pike apartment complex, Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-49) tells ARLnow he began drafting bills to strengthen tenant rights and improve living conditions in affordable housing properties across the Commonwealth.

News

Rattling steel plates and a gas leak on Columbia Pike are the work of a 5G contractor, officials say

By Matt Blitz

Published December 20, 2021 at 10:20AM | Updated December 20, 2021 at 4:43PM

Rattling steel plates on Columbia Pike, near S. Scott Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated, 4:40 p.m.) Loose steel plates on Columbia Pike that are keeping residents up at night with the sounds of cars driving over them are the work of a general contractor doing 5G work.

The same contractor also damaged a gas line on the Pike causing a large gas leak last week, according to Washington Gas.

News

What we know about the county’s $150 million loan to preserve affordable housing on the Pike

By Jo DeVoe

Published December 17, 2021 at 1:45PM

The Barcroft Apartments, a 1,334-unit, market-affordable apartment complex along Columbia Pike (via Google Maps)

Arlington County is loaning $150 million to a D.C.-based real estate company buying the Barcroft Apartments along Columbia Pike.

This move — approved Tuesday — is an unusual one, but Arlington County says it did what was necessary in a short amount of time to support the sale to Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners. The company has agreed to keep the property — Arlington’s largest market-rate affordable apartment complex — as committed affordable housing for 99 years.

News

JUST IN: Large gas leak shuts down Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published December 13, 2021 at 1:25PM

Firefighters and utility crews on scene of large gas leak along Columbia Pike (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

All lanes of Columbia Pike are blocked due to a large gas leak.

The leak is along the Pike near S. Scott Street and a number of large apartment buildings. Police, firefighters and Washington Gas crews are on scene, repairing the leak and checking nearby buildings for elevated levels of natural gas.

News

Amazon and Arlington County to finance purchase of Columbia Pike apartment complex

By Jo DeVoe

Published December 13, 2021 at 11:05AM

The Barcroft Apartments, a 1,334-unit, market-affordable apartment complex along Columbia Pike (via Google Maps)

Arlington County and Amazon intend to loan hundreds of millions of dollars to an unnamed affordable housing provider to purchase a Columbia Pike apartment complex.

The Barcroft Apartments, at 1130 S. George Mason Drive, is the largest market-rate-affordable apartment community in Arlington, and county officials say they have to act quickly to ensure it stays affordable for current residents.

News

ACPD: Man suspected in thefts from two cars leads officers on foot chase near Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published December 1, 2021 at 9:00AM

File photo

A Connecticut man has been jailed after police say he stole items from two cars and then tried to run from officers.

The arrest happened early Monday morning in the Columbia Forest neighborhood, near Columbia Pike.

Around Town

Xsport Fitness on Columbia Pike is closing next month

By Matt Blitz

Published November 19, 2021 at 9:30AM

Xsport Fitness on Columbia Pike is closing next month (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Xsport Fitness is closing its Columbia Pike location on December 15.

A flyer posted on the door of the gym at 2301 Columbia Pike provides confirmation, while noting that “we have outgrown this location!”

Around Town

Construction begins on towering public art sculpture ‘The Pike’

By Matt Blitz

Published November 18, 2021 at 11:00AM

"The Pike" rendering (photo via Arlington County)

It might now be an empty grassy space off of Columbia Pike, but in a few months this site will be home to a giant white spike that serves as a gateway to Arlington County.

Construction is set to begin at the southwest corner of Columbia Pike and S. Jefferson Street on The Pike, a large-scale piece of public art first commissioned nearly a decade ago. The sculpture is expected to be completed by the spring.

Around Town

Takohachi Japanese Restaurant hoping to open within month at Penrose Square

By Matt Blitz

Published November 17, 2021 at 10:00AM

Takohachi Japanese Restaurant sign at Penrose Square (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Takohachi Japanese Restaurant is planning to reopen along Columbia Pike, albeit at a different shopping center.

The restaurant expects to open within the next month at Penrose Square, the owner tells ARLnow, provided it can secure the proper county permits in time.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 15, 2021 at 7:30AM

Fundraiser for Man Killed in Crash — An online fundraiser for Stevan Zikic, the 26-year-old Alexandria man killed when he collided with a school bus while riding a motorcycle in Arlington’s Green Valley neighborhood, has raised nearly $35,000 for “overseas transportation and funeral costs.” [GoFundMe]

County Board Approved Pike Plan — “The County Board voted 5 to 0 to approve zoning updates that will help realize the vision of Columbia Pike as a walkable ‘Main Street’ by providing greater flexibility for commercial, office, light industrial, and agricultural uses–including animal boarding and craft beverage production — on ground floors along the Pike.” [Arlington County]