Columbia Pike | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published June 19, 2020 at 7:30AM

Sunset over Park Shirlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Juneteenth Rally in Courthouse Today — “Please join the Arlington Black Employees Council for a 2020 Juneteenth Peace Rally on Friday, 11a-12p, outside at the Bozman Gov’t Center. The event will include a George Floyd tribute and recognition of victims of violence.” [Twitter]

Police Investigating Columbia Pike Robbery — “At approximately 1:24 a.m. on June 17, an officer was flagged down by the victim stating they had just been robbed. The investigation determined that the victim had exited a business when two unknown suspects approached him. One of the suspects struck the victim with an object appearing to be a firearm, causing him to fall to the ground. The suspects searched the victim’s person and fled the scene without taking anything from the victim.” [Arlington County]

Events

Columbia Pike Summer Movie Festival Converts to Drive-In Experience

By Vernon Miles

Published June 17, 2020 at 5:35PM

Columbia Pike summer movie series (via Columbia Pike Partnership)

After months of uncertainty, the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization announced that the group’s annual summer movie series would be converted into a new drive-in theater format.

“On Saturday nights throughout July and August, CPRO will be showing blockbuster hits on the big screen at the Arlington Career Center parking lot (816 S. Walter Reed Drive),” the organization said in a press release.

News

Feds to Take County Land By Eminent Domain for Cemetery Expansion

By ARLnow.com

Published June 16, 2020 at 10:45AM

Columbia Pike near the US Air Force Memorial at sunset (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Dept. of Justice has filed a civil action that would seize nine acres of county land on the eastern end of Columbia Pike by eminent domain, in order to expand Arlington National Cemetery.

The suit appears to be part of the long-standing plan to expand the cemetery around the Air Force Memorial, and includes no indication of resistance from the county. Arlington endorsed the federal proposal in April, which realigns and upgrades a portion of Columbia Pike in exchange for the county-owned land next to the cemetery.

News

Pike Library to Be Modernized, Downsized As Part of ‘Arlington Tech’ Expansion

By ARLnow.com

Published June 8, 2020 at 2:15PM

The Arlington Career Center (via Arlington Public Schools)

The Arlington County Board is set to consider a school expansion project that will involve changes to a local library.

Arlington Public Schools is requesting a use permit to add 150 seats to its Arlington Tech program at the Arlington Career Center. It’s the prelude to a larger expansion project for the facility at 816 S. Walter Reed Drive, which would add 800 new high school seats and a 200,000 square foot addition by 2025.

Around Town

Columbia Pike Businesses Say Outdoor Dining Vital to Survival

By Vernon Miles

Published June 3, 2020 at 3:55PM

As Arlington’s restaurants try to return to some semblance of normalcy during the first phase of reopening, some local restaurants are anxiously awaiting Arlington County approval of temporary outdoor seating permits.

Owners of two eateries along the Columbia Pike corridor, Ethiopian restaurant Dama Pastry & Cafe (1505 Columbia Pike) and Ididos Coffee and Social House (1107 S. Walter Reed Drive) said getting access to outdoor dining is a crucial part of getting business back to normal.

News

Car Runs into Front of Columbia Pike CVS in Apparent Burglary Attempt

By ARLnow.com

Published June 2, 2020 at 10:20AM

A car ran into the CVS near Penrose Square in an apparent burglary attempt (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The front of a CVS store along Columbia Pike was smashed overnight in what police say was a burglary attempt.

The driver of a car ran into the entrance to the store near Penrose Square, at 2601 Columbia Pike, in the wee hours of the morning. It’s unclear if anything was stolen. The vehicle was found abandoned nearby and the suspect remains at large.

Events

Columbia Pike Blues Festival Remixed as ‘Backyard’ Celebration

By Vernon Miles

Published May 26, 2020 at 11:00AM

The annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival isn’t exactly canceled this year, but with lingering concerns about large crowds during the phased reopening of the region, the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization is radically rethinking the event while hoping to keep the spirit intact.

Officially, the 25th Pike Blues Festival will be held in 2021, but in the meantime, CPRO is planning an alternative Backyard Blues Festival on June 20 from 5-7 p.m.

Around Town

Boston Market Closes Permanently on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published May 18, 2020 at 9:45AM

Boston Market closed on Columbia Pike (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Boston Market restaurant at 3233 Columbia Pike has closed its doors permanently.

“Thank you for your support and patronage,” says a sign on the door. “It has been a privilege and honor to serve you. Unfortunately, this Boston Market restaurant has closed. It would be our pleasure to serve you at one of our nearby Boston Market restaurants.”

News

County Opens New Walk-Up Coronavirus Testing Site

By ARLnow.com

Published May 13, 2020 at 11:25AM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:20AM

A new walk-up coronavirus testing site opened Tuesday along Columbia Pike.

The testing center is a partnership of Arlington County, Virginia Hospital Center and Arlington Free Clinic. At a media briefing yesterday, officials from all three spoke about the importance of the facility in the fight against the virus.

News

JUST IN: Zip Code Data Shows Elevated Case Level Along Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published May 8, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:09AM

The highest relative proportion of coronavirus cases in Arlington is along the Columbia Pike corridor, new data shows.

As of Friday morning, there were 1,281 known COVID-19 cases in Arlington, with 227 hospitalizations and 57 deaths. That’s an increase of 277 cases, 58 hospitalizations and 15 deaths compared to one week prior, and continues a slowing of new cases over the past few days.

News

BREAKING: Takis Karantonis Selected as Democratic Nominee for County Board Special Election

By ARLnow.com

Published May 7, 2020 at 9:20AM

Takis Karantonis, the former director of the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, will be the Democratic nominee for County Board in the upcoming July 7 special election.

With just days to select a nominee ahead of Friday’s court-set filing deadline, the Arlington County Democratic Committee — despite efforts to get the election date pushed back — opted for a ranked choice voting process among party insiders.

News

BREAKING: Grocery Store Fight Leads to Suspect Stop on Route 50

By ARLnow.com

Published May 5, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated May 6, 2020 at 11:20AM

Police activity on Route 50 near Courthouse (photo courtesy Savannah H.)

(Updated at 11:20 a.m.) A fight in the Penrose Square Giant led to a series of events that closed portions of two major roads and prompted a massive police response.

Police were dispatched to the grocery store around 2:30 p.m. for a report of a disturbance in the store, potentially involving a weapon. After arriving, an officer was nearly struck by a fleeing vehicle.