County Board | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published September 23, 2019 at 7:30AM | Updated September 23, 2019 at 8:45AM

Nebiate Kidane, 2, lifts a giant chess piece at the Fountain in Crystal City on Sept. 20, 2019, in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Climate Change Protests in D.C. — Updated at 8:45 a.m. — As expected, demonstrator are blocking a number of key intersections in D.C. this morning to protest against government inaction in tackling climate change. The roadblocks have caused major backups on northbound I-395. [WTOP, Twitter]

APS Implements New Verification System — “Arlington school officials say a new, higher-tech effort to gather requisite start-of-school information from parents is moving forward as expected. The new online-verification process has been completed by 54 percent of families as of Sept. 19, Superintendent Cintia Johnson told School Board members.” [InsideNova]

News

County Board to Review Westmont Shopping Center Redevelopment Project

By Airey

Published September 19, 2019 at 11:15AM

A rendering of a new mixed-use building proposed for the Westmont Shopping Center (Image via Arlington County)

The redevelopment of the Westmont Shopping Center could be one step closer to reality after this weekend.

The Arlington County Board is scheduled to vote on moving the project forward during their meeting this Saturday, September 21. Developer Republic Properties Corporation (RPC) is seeking a use permit for the project, which aims to build six-story mixed use building with 250 housing units on the site and 22,500 square feet of retail space.

Traffic

Major Changes Coming to Boundary Channel Drive and I-395 Interchange

By Airey

Published September 18, 2019 at 10:00AM

Proposed changes to I-395 and Boundary Channel Drive (Image via Arlington County)

A $17.2 million overhaul of the Boundary Channel Drive interchange along I-395 is in the works.

Plans call for overhauling the existing, difficult-to-navigate interchange near the Pentagon and Crystal City with two rotaries, to be installed on either side of I-395.

News

Arlington County Board Considering Use of Private Security Guards

By Vernon Miles

Published September 18, 2019 at 9:00AM

Arlington County government offices/headquarters at 2100 Clarendon Blvd

The Arlington County Board is looking to potentially use armed, private guards for security at county government headquarters in Courthouse.

The guards could help provide security at the building (2100 Clarendon Blvd) generally and during County Board meetings specifically, relieving pressure on the understaffed local police force.

News

County Board to Consider Expanding Agreement With Marymount Athletics

By Kalina Newman

Published September 17, 2019 at 11:00AM

The Arlington County Board will consider amending its 2o09 agreement with Marymount University to extend its support for MU athletic facilities.

At its Saturday meeting, the County Board will discuss adding 100 hours of MU field use at Long Bridge Park plus additional access of county parks for MU athletic teams including tennis, baseball, and — potentially — softball.

News

Arlington County Moving Forward with Benjamin Banneker Park Renovations

By Vernon Miles

Published September 16, 2019 at 1:45PM | Updated September 16, 2019 at 3:25PM

Plans for Benjamin Banneker Park (image via Arlington County)

(Updated 3:25 p.m.) After years of planning, Arlington County is ready to put money into the planned renovation of Benjamin Banneker Park.

The 12.5 acres park at 1680 N. Sycamore Street features the head for the Four Mile Run Trail and a section of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, as well as a dog park.

News

Still No Construction in Sight for Courthouse Wendy’s Site

By ARLnow.com

Published September 16, 2019 at 12:45PM

Site of former Wendy's in Courthouse in September 2019 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Nearly four years after the Wendy’s in Courthouse closed, the prominent but empty lot at 2026 Wilson Blvd is set to remain an empty lot for the foreseeable future.

Once set to become a 12-story office building, the site — located on a triangle of land a block from the Courthouse Metro station — is now proposed as a “temporary off-site contractor’s storage and staging area” for the condo construction project across the street. The Arlington County Board is set to consider the use permit at its meeting this Saturday.

News

Independents on the Attack Over Housing and Amazon Incentives in County Board Debate

By Vernon Miles

Published September 10, 2019 at 3:30PM

Arlington County Board candidates, from left to right: Christian Dorsey, Katie Cristol, Audrey Clement, and Arron O'Dell

Arlington County Board incumbents fought to hold their ground against independents over Amazon incentives and housing topics at a debate Monday evening.

At the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum at U.Group in Crystal City (2231 Crystal Drive), Democratic incumbents Christian Dorsey and Katie Cristol faced off against independent challengers Audrey Clement and Arron O’Dell.

News

County Board Incumbents Defend Arlington’s Growth Against Independent Challengers

By Vernon Miles

Published September 4, 2019 at 10:45AM

County Board Member Katie Cristol at the Civic Federation debate

The independent challengers for Arlington County Board confronted the two Democratic incumbents on local hot button issues at last night’s Arlington County Civic Federation debate.

Democrats Katie Cristol and Christian Dorsey faced off against perennial candidate Audrey Clement and newcomer Arron O’Dell at the Civic Federation’s annual candidate, which serves as the unofficial kickoff of the fall campaign season.

News

Arlington Native Gifts $1.5 million for Va. Square Affordable Housing Development

By Airey

Published August 5, 2019 at 10:15AM

The former American Legion Post 139

An Arlington couple has gifted $1.5 million to an affordable housing project county officials hope will help veterans.

Ron and Frances Terwilliger donated to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) to help fund the redevelopment of Virginia Square’s American Legion Post 139. The aging building is slated to be demolished and rebuilt into a 160-unit, seven-story affordable housing building with a preference for veteran tenants.

News

One More Page Books Holding Auction to Cover Rising Rent

By Airey

Published August 1, 2019 at 4:45PM

President Obam and his daughters shop at One More Page Books in East Falls Church (White House photo by Pete Souza)

A local bookstore is holding an auction to raise money after the owner says rent increased by 30 percent this year due to property tax changes.

One More Page Books, located in the East Falls Church neighborhood at 2200 N. Westmoreland Street, is hosting a silent auction fundraiser from Friday, August 2 at 6:30 p.m. until Sunday, August 18 at 5 p.m. The bookstore is currently finalizing the item list, which currently ranges from artwork and chocolates, to bike tours and book manuscript consults.

News

Arlington County Board Incumbents Challenged by Two Independent Candidates

By Airey

Published July 25, 2019 at 2:30PM | Updated July 25, 2019 at 3:31PM

Independent County Board candidate Audrey Clement (2015 file photo)

This election season, incumbent Arlington County Board candidates will be facing not one, but two independent challengers.

Perennial candidate Audrey Clement is joined in the race for County Board by first-timer Arron O’Dell, a payroll associate with the American Correctional Association who threw his hat into the ring on a platform of affordable housing, more efficient transportation, and representing marginalized communities. The two candidates will face off against incumbent Board Chair Christian Dorsey and Board member Katie Cristol.