County Board | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published July 12, 2018 at 8:55AM | Updated July 12, 2018 at 1:27PM

Stream running in a concrete channel behind houses in North Arlington (staff photo)

Arlington Named Top Digital County Again — “Arlington County is the No. 1 digital county in the nation for a third straight year. The Center for Digital Government and National Association of Counties 2018 award recognizes Arlington for its best technology practices in areas of open government, transparency, public engagement, planning, cyber security and operations.” [Arlington County]

Robbery in Courthouse — Two men reportedly robbed the Dunkin’ Donuts on Wilson Blvd in Courthouse yesterday evening. The men demanded money and fled the scene with cash but did not display any weapons during the robbery, according to initial reports. [Twitter]

News

State Supreme Court Could Decide Fate of Highlander Motel Redevelopment

By Alex Koma

Published July 11, 2018 at 10:45AM

Former Highlander Motel sign, now taken down (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Virginia Supreme Court could soon decide the fate of the Highlander Motel near Virginia Square, as the property’s owner continues to push to redevelop the site.

Arlington County has been locked in a legal battle with local businessman Bill Bayne for nearly two years now over the property at 3336 Wilson Blvd, arguing that Bayne shouldn’t be able to use an existing parking lot for the same purpose after replacing the 55-year-old motel with a CVS Pharmacy.

News

County May Ask State for $78 Million for Second Crystal City Metro Entrance

By Alex Koma

Published July 11, 2018 at 9:45AM | Updated July 11, 2018 at 10:02AM

Proposed second entrance at Crystal City Metro station (via Arlington County)

(Updated at 10 a.m.) Arlington is getting ready to seek nearly $78 million in state transportation funding to build a second entrance at the Crystal City Metro station.

The County Board is considering submitting the project for “Smart Scale” funding, money handed out by the Commonwealth Transportation Board for big-ticket projects around the state. If approved, Arlington would have the money it needs to add an eastern entrance to the station at the northwest corner of the intersection of Crystal Drive and 18th Street S., perhaps by sometime in 2024.

News

Glencarlyn Park Upgrades Could Move Ahead Later This Year

By Melanie Pincus

Published July 10, 2018 at 3:45PM

Glencarlyn Park rendering (photo via Arlington County)

Construction work on some improvements to Glencarlyn Park will likely kick off later this year.

The County Board will consider a roughly $685,000 contract for renovation work at the park during its meeting Saturday (July 14). Crown Construction Services, Inc. is set to manage the renovations.

News

The Children’s School Advances Plans for Former Alpine Restaurant Site

By Alex Koma

Published July 10, 2018 at 1:45PM | Updated July 10, 2018 at 3:15PM

Rendering of the new The Children's School facility (via Arlington County)

The Children’s School is moving closer to finding a permanent new home, as it pushes forward plans to build a three-story daycare facility along Lee Highway.

The child care program for Arlington Public Schools employees is looking for a county permit to redevelop the space once occupied by the Alpine Restaurant at 4770 Lee Highway, marking the first formal proposal that the school would seek to build a a 27,500-square-foot facility on the property.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 10, 2018 at 9:00AM | Updated July 10, 2018 at 9:18AM

County Board to Vote on Arts Grants — “County Board members on July 14 are slated to approve $215,810 in direct support to Arlington arts groups for the coming year. The funding request, which is in line with those of previous years, comes from the Arlington Commission for the Arts.” [InsideNova]

New Building Sign in Rosslyn — The logo for the University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business now sits atop one of Rosslyn’s skyscrapers. The school recently expanded its facilities within the building at 1100 Wilson Blvd. [Twitter]

News

Vihstadt Argues for Another Delay of Long Bridge Park Aquatics Center

By Alex Koma

Published July 9, 2018 at 10:55AM

Long Bridge Park aquatics center family pool (via Arlington County)

County Board member John Vihstadt is renewing his push to delay the construction of the Long Bridge Park aquatics center.

Vihstadt is waging a lonely battle against the oft-postponed project as the county’s budget picture grows increasingly grim. He says the $60 million the county’s set to spend on the new pool would be better spent on building new schools or buying additional park land, particularly considering that Arlington is feeling a financial squeeze at the moment.

News

Arlington’s Car Decal Program Could Soon End, Though Its Fees Would Stick Around

By Alex Koma

Published July 9, 2018 at 10:00AM

Decal design competition presentation in 2018 (file photo)

Arlington’s personal property tax car decals coon soon be a thing of the past, even as the tax associated with the tags looks set to stay.

The County Board is now considering eliminating the requirement that vehicles garaged in Arlington display a decal to demonstrate its owner has paid the necessary property tax on the car, effective July 1, 2019.

News

Second Entrance at East Falls Church Metro Station May Be On Hold For a Decade Or More

By Alex Koma

Published July 5, 2018 at 9:45AM

A concept drawing for a new East Falls Church Metro entrance (via WMATA)

Arlington likely won’t be able to add a second entrance at the East Falls Church Metro station until sometime in the 2030s, as county officials re-examine their funding priorities for the next decade.

The county has hoped for years to build a western entrance to improve pedestrian access to the station, particularly with plans to someday re-develop the parking lot and properties surrounding the station.

News

Neighborhood Conservation Supporters Beg County Board to Reconsider Deep Cuts

By Alex Koma

Published July 2, 2018 at 10:55AM

Supporters of Arlington’s Neighborhood Conservation program are warning county leaders that the steep budget cuts they’re contemplating could effectively kill it.

County Manager Mark Schwartz is proposing slashing $24 million from the program’s funding over the next 10 years as part of his new Capital Improvement Plan, dropping its coffers down to $36 million through 2028.

Around Town

Extended Parking Meter Hours, Rate Hikes Take Effect Today

By Alex Koma

Published July 2, 2018 at 8:55AM

Keep an eye on the meter if you’re parking on the street in Arlington today — some changes to county meters just took effect.

You’ll now need to feed the meter from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, a two-hour extension of the old meter timeframe.

News

Plans to Build New Ballston Metro Station Entrance Could Stall

By Alex Koma

Published June 29, 2018 at 10:45AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 11:33AM

Plans for a western entrance to the Ballston Metro station (via the NVTA)

Arlington officials worry that their plans to build a second entrance to Ballston Metro station could stall and be delayed indefinitely if the county and WMATA can’t make progress soon.

To get a move on and finally construct a western entrance for the highly trafficked station, county leaders say they need millions more in funding, and they’ve had trouble tracking down that money.