County Board | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published June 19, 2017 at 8:55AM

Board Approves Construction Contracts — The Arlington County Board approved three construction projects at its meeting this past Saturday, including contracts to improve safety at the intersection of Arlington Blvd and Park Drive, to improve safety along the W&OD and Custis trails, and to repair three bridges in Rosslyn. [Arlington County]

Feds to Help Fund Arlington Art Truck — Arlington County’s arts truck has received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The truck, which received $70,000 in funding from the county last year, “aims to both expand community access to art and to diversify public engagement.” [InsideNova]

Around Town

Podcast: Arlington County Board Member Christian Dorsey

By ARLnow.com

Published June 16, 2017 at 5:45PM

Christian Dorsey joined the County Board in 2016 and now also represents Arlington on the WMATA Board.

On this week’s 26 Square Miles podcast, we talked to Dorsey about whether SafeTrack and new train cars are improving Metro. We also discussed schools, parks, land use, development, the Shirlington Dog park controversy, issues with the Arlington Way, gentrification, affordable housing, and a proposed pedestrian walk from Crystal City to Reagan National Airport.

News

Board Considering Extending Bloomberg BNA’s Partial Tax Exemption

By Chris Teale

Published June 14, 2017 at 4:30PM

The Arlington County Board will discuss Saturday whether to move forward with a plan to extend a partial real estate tax exemption for Bloomberg BNA.

Bloomberg BNA is a major employer in the neighborhood with 972 employees and a 200,000 square foot office at 1801 S. Bell Street. It signed a deal earlier this year to stay in Arlington, invest $5.5 million and create up to 125 new jobs.

News

Further Safety Improvements Coming to W&OD, Custis Trails

By Katherine Berko

Published June 14, 2017 at 3:30PM | Updated June 14, 2017 at 4:13PM

The intersection of the W&OD Trail and S. Oakland Street

The Washington & Old Dominion and Custis trails are set for further construction this summer, with the hope of increasing safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and public transportation users.

The improvements will reduce the distance of crossing some streets, upgrade curb ramps and bus stops, create high visibility crosswalks, improve trail crossing alignments and update traffic signals to meet Arlington County’s standards, among other changes.

News

Audrey Clement Undeterred in Long Quest for County Board Seat

By Kalina Newman

Published June 14, 2017 at 1:15PM

Independent County Board candidate Audrey Clement (2015 file photo)

Audrey Clement isn’t going anywhere. This year, Clement is running for Arlington County Board for the sixth time.

Since 2011, Clement has aimed to break through the County Board’s Democratic majority to win a seat as either an independent or Green Party candidate. Since 2011, Clement has always lost. In 2014, she also ran for a position on the Arlington County School Board but lost by 18,327 votes to Barbara Kanninen.

News

Busy Route 50 Intersection Set For Revamp

By Chris Teale

Published June 13, 2017 at 10:05AM

The County Board will consider a plan to revamp an intersection of Route 50

The busy intersection of Route 50 and Park Drive is set for improvements under a plan being considered Saturday by the Arlington County Board.

The intersection, in the Arlington Forest neighborhood, is slated for new sidewalks, upgraded traffic lights, high-visibility crosswalks and new trees, curbs and gutters.

News

County Board to Consider Contract for Clark Street Demolition

By ARLnow.com

Published June 12, 2017 at 11:45AM

A key transportation goal of the Crystal City Sector Plan is close to becoming reality.

The Arlington County Board on Saturday is expected to consider a $6.3 million contract to demolish the elevated portion of S. Clark Street between 12th Street and 20th Street S.

Around Town

Construction Progressing At New Potomac Yard Church and Apartment Building

By Chris Teale

Published June 8, 2017 at 11:15AM

Image via DCS Design

Work at a new Potomac Yard apartment building set to include a new church is well underway.

The County Board approved the addition of a church to the first and second floors of the 12-story residential building in 2015. The building was originally approved in 2007 but went unbuilt for some time.

News

County Signs Nationwide Pledge To Uphold Paris Climate Goals

By Chris Teale

Published June 7, 2017 at 2:45PM | Updated June 7, 2017 at 3:21PM

President Trump announced last week he will withdraw the United States from the pact to help preserve American jobs and avoid placing heavy burdens on the country’s taxpayers. The decision brought swift condemnation from local elected officials.

County leaders joined on Monday (June 5) an open letter to the international community and parties to the Paris Agreement entitled, “We Are Still In.” The letter promises that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will continue, regardless of federal policy.

News

County Manager: Neighbors’ Complaints About Each Other Are Going Up

By Chris Teale

Published May 31, 2017 at 11:15AM

County Manager Mark Schwartz

County Manager Mark Schwartz said he has noticed more residents calling code enforcement with complaints about their neighbors.

At a County Board work session Tuesday with the code enforcement staff, which enforces the county’s noise ordinance, maintenance code and other regulations, Schwartz said that anecdotally, people call to complain as they are unaware of other ways to resolve their issues.

News

Shirlington Dog Park Plans Go Back to the Drawing Board

By Chris Teale

Published May 31, 2017 at 10:00AM

The County Board's work session with the Four Mile Run Valley working group

After significant community push-back, the County Board rejected plans to dramatically shrink the Shirlington Dog Park and urged further study.

At a work session last night of the Four Mile Run Valley Working Group, Board members said that staff must return with new options that would either keep the 109,000 square foot dog park the same size or reduce it slightly.

News

Board Hikes Bus Fares and Utility Taxes, Denies Ed Center Historic District

By Chris Teale

Published May 24, 2017 at 4:20PM | Updated May 26, 2017 at 9:06AM

ART Bus (file photo)

And the County Board denied a request that the Education Center and adjacent planetarium be designated as a historic district, so that Arlington Public Schools can continue to keep the site as a contender for a fourth high school.

ART and STAR Fares To Go Up