County Board | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published July 18, 2019 at 8:30AM

New Lyon Park Neighborhood Plan Approved — “The Arlington County Board today accepted the first update to historic Lyon Park’s Neighborhood Conservation plan since 1973. The update, spearheaded by the Lyon Park Citizens Association, seeks to address increased non-resident traffic and other challenges through 19 recommendations for improvements.” [Arlington County]

ACPD Traffic Enforcement in Crystal City — “Motor Officers conducted high visibility traffic enforcement along Crystal Drive today to curb illegal practices including stopping/parking in the bike and travel lanes. Increase roadway safety [by] being a PAL — Predictable | Alert | Lawful.” [Twitter]

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County Board Funds Art Project to Replace Ballston Metro Station’s ‘Darth Vader Hat’ Canopy

By Airey

Published July 17, 2019 at 10:30AM

A rendering of a proposed public art project for the Ballston Metro station (via the Ballston BID)

A Ballston art project of motion-activated lights above the Metro station entrance is one step closer to becoming a reality.

The Arlington County Board voted during its Saturday meeting to chip in $245,347 for the project, which is named “Intersections.”

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 17, 2019 at 7:30AM | Updated July 17, 2019 at 8:59AM

Listing Prices Around HQ2 Skyrocket — “From June 2018 to June 2019, the median asking price for a single-family home in Zip code 22202, home to Amazon’s planned Northern Virginia headquarters, skyrocketed a whopping 99.9 percent–essentially doubling over that period–according to a new report from listings service Bright MLS.” [Curbed, Bloomberg]

Board OKs Child Care Parking Changes — “The Arlington County Board today voted to reduce the parking requirements for child care centers, in keeping with the County’s Child Care Initiative to promote the expansion of accessible, available, high-quality child care throughout the County.” [Arlington County]

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County Board Extends Hours for Columbia Pike Ethiopian Community Center

By Airey

Published July 16, 2019 at 4:30PM

Entrance to the Ethiopian Community Development Council near Columbia Pike (Image via Google Maps)

The Arlington County Board made the unusual move of extending weekend operating hours to 2 a.m. for one Columbia Pike establishment — but it’s not for a bar.

The Board granted permission for the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) to hold community events until 2 a.m. on weekend nights. In exchange, staff from the office building at 901 S. Highland Street will be responsible for keeping the noise down, and ensuring there are two security personnel present in labeled vests.

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County Board Approves Ground Floor Office Space in Courthouse Tower

By Airey

Published July 16, 2019 at 9:15AM

Courthouse building owner has cited trouble finding retail tenants and sought County Board approval to seek office tenants (Image via Google Maps)

A new medical office could be coming to Courthouse after officials approved a building owner’s request to broaden its search for tenants.

The County Board unanimously approved a site plan amendment during its meeting on Saturday, allowing the property owner of the Tellus luxury apartment building at 2009 14th St. N. in Courthouse to lease the 1,807 square foot space to office tenants as well as retail tenants.

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County to Consider Construction Contract for Columbia Pike Bus Stop Project

By Airey

Published July 15, 2019 at 3:45PM

Rendering of new bus stop on Columbia Pike (2018 file photo)

The county is hoping to move past the “million-dollar bus stop” by building four less expensive stops along Columbia Pike.

A network of new transit stops along Columbia Pike were originally supposed to serve both buses and streetcars, before the streetcar project was cancelled. The latest turn in the Pike transit saga, the County Board is scheduled to discuss awarding a $1.64 million contract to build four out of 23 planned bus stops along the Pike.

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County Buying House for Expansion of Fort Scott Park

By Ashley Hopko

Published July 15, 2019 at 10:00AM | Updated July 15, 2019 at 10:37AM

Property acquired by the Arlington County Board to expand Fort Scott Park (photo via Google Maps)

(Updated 10:35 a.m.) The Arlington County Board is acquiring a pair of properties in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood to expand Fort Scott Park.

The Board approved the purchase of the properties — including a home at 705 31st Street S. and an adjacent vacant lot — for just over $1.4 million at its Saturday meeting. The county plans to tear down the house, which is being sold by a trustee after its owner recently passed away.

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Arlington County Board Approves Arts Grants

By ARLnow.com

Published July 15, 2019 at 9:00AM

Fifteen local arts organizations and three individual artists will collectively receive just over $200,000 in grants from Arlington County.

The County Board approved the $215,810 in annual arts grants at its meeting on Saturday. The grant recipients were recommended by the Arlington Commission for the Arts, which considered 27 grant applications from 19 nonprofit arts organizations and eight individuals.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 15, 2019 at 6:00AM

Officials Pledge Action on Flooding — “Perhaps sensitive to growing community disenchantment over past performance in addressing heavy-rain incidents, County Board members on July 13 pledged to find ways to improve local-government efforts to address the impact of flooding. ‘We have to up our game,’ acknowledged County Board Chairman Christian Dorsey.” [InsideNova]

Residents Demand Stormwater Fixes — “Alexandra Lettow was near tears as she described the losses her family suffered in Monday’s flooding to neighbors and county officials gathered at a home in Arlington’s Waverly Hills neighborhood… It was at least the seventh time the neighborhood had flooded in 19 years.” [Washington Post]

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County Seeking Easements to Advance Planned Pershing Drive Improvements

By Airey

Published July 12, 2019 at 11:00AM | Updated July 12, 2019 at 2:44PM

Easement the county is seeking at N. Pershing Drive and 5th Street N. (Image via Arlington County)

(Updated at 2:44 p.m.) The county could soon take a step forward in its plan for road improvements along N. Pershing Drive, pending Board approval.

The Arlington County Board will review requests for several easements at an intersection in the Lyon Park neighborhood as part of the county’s N. Pershing Drive Street Improvements Project, which aims to add bike shadows and more safety measures for pedestrians along the road.

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County to Consider Replacing Water Main Near Crystal City

By Airey

Published July 12, 2019 at 9:00AM

Site of planned water main replacement project (Image via Arlington County)

The County is considering a major project to replace water main along 23rd Street S.

The Arlington County Board is set to consider starting a water main replacement project along the street from Fort Scott Drive in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood to S. Eads Street in Aurora Highlands. A staff report to the Board notes that the existing water main is 92 years old and corroding.

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Arlington Scales Up Community Energy Plan Ambitions Despite Feasibility Concerns

By Vernon Miles

Published July 11, 2019 at 3:30PM

Arlington County is working on plans to be “carbon neutral” by 2050.

The new goal comes is part of an ambitious update to the county’s current Community Energy Plan (CEP). It’s the result of community feedback that the earlier plan didn’t go far enough in addressing energy efficiency concerns, according to a staff report on the plan.