News

The county government is readying for major expansion of Penrose Square, with funding to start flowing in about three years — an effort bringing accolades from several Columbia Pike organizations.

County Manager Mark Schwartz has included $4.27 million in funding for fiscal 2030 in his proposed 10-year capital improvement plan (CIP) set for a final County Board vote in mid-July.


News

Arlington’s proposed 10-year capital improvement plan (CIP) includes no funding for planning or building new library facilities near Columbia Pike, despite the desires of some in the area.

Still, County Manager Mark Schwartz says he and his staff haven’t forgotten residents’ wishes for an expanded or brand new community library.


Events

A summer of free outdoor movies is kicking off in Arlington, with screenings planned at George Mason University and along Columbia Pike.

GMU will get the season rolling with a showing of “National Treasure” this Saturday night, and more movie nights will come to Arlington Mill and Penrose Square next month through the Columbia Pike Partnership.


Events

The annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival returns Saturday, bringing a lineup of soulful tunes, artisan vendors and local bites amid the start of summer.

Preparing for its 29th year, the festival will take place from noon to 8 p.m. at a new location, Penrose Square (2597 Columbia Pike), hosting several regional and nationally recognized music acts.


Events

The annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival will be relocating to a smaller space when it returns next month, eliminating the need for any major road closures.

The popular festival, which will feature a lineup of nationally recognized artists headlined by Kentucky funk and soul group Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, will take place at Penrose Square on June 13, Columbia Pike Partnership Executive Director Andrew Schneider told ARLnow.


Events

A new multicultural celebration is coming to Columbia Pike this weekend.

International cuisines, live performances and kid-friendly activities are all part of the inaugural Columbia Pike Culture Fest, happening from noon to 6 p.m. this Saturday at the Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S. Dinwiddie Street).


News

With property assessments and resulting tax revenue stagnant, changes could be coming to Arlington’s trio of business improvement districts, better known as BIDs.

It remains to be seen what, if anything, might shift. Danette Nguyen, CEO of the Ballston BID, told County Board members that her organization is not currently interested in any changes to the tax-revenue status quo.


Events

Arlington is gearing up to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday with a history festival and, potentially, a bell-ringing, outdoor movies and more.

“It’s a great opportunity” to bring history to the people, said Peter Vaselopulos, president of the Arlington Historical Society.


News

After years of delays, a major redevelopment project on Columbia Pike is returning for County Board consideration later this month — offering a path forward for an abandoned strip mall.

Toll Brothers Inc. is seeking final county authorization to replace the Fillmore Gardens Shopping Center on the 2600 block of Columbia Pike with a 6-story mixed-use property with 271 apartments and about 15,000 square feet of retail space.


Events

A series of free outdoor movie nights on Columbia Pike begins this Friday with “The Wizard of Oz.”

Columbia Pike Movie Nights are coming to two outdoor plazas on Fridays and Saturdays this summer. Hosted by the Columbia Pike Partnership, the series will provide weekly movie screenings at the Arlington Mill Community Center and Penrose Square Apartments until late August.


Events

The annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival is returning in two weeks for an afternoon of festivities for all ages.

The D.C. area’s largest blues festival is coming back for its 28th year on Saturday, June 14, stretching from S. Walter Reed Drive to 9th Street S. on the Pike. As always, it’s free.


News

Newly resurrected redevelopment plans for an abandoned Columbia Pike strip mall have leaders optimistic that an end to a long and embarrassing saga is in sight.

Developer Toll Brothers filed plans last week to rebuild the 2600 block of Columbia Pike as a mixed-use project with 262 housing units and 16,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. It’s the successor to The Elliot, a planned development at the Fillmore Gardens Shopping Center that fell through last year after a ground-floor grocery tenant backed out.


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