Vigil Planned Saturday in Green Valley — Updated at noon — “Delegate Alfonso Lopez, Black Parents of Arlington and Yolande Kwinana will be hosting a vigil at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School Field, to honor those who have died at the hands of police. Speakers will enlighten the community on what they can do to help enact change in our Arlington.” [Facebook]
Ballston Macy’s Redevelopment Proposal Delayed — “The owner of air rights above the [potentially for sale] Macy’s building in Ballston will have additional time to move forward with a planned redevelopment of the space, if County Board members act on its request June 13. Board members are being asked to extend until July 2023 the ability of the owner to come to the county government with a development plan. The current site plan, which sets out development parameters for the parcel, was set to expire in several weeks.” [InsideNova]
Local CrossFit Gym Speaks Out — “Replacing one CEO for another is not real change. We welcome the retirement of CrossFit CEO Greg Glassman as a step in the right direction, but we find it woefully inadequate. The appointment of Dave Castro as new CEO is unmistakably a tone deaf move that is shying away from making any difficult and meaningful change.” [@crossfitsoutharlington/Instagram]
Op-Ed: Parking Proposal Not Fair to Green Valley — “While millions marched for equity and racial justice last week, the Arlington County government posted a board agenda item that turns these actions into mere slogans. A license agreement would have the county government turn a newly acquired $1 million property in the Green Valley community into a parking lot for WETA. This action is but one in a series of events that draw attention to the inequity systemic within the county.” [InsideNova]
Caps Resuming Practices in Ballston — “The Washington Capitals have announced their date for small group activities to resume: Thursday, June 11. The announcement comes a day after MedStar Capitals Iceplex, the team’s practice facility, posted it would begin the state’s Phase 2 reopening plan this weekend. According to the Capitals, MedStar Capitals Iceplex will remain closed to the public.” [Russian Machine Never Breaks, Washington Capitals]
Nearby: Fairfax Co. Expects Office Vacancy Spike — “Fairfax County’s office vacancy rate is likely to suffer as remote meetings continue to be the norm, the county’s economic development chief warned in early June. Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, delivered that warning to the county board of supervisors during a June 2 meeting.” [Washington Business Journal]
Death of WeLive? — “WeWork is exploring ending its push into communal living, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The New York-based office-sharing company is working with an adviser and holding talks about handing over operations of its WeLive location in Crystal City, near Washington D.C.” [Bloomberg]
No Fair This Summer? — “Whether the Arlington County Fair will be held as scheduled in August, and how it might change due to the impacts of COVID-19, remain an open question. ‘We continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and are committed to following the facts and recommendations provided by public-health officials,’ organizers of the fair said.” [InsideNova]
School Decision Expected by July 4 — “Arlington students, parents and teachers should know by the 4th of July what the county school system’s plan is for re-starting classes in the fall. In-person classroom instruction ‘is the goal we want to get to,’ new Superintendent Francisco Durán told School Board members on June 4, but he was not ready to commit to having students back in class when the school year begins Aug. 31.” [InsideNova]
Gyms CrossFit Weigh in on Founder’s Comments — Since the founder of CrossFit posted a controversial tweet, CrossFit gyms across the country — including in Arlington — have been posting statements to distance themselves from him. Greg Glassman has since resigned as the CEO of CrossFit. [Instagram, Instagram]
Local Nordstrom Stores Reopening Tomorrow — “Arlington residents hoping for a little retail therapy will soon have their desires granted, at least as far as one local clothing chain is concerned. The Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores in Pentagon City will reopen for customers on Thursday, according to a company release.” [Patch]
Axios Covering Fees for Protesting Employees — “Arlington County-based digital media company Axios distributed a companywide email stating that it would cover bail or medical bills for employees who have participated in recent protests associated with the police killing of George Floyd, The New York Times first reported Tuesday.” [Virginia Business]
Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman
Potomac CrossFit in Courthouse has shut down, just a few weeks after celebrating its 10th anniversary in Arlington.
The gym’s last day offering classes was last Friday (Oct. 26), according to employees at a chiropractor operating adjacent to the gym. Potomac was located in the base of an office building at 1320 N. Courthouse Road.
Two of Potomac CrossFit’s co-owners and coaches did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what prompted the closure. The space, along with several other suites in the office building, is currently listed for lease.
The gym moved into the Courthouse space in 2013, relocating from Clarendon after its old home was redeveloped. Potomac then merged with Patriot CrossFit, located just near the intersection of N. Glebe Road and Lee Highway, and that gym appears to still be operating.
Potomac celebrated its 10th year in business on Sept. 22, according to its social media posts.
Colin Farrell, the gym’s director of operations and training, penned a farewell to Potomac on the gym’s blog, describing its closure as “one of the harder things I’ve had to grapple with in my adult life.”
“There is nothing I could ever do to thank and repay you all for letting me be a part of your life over these past few years,” Farrell wrote to the gym’s members. “I cannot express how much I have enjoyed the process and how much I will miss each of you… This not just a gym closing, we all know that.”
It’s been closed for the past 15 months, but Potomac CrossFit is reopening this weekend at its new location in Courthouse.
Last year, Potomac CrossFit at 1039 N. Highland Street in Clarendon closed, along with nearby businesses, to make way for a new development that’s currently under construction. Tomorrow, the gym will hold a grand reopening celebration at its new home at 1320 N. Courthouse Road.
With more than 8,000 square feet, the Courthouse location offers more than double the space of the previous site. Employees at the new location also boast of shower facilities, new equipment and a revamped class schedule.
Everyone is welcome to stop by for a free class tomorrow (Saturday) at 10:30 a.m. No CrossFit experience is necessary. Immediately following the class, the grand reopening celebration will kick off at 11:30 a.m. Visitors can check out the facility, meet instructors and enjoy food and drinks.
Flight Makes Emergency Landing at DCA — A US Airways Express flight had to make an emergency landing at Reagan National Airport this morning (Wednesday) due to a cracked windshield. The plane was minutes into its flight from DCA to Raleigh/Durham International Airport when it had to turn around. Nobody was injured. [WJLA]
Plastic Bag Tax Defeated — Sen. Adam Ebbin’s proposal to tax single-use plastic bags in grocery and convenience stores has been defeated in the state Senate. Had the bill passed, it would have imposed a five cent tax on every plastic bag distributed by retail establishments. [Sun Gazette]
Potomac CrossFit to Re-open in Courthouse — After closing last year to make way for a new development in Clarendon, Potomac Crossfit has found a new home. The new 9,000 square foot location will be located at 1320 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 100. It is expected to open in May. [Potomac CrossFit]
Arlington is now home to another exercise facility, with yesterday’s opening of CrossFit Rosslyn (1100 Wilson Blvd).
The training center is connected to Verve Health & Fitness near the Rosslyn metro. Verve Co-owner Michael Lin explained that part of the existing facility was partitioned off to add CrossFit. Lin believes offering both CrossFit style workouts and more traditional exercise options benefits customers.
“I believe the balance is very important to keep a person as healthy and capable as physically possible,” said Lin.
Lin said there are pluses and minuses to setting up shop in an area that already has a number of CrossFit options, such as the new one coming to Ballston or the one that just closed in Clarendon. But he’s not interested in the competition.
“We’re not doing this to dominate the CrossFit business,” Lin said. “We’re doing this to expand the service to our clients and customers. I think it’s a move in a positive direction for everyone.”
Unlike many other CrossFit facilities which can’t provide showers due to space restrictions, customers can purchase a membership to use Verve’s showers. The facility also touts a unique training program for people of all fitness levels that will build relationships as well as bodies.
“People who are just average Joes are really gonna benefit from CrossFit,” said Lin.
Lin likes the idea of the dual purpose facility so much, that if the decision is ever made to add additional Verve locations, they will also be split facilities to include CrossFit. But for now, he’s content to just stick with the Rosslyn location.
“We’re happy to be a part of the community,” Lin said. “Rosslyn is a funny city where most people go home after work, so I think it will help to have more hang out places for people to go after work. Whether it’s for happy hour or places to eat or places to work out together.”
As part of the grand opening, CrossFit Rosslyn will hold an open house next month. On March 3 from 12:00-3:00 p.m., visitors can try free workouts and yoga classes.
