Crystal City | ARLnow.com

Published October 2, 2019 at 9:15AM | Updated October 2, 2019 at 10:27AM

Our reporting yesterday about plans to eliminate Route 1 overpasses in Crystal City and replace them with more urban-style, at-grade intersections was greeted with some skepticism.

Though the idea of making Route 1 — also known as Richmond Highway — more of an “urban boulevard” as Amazon moves in may seem appealing at first glance, the prospect of crossing the busy commuter route to get to and from the Crystal City Metro Station, as opposed to just walking underneath as one can currently on 18th Street, elicited some strong opinions.

News

BREAKING: JBG Smith Announces Massive Redevelopment Plan for Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Published October 1, 2019 at 5:20PM

JBG Smith redevelopment plan map (Map via JBG Smith)

Property owner JBG Smith announced late Tuesday afternoon a major new redevelopment push in Crystal City in the wake of Amazon’s arrival.

The developer says it is planning to redevelop “approximately 2.6 million square feet of space across five multifamily buildings and one office building.”

Traffic

Officials Mulling Removal of Route 1 Overpasses in Crystal City

By Airey

Published October 1, 2019 at 9:05AM | Updated October 1, 2019 at 10:15AM

A 2010 Crystal City Sector Plan diagram envisions a more walkable streetscape with trees overhead, instead of a highway (Image via Arlington County)

Officials are considering lowering Route 1 in Crystal City to ground level after Amazon moves in.

Details remain scant, but officials appear to considering a plan to remove several highway overpasses that span over roads from 12th Street S. to 18th Street S. in favor of at-grade intersections with traffic signals. Currently, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is studying the project.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 25, 2019 at 7:30AM | Updated September 25, 2019 at 8:56AM

Arlington, Alexandria to Talk Cooperation — “The Arlington County Board and Alexandria City Council will consider ways they can cooperate to manage the growth expected from Amazon’s HQ2, Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus and George Mason’s School of Computing during a joint work session on Tuesday, Oct. 1.” [Arlington County, Washington Post]

Some, But Not All, Washington-Lee Signs to Be Replaced — “The Generals records sign will retain that name because the students made those accomplishments while it was still Washington-Lee. Facilities is currently working on replacing signs throughout the building. The score board is in that [queue] to be replaced.” [Twitter]

News

Community: Amazon Headquarters Needs Protected Bike Lane, More Buses

By Airey

Published September 24, 2019 at 3:45PM | Updated September 25, 2019 at 9:49AM

Rendering of the street view around Amazon's Met Park development with a protected bike lane, two-lane street, and a sidewalk (Image via Arlington County)

Plans for Amazon’s new headquarters in Pentagon City are taking shape, but community leaders want the company to look beyond cars.

Several dozen residents and community group representatives urged the company to take a stronger stance on pedestrians and public transit during a site plan review at the Aurora Hills Community Center (735 18th Street S.) Tuesday night.

News

Crystal City BID Expands, Seeks to Rename Itself “National Landing”

By Airey

Published September 23, 2019 at 3:50PM | Updated September 24, 2019 at 12:23AM

Map of newly redrawn Crystal City BID boundaries (Image via Arlington County)

(Updated at 12 a.m.) The Crystal City Business Improvement District is set to absorb parts of Potomac Yard and Pentagon City, and could be eying a name change.

The Arlington County Board approved a 76% increase to the land included within the BID’s boundaries during its meeting this past Saturday, September 21, after the BID gained the required support from commercial property owners.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 20, 2019 at 7:30AM | Updated September 20, 2019 at 8:34AM

(Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Bezos Talks HQ2 — “[Amazon CEO Jeff] Bezos was pressed on why Amazon would seek to build its headquarters in a dense area like Arlington, given the potential disruptive impacts of the company’s army of new workers moving into the area. But he reiterated that he’s ‘glad it’s not in the suburbs,’ arguing that the new HQ’s location demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to environmental sustainability.” [Washington Business Journal]

No Plan to Change Lee Highway Name — “Speculation that the currently active Lee Highway Alliance has a name change as part of its planning for re-imagining that major road is unfounded, according to its vice president, Sandra Chesrown.” [Falls Church News-Press]

News

UPDATE: Line Stretches for Blocks at Amazon Job Fair in Crystal City

By Airey

Published September 17, 2019 at 3:45PM | Updated September 17, 2019 at 5:27PM

Job seekers line up at Amazon career day in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 5:25 p.m) Amazon drew an overflow crowd to its Crystal City career fair this morning as people vied for the 30,000 jobs Amazon recently announced it’s hiring nationwide, including at its new HQ2 in Arlington.

At last minute, the company tacked on extra hours to the event, which was one of six job fairs Amazon held as it looks to fill 30,000 jobs nationally — including 1,600 jobs in Virginia and 400 in Arlington. The fair was held at The Grounds at S. Eads Street and 12th Street S. today (Tuesday), leading applicants toting resumes to line up along 12th Street almost to the Route 1 overpass.

Around Town

Rasa, a Fast Casual Indian Restaurant, Is Expanding to Crystal City

By Kalina Newman

Published September 16, 2019 at 4:40PM

RASA co-founders Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman (courtesy photo)

Rasa, a fast-casual Indian restaurant based in D.C., is coming to Arlington with a new location in Crystal City.

“Rasa National Landing,” is expected to open at 2200 Crystal Drive this coming spring, near the existing Sweetgreen and Chick-fil-A restaurants. The row of restaurants is popular with the lunchtime office crowd, which these days includes employees of Amazon’s growing HQ2.

News

Docks for Electric Scooters Come to Crystal City, With More On the Way

By Vernon Miles

Published September 16, 2019 at 10:00AM | Updated September 16, 2019 at 12:02PM

(Updated at noon) New scooter docks have been added to Crystal City in an effort to curb intrusive sidewalk scooter parking.

Four new docks from the electric scooter company Spin were placed throughout Crystal City last week after their debut in D.C., with five more expected to be added sometime in the next week.

News

EXCLUSIVE: You May Be Able to Take Your Drink to Go Near HQ2

By Airey

Published September 11, 2019 at 3:35PM | Updated September 12, 2019 at 9:38AM

Rendering of retail building at 18th Street S. and Crystal Drive in JBG Smith's plans for a Crystal Center (Image via Arlington County)

Developer JBG Smith may be planning to let people sip alcohol as they browse shops and sit outdoors in shopping areas near Amazon’s future headquarters in Pentagon City and Crystal City.

State records with the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Authority Control Authority indicate that the developer applied for a “Commercial Lifestyle Center” license this week. The special license is part of a 2018 law allowing shoppers to bring alcoholic beverages into shops or outdoor plazas to encourage consumers to stay longer and attend outdoor events.

Events

Amazon Holding ‘Career Day’ in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Published September 9, 2019 at 10:00AM

Arlington is one of six locations where Amazon is holding an “Amazon Career Day” next week.

The tech and retail giant is seeking to fill some 30,000 open positions — including around 75 at Amazon’s growing second headquarters in Arlington.