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Morning Notes

Published October 21, 2020 at 7:30AM

Return of First Students Delayed — “As we have shared, we were aiming for an October 29 start for Level 1, which includes approximately 225 students with disabilities who need in-person support to access distance learning. We are now moving the start date back to Wednesday, November 4, to ensure all operational metrics are met and staff are well equipped and ready to support our students at each school.” [Arlington Public Schools]

County Crushes Census Count — “You did it, Arlington County: With the Census Count completing on October 15th, 99.98% of Arlington was officially counted. Thank you to our Complete Count Committee for your tireless, infectious enthusiasm for ensuring that everyone counts!” [@kcristol/Twitter, YouTube]

News

Hotel Near Rosslyn Has Closed, Ahead of Apartment Conversion

By ARLnow.com

Published October 7, 2020 at 10:30AM

Men load furniture into a truck at The Virginian Suites in Rosslyn (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The Virginian Suites hotel at 1500 Arlington Blvd, near Rosslyn, has closed.

Earlier this week workers could be seen hauling furniture out of the building, which is located on the southern side of Route 50, a couple of blocks from the Iwo Jima memorial. A sign on the door said the building is under new management.

News

Nearly 200 Years Later, Henry Clay Faces Another Duel Over Arlington Park Name

By Vernon Miles

Published August 19, 2020 at 3:55PM

Final design concept for Henry Clay Park, now Zitkala-Ša Park (Image via Arlington County)

As renovations are underway for Henry Clay Park, some local residents are hoping for one more additional change: getting rid of the name honoring slave-owning former Secretary of State Henry Clay.

Clay, who represented Kentucky in Congress before and after serving as Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams, fought a duel in Arlington: at Pimmit Run in 1826. Neither participant was wounded and no Broadway musicals were written in Clay’s honor. Though he owned slaves and had a negative view on a multiracial society, Clay was opposed to slavery and freed those he enslaved upon his death.

Around Town

Extensive Renovations (Mostly) Completed for Lee Highway Safeway

By Vernon Miles

Published July 31, 2020 at 10:45AM

Safeway on N. Harrison Street (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

It may not look very different from the outside, but the Safeway along Lee Highway at 2500 N. Harrison Street has been going through some big changes on the inside.

The grocery store chain has been giving some much-needed love to some stores in the region, which had previously earned nicknames like “Soviet Safeway” and “Un-Safeway.”

News

Potential Designs for Park Next to HQ2 Revealed

By ARLnow.com

Published May 6, 2020 at 3:55PM | Updated May 6, 2020 at 9:57PM

Potential Amazon banana stand in Metropolitan Park (via Arlington County)

(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) The well-known design firm working to reimagine Metropolitan Park in Pentagon City has revealed some of its initial design concepts.

James Corner Field Operations, the firm behind New York City’s High Line, presented the designs in a virtual public meeting last week, alongside representatives from Amazon — which is footing the bill for the design work and park renovations — and Arlington’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2020 at 7:30AM | Updated February 24, 2020 at 8:52AM

Dorsey Steps Down from Transportation Board — “The Arlington County Board forced member Christian Dorsey to step down from a second transit board Saturday over a campaign donation from Metro’s largest union, and he apologized for misleading statements he made last month suggesting that he had already returned the money. Dorsey (D), who was reelected to the board in November, said he has sent back the $10,000 donation to the Amalgamated Transit Union and agreed to resign from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.” [Washington Post]

Thousands Attend Buttigieg Rally — Nearly 10,000 people attended Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s campaign rally at Washington-Liberty High School yesterday afternoon. [Twitter, Twitter, The Pete Channel]

News

Improvements Planned for Edison Park in Arlington Forest

By Vernon Miles

Published February 18, 2020 at 4:45PM

Edison Park planned improvements (via Arlington County)

Good news if you take your kids to play at Edison Park (213 N. Edison Street) in the Arlington Forest neighborhood: Arlington County is planning to put $822,166 of renovations into the park.

On Saturday, Feb. 22, the County Board is scheduled to vote on funding the project. The total proposed allocation is $904,383, with $82,216 set aside as a contingency.

Around Town

UPDATED: Alto Fumo in Clarendon Has Closed

By Vernon Miles

Published January 15, 2020 at 1:30PM | Updated January 26, 2020 at 10:14PM

Update on 1/25/20 — Alto Fumo closed for good, the restaurant said on its Twitter account and in signs in the window.

Earlier: You have until 10 p.m. today to get your pizza and pasta at Alto Fumo (2909 Wilson Blvd) in Clarendon, then the restaurant goes dark for two months.

Feature

Rethink Energy: Free Green Renovation & Home Building Resource

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published January 11, 2020 at 12:00PM

This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment.

Arlington’s real estate market is very tight. Ask Eli‘s posts shed light on this with his analytical insights. Because of this short supply of housing, more and more Arlingtonians are staying in their homes and renovating or expanding them to accommodate growing families.

Around Town

Turf Coming to Upper Fields At Thomas Jefferson Middle School

By Kalina Newman

Published December 11, 2019 at 9:15AM | Updated December 11, 2019 at 10:18AM

Plans for the Thomas Jefferson Upper Field (photo via Arlington County)

(Updated at 10:20 a.m.) Arlington is kicking off a renovation project for the upper fields at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Officials have begun the design phase for the “TJ Upper Field Turf Conversion,” which will transform the sports field — which is also the side of the annual Arlington County Fair — from existing natural grass to synthetic turf.

Around Town

County to Renovate Gunston Bubble Next Year

By Kalina Newman

Published December 4, 2019 at 10:00AM | Updated December 4, 2019 at 10:36AM

The Gunston Bubble (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 10:35 a.m.) Arlington County has kicked off the renovation project for Gunston Park‘s “bubble.”

Officials have started the design phase of the Gunston Bubble Renovation Project, with the goal of eventually having a more “energy efficient and reliable” facility. The project is expected to start construction in the second quarter of 2020 and be completed by the third quarter, in time for next winter season.

News

County Could Revise Home Improvement Contractor Regulation in the Future

By Airey

Published November 21, 2019 at 1:30PM

Arlington was almost poised to get rid of a “redundant” regulation for contractors this past weekend.

The Arlington County Board was slated to consider revising a chapter of county code related to home improvement regulations during its meeting this past Saturday, November 16. Specifically, members were scheduled to vote on nixing a requirement for home improvement contractors to match county regulations with state regulations.