Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. Started by a Pentagon City resident who has spent the past several years working in local TV news, ARLnow.com seeks to distinguish itself with original, enterprising, up-to-the-minute local coverage.
Old Dominion Drive is closed after a crash involving an overturned vehicle.
The two-vehicle crash was reported around 4 p.m. at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and 23rd Street N., a few blocks south of Marymount University.
The circumstances leading to the crash are unclear, but it left a Honda SUV flipped on its roof. No serious injuries were reported.
The road remains closed during the evening rush hour due to the cleanup effort.
Covid cases in Arlington as of 6/13/22 (via Virginia Dept. of Health)
The stock market drop aside, some other falling figures in Arlington today are actually good news.
The average rate of new Covid cases and hospitalizations are on a downward trajectory, as is the county’s test positivity rate.
The seven-day moving average case rate has fallen 30% from its 200 cases per day seasonal peak on May 25, reaching 140 daily cases today, according to Virginia Dept. of Health data.
Arlington’s test positivity rate has been slower to fall, but is now 14.4%, down from a seasonal peak of 16.2% one week prior, according to VDH.
Hospitalizations, meanwhile, are also dropping. According to CDC data, Arlington is currently seeing 5.5 weekly hospital admissions for Covid per 100,000 residents, down from 7.7 two weeks ago. The county remains in the CDC’s “medium” Covid level due to a weekly case rate per 100,000 residents that’s still more than double the agency’s threshold for what would be considered “low.”
Arlington’s Covid test positivity rate on 6/13/22 (via Virginia Dept. of Health)
A man tried to lure a girl into his vehicle at a gas station along Langston Blvd this past Thursday, police say.
The incident happened around 6:30 p.m. on the 5600 block of Langston Blvd, about two blocks west of the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center.
The man fled after the girl started yelling for help. Police are now looking for the suspect, as well as another man who was driving the car in which he fled. Both are said to be in their 20s.
From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:
At approximately 6:36 p.m. on June 9, police were dispatched to the late report of an enticement. Officers made contact with the reporting party who stated at approximately 6:00 p.m. the female juvenile victim was seated in the backseat of a vehicle parked at a gas pump when the unknown male suspect, who was seated in the passenger seat of a blue sedan, attempted to engage her in conversation and repeatedly asked her to get inside of his vehicle. The victim yelled, alerting their guardian and the suspect fled the scene in the vehicle which was driven by another male. During the incident, the suspect did not make physical contact with the victim and no injuries were reported.
Around Rosslyn before the storms (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Yorktown High Jumper Sets Record — “Led by two individual champions, the Yorktown Patriots finished third in the recent Virginia High School League’s Class 6 girls outdoor state track and field championships… The Patriots’ individual-event winners were Viktorie Klepetkova in the high jump for the second year in a row, but this time with a school and meet-record leap of 5-feet, 11-inches, and Anna Corcoran in the 800-meters.” [Sun Gazette]
Arlington on CBS Evening News — “The ‘walking school bus’ is helping both kids and senior citizens start the day off right. Once a week, seniors walk with students to school in Arlington, Virginia. Jan Crawford shares more.” [CBS News]
Born on Bridge, Straddled Still — “You’ve known folks born in Arlington, and you’ve known some born in D.C. But have you known anyone born in between? That is to say, born on Key Bridge? Paul Mclain, 65, recently retired as an academic assistant in the Duke University Slavic and Eurasian Studies Department, can claim such citizenship limbo. And it has caused him hassles as an adult.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Barrelling Through the I-395 Barrels — From Dave Statter: “Watch: Bad day for the barrels. At 9:40 this morning one driver decided to blaze their own trail right through them.” [Twitter]
It’s Monday — Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. Storms possible later in the afternoon and overnight. High of 86 and low of 71. Sunrise at 5:44 am and sunset at 8:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
“We need more roundabouts in Arlington. Where else can we get new green space around here?”
Now that Mike Mount is Arlington famous we’re going to highlight another of his local cartoons a bit earlier in the month than usual.
This past weekend Mike took on the hot button topic (on Nextdoor in North Arlington, at least) of roundabouts. If you think of them as circular neighborhood parks, maybe (for the critics) roundabouts are not so bad after all?
Catch all of Mike’s ‘toons in the ARLnow Press Club weekend newsletter.
Police on scene at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in June 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Police on scene at Thomas Jefferson Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Robbery at 7-Eleven store on S. Glebe Road (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Robbery at 7-Eleven store on S. Glebe Road (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
(Updated on 6/13/22) A robbery at a convenience store may have led to a panic about an active shooter at a nearby Arlington middle school.
It started at the 7-Eleven at 201 S. Glebe Road. Police were dispatched there shortly before 12:30 p.m. for a report of a man with a weapon robbing the store. They were initially told that someone was injured inside.
“At approximately 12:21, police were dispatched to the report of an assault with injury inside a business in the 200 block of S. Glebe Road,” said Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “Preliminary investigation indicates the suspect entered the business, produced a hammer, smashed a display case, stole merchandise and attempted to assault an employee. The suspect resisted arrest but was successful taken into custody by officers. Charges are pending.”
In the end, no one was found to be injured. The suspect was initially held at gunpoint by arriving officers, then arrested, according to scanner traffic.
As officers were rushing to the scene, ACPD asked that nearby Thomas Jefferson Middle School be placed on “secure the school mode” — in other words, locked from the outside. Given the recent mass shooting at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school, the somewhat routine security precaution may have panicked some students and parents.
Around 1 p.m. police were dispatched to the school for a report of a man armed with a gun who was trying to get inside, apparently in an effort to stop a potential active shooter. By the time officers arrived, the man had left the school campus, but a glass door at the entrance was damaged.
(On June 13, a local man was charged with Destruction of Public Property after allegedly trying to break into the school, concerned that an act of violence was underway inside.)
Damaged door at TJ Middle School entrance (photo courtesy anonymous)
Savage said the initial indication is that “the report of an individual with the gun was someone picking up a student at the school.” No other details were immediately available.
“Police remain on scene investigating the circumstances of what occurred,” Savage said. She noted that there was “no threat to TJ Middle related to [the robbery].”
But parents, students and teachers were allegedly left in the dark as to why the school was secured.
“My daughter texted us and said they hadn’t been told why they were in lockdown,” a parent told ARLnow. “We did not hear from the school. Apparently teachers weren’t told why either.”
“There were a lot of scared students,” the parent added.
The end of the week is here along with another list of open houses across Arlington!
Currently, there are 509 homes for sale, according to Homesnap. In the last 4 weeks there have been 161 new listings and 298 sales. The median sales price is $675,000 with a median list price of $650,000 and there have been 169 price changes.
Here’s a look at some of the open houses taking place in Arlington this weekend:
1801 N. Bryan Street
5 BR/5.5 BA Single-family home Noteworthy: Basement gym, lower level ADU, fenced backyard Listed: $2,699,000 Open: Sunday, 2-4 p.m. (Ruth Boyer O’Dea – TTR Sotheby’s International Realty)
6011 4th Street N.
5 BR/5.5 BA Single-family home Noteworthy: Marble countertops, breakfast nook, tree-top deck Listed: $1,800,000 Open: Saturday, 1-3 p.m. (Ann Wilson – KW Metro Center)
2719 N. George Mason Drive
3 BR/2.5 BA Single-family home Noteworthy: Two-story rear addition, private deck, finished rec room Listed: $1,120,000 Open: Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Diane Schline – Century 21 Redwood Realty)
6226 27th Street N.
4 BR/2.5 BA Single-family home Noteworthy: Updated kitchen, lower level wet bar, fenced backyard Listed: $965,000 Open: Sunday, 1-4 p.m. (Lisa Koch – Weichert Realtors)
Construction site in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Expanding Board Would Require State Action — “The Civic Federation’s TiGER (Task Force in Governance and Election Reform] body has recommended a number of changes to Arlington’s governance structure, including changing the election cycle. But the most basic tenet – increasing from five to seven the number of County Board members – could determine whether the Republican governor and House of Delegates want to play nice.” [Sun Gazette]
Serious Crash on I-395 — From Dave Statter: “Serious crash with one ejected on I-395S at Arlington Ridge Road. Fire, EMS & police appeared to be looking to make sure no else was thrown from the vehicle.” [Twitter]
Narcan Now Available at Arlington Libraries — “Starting this month, NARCAN nasal spray has been added to opioid overdose emergency boxes in all seven Arlington Public Library branches as part of the Arlington Addiction Recovery Initiative. The boxes are in public access points near the Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at most branches; at Aurora Hills and Glencarlyn, the boxes are in prominent places where employees can easily access them.” [Arlington County]
Cobbler Hoofing It Out of Town — “Sad to report that Best Foot Forward will move out of @PentagonRow at the end of June. Lease expires. They are relocating to Bradlee Shopping Center in Alexandria, about 5 miles from PRow. Good quality work + family-owned/operated.” [Twitter]
Doorways Partners with Doorbell Company — “A new initiative to provide enhanced safety tools to survivors of violence has been announced by Doorways. In partnership with Ring, Doorways – a social-safety-net agency in Arlington and Falls Church – will be distributing up to 1,000 video doorbells and security cameras to clients, along with a free subscription plan for the life of each device. In addition, Ring will also provide a monetary contribution to help amplify Doorways’ impact for survivors across the local areas.” [Sun Gazette]
Spotted in Venice — “The Gondola Now shirt has gone international.” [Twitter]
It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 79 and low of 61. Sunrise at 5:44 am and sunset at 8:35 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fourth of July fireworks, as seen from the Air Force Memorial (Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman)
One of the main fireworks viewing spots in Arlington will be closed on the Fourth of July this year.
The Air Force Memorial will be closed on July 4, then will reopen on July 5, due to “safety and security” concerns caused by the ongoing Arlington National Cemetery expansion project.
“While we recognize it has become an annual tradition for many visitors and local community members to view the fireworks and commemorate this patriotic day from the Air Force Memorial, this is an active construction site, which poses a significant safety and security risk,” said Karen Durham-Aguilera, Army National Military Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery Executive Director.
Construction along S. Joyce Street and Columbia Pike near the U.S. Air Force Memorial in April (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Those who usually go to the memorial may consider other Arlington fireworks viewing spots like Long Bridge Park, Rosslyn’s Gateway Park, the Marine Corps War Memorial or Gravelly Point.
The cemetery expansion project will add 38 acres of hallowed ground near the memorial, extending the life of the cemetery with 80,000 additional “burial opportunities.” The project will realign part of Columbia Pike, which is expected to be closed and rerouted early next year.
The full press release about the memorial closure is below.
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC), in collaboration with the Air Force District of Washington (AFDW), announced today they will close public access to the Southern Expansion portion of Arlington National Cemetery, which includes access to the Air Force Memorial, on July 4. The memorial will reopen to the public on July 5.
“While we recognize it has become an annual tradition for many visitors and local community members to view the fireworks and commemorate this patriotic day from the Air Force Memorial, this is an active construction site, which poses a significant safety and security risk. Our priority is to keep our visitors safe and allow them the time needed to make alternative plans this holiday,” said Karen Durham-Aguilera, Army National Military Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery Executive Director.
In past years, the grassy slopes around the land acquired by the cemetery from Arlington County and the Air Force Memorial have been a public gathering area for a few thousand people to view the 4th of July fireworks displays here in the National Capital Region.
“For years, the Air Force Memorial has offered an incredible backdrop to celebrate our Nation’s independence,” said Maj. Gen. Joel Jackson, Air Force District of Washington commander. “However, ongoing construction near the site in support of the Arlington National Cemetery’s Southern Expansion Project prevents us from safely hosting people during this year’s celebration.”
ANC and AFDW have been in close coordination with multiple agencies to include Arlington County Police, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBM-HH) Department of Emergency Services and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to conduct a thorough safety and security assessment before making the decision to close this area to the public.
ANC’s Southern Expansion Project is the cemetery’s largest expansion to date and will add 38 acres and more than 80,000 burial opportunities. This project is designed to expand the life of the cemetery and allow the nation to honor our future generations for their sacrifices.
The young black bear’s presence prompted a warning from local officials, who urged residents to keep their distance should they see it. Public curiosity about the ursine vagabond is keeping those officials tight-lipped over where the bear has been spotted since, however.
“I believe there were a few more sightings over the last few days,” said Chelsea Jones, a spokeswoman for the Arlington Welfare League of Arlington. “At this time we are not releasing sighting locations for the safety of the public and the bear. Unfortunately in past bear sightings we have had issues with members of the public going out to look for the bear based on sighting location info, which can be extremely dangerous for everyone.”
“We are continuing to monitor his movements in conjunction with DWR and the Virginia State Biologist, and recommend that residents keep following the recommendations we posted about a few days ago,” Jones added. “Hopefully he will be on his way out of the county soon!”
Previously, AWLA said that the bear was walking around “likely… in his search for a new home habitat.”
Residents who see the bear are asked to “call AWLA immediately” at 703-931-9241 and advised to keep a safe distance or get inside. The organization posted the following on social media after the initial sightings.
On June 5th, 2022, a young black bear was spotted by a member of the public in Arlington County. Our Animal Control Officers confirmed the sighting and immediately contacted the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and Virginia State biologist. The bear seems healthy and is likely a male yearling moving through Arlington Co in his search for a new home habitat. We are continuing to update these agencies as the location of the bear changes.
While bear sightings are rare in Arlington County, they are not unheard of. Unfortunately in past bear sightings, we have had issues with members of the public going out in search of the bear to take their own photos or see it for themselves. This is VERY dangerous, and can cause harm to you, others, and the bear. Instead, we ask that residents call AWLA immediately at (703) 931-9241 if they spot the bear, and keep to a safe distance or indoors.
We also urge residents follow these recommendations from DWR:
Secure garbage: Keep in a locked shed or inside until collected or use a bear resistant container.
Secure any compost piles
Take down bird feeders.
Secure pet food in bear-resistant containers or inside locked sheds.
Clean up porches/decks: Clean grills including drip pans, remove any potential food sources, and remember a screened in porch is not a “secure” storage area from a bear’s point of view.
Never leave food, trash, or pet food inside your vehicle.
Keep dogs on a leash at all times
Thank you for helping us keep people and wildlife safe in Arlington!
About two years ago a black bear was seen walking around near Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington. There were no reports of additional sightings.
Slide from Missing Middle Housing Study draft framework (via Arlington County)
(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) The draft plan to allow more small-scale multifamily housing in Arlington has picked up another influential enforcement.
The county’s Missing Middle Housing Study draft framework recommends allowing everything from townhouses to an eight-unit apartment or condo buildings on land currently zoned exclusively for single-family detached homes. The lot size would determine the maximum number of units and the structure would be no bigger than what’s currently allowed by-right as a single-family home.
Following an endorsement by the Arlington branch of the NAACP two weeks ago, the framework — which is still under discussion and would require County Board action later this year to go into effect — has now picked up the support of the Potomac River Group chapter of the environmental organization.
In a letter to the County Board, the group says building more housing closer to jobs helps prevent sprawl and pollution from longer commutes.
The Sierra Club supports the Missing Middle Housing Study Phase 2 Draft Framework and urges its adoption by the County Board. This letter outlines the rationale for our support.
Adding missing middle housing to existing low-density development is an antidote to suburban sprawl. It results in far more compact and energy efficient housing located closer to jobs, transit, goods and services. It results in sharply reduced greenhouse gas emissions from both buildings and transportation when compared to housing developed in the outer suburbs, or to the enormous single-family homes typically erected in place of smaller homes in Arlington.
The environmental destruction caused by suburban sprawl also is well-documented. Entire ecosystems are bulldozed to create homes far from jobs. The environmental destruction caused by adding missing middle housing, in contrast, is minimal, as each multi-unit building will be no larger than the size already allowed for a single-family home.
Not every Sierra Club member is on board, however. Long-time civic activist Suzanne Smith Sundburg wrote an email to the group in response to the “missing middle” endorsement calling its leaders “shameless, green-washing political hacks.”
“That is the kindest description I can offer,” she wrote. “[The] group has now endorsed an upzoning plan in Arlington County that will reduce the tree canopy replacement requirement by half.”
“The Sierra Club’s endorsement of paving over the last bit of Arlington that isn’t already paved — with an 8-fold increase in housing density and the loss of half of our remaining tree canopy — has left many Arlingtonians speechless,” Sundburg added.
Her remarks were echoed by other “local environmentalists” she quoted and identified only by first name, as well as by several local residents on the Nextdoor social network, where debates over missing middle housing have been raging since ARLnow first reported on the framework.
Slide from Missing Middle Housing Study draft framework showing areas that would be opened to additional housing types (via Arlington County)
The Sierra Club, however, pushed back on the critics and refuted their assertions of significant tree canopy loss as “unsubstantiated.”
