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New Condo Development Coming to Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published October 23, 2015 at 11:30AM

Rendering of new 1411 Key Blvd development

Sign on the door of the Metro Rosslyn Apartments

A new residential redevelopment is coming to Rosslyn, but it’s not without a measure of controversy.

Reston-based developer NVR, Inc., the parent company of homebuilder Ryan Homes, is proposing a townhouse and condominium development at 1411 Key Blvd. The proposal was heard by Arlington’s Site Plan Review Committee last night, and is expected to be heard by the Planning Commission next month.

NVR is proposing a total of 63 dwelling units in a six-story, 66-foot-tall building with 64 parking spaces. The developer is asking Arlington County for a change from “Low-Medium” to “Medium” residential zoning in the General Land Use plan in order to accomplish that. In return, NVR is promising LEED Silver sustainability certification and on-site affordable housing.

Located 2-3 blocks away from the Rosslyn Metro station, the new development would replace an aging but affordable building: the Metro Rosslyn Apartments.

Residents of the building were notified via a letter dated Oct. 1 that the building is being sold and they must vacate by Jan. 31, 2016. However, a sign placed on the door of the building says that the notice, which called the forced move an “inconvenience” and did not offer moving assistance, is being reviewed by Arlington’s Tenant Landlord Commission.

“All tenants are entitled to relocation assistance: monetary compensation and assistance in finding a new apartment,” the sign says. “The 120-day notice may be rescinded (recalled) by law.”

A second, smaller apartment building is also slated to be demolished to make room for the new development.

Photo: Car-B-Q This Morning in Barcroft

By ARLnow.com

Published October 23, 2015 at 10:45AM

No one was injured after a car burst into flames in the Barcroft neighborhood this morning.

The incident happened around 8 a.m., at the intersection of S. Buchanan Street and 9th Street S.

Police say they responded to a report of a smoldering car at the intersection. The smoldering quickly turned into flames, as captured in a photo taken by a police officer.

Arlington firefighters responded to extinguish the blaze. A county fire marshal also responded, to investigate the cause of the fire.

Photo courtesy ACPD

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 23, 2015 at 9:00AM | Updated October 23, 2015 at 10:16AM

School Bus Cameras Stop Issuing Tickets — The stop arm cameras on Arlington public school buses are no longer sending citations to those who drive by the buses while the stop signs are activated. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring determined that Arlington does not have the legal authority from the General Assembly to issue summonses from school bus cameras by mail. [Washington Post]

Laundry Room Fire at The Shelton — Yesterday around 6 p.m. a dryer in a laundry room at The Shelton apartment building (3125 24th Street S.) in Nauck caught fire. The fire was reportedly controlled by a sprinkler system, but not before filling the third floor of the building with heavy smoke and prompting an evacuation. [Twitter]

Last Weekend for Hudson Trail Outfitters — The local adventure retailer Hudson Trail Outfitters says this will be their last weekend in business. The company, which has a store on Pentagon Row, is offering 50-80 percent off remaining items. [Hudson Trail Outfitters]

Rep. Beyer Wins Spelling Bee — Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) won the National Press Club’s annual Politicians vs. Press spelling bee Wednesday night. Beyer won by correctly spelling “apostasy” in round 23. The win keeps the spelling bee title in Virginia, after Sen. Tim Kaine won last year. [Politico]

‘Most Interesting Man in Arlington’ Contest — Don Tito in Clarendon will be hosting its first ever “Most Interesting Man in Arlington” contest Saturday night. Hosted by Mel, of 107.3’s morning show, the contest will judge based on looks and a series of challenges. [Clarendon Nights]

Discover Cherrydale This Weekend — The Cherrydale Business Alliance will hold its second annual “Discover Cherrydale” festival on Sunday afternoon. The event will feature vendor booths, a beer garden, food trucks and various family-friendly activities. [ARLnow Events]

Red Top Given Green Light for Stickers — An Arlington County Board-ordered review of new stickers on the back window of Red Top taxicabs has found no safety hazard. Lou Gatti, a long-time cab driver who is now an industry critic and who was the one who raised concerns, was disappointed by the findings. “There are no checks and balances in this industry, except for me,” Gatti is quoted as saying. “I can’t understand why no one seems to care about the facts and the laws, except me.” [InsideNova]

Blue Line Issues This Morning — A faulty switch near the Pentagon prompted Metro to route Blue Line trains over the Yellow Line bridge for a significant portion of this morning’s rush hour. [Twitter]

Crime Report: Employees Pepper Sprayed at Pentagon City Mall

By ARLnow.com

Published October 22, 2015 at 4:05PM | Updated February 27, 2020 at 4:12PM

Two employees of a store at the Pentagon City mall were pepper sprayed while trying to prevent a robbery Tuesday morning.

Police say four women tried to steal items from a store, then sprayed pepper spray at the employees as the fled.

From this week’s Arlington County crime report:

ROBBERY, 151020023, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 10:01 a.m. on October 20, four unknown subjects entered a retail store and attempted to steal several items. As they were fleeing, one of the subjects sprayed two employees with pepper spray. The first suspect is described as a black female in her twenties, with an average height. She was wearing a tan hat, black jacket, maroon pants, and brown UGG boots. The second suspect is described as a black female in her twenties, with an average height. She was wearing shiny black leggings and a multi-colored jacket. The third suspect is described as a black female in her twenties, with an average height. She was wearing a knit cap, a hooded jacket, jeans, and black boots. The fourth suspect is described as a black female in her twenties, with an average height. She was wearing a black hat, jeans, and black boots.

The rest of the crime report, after the jump.

ROBBERY, 151021003, 4400 block of S. 31st Street. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on October 21, a 48 year-old male cab driver was assaulted and robbed by an unknown male subject. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his twenties with a thin build. He was wearing a grey hoodie and dark jeans at the time of the incident.

ROBBERY, 151014058, 4300 block of N. 2nd Street. At approximately 10:40 p.m. on October 14, an unknown male subject robbed a 50 year-old male victim of his wallet. The suspect is described as a black male in his twenties, approximately 5’7″-5’9″ tall and was wearing a grey sweatshirt at the time of the incident.

ROBBERY, 151019027, 700 block of N. Glebe Road. At approximately 3:00 p.m. on October 19, a loss prevention officer was assaulted while trying to stop two subjects from shoplifting. Yesenia Yvette Echegoyen, 19, of Falls Church, Va, was arrested and charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit larceny. Kelly Michelle Fuentes, 19, of Alexandria, Va, was arrested and charged with grand larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, and providing false identification.

ROBBERY, 151019020, 1700 block of S. Clark Street. At approximately 1:20 p.m. on October 19, an unknown male subject robbed a 28 year-old female victim of her phone. The suspect is described as a black male in his early twenties, approximately 5’8″ tall and weighed 160-180 lbs. He was wearing a green jacket and black pants at the time of the incident.

LARCENY FROM AUTO (series), 151016022, 2000 block of S. Eads Street. Between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on October 15, an unknown subject(s) entered several vehicles in a one block

BURGLARY, 151020027, 100 block of N. Thomas Street. An unknown subject(s) forced entry into a community center and stole a computer monitor. There is no suspect(s) description.

STOLEN VEHICLES
10/13/15, VA WZC2026, 2009 Acura TL, Black
3000 block of S. Abingdon Street
10/15/15, VA WTC3422, 2014 Kia Optima, Black
3600 block of S. Glebe Road
10/15/15, VA VFX7309, 2001 Ford, Green
300 block of N. Piedmont Street
10/19/15, VA WTS9485, 1998 Jeep Cherokee, White
1100 block of S. Eads Street

10/14/15
GRAND LARCENY, 151014021, 700 block of N. Glebe Road
GRAND LARCENY, 151014022, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151014024, 600 block of N. Glebe Road
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151014028, 900 block of N. Stuart Street
LARCENY, 151014030, 100 block of S. Old Glebe Road
VANDALISM, 151014031, 3700 block of N. Delaware Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151014042, 600 block of N. Glebe Road
GRAND LARCENY, 151014043, 2300 block of S. Glebe Road
LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151014048, 3800 block of S. 7th Street
GRAND LARCENY, 151014049, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street
PETIT LARCENY, 151014053, 2900 block of S. Quincy Street

10/15/15
ASSAULT, 151015005, 3300 block of N. Wilson Boulevard
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151015010, 4900 block of S. Columbia Pike
ASSAULT, 151015014, 5800 block of N. Washington Boulevard
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151015020, 500 block of S. Army Navy Drive
GRAND LARCENY, 151015034, 700 block of N. Glebe Road
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151015048, 1200 block of N. Queen Street

10/16/15
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151016001, 500 block of S. Walter Reed Drive
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151016007, 1200 block of S. Courthouse Road
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151016002, 5200 block of S. 8th Road
LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151016012, 1300 block of S. Nash Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016013, 2300 block of S. Nash Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016014, 2300 block of S. Nash Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016015, 1300 block of S. Army Navy Drive
LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151016016, 1300 block of S. Army Navy Drive
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016018, 1200 block of S. Army Navy Drive
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016019, 1200 block of S. Army Navy Drive
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016020, 1300 block of S. Army Navy Drive
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016021, 1300 block of S. Army Navy Drive
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016023, 2300 block of S. Nash Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016024, 2300 block of S. Nash Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016025, 2300 block of S. Nash Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151016027, 2300 block of S. Nash Street
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151016051, 900 block of S. George Mason Drive
PETIT LARCENY, 151016052, 3900 block of N. Wilson Boulevard
LARCENY, 151016061, 4100 block of N. Vacation Lane
EMBEZZLEMENT, 151016072, 1400 block of S. Hayes Street
GRAND LARCENY, 151016075, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street
GRAND LARCENY, 151016076, 1000 block of S. Hayes Street
GRAND LARCENY, 151016077, 700 block of N. Glebe Road
ATTEMPTED LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151016086, 1600 block of S. Joyce Street

10/17/15
GRAND LARCENY, 151017016, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151017020, 1100 block of S. Army Navy Drive
PETIT LARCENY, 151017021, 5100 block of S. 8th Road
PETIT LARCENY, 151017029, 700 block of N. Glebe Road
GRAND LARCENY, 151017040, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street

10/18/15
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151018001, 500 block of S. 14th Road
GRAND LARCENY, 151018007, 4900 block of S. Columbia Pike
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151018009, 2800 block of N. Wilson Boulevard
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151018014, 3000 block of N. Washington Boulevard
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151018018, 1100 block of N. Arlington Boulevard
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151018019, 1300 block of S. Army Navy Drive
GRAND LARCENY, 151018022, 1700 block of S. 13th Road
TAMPERING WITH AUTO, 151018023, 1100 block of S. Rolfe Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151018024, 1100 block of N. Irving Street
LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151018025, 1100 block of S. Rolfe Street
LARCENY, 151018026, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street
TRESPASSING, 151018030, 2700 block of S. Glebe Road
CREDIT CARD THEFT, 151018031, 1200 block of N. Fillmore Street
ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151018044, 1900 block of S. Arlington Ridge Road
LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151018054, 3800 block of N. 9th Street

10/19/15
COUNTERFEIT, 151019018, 800 block of S. Army Navy Drive
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151019023, 1300 block of S. Rolfe Street
LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151019024, 2200 block of N. Clarendon Boulevard
GRAND LARCENY, 1000 block of S. Hayes Street
PETIT LARCENY, 151019033, 1700 block of N. Moore Street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151019035, 5200 block of N. Yorktown Boulevard

10/20/15
PETIT LARCENY, 151020015, 5200 block of N. Yorktown Boulevard.
FRAUD, 151020020, 300 block of N. Thomas Street
GRAND LARCENY, 151020029, 1100 block of S. Joyce Street
FRAUD, 151020031, 3700 block of N. Lee Highway
LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151020043, 1800 block of N. George Mason Drive
GRAND LARCENY, 151020044, 1000 block of S. Hayes Street
EMBEZZLEMENT, 151020051, 1400 block of S. Hayes Street
GRAND LARCENY, 151020052, 700 block of N. Glebe Road
GRAND LARCENY, 151020054, 1000 block of S. Hayes Street

10/21/15
TRESSPASSING, 151021001, 1900 block of S. Jefferson Davis Highway
LARCENY, 151021007, 1300 block of S. Army Navy Drive

DEVELOPING: Armed Robbery Near Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published October 22, 2015 at 1:30PM | Updated October 22, 2015 at 2:01PM

(Updated at 2 p.m.) Arlington County Police have swarmed the area around Ballston in search of two armed robbery suspects.

The Sunoco gas station at the corner of N. Glebe Road and Washington Blvd was robbed earlier this afternoon by two suspects, one of whom has a gun, according to police.

While police try to track down the suspects, nearby Washington-Lee High School has been placed in “secure the school” mode, which usually means that exterior doors are locked and students are not allowed outside.

Around 2 p.m., police released a surveillance image of a robbery suspect, taken inside the Sunoco’s convenience store.

Arlington Working Aggressively to Bring Down Office Vacancy Rate

By ARLnow.com

Published October 22, 2015 at 11:45AM

Arlington’s office vacancy rate has dropped for the first time in more than five years.

County officials touted the 1.6 percent drop in the vacancy rate in a press release (below), while admitting that the rate — 20.8 percent — is still too high and there’s “much more work to be done.”

The county says recent high-profile victories — bringing the 1776 tech incubator and the new U.S. headquarters of the Lidl grocery chain to Crystal City, for instance — came as Arlington leaders are pursuing “a new strategy of diversification, aggressive marketing and emphasis on fast-growth tech companies.”

High commercial office vacancy has hurt Arlington County’s finances, as commercial buildings make up about half of the county’s tax base. The vacancy rate has been exacerbated by a number of factors, including the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC), federal budget sequestration and the loss of several large government offices to Alexandria, where rents are cheaper.

The county’s press release, after the jump.

(more…)

JUST IN: Huge Rock Climbing Gym Coming to Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Published October 22, 2015 at 10:30AM | Updated October 22, 2015 at 10:49AM

Earth Treks Climbing Centers is planning on opening a massive new climbing gym in Crystal City, its first inside the D.C. Beltway.

The Maryland-based company is planning to open a gym at 1235 S. Clark Street, two blocks from the Crystal City Metro station, according to a State Corporation Commission filing. Without saying where exactly it would open, the company yesterday announced the new gym on its website.

“Earth Treks’ newest facility will be industry leading in amenities and size,” the company said. “With a massive footprint exceeding 45,000 square feet, the D.C. metro location will be among the biggest climbing gyms in the nation… The roped climbing area alone is so massive that you could drop the entire Earth Treks Timonium building in it and have room to spare.”

The gym will feature a 35,000 square foot climbing wall, fitness and climbing training areas, a yoga and group fitness room, private climbing teaching areas, locker rooms and a “fully stocked gear shop.”

The gym is expected to hold its grand opening by the start of summer 2016.

Earth Treks has three existing climbing centers in Maryland — in Rockville, Timonium and Columbia — and another in Golden, Colorado.

The address in the SCC filing — 1235 S. Clark Street — is the same address as the Sport&Health Crystal Gateway fitness club. A Sport & Health gym near Clarendon closed last year.

Rendering via earthtreksclimbing.com

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 22, 2015 at 9:30AM

Sun Gazette Endorses McMenamin — The Arlington Sun Gazette has endorsed independent County Board candidate Mike McMenamin. The newspaper says McMenamin is “by far the most seasoned and well-rounded candidate in the race.” [InsideNova]

Airport Workers Protest for Living Wage — Airport workers who make as little as $6.75 per hour held a protest at Reagan National Airport with the local 32BJ SEIU union on Wednesday. Among those attending the rally were wheelchair attendants, janitors, cabin cleaners and baggage handlers. The protest was part of a nationwide campaign for a $15 per hour minimum wage for airport workers. [Washington Post]

Candidate Night at Aurora Hills — The Aurora Highlands, Arlington Ridge and Crystal City civic associations are jointly sponsoring a candidates night for Arlington County Board hopefuls tonight. The forum will start at 7 p.m. at the Aurora Hills Community Center. Development, including the proposed redevelopment of the RiverHouse property in Pentagon City, is expected to be a hot topic. [ARCA]

Judy Blume Speaking in Arlington Tonight –Best-selling children’s and young adult novel author Judy Blume is speaking about her latest book at a free library-sponsored event in Arlington tonight. [ARLnow]

A Quick Note on Pageview Counts — As you might have noticed, we have eliminated pageview counts on most ARLnow articles. While this has been a feature for few years, recently it’s been buggy, slow to update and has frequently severely under-counted the actual number of views on an article. We’ll continue to show pageview counts to denote articles that are particularly “hot,” but take the numbers with a grain of salt.

Visit Notch 8’s Open House This Weekend for Some Scary-Good Deals

Published October 22, 2015 at 6:00AM | Updated October 22, 2015 at 9:05AM

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween, and even though apartment hunting may not be top-of-mind, consider attending Notch 8 Apartments‘ BOOOpen House for a frighteningly fun Halloweekend. On Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Sunday, October 25 from noon to 5 p.m., take a look around these brand new modern-industrial apartments in Potomac Yard.

This weekend has incentives so good they’ll make you scream! This weekend only, save up to 1.5 months FREE plus a $1,000 Giant gift card. Yep, imagine stocking your fridge with $1,000 worth of free groceries. There is a Giant grocery store located right on-site along with a PNC Bank and Starbucks, all super convenient to your brand new apartment.

Take a haunted tour of the spooktacular model apartments at Notch 8 decorated extra creepy especially for Halloween, and enjoy some complimentary tasty treats and refreshments we know you’ll be goblin up.

This is an event not to be missed, especially when you see all the features and amenities these apartments have to offer. In your apartment, you’ll find stainless steel appliances, contemporary plank flooring, oversized windows streaming in natural light, and a hi-tech Nest learning thermostat.

The amenity areas include a courtyard with swimming pool and hammocks, fitness center with a personal trainer and group classes, game room with Xbox One and PS4, lounge with billiards, and so much more.

Commuting is made easy with a Metroway bus running every six minutes during rush hour to the Crystal City and Braddock Road Metro stations on the blue and yellow lines.

Plus, Notch 8 offers the best in eco-living with a smoke-free community, EV charging stations in the garage, and Zipcar right next door.

Enjoy some fang-tastic fun and scary-good deals at Notch 8 in Potomac Yard at this weekend’s Open House. Learn more about the event on Notch 8’s website or call 866-811-1457.

The preceding post was sponsored by Notch 8 Apartments.

String of Vehicle Break-Ins Reported

By ARLnow.com

Published October 21, 2015 at 1:35PM | Updated October 21, 2015 at 1:56PM

A string of car break-ins over the past week have targeted vehicles in parts of South Arlington and Falls Church.

Last week, at least four cars were broken into and one was reported stolen in Fairlington. All of the cars broken into were unlocked, and the car that was stolen was reportedly unlocked with the keys left in the ignition.

Also last week, items were stolen from a number of cars within a one block radius of the 2000 block of S. Eads Street, in the Crystal City area, according to a crime report.

This past weekend, at least 16 cars were broken into in the City of Falls Church, according to the Falls Church News-Press.

Arlington County Police are continuing to remind residents to lock their cars and to not leave any valuables in plain sight within the vehicle when it’s parked.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 21, 2015 at 11:30AM | Updated October 21, 2015 at 12:05PM

Fire Station 8 Task Force — At its Tuesday meeting, the Arlington County Board approved a charge for its new Fire Station No. 8 task force. The task force will review viable sites for the fire station, will seek a location that will improve fire and EMS response signs, and will seek to balance costs with service needs. [Arlington County]

More Metro Delays This Morning — Delays and overcrowded trains made for “another miserable day” on the Orange Line during this morning’s commute. Metro says it’s hoping to have full service restored on the Silver, Orange and Blue lines by the end of the year, following a catastrophic fire at an electrical substation in D.C. [WMATA, Twitter, Twitter]

Old Growth Forest in Arlington Recognized — A 24-acre portion of Glencarlyn Park, just south of Route 50, has been recognized by the Old Growth Forest Network. The park has trees that were likely saplings while the British burned the White House across the river during the War of 1812. [Arlington County]

GW Parkway Repaving Nearly Complete — Crews are starting to wrap up a repaving project on the GW Parkway that has prompted lane and ramp closures over the past few weeks. The formerly pockmarked section of the Parkway north of Reagan National Airport now has a smooth coating of asphalt. [WTOP]

Lee Highway Streetlight Upgrade Approved — The Arlington County Board last night approved a $2.2 million project to replace 1.5 miles of aging streetlights along Lee Highway with new, energy efficient LED streetlights. Some residents have previously complained of an “ugly” blue tint from the county’s LED streetlights. [Arlington County]

Ballston IHOP is Turning 50 — The IHOP restaurant in Ballston will turn 50 years old early next year. Reportedly, it was the first Virginia location for the chain. [InsideNova]

Arlington Hosting Metro Safety Seminar Tonight — Officials from Arlington County and WMATA will be participating in a Metro Safety and Preparedness Seminar tonight in Ballston. A panel of officials will discuss Arlington’s response to Metro incidents and emergency preparedness tips for Metro riders. [Arlington County]

Photo by Justin Funkhouser