Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Biz Talk: A Look Back on Economic Development in FY20

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This article was written by Marian Marquez, Director of Business Investment for Arlington Economic Development.

It’s the end of Arlington County’s fiscal year, a time when we look back at our activities over the past twelve months to reflect on our collective wins, challenges and opportunities.

As we step cautiously into a new year, we know already that it will be like no other and I find myself trying to remember where we were at this time last year… riding the momentum of a solid year of wins and the excitement of welcoming Amazon’s second headquarters to Arlington, the future was bright!

After working together as a region to win this historic economic development project, relationships among the localities had never been stronger and we were getting ready to announce the formation of a regional economic development organization, the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance (NOVA EDA). With a reshuffling of economic development leadership in Northern Virginia we were at a unique point in time to join forces to make this great region stronger than ever.

At this time last year, Arlington’s vacancy rate was steadily trending downward and was around 16.5% from its peak of 21% in 2015 when we began an aggressive effort to market Arlington, further diversify the economy into fast growing sectors, and build out our tech ecosystem. With a global spotlight on our region, the State of Virginia’s over $1 billion investment in the education system and tech talent pipeline, plus a newly formed regional alliance to market the heck out of our assets, we believed the only way was up!

When I think back to what our perceived challenges were at the time, they feel rather luxurious — after all, we were still able to meet with prospective companies in person and companies were still able to occupy office space, literally.

During the first half of this fiscal year we worked hard to attract and retain companies in our target sectors such as Block.One, a blockchain company that placed its global headquarters in Rosslyn, as well as tech startups Scoutbee and Amify in Crystal City. We also saw significant wins within our foundational sectors with the retention the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Shirlington and Raytheon in Rosslyn, and notable expansions among several key employers including Nestlé, Mastercard and Evolent Health.

We watched our vacancy rate drop further, dipping below 15%, the lowest it’s been since 2012. In January 2020, I stepped up to lead our business investment with a focus on reengagement with strategic partners and restructuring the team to take a greater focus on engaging existing businesses. A few weeks later we welcomed our new Director, Telly Tucker, and two months later, on Friday, March 13, we all received stay-at-home orders.

Our team was gripped with a host of concerns, many of which we are still grappling with now: What will this mean for our business community, what will the future office market look like, what does this mean for the work that we do, what does the bottom line look like?

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Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

We have a yummy week ahead of us.

Today is National Hot Dog Day. Saturday is National Caviar Day. Sunday is National Ice Cream Day. And, as icing on this delicious week’s cake, Tuesday, July 21 is National Junk Food Day. By this point in quarantine/lockdown/the COVID madness, perhaps you are tired of the same ole crock-pot meal you’ve been churning out for months.

With so many fun culinary days ahead, it’s a perfect reminder to support our local restaurants when and where you can. They need us, now more than ever, to survive and there are safe ways to enjoy your favorite treats.

With many long-time local residents/natives on our staff, we know our restaurants are certainly a big part of what makes Arlington such a special place to call home.

And, when you’re ready to look for (or sell) your home, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. is here for you through thick and thin. Now on to this week’s Just Reduced figures.

As of July 13, there are 171 detached homes, 39 townhouses and 181 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 23 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Ask Eli: New Construction Tips and Learning Opportunity

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: What recommendations do you have for somebody just beginning to consider building a home?

Answer: If you’re considering building a home and looking for a great educational opportunity, I’d like to invite you to a walk-through with the builder of a home that’s currently under construction (3196 N. Pollard Street). The builder, James McMullin, is a 3rd generation Arlington home builder. At the end of July, he’s offering two educational walk-throughs for small groups during the framing stage of construction to provide a peek behind the walls.

If you’re interested in attending, please email me at [email protected] (I promise you won’t get spammed with marketing!).

I sat down with James McMullin to outline the key phases of building a new home from acquisition through post-completion, along with some helpful tips at each stage.

Lot Acquisition

  • You can do this yourself or through a builder. A key competitive advantage for builders is a pipeline of quality lots.
  • If you acquire your own lot and find yourself in competition, it’s important to understand what type of offer terms you’re up against. Builders frequently offer existing homeowners months of free rent-back.
  • If you acquire a lot, make sure you establish a relationship with a builder before making an offer so they can provide necessary feedback on the feasibility of building the home you want either before making an offer or after (Study/Feasibility Study).
  • There are special loan programs available if you plan on acquiring your own lot. Troy Toureau ([email protected]) of McLean Mortgage is an excellent resource for construction loans.
  • Cost: Lots in Arlington are currently selling from $500,000 for less desirable lots/locations to well over $1,000,000.

Planning/Design

  • Designing the floor plan and elevations (exterior design) can be fun for some, but it’s easy for people to let this process drag on for months if they’re indecisive or unprepared.
  • Having a great architect who understands your vision and current home design trends is critical.
  • Full custom vs semi-custom: A fully custom home is designed from scratch to suit your tastes and will take much longer and cost much more in design fees. A semi-custom home uses a pre-designed floor plan and elevation template and you make small adjustments to suit your taste.
  • Cost: Semi-custom homes often range from zero design cost to a few thousand dollars, while fully custom homes usually cost tens of thousands in design fees.

Permitting

  • In Arlington, you will submit plans for County review/approval including demolition, building (architectural) and civil (engineering) before any work can begin.
  • It usually takes four months for permits to be approved by the County, assuming everything is submitted correctly.
  • Cost: Permit fees vary based on a number of factors but will generally be $25,000 + for new construction.

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The Schar School at George Mason University: How Will COVID-19 Inspire Future Threats?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University is offering prospective graduate students the opportunity to sample a free virtual lecture regarding one of the more pressing concerns of the day: the coronavirus pandemic and, more specifically, the future threats that might be inspired by it.

The sample lecture, titled Will COVID-19 Inspire Greater Interest in Bioweapons?, will be held July 22 at 12 p.m. EDT. It will be taught by professor Gregory Koblentz, director of the biodefense master’s, PhD, and graduate certificate programs at the Schar School.

“The sample lecture will discuss the history of bioterrorism and why different terrorist groups have tried to develop and use biological weapons,” said Koblentz. “Understanding the motivations for bioterrorism can help us predict the conditions under which bioterrorist groups emerge.”

The online lecture will be based on a bioterrorism risk assessment framework that Koblentz developed as part of an earlier research project on chemical, bioterrorism, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism. In 2016, Koblentz briefed the UN Security Council on the impact of emerging technologies on the threat posed by the proliferation of CBRN weapons to non-state actors.

“This class sampler,” said Koblentz, “will provide a preview of one of the lectures I’ll be giving in BIOD 609: Biodefense Strategy in the fall. This will be the first chance for prospective students to hear my analysis of this threat.”

The session will reveal new insights about the pandemic and how diseases could be used for bioterrorism or biological warfare in the future. “There is a long-standing debate in the field about the threat posed by bioterrorism,” said Koblentz, “and there are a whole bunch of new questions being raised about how the COVID-19 pandemic might increase that threat. There are some disturbing indications that both far-right and jihadist terrorist groups are seeking to exploit the pandemic to advance their respective political agendas.”

Register to attend the sample lecture.

To stay updated on sample lecture opportunities or information about the Schar School’s graduate programs, please visit our admissions event page or fill out our request form.

Cents of Community: Managing and Paying Down Your Debt

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This monthly column comes from the Arlington Community Federal Credit Union as part of their mission to financially empower the community. Credit unions are not-for-profit member-owned cooperatives and anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers, goes to school, or does business in Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, or Fairfax County is eligible to join ACFCU.*

During this challenging time for our community, many have taken on debt to support themselves and their family. Here are tips for managing and paying down debt:

  • Understand your household expenses: Make a list of your fixed expenses such as rent or mortgage, utilities and loan payments. Add the due dates to your calendar to pay on time and set up autopay options when possible.
  • Prioritize your debts: Make at least the minimum payments on all of your debts. Use any extra funds to pay down debts with the highest interest rate (usually credit cards). Every little bit makes a difference and will help you save money on interest.
  • Set spending limits: It’s easy to overspend when you don’t set boundaries. Once you’re clear on how much is coming in and going out, set spending limits.
  • Put your credit cards away: Sometimes, the key to preventing excessive debt is making it difficult to use your credit cards. Consider locking away your highest interest credit cards and moving a debit card or lower interest credit card to the top of your wallet.
  • Shop for the best rates: Compare rates both when you are taking on and managing debt. Look for lower interest options and ask your financial institution to match the lower rate offered to you. You can also explore refinancing high interest debt.
  • Build up your emergency savings account: Build your emergency savings account with a goal of saving three to six months’ worth of expenses. Having a savings buffer will reduce your need to take on additional debt later.

We are proud to be part of this resilient community. As Arlington’s credit union, we support our members throughout their financial journey and are here to support our neighbors as they explore options for financial success.

*Membership eligibility requirements apply. Federally insured by NCUA.

Legal Insider: Businesses Face COVID-19 Lawsuits from Employees and Customers

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

Employers have started to see the first lawsuits by employees and customers related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The numbers of these types of cases will only continue to increase, given the lack of a cohesive strategy by federal and state governments in dealing with the reopening of businesses and the potential for liability. Hopefully, Congress will deal with this problem quickly and compromise. As of June 12, 2020, according to a tracker of COVID-19 cases, approximately 2,700 COVID-19 lawsuits have been filed.

The First Lawsuits Have Started

The first COVID-19 related lawsuits seen thus far include a class action by McDonald’s workers and a wrongful death action filed by a Safeway employee’s family. Many other lawsuits have been filed, both small and large, and we are starting to see employers require employees to sign waivers in order to return to work, and other businesses and events requiring individuals to sign waivers before entering.

For instance, some businesses have required individuals to sign waivers of legal rights to enter gyms or salons or to attend other events. For example, at the President’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma attendees were required to waive their right to sue the campaign in the event they contracted COVID-19 at the President’s campaign rally.

Employers are Seeking Liability Protections

The question of whether a business is liable if their employees or customers catch COVID-19 has become a critical issue as many states reopen retail, foodservice and other businesses. Businesses contend that they are subject to numerous lawsuits without any liability protections and are seeking legal protections from Congress, or even individual states, as the pandemic subsides. On the other side, opponents of liability protections argue that limiting liability for businesses could cause them to ignore safety rules, endangering both employees and customers.

A Compromise is Very Likely

It is likely that a compromise will be found, through congressional action, or worst case, on a state-by-state basis. There will need to be a balance between the protection of employees and customers and in ensuring that businesses do not go bankrupt through needless and often frivolous litigation. It is likely that these liability protections may find themselves in pending congressional bills which provide additional financial relief to individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic. In the end, businesses and employers that act reasonably will likely be mostly safe from litigation.

Contact Us

If you are in need of legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Rethink Energy: Are You Ready?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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.

A major storm has hit our area and your neighborhood just lost power. Your refrigerator stopped humming, your air conditioner ceased and the clock on your stove just went black.

What’s more, you don’t know when the power will be restored. An hour? Tomorrow? What if it’s longer? When the power goes out nothing works (unless you have solar and batteries from Arlington’s Solar Co-op).

If these questions make you uncomfortable, chances are that you don’t have an emergency plan or kit on hand.

This scenario is only hypothetical but we’ve seen it here in Arlington time and time again. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes — all natural disasters are inevitable. This weekend hurricane Fay is going to narrowly miss Arlington. The key is being prepared. Having an emergency plan and kit can make all the difference.

Since COVID-19 appeared we can’t necessarily bunk up with family, neighbors, or even in a hotel during an emergency without risk.

Below are links to a family-friendly emergency scavenger hunt from Dominion Virginia Power, additional preparedness tips, a link to Arlington’s Solar Co-op and emergency planning resources from Arlington County.

Make a plan and kit today — they could be a real life saver.

Listing of the Day: 5711 15th Street N.

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/10

Address: 5711 15th Street N.
Neighborhood: Westover
Listed: $875,000
Open: Sunday, July 12 from 1-4 p.m.

Light fills the inviting space of this updated pre-war Colonial just a few blocks to Westover Village. The renovated kitchen opens to the dining area and features crisp white cabinets, marble countertops, backsplash and breakfast bar. An atrium door opens to the driveway, making it convenient to bring groceries directly into the home.

Just off the kitchen is a den with doors leading to the patio and level, fenced, rear yard. Mature trees, shrubs and perennials ensure shady spots for play, gardening, sports and outdoor dining. Woodburning fireplace in the living room, refinished wood floors on two levels and fresh paint throughout enhance the home’s appeal. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, and the second bedroom has wainscoting detailing. The renovated hall bathroom completes this level.

In the lower level, there are built-ins in the large rec room, and a den with door to the side yard. The renovated bathroom on this level allows the area to be used for a private guest space.

Enjoy Westover Village’s shops, restaurants, library, the legendary Ayer’s Hardware Store, Sunday’s farmer’s market, easy access to the bike path, and four parks. McKinley, Swanson and Yorktown schools. A home in pristine move-in condition and an exceptional location.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
McEnearney Associates
703-967-4391
[email protected]
betsytwigg.com

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Looking for a home? There are plenty of houses and condos open for viewing this weekend.

Check out the Arlington Realty website for a full list of homes for sale and open houses in Arlington. Here are a few highlights:

2538 N. Greenbrier Street
5 BD/6 BA single-family home
Agent: Exp Realty, Llc
Listed: $1,745,000
Open: Virtual Tour/Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

3801 Washington Boulevard
4 BD/4 BA single-family home
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $1,450,000
Open: Virtual Tour/Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

6325 19th Street N.
5 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Avery-Hess Realtors
Listed: $1,075,000
Open: Virtual Tour/Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

5072 37th Street N.
4 BD/2 BA single-family home
Agent: Compass
Listed: $949,000
Open: Virtual Tour/Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

6227 19th Street N.
4 BD/2 BA single-family home
Agent: Condo 1, Inc
Listed: $825,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

1111 19th Street N. #1503
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $725,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

3600 S. Glebe Road #428W
1 BD/1 BA Condo
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $499,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Andors Real Estate Group.

Good morning Arlington! I hope you had a fantastic Fourth of July weekend. Perhaps you heard many more ‘private’ fireworks this year than in years past just as I did. We thoroughly enjoyed the flyovers — what a treat!

As anticipated, it was a slow week for Arlington real estate — one of just a few weeks each year where we can expect volume to decrease significantly — this year it was down about 50% from the week prior.

Sellers listed some 79 properties for sale this week while buyers ratified just 47 contracts, 20 of which were on properties listed since just last week. This leads to a bit of extra inventory this week, but rest assured, buyers will do their part this week and we’ll see new contracts up a good bit next week. We may also see more price reductions than usual as a result of days on market creeping up a bit in the short term.

That could spell opportunity for some on the buy side — my recommendation: Try to scoop it up before the price reduction; reductions can result in a renewed interest and even spark bidding wars on a not-so-new property. If you see a property that’s been on the market for 14-21 days, there’s a good chance it’s due for a price reduction to stay relevant, especially if sellers keep adding 70+ listings per week.

There are currently 309 homes for sale in Arlington, 30 more than last week. 136 are detached homes, 24 are townhouses/semi-detached and 149 are condos. Average days on market (DOM) is 49 and median DOM is 28.

The median list price of currently available properties is $899,900, while the average is $1,078,621. This is now the third week in a row that median price has stayed below $1M! Median price keeps moving lower as the homes priced below $1M continue to sell at a much brisker pace than those priced above.

Last year for the same week, sellers listed 34 homes and buyers ratified 38 contracts — historically a slow week for real estate. This year though, we had twice the amount of new inventory come online.

Click here to search currently available Arlington real estate. Call the Andors Real Estate Group today at (703) 203-1117 to talk more about buying or selling Arlington real estate. Below are eight homes that are new this week that I think you might like to check out.

Listing of the Day: 1001 N. Vermont Street #414

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Address: 1001 N. Vermont Street #414
Neighborhood: Ballston | Westview at Ballston Metro
Listed: $489,900
Open: Open Virtual Tour

Welcome to unit 414 at Westview Condominium, a 2 bedroom, 1 bath with over 950 square feet of living space including the sunroom. The unit went through a major renovation in 2016 starting with the wire brushed oak hardwood floors throughout the entire condo.

The kitchen was remodeled with new white, showcase cabinets, granite counters & Whirlpool stainless steel appliances. From the living room, sliding glass doors open to the large sunroom with new windows, making it a true four season space. The bathroom has a new tile floor, a re-glazed bathtub and a vanity with granite counters. The bedrooms are located on opposite sides of the living space, both with hardwood floors and the master with a large walk-in closet.

The unit comes with 1 prime parking space on P2, #1089. Westview is located in the heart of Ballston, just 2 blocks to the Ballston Metro and a quick stroll to the Ballston Quarter, shops, restaurants, parks and everything Arlington has to offer.

Listed by:
Shawn Battle
Orange Line Condo | Century 21 Redwood Realty
703-999-8108
[email protected]
OrangeLineCondo.com

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