Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Unveiling elegance: Towngate North’s Model Grand Opening Brunch Feb. 25

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Unveiling Elegance: Join us at Towngate North’s Model Grand Opening Brunch on February 25!

Step into the world of luxury living at the highly-anticipated Towngate North community in Old Town North, Alexandria. This new community is offering 81 stunning single-level condominium homes, with 1, 2 and 3-bedroom residences available for purchase. And, what better way to experience the sophisticated living that awaits than by attending the Model Grand Opening Brunch on Saturday, February 25?

From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., you are invited to stop by to tour the beautifully decorated model and get a taste of the exquisite features that make these homes truly remarkable. Additional residences and on-site amenities including the picturesque rooftop terrace will be available to preview as well.

And it keeps getting better! While you’re here, you’re encouraged to indulge in a delicious brunch, enjoy some mimosas and chat with the knowledgeable sales team, who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Whether you’re in the market for a new home or simply looking to get a feel for what Towngate North has to offer, this is an event you won’t want to miss. From open living spaces and ample natural light to stainless steel appliances and refined finishes, every detail has been carefully crafted to create an environment of sophistication and comfort. All homes come with private parking in an on-site garage, making it easy to come and go as you please.

And with pricing from the mid $500’s to $2M+, there’s a variety of floorplans to choose from to fit your lifestyle and needs. RSVP for the event at TowngateNorth.com/RSVP.

In addition to the impressive homes, Towngate North also offers an abundance of on-site amenities that will make everyday life a breeze. A fitness center with a yoga room, a community clubroom and rooftop terrace for social events, a furnished conference room for remote working, and even a dog spa for your furry friends! A bike storage and repair area and building concierge ensure that life at Towngate North is both effortless and enjoyable.

Located at the intersection of Slaters Lane and the G.W. Memorial Parkway, homeowners at Towngate North will have convenient access to commuter routes, Metro and all the recreation and entertainment that Alexandria has to offer. From the Mt. Vernon Trail, scenic parks and waterfront recreation along the Potomac River to the renowned King Street Mile and its charming boutiques and popular restaurants, you’ll never be short of things to do. And, for those who seek even more entertainment, Washington, D.C. and National Harbor are just a short drive away.

Towngate North is a unique mix of luxury, convenience, location and value, and you won’t find anything like it elsewhere in Alexandria. So, don’t miss your chance to make one of these stunning condominium homes yours and attend the Model Grand Opening Brunch on Saturday, February 25.

To RSVP, visit TowngateNorth.com/RSVP and get ready to start your journey to the luxurious lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of!

Legal Insider: Sex discrimination and gender stereotyping

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 Kara Osborne, Esq.

There are many protections in the law for employees in the workplace, specifically, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) which makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity), or national origin.

Gender Stereotyping in the Workplace

Title VII also makes it unlawful to use policies or practices that seem neutral but have a discriminatory effect against people because of the abovementioned protected classes. That being said, sex or gender stereotyping is a less obvious form of sex discrimination, and it occurs when an employer discriminates against an employee because he or she does not follow the “expected” gender stereotypes and impressions.

The pivotal case regarding Title VII gender stereotyping claims is Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228, 109 S. Ct. 1775, 104 L. Ed. 2d 268 (1989). In this case, the Supreme Court stated that evidence of an employer’s gender stereotyping could be used to prove that an employee faced unlawful sex discrimination. The Supreme Court held that “as for the legal relevance of sex stereotyping, we are beyond the day when an employer could evaluate employees by assuming or insisting that they matched the stereotype associated with their group…”

While Price Waterhouse dealt with sex stereotypes regarding women, many subsequent cases apply the standard against sexual stereotyping to men, such as patriarchal, transgender and gay stereotypes such as not “acting” how their perceived gender would act.

Treating employees adversely for not conforming to sex stereotypes of any kind, not just “femininity”, is a form of unlawful sex discrimination under Title VII. Justice Neil Gorsuch and the United States Supreme Court in 2020 (Bostock v. Clayton County, 140 S. Ct. 1731, 1737 (2020), held that “an employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex.” The Supreme Court further stated that when an individual is fired because of their sexuality or gender identity, “sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids.”

Although our society has come a long way in terms of equality in the workplace, there still is a pervasive issue when it comes to intrinsic stereotypes based on a person’s sex, gender, or sexual orientation.

An employer who fires an individual for being gay or transgender does so for traits that it would not have questioned in members of a different sex, just as if an employer fires a woman for acting “too aggressively” or not dressing femininely or a man for not conforming to patriarchal expectations. These limited examples show how employment decisions “because of” sex stereotyping are in direct violation of Title VII and are actionable for employees.

Contact Us

If you are an employee in need of employment law representation, 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 and Twitter.

Small Business Focus: 2023 SWaMmy Honors — back to business

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

By Alex Held

Are you a SWaM certified business? Then BizLaunch and the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity want to hear from you.

SWaM — Small Women and Minority Owned — businesses are the cornerstone of the Arlington and Virginia economy, and we want the chance to honor you this year at the 2023 SWaMmy Honors.

At last year’s SWaMmy Honors, we were thrilled to have Arlington’s Casual Adventure recognized as a SWaMmy Honoree, and this year it could be you. As we move forward out of the pandemic, tell us how the past three years of the pandemic have changed or transformed your business and the innovations you have made.

  • Did you innovate your businesses’ goods/service offerings?
  • Did you innovate in the delivery of goods/services?
  • Did you innovate your business practices?

Nominations for the 2023 SWaMmy Honors are now open and due by April 1, 2023. Eligibility for the 2023 SWaMmy Honors are as follows:

  • Businesses must be SWaM certified
  • Businesses must be headquartered in Virginia
  • Businesses cannot be debarred from doing business with the Commonwealth of Virginia

Nominate your SWaM certified business today.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has a goal to have 42% of procurement dollars go to SWaM certified businesses. While the amount varies each year, that equates to approximately $7 billion annually that is awarded to SWaM certified businesses.

Don’t miss out on your chance to reach new customers. To learn more about certifications, visit the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity’s website.

Don’t forget, the Commonwealth of Virginia issues solicitations through eVA. Learn how you can register for eVA today to find state and local procurement opportunities.

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. 

As of February 6, there are 106 detached homes, 27 townhouses and 121 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 15 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

3324 Lorcom Lane

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: 2022 Arlington single-family housing review

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. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!

Question: How did the Arlington single-family housing market perform in 2022?

TL;DR (3:32)

Answer: The 2022 housing market came in like a lion and left like a lamb. The way things were reported in the news, one may be led to believe the 2nd half of the year was a disaster, with home values crashing because of higher interest rates, falling stock portfolios, the Ukrainian war, and buyer fatigue.

The truth, at least locally, is that the aggregate of the first half/second half, yin and yang housing market was still marked by strong price growth across all single-family sub-markets (I’ll analyze the condo market next week).

Strong, Stable Growth Continues for Arlington Single-Family Homes (SFH)

Like a blue-chip stock, the Arlington housing market is reliably strong and stable. We didn’t experience the double-digit annual appreciation of other national housing markets from ’20-’22 but we also benefitted by excellent growth prior to the pandemic buying craze (Amazon HQ2 and overall strong local market conditions).

You can also count on the likelihood of stable growth to continue even if other markets struggle as they transition out of their reliance on pandemic-buying and ultra-low interest rates.

  • The average and median price of a SFH in Arlington was $1,280,000 and $1,150,000, respectively, an increase of 4.4% and 7%.
  • Over the last five years, the average and median price of a SFH in Arlington increased by 25.3% and 29.1%, respectively.
  • The average buyer paid 1.9% over asking to purchase a home in 2022.
  • Homes that sold within ten days of being listed sold for an average 5% over asking and 57% of homes sold in 2022 were sold within ten days.
  • Low supply was a big driver in keeping prices elevated despite difficult second half market conditions. There were 30% fewer SFHs sold in 2022 than in 2021.

22205, 22201 Zip Codes Lead Growth

If we drill down into performance by zip code (note: 22206 and 22209 don’t have enough SFH sales to be included), we find some really good insights:

  • 22204 is the only remaining zip code with an average price below $1M. It was only 2017 that the entire County’s average price was below $1M.
  • 22201 extended its lead as the most expensive zip code to purchase a SFH, costing an average of over $100k more than the next most expensive zip code, 22213, and finishing the year with an average price of nearly $1.6M.
  • 22201 and 22205 experienced the most appreciation, with YoY increases of 9.3% and 8.2%, respectively. The next highest zip code, 22203, grew by 4.9%.
  • 22205 was the most competitive/frustrating for buyers, with the average home selling for 4% over ask.
  • Over the last five years, the 22202 zip code (area surrounding HQ2) has, unsurprisingly, benefited from the highest appreciation at 33.8% growth since 2018 due to the Amazon HQ2 boost followed by the pandemic buying craze.

(more…)

Statutes of Liberty: We hired! Meet the new legal professionals

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Doran Shemin, Esq., and Laura Lorenzo, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.

Janice Chen., Esq. and Saran N. Cossman join The Law Office of James Montana PLLC!

You — yes, you, gentle reader — are part of our business! We rely on you to share the information we provide, and we hope that you will refer clients to our law practice — as indeed many of you already have done.

We’ve shared with you an insider’s view of the economics of our law practice, photos of Lawyers in Go-Karts, and sweet, sweet news about our new building. Now, we want to share more big news with you. Two new legal professionals have joined our practice: Janice I. Chen, Esq., and Sarah N. Cossman.

Cossman, Pointy-Headed Boss, Chen (L-R)

Janice Chen joins us from The Law Offices of Manuel Rivera, Esq., and Associates, where she distinguished herself as a litigator before the immigration courts. Janice brings huge new skills and competencies to our practice. Unlike our other lawyers — barred in Washington, D.C., New York, and Georgia, respectively — Janice is a member of the Virginia Bar, so we can now represent prospective Special Immigrant Juvenile applicants in Virginia State Courts. (We are very excited about this — helping children and teenagers is a big win for our practice.) Janice is also proficient in Mandarin, and so we will be able to welcome Mandarin-speaking clients in their own language.

Sarah Cossman is a student at American University Washington College of Law, and is not (yet) a licensed attorney. Her prior experience at the Capital Area Immigrant Rights Coalition and TRAC (an academic data tracker of immigration law — perhaps the gnarliest, dorkiest corner of our profession) positioned her well to help our clients, and she has already made important contributions as a researcher and legal assistant.

With Janice joining our office, we now have additional capacity to take on new immigration cases. Please feel free to make an appointment with her using this special link. Consultations at our office cost $200; if you hire us to represent you, we subtract that $200 from your bill.

Our office has a very old-fashioned pay and benefits policy. All employees are eligible for generous health insurance benefits, all employees instantly vest into our SIMPLE IRA with matching, and all salaried employees are eligible for four months of parental leave from Day One. We believe that these benefits help us to hire for the long term, and help our employees to do their very best for our clients.

Welcome, Janice and Sarah!

As always, we welcome your comments and will do our best to respond.

Greenheart Juice Shop: $10 gift card with newsletter subscription!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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The freshest cold-pressed juice, cashew milks and cleanses delivered straight to your home or office from Greenheart Juice Shop!

Greenheart delivers to over 100 zip codes in Virginia, D.C., and Maryland. Check your delivery day here and start your first order.

Greenheart also has locations in Vienna, Leesburg and Aldie.

Visit us for superfood smoothies, açaí bowls, plant-based waffles, juice, cashew milks, salads and more. Check out our full in-store menu!

Follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for specials and updates.

All new subscribers will receive a $10 gift card for their first home or office delivery, or their next visit to any Greenheart Juice Shop!

Arts Focus: Equity & inclusion central to P.L.A.C.E Grant for community arts projects

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
“Memory Bricks” by artist Winnie Owens-Hart in the historically African American Hall’s Hill/High View Park community.

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Arlington Cultural Affairs and the Arlington Commission on the Arts are introducing the P.L.A.C.E. Grant, a new grant program that seeks to provide opportunities to artists, makers and performers from underserved and under-represented communities. Six $15,000 grants will be awarded. Applications are now being accepted through April 28.

The P.L.A.C.E. Grant, which stands for Promoting Local Arts and Community Equity, is a competitive grant program that will support community-initiated projects related to Arlington’s history, built environment and/or cultural heritage. The grant reinforces the goals of the Arts Commission to advance cultural equity in Arlington for all and enhances Arlington County’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

This grant seeks proposals that are at the intersection of arts, culture and heritage to provide opportunities to communities that have had limited access to programming, education and other art services. Arlington’s historic communities are a critical priority for this funding. Parties eligible to receive a Fiscal Year 2023 P.L.A.C.E. Grant include:

  • Individuals who reside in Arlington County (P.O. boxes are not eligible).
  • Institutions, community groups and organizations serving Arlingtonians and/or utilizing historic property.
  • A civic/citizen organization and/or homeowners association that serves Arlington County.
  • A 501(c)(3) organization in Arlington County.

How To Apply

The application process is electronic via Slideroom. The application period is now open, and applications will be accepted through Friday, April 28. To complete this process, applicants will need access to a computer with the latest version of Adobe Reader software, internet access and the ability to send and receive emails. The Grants Office can assist applicants with limited computer access or who need help submitting an online application.

Please direct any requests for application assistance to [email protected].

Click here for more detailed information about the new P.L.A.C.E. Grant.

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. 

As of January 30, there are 108 detached homes, 24 townhouses and 128 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 15 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

4220 23rd Street N.

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: Tax assessments vs market value

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. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!

Question: How close are the County’s tax assessments to actual market values?

TL;DR (1:16)

Answer: Earlier this month, Arlington announced that the next round of annual tax reassessments would increase the total residential assessment by 4.5% (this is overall, changes to individual home/land values will vary significantly). This change is meant to align with the increase in market values of Arlington homes, but assessed values remain well below actual market values for most homes. In fact, 81% of homes sold in 2022 sold for more than their most recent tax assessment value.

Homes in Arlington that sold in 2021 sold for an average of 8.7% (median 8.4%) above their most recent tax assessment.

Homeowners in the 22205 zip code benefit the most by underassessments, for a second year in a row, with an average difference between 2022 sold prices and their assessments of 14.8%, or over $194,000. Owners of single-family homes and townhouses (12.9% average difference) benefit more from underassessments than condo owners (4.1% average difference).

If County assessments were representative of actual market values, the average Arlington homeowner would pay over $900 more per year in property taxes, so don’t forget to send the Department of Real Estate Assessments a thank you card!

The following chart details the difference between how much a home in Arlington sold for in 2022 compared to its most recent County-assessed value:

If you believe that the County’s assessment of your home’s value is too high, you have the right to appeal the assessed value; the deadline is March 1.

If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.

Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel.

Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. (703) 390-9460

Neighborhood Spotlight: Let’s talk about Bellevue Forest

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Bellevue Forest is a secluded and quiet neighborhood in the upper northeastern section of Arlington County.

Surrounded by a lush wooded area with plenty of wildlife providing a serene ambiance just minutes away from D.C. Located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., it is a close-knit community that enjoys the best of both worlds offering a family-friendly setting while only “one stoplight away” from the urban conveniences of the city.

The neighborhood offers idyllic landscapes, and local parks and trails including the Potomac Heritage Trail, Potomac Overlook Regional Park, Zachary Taylor Park, and Gulf Branch Nature Center. Only a 15-minute drive away from the nation’s Capital, Bellevue Forest offers active community involvement and a place for people to plant their roots and enjoy every aspect of their lives.

First established as a 120-acre subdivision in 1938, Bellevue Forest offers a rich history of pride and planning that has insured it remains a suburban haven of single-family homes with generous lots set amidst peaceful natural surroundings.

In many respects, Bellevue Forest has changed very little since it was first established. Filled with mature trees and meandering streams, it still has forested areas and a wide variety of wildlife including deer, foxes, pileated woodpeckers, and other wildlife. It is a neighborhood in which people truly enjoy everyday life.

There is so much more to discover! Connect with neighborhood expert Daniel Pierson to learn more about Bellevue Heights and other surrounding areas! 

Daniel Pierson | 703-795-9367 | [email protected] | www.piersonteam.com | www.McEnearney.com

McEnearney Associates — Arlington Office

Links & Recommendations

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

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