Author: Bridget Reed Morawski

Capital Bikeshare May Come To Roosevelt Island, Gravelly Point

By Bridget Reed Morawski
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Arlington may get two new Capital Bikeshare stations, at Roosevelt Island and Gravelly Point.

The County Board is set to approve a “memorandum of understanding” with the National Park Service, which has to approve the bikeshare stations since they would be located on NPS land.

The approval would further the goal of an expansion of the bikeshare network along the Mt. Vernon Trail.

Responsibility for the installation and maintenance of the bikeshare facilities on NPS land would fall on the county, according to the memorandum. It also restricts any advertisements on the stations, and sets requirements for site preservation and, should the stations be removed in the future, restoration.

The office of the County Manager has recommended that the memorandum be approved at Saturday’s County Board meeting (April 21).

Currently there are about 440 stations and 3,700 Capital Bikeshare bikes in the region. As of 2017, 85 Bikeshare stations were in Arlington.

Dawson Terrace Park Renovation Contract Set For Approval

By Bridget Reed Morawski

The contract for renovations at Dawson Terrace Park in North Highlands, northwest of Rosslyn, is set for approval, per a county staff report.

The work will renovate areas of extensive use, including a multi-use court, playground, walkways, and picnic areas. D.C.’s Bennett Group, beating out five other bidders, is expected to be awarded the $1,507,500.45 contract.

Landscaping, stormwater management, and ADA improvements will also be part of the project, but a small field along 21st Road N. will not be within the project’s scope.

The County Manager’s office has recommended awarding the contract and approving a $150,750.05 contingency for change orders.

The Dawson-Bailey House, believed to be the county’s second oldest house, is located at the park, at 2133 N. Taft Street.

The Dept. of Parks and Recreation has submitted documentation to the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board “to ensure the project respected and complimented the historic nature of the site.”

New Rooftop Bar in Clarendon Set For Approval

By Bridget Reed Morawski
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A new rooftop bar in Clarendon is on the verge of regulatory approval.

The County Manager’s office has recommended that the County Board approve amendments and modifications to an incoming Clarendon restaurant at the former La Tasca site.

The proposed site plan amendment calls for “the addition of approximately 1,760 square feet of new gross floor area and approximately 12 feet of new building height to accommodate a roof structure for the incoming Buena Vida restaurant, with modification of zoning standards for parking.”

Approximately 129 new seats will be added to the space’s capacity with the amendment.

The County Board is set to approve those modifications, allowing the applicant to maintain the current level of parking spaces. This would reduce the project’s parking ratio from one spot per 580 retail square feet to one space per 606 retail square feet, according to a County Board agenda item.

With the Clarendon Metro station two blocks away from the restaurant site and a slew of Clarendon-area parking garages and street parking options, staff noted that “there will be no undue adverse impacts as a result of the request.”

The new rooftop area, “minimally visible to pedestrians at the ground level,” would include both an enclosed and an outdoor section, elevator access, and a lounge area. “Sound attenuating glass” has been proposed by the applicant for the wall adjacent to Wilson Boulevard, and dark sky lighting standards have been agreed to, per the agenda item.

Both the Clarendon-Courthouse Civic Association and the Clarendon Alliance have indicated support, according to county documents, for the site plan amendment. The Lyon Village Civic Association, per the document, “had not communicated a position on the applicant’s request” to the county.

The rooftop dining and bar area would be the top floor of a three floor dining concept, a Mexican beer garden called Up. The first floor will be a Mexican eatery called Tacos, Tortas & Tequila that would serve the aforementioned foods, while the second floor would be Buena Vida, an all-you-can-eat tapas style restaurant.

County Board to Put Oakgrove vs. Oak Grove Park Debate to Rest

By Bridget Reed Morawski

The County Board is set to consider formally changing Oakgrove Park’s name to Oak Grove Park, after Cherrydale residents fought to resurrect the park’s older spelling.

Arlington’s Park and Recreation Commission and the County Manager’s office is recommending the naming clarification, which Harry Specter, a Cherrydale resident who argued in favor of the change, called “a typographical error that was never corrected.”

Per a County Board agenda item, the park was created at the same time that I-66 was in the 1970s. At the time, the park was known by the two word “Oak Grove” Park.

At some point in the 1990s, signage was installed that seems to have mischaracterized the park’s name, omitting the space and calling it “Oakgrove Park.”

The agenda item stated that staff had “not found an official record of a formal park naming process for either the two-word spelling or the one-word spelling” of the park.

However, there has been some inconsistency in how the park was referred to in planning documents, according to the agenda item:

The current Public Spaces Master Plan (PSMP) from 2005 details this park as “Oakgrove” Park. The current General Land Use Plan (GLUP) (2011) and previous versions have identified this park as “Oak Grove” Park. Other County Board adopted documents which characterize this park as “Oak Grove” Park include the Cherrydale Neighborhood Conservation Plan (originally adopted in 1987 with updates in 2005 and 2014) and the Lee Highway-Cherrydale Revitalization Plan (1994).

The Oakgrove Park playground improvements project, slated to wrap up this May, already included “two new metal panels (custom entrance sign)” that would “be installed and will cost about $550 each (approximately $1,100 total)” in the plan.

The “new” name will be on the new signs, so no dedicated costs will be incurred regarding the park’s formal renaming.

Arlington Agenda: April 16-22

By Bridget Reed Morawski

Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out the event submission form.

Also, be sure to check out our event calendar.

Wednesday, April 18

Arlington Reads: Katherine Boo
Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 7-8 p.m.

A conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Katherine Boo, author of ‘Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity.’ Books sold at event.

Thursday, April 19

Väsen Beer and Donut Night
Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee (1014 S. Glebe Road)
Time: 4:30-9 p.m.

Richmond’s Väsen Brewery will be pouring its sustainably brewed pale ales, stouts, and sour beers alongside beer-glazed donuts and board games.

Allyship Workshop
Unitarian Universalist Church (4444 Arlington Boulevard)
Time: 7-9:30 p.m.

A workshop on allyship, which is about moving people to a new paradigm of thinking about privilege and marginalized communities. Registration required.

Friday, April 20

Crystal City 5K Fridays Series*
Crystal City Courtyard Green (2121 Crystal Drive)
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Join Crystal City’s after work Friday evening 5K series. Registration fees start at $25 for one race, and runners receive post-race happy hour drink tickets for select Crystal City venues.

Yorktown High School Theatre: One Person Shows
Yorktown High School (5200 Yorktown Boulevard)
Time: 5:30-9 p.m.

Each Theatre IV student chooses a literary, fictional or historical character and then writes, stages, directs, and acts in a 30-minute show about that character. Free and also taking place on Saturday.

Saturday, April 21

Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast*
Clarendon UMC (606 N. Irving Street)
Time: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

A fun-filled morning of pancakes, moon bounces, raffles, and more to benefit the ELIMINATE Project, aimed at eradicating maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Arlington Community Foundations Annual Spring Gala*
Ritz Carlton Pentagon City (1250 S. Hayes Street)
Time: 6-10 p.m.

The Arlington Community Foundations Annual Spring Gala! Enjoy food & drink, silent and live auctions, and a live performance by Arlington’s very own Amy Wilcox.

Sunday, April 22

Full Dome Show: Asteroid: Mission Extreme
Davoid M. Brown Planetarium (1426 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 8-8:30 p.m.

Discover how asteroids are both a danger and an opportunity for those of us on Earth, and the possibility of using asteroids as stepping stones to other worlds.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Arlington Environmental Group Disputes Arlington’s Tree Canopy Study

By Bridget Reed Morawski

An Arlington environmental group is claiming that Arlington’s recent tree canopy assessment is misleading.

The tree canopy study found that, from 2011-2016, the tree canopy increased one percent to 41 percent. The Arlington Tree Action Group claims that the two percent margin of error on the county’s study cancels out its findings.

A press release from the tree group also notes that the county failed “to emphasize a decrease from the 43 percent recorded in 2008.”

The press release from the Arlington Tree Action Group is below.

ATAG Challenges County’s Misleading Claims on Tree Canopy Study

Arlington, Virginia – April 12, 2018 – Arlington County is using an arsenal of its public outreach resources to present an overly optimistic picture of the health of the forest resources based on a 2017 tree canopy study according to the Arlington Tree Action Group (ATAG).  The study concluded that the tree canopy increased by 1% between 2011 and 2016 but the County media push fails to emphasize a decrease from the 43% recorded in 2008. More alarming for 10 civic association neighborhoods is the scant recognition of the actual loss of more than 5% of their trees over just five years, with another 14 neighborhoods losing up to 5%. The County has instead declared that the trees are “on the rebound” based on the report.

After reviewing the report, Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne, Director, Spatial Analysis Laboratory, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, the University of Vermont, concluded that the accuracy of the data used was only 94% making the findings publicized by the County highly questionable. In keeping with the County initiative for more open data, ATAG is concerned that the information disseminated must be accurate.

The 2004 Arlington County Urban Forest Master Plan called for an increase in the tree canopy from the estimated 41% at that time. The Plan also called for extensive programs for the preservation and planting of trees. Arlington County does not have an inventory of the trees on public lands that many jurisdictions such as the District have established. The County currently has capital projects including stream restorations, community centers, and park developments, that will remove hundreds more trees in the next few years, dwarfing the public and private tree planting programs underway.

ATAG is concerned that the County outreach mischaracterizes the study results which could delay addressing serious environmental, health and economic challenges accompanying urban tree canopy loss. The outreach has included presentations to the County Board, the Urban Forestry Commission and other County commissions and civic associations, as well as articles in “The Citizen” newsletter to all residents, pages on the County website, and posters in parks.

ATAG is a group of concerned Arlington citizens working to preserve the sustainable urban forest, promote green infrastructure, and protect the environmental ambience that makes the community economically attractive. Working with individuals and established community organizations, the group seeks to highlight important issues facing Arlington’s urban forest and bring together resources to maximize their goals.

See here for a more complete discussion and links to relevant documents.

Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By Bridget Reed Morawski

It’s finally warming up, and there are plenty of events — like Saturday’s Key School Auction and the League of Women Voters Post Legislative Forum, or the Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s fee-waiver dog adoption weekend — to keep you busy this weekend.

Before any outdoor fun, though, let’s take a look back at ARLnow’s biggest stories over the past week.

  1. TMZ Publishes Video of NBA Star Cheating on Khloe Kardashian at Darna Lounge
  2. JUST IN: Goody’s to Serve Last Slices Tonight
  3. BREAKING: Governor Vetoes Country Club Bill
  4. CAVA Opens Ballston Location This Week With Free Meals
  5. Elementary School Principal Dies Unexpectedly
  6. Honking Metro Trains Irking Residents Along I-66

Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend!

Photo via Bridget Reed Morawski/Instagram

UPDATED: Firefighters Extinguish Shoe Store Fire, Police Looking for Arson Suspect

By Bridget Reed Morawski

Update at 4:15 p.m. — The Arlington County Police Department has released surveillance images of a man they say broke into the store and then set fire to it.

From ACPD:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Burglary/Larceny Unit is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a burglary and arson suspect captured on surveillance camera. At approximately 4:14 a.m. on April 13, the Arlington County Fire Department responded to the report of a structure fire in the 2600 block of Columbia Pike. After extinguishing the fire, the Fire Marshall responded to conduct an investigation and requested the assistance of the Arlington County Police Department. The investigation determined that at approximately 3:22 a.m., the suspect forced entry into the business and stole merchandise before intentionally setting a fire and fleeing the area on foot.

The suspect is described as a heavy-set male, 30-40 years old, approximately 5’10” to 6’0″ tall and weighing 300 pounds. He has a full beard and a bald spot. He was wearing glasses, a light shirt, dark colored jeans and a backpack at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information on the identity of these individuals or details surrounding this incident is asked to contact Detective T. Parsons of the Arlington County Police Department’s Burglary/Larceny Unit at 703-228-4172 or [email protected]. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).

Earlier: A fire was extinguished in the early morning hours this morning (Friday) at a business on Columbia Pike, according to the fire department.

Fourteen fire department units responded to the call on the 2600 block of Columbia Pike just before 4:15 a.m., after a passerby spotted the fire and called 911, according to a department spokesman.

The fire was out by 4:21 a.m. and there were no reported injuries.

The Fire Marshall was on scene and is investigating the cause, according to the spokesman. The fire was at Legend Kicks & Apparel, we’re told, and photos from the scene show firefighters at the storefront.

An online listing for the business indicates that the shoe store recently opened.

The block is also home to Le Touche Beauty Salon and The Salsa Room. The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse is nearby, on another block.

Photos via Arlington County Fire Department

Legacy of Fire Station No. 8 to Be Discussed Saturday

By Bridget Reed Morawski

The legacy of Arlington’s Fire Station No. 8, and how to honor it, will be the subject of a community discussion this weekend.

The event is scheduled from 3-4:45 p.m. on Saturday (April 14) at the Arlington Central Library auditorium (1015 N. Quincy Street).

During segregation Fire Station No. 8 was the only Arlington station staffed by African Americans.

The Fire Station 8 History and Legacy working group is hosting the discussion, “to share memories, perspectives and ideas on how to recognize, emphasize and honor the history and legacy of the Hall’s Hill/High View Park Volunteer Fire Department and Fire Station No. 8,” according to an Eventbrite page.

The group is due to submit recommendations for ways to honor the fire station’s legacy by late May.

A new, four-bay station is set to be built at 4845 Lee Highway, where the existing Fire Station No. 8 stands. The design process is scheduled to begin this summer.

Photo via Arlington County 

George Mason University Shrubbery Fire Extinguished Near Bill of Rights Eagle

By Bridget Reed Morawski
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Three shrubs caught on fire beside George Mason University’s Bill of Rights Eagle in Virginia Square.

The fire broke out on this afternoon (Friday) just before 1 p.m., engulfing the shrubbery and a patch of mulch. The flames were quickly extinguished by responding firefighters, and a college employee said that it wasn’t a major incident. Classes were in session at the time but there was not report of any evacuation.

A facilities worker told ARLnow.com that the flames were three feet high, and that a glass office window adjacent to the fire was cracked as a result.

Another facilities worker, who said that he had worked for the college for the past 20 years, said that the college’s shrubbery had never caught on fire before.

He added that his colleagues had not seen anything odd in the area prior to the fire, but that several people tripped and fell while running away.

Unveiled last May with much fanfare, the GMU Antonin Scalia Law School’s “Bill of Rights Eagle” did not appear to suffer any damage from the fire.

Warm weather has helped spark a number of small mulch and grass fires around Arlington over the past day or so.

Medium Rare to Open Virginia Square Location This Weekend

By Bridget Reed Morawski
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The new Medium Rare in Virginia Square will be opening Saturday (April 14) at 5 p.m. for dinner, according to owner Mark Bucher.

The restaurant, known for its fixed-price steak, frites, and “secret sauce,” will then open for brunch Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

The location, on the ground floor of the Latitude Apartments, is opening a little later than what had been previously reported. ABC license application notifications were first posted in November 2017.

Medium Rare has three open locations outside of Virginia — two in D.C. and one in Bethesda.

The steakhouse has help wanted signs posted in the window seeking servers and a hostess. Open interviews will be every day from 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., according to the signs An end date for the open interviews was not listed.

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