Author: Chris Teale

Weekly 5K Races Return To Crystal City In April

By Chris Teale

The region’s “fittest happy hour” will return to Crystal City next month.

Each Friday in April beginning at 6:30 p.m., the Crystal City 5K Fridays series will take runners on a USA Track & Field-certified course along Crystal Drive and past Long Bridge Park. The start and finish line is located at 2121 Crystal Drive.

And after the race, runners can enjoy area bar and restaurant specials exclusively for them.

The series is presented by the Crystal City Business Improvement District in partnership with developer Vornado/Charles E. Smith and the Pacers Running store.

Through tomorrow, attendees can register for $20 per race or $75 for the four-race series. After today, registration costs $25 per race or $90 for the series. All registration fees include a technical T-shirt.

Those interested can learn more and register online.

Arlington County police will close some roads in the neighborhood to accommodate the events, from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. every Friday.

Between those times, northbound lanes of Crystal Drive between 26th Street S. and 12th Street S., northbound and southbound lanes of Long Bridge Drive as well as all traffic around 6th Street S, 10th Street S. and S. Ball Street will be closed. Southbound lanes of Crystal Drive will remain open.

In addition to closures, street parking will also be restricted. Illegally parked cars may be ticketed or towed.

New Elementary School By Thomas Jefferson Middle Enters Critical Phase

By Chris Teale
1/5

The proposed elementary school on the site of Thomas Jefferson Middle School is on track for County Board approval next month.

The project will be discussed by the county Planning Commission on April 5. It is slated to be heard by the County Board on April 22.

The new elementary school at 125 S. Old Glebe Road would house the current Patrick Henry Elementary School at 701 S. Highland Street and provide 725 seats. A naming process for the new school is underway. It is projected to cost $59 million and be open in September 2019.

A previous report by county staff noted the unique nature of the project as it was evaluated by both Arlington Public Schools’ Building Level Planning Committee and the county’s Public Facilities Review Committee.

But concerns remain over the project, particularly the impact of construction on the 3.85-acre site.

A tipster emailed ARLnow to say that while construction is underway, a large portion of the western parcel of the campus will be unavailable for public use, limiting access to the middle school. The tipster said this may put the programs at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theater “at risk of failure.”

Meanwhile, parking at the community center along 2nd Street S. will be reduced during the day, as portions will be used as drop-off and pick-up points for the middle school. And school staff will park in the east lot at S. Irving Street and 2nd Street S.

Previously, community members have also raised concerns about the impact of construction on nearby homes and the effect moving a sidewalk north will have on existing mature trees and green space.

In the last few weeks, the project has been examined by the Urban Forestry Commission; the Environment and Energy Conservation Commission; and the Park and Recreation Commission. It will also go before the Transportation Commission in April 3, before heading to the Planning Commission two days later.

Residents Oppose Proposed Cuts At Budget Hearing

By Chris Teale
1/3

Numerous Arlington residents spoke out last night against the County Manager’s “optional” proposed cuts to lessen a planned tax increase.

The County Board’s public hearing Tuesday saw opposition to suggested cuts to the Lee Highway Planning Initiative, snow removal from trails and the Glencarlyn Library among other programs.

County Manager Mark Schwartz proposed a $1.2 billion budget for FY 2018 that includes a tax increase of 2 cents per $100 of assessed value. One cent apiece would go towards Arlington Public Schools and Metro’s increased funding needs.

After direction from County Board members, Schwartz produced a version that would only have a 1-cent increase and cuts elsewhere to make up the difference.

But the suggested cut to funding Lee Highway planning — which would shelve the project until further notice — brought strong opposition from residents and business owners. Under the $500,000 budget cut, the Lee Highway Alliance, a grassroots partnership that looks to improve the quality of life along the corridor, would lose all $60,000 of its county funding, according to speakers.

“The Lee Highway Alliance is the Arlington way: it’s a grassroots effort that sprung up as we realized the need for planning in this corridor,” said Karen Kumm Morris, a representative of the Rock Spring Civic Association.

“A good idea is meaningless without the courage to act,” agreed Sandi Chesrown, an executive board member on the Waverly Hills Civic Association.

Also coming under fire was the plan to cut the Glencarlyn Branch Library’s days of operation from six to two, but it brought one of the two-hour hearing’s lighter moments.

Jeffrey Liteman, representing the Glencarlyn Civic Association, first unfurled a 20-foot petition signed in opposition to the planned cuts. He then sang and played guitar in support of the library, backed by other attendees holding signs behind him.

“It’s the heart of the community, two days are not enough,” he sang.

Members of the county’s Community Services Board advocated for various budget requests, including new case managers for those with developmental disabilities, six placements in a mental health group home and a $75,000 study to determine services for young adults on the autism spectrum.

Among the other topics discussed Tuesday night:

  • Arlington Public Schools and the need to fill the approximately $13 million funding gap between Schwartz’s plan and Superintendent Patrick Murphy’s proposed $617 million budget.
  • Various solutions to increase the county’s affordable housing stock, including more funding for housing grants and a higher zoning fee for apartment developers.
  • Funding for the county’s streetlight repair program, which is in line to receive a big boost under Schwartz’s proposed budget but not under his optional cuts.
  • Opposition to an optional cut to the $50,000 program that removes snow from local trails with the same priority as street snow removal.
  • The financial literacy program within the Virginia Cooperative Extension and permanent county funding for the financial education program associate position to run it.

Earlier this month, opinion columnist Mark Kelly suggested that Schwartz’s optional cuts were purposefully unpalatable, “designed to make taxpayers believe there are few desirable options when it comes to trimming the budget.” Schwartz, in a statement, said making budget cut recommendations “is always difficult, particularly given the growing demands and potential impacts on our community.’

The County Board will return for another public hearing tomorrow night, this time about the proposed tax rate and fee hikes. The budget is slated for final adoption on April 22.

The Board Room To Move Into Former Sehkraft Brewery Space

By Chris Teale
1/3

The former home of Sehkraft Brewery will not be vacant for long, as The Board Room looks set to move in.

Sehkraft closed its doors at 925 N. Garfield Street in the Garfield Park apartment complex in January.

But in an email to residents on Sunday obtained by ARLnow, Garfield Park property manager Christin D’Amato said The Board Room will take over the first-floor retail space in Clarendon.

It currently has a location in Dupont Circle and, according to the email, shares some ownership with Carpool in Ballston, which is set to shutter next month after staying open for months on borrowed time.

The Board Room combines an extensive drinks menu with board games, available for rent for a flat fee of $2. The D.C. location does not have its own kitchen, but it encourages visitors to bring their own food if they wish.

The new location, The Board Room’s first in Virginia, also looks set to include a champagne lounge.

More from D’Amato’s email:

The Board Room D.C. location serves 21 draft lines and offers more than 50 different board games for customers to enjoy. Board Room VA will also feature a number of private party spaces and will offer a full menu and happy hour specials. Board Room VA will partner with a local brewer to keep the microbrewery operating and offer a number of in-house products. In addition, Ms. Peacock’s Champagne Lounge will offer a wide variety of champagnes and craft cocktails.

Representatives with The Board Room have thus far not responded to a request for comment.

Garage Complete As Pentagon Centre Project Continues Apace

By Chris Teale
1/8

The parking garage is complete and ground is being cleared in the first phase of redeveloping Pentagon Centre.

The plan by Kimco Realty calls for a 450-space parking garage, two residential towers with 690 units and 25,000 square feet of new retail space.

And the projected completion date of early 2019 appears to be within the company’s grasp.

The garage was completed last year, and now attention shifts to building the residential towers. One will be 25 stories, while another will be 11 stories. Cranes and diggers dot the area as workers get closer to laying the foundations for those towers. Meanwhile, the Pentagon City Metro station entrance nearby remains open as normal under the scaffolding.

Originally, Kimco had planned to construct the complex’s office space first. But the high office vacancy rate in the county convinced the firm to build the residential portion before.

Future phases of the project — planned to begin at least 20 years after this first phase — would see the demolition of the main mall building and the Costco, replacing it with three office buildings, a hotel and a park along S. Fern Street. Site plans for those phases have not been submitted.

Taste of Arlington To Be Ticketed Event For First Time

By Chris Teale

(Updated at 2:30 p.m. on 3/29/17) You’ll need a paid wristband to get into Taste of Arlington this year.

Previously a free event, attendees at this year’s festival on May 21 will need to pay $5-15 for admission ($5 is the current early bird price) then pay an additional $5 for each drink ticket and $1-5 for each taste, paid directly to the restaurant or food truck.

Tickets can be bought online or on the BallstonConnect mobile app before the festival, or in person on the day. Admission to the event’s Family Zone will be free.

Many restaurants and food trucks will accept cash and credit cards, although some may only take cash. A number of ATMs will be on site.

Previously, attendees had to buy a $30-40 book of tickets to sample the food at the various restaurant booths; now it’s a la carte. The drink ticket is $1-3 less expensive than an equivalent pour last year, a spokesman pointed out.

Also a change from previous years is the Family Zone, which will combine the once separate KidZone and BarkPark into one area at Oakland Park. Admission fees will be charged for both.

More than 50 restaurants, food trucks and chefs are expected to participate, including international cuisine.

Restaurants will compete in the “Best of the Best” food competition in the following categories: Best Appetizer, Best Brunch, Best Fast Casual Entrée, Best Fine Dining Entrée, Best Dessert and Fan Favorite. Winners will be announced at 5 p.m. on the main concert stage.

This year’s festival has also moved closer to the Virginia Square Metro station on Wilson Boulevard, and stretches along Wilson from N. Randolph Street to N. Nelson Street. It will last from noon to 6 p.m.

Among the musicians performing are His Dream Of Lions, Jeff From Accounting, Burnt Sienna and the Jack Diamond-Jim Steed Band.

Last year, Taste of Arlington raised $40,000 for BallstonGives, the charitable arm of the Ballston Business Improvement District, and the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

DEVELOPING: Police Investigate Shots Fired Call on N. Adams Street

By Chris Teale
1/5

(Updated 4:55 p.m.) A man has been found dead inside a residence on N. Adams Street where police were investigating a shots fired called.

There is no threat to the public, according to Arlington County Police, and the investigation is ongoing.

Police said sheriff’s deputies were serving an eviction notice when they heard a single gunshot.

Officers responded to reports of gunshots being heard on the 2000 block of N. Adams Street, near the Lyon Village neighborhood, around noon Tuesday.

Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage said police were trying to determine whether shots were fired from inside the building.

A local resident reported seeing nearly a dozen police cars at the nearby intersection with Lee Highway.

According to scanner traffic, police were joined in the investigation by sheriff’s deputies, and were searching inside the apartment building as well as around its perimeter. Other officers were directing vehicles around the scene and pedestrians going in and out of the building lobby.

Young Democrats Upset About Use of Caucus in County Board Race

By Chris Teale

Local Democrats’ decision to choose a County Board nominee by caucus not primary has drawn the ire of some of its younger members.

At the Virginia Young Democrats’ annual convention earlier this month, the Arlington Young Democrats spearheaded a resolution to encourage the use of primary elections in local and statewide races.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee will use a so-called “firehouse primary” to choose a nominee to run to succeed retiring County Board chair Jay Fisette. Four candidates will be on the ballot: Peter Fallon, Erik Gutshall, Kim Klingler and Vivek Patil.

The unassembled caucus, in which any registered voter can show up, fill out a ballot and leave, will be held alongside the School Board caucus on May 9, 11 and 13 at Key Elementary School, Drew Model School and Washington-Lee High School, respectively. Candidates are ranked in order of preference by attendees.

But Maggie Davis, president of the Arlington Young Democrats, said such a system does not help more young voters get involved in the nomination process.

“It is incredibly difficult for a young person likely working multiple jobs with very little flexible free time to access the caucus,” Davis said. “There’s no in-person absentee voting, no absentee voting and the caucus only happens on certain times. And the Thursday night location [Drew Model School] is off the Metro corridor.”

ACDC chair Kip Malinosky said the decision to use a caucus instead of a primary would encourage candidates to move away from negative campaigning, especially as it uses a ranking system.

“The issue is that neither system is perfect,” Malinosky said. “Obviously, we always want to see more people vote and make it easier for people to vote. On the other hand, primaries, especially when it’s just plurality, can be very negative.”

The Arlington Young Democrats introduced their resolution at the national convention to some reluctance from smaller jurisdictions, worried about the financial burden of funding a primary. But Davis said the principle of allowing as many people to vote as possible and all precinct voting stations being open won the day.

“It was generally accepted that we should have more open and transparent electoral processes,” she said.

Davis said the addition of a third day for caucus voting was a good compromise by ACDC, but that the Young Democrats still wish to see some kind of absentee voting introduced to allow as many people as possible to vote if they wish, even if they are absent on polling day.

Malinosky rejected the idea that a caucus allows the local party to who is chosen as the eventual nominee, and emphasized the need for positive campaigning. He added that the use of a caucus this year does not set a precedent for future nominating contests.

“If you look at the literature on political turnout, negative campaigning can really sink political turnout,” he said. “What we want to do as a party to influence it is have positive campaigning. But I don’t think there’s an end-all, be-all perfect answer for caucuses vs. primaries.”

App For Pet Lovers Set To Go Live Next Month

By Chris Teale

Startup Monday header

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

Starting in late April, cat and dog owners can track their pets and find animal-friendly places to eat and stay in one place.

Set to hit major app stores next month, Roaming Tails will provide one platform for all pet owners’ biggest needs. Ballston resident Jaime Bowerman founded the company in 2014, inspired by Flipflop, her Daschund.

“In talking to many other pet parents, they seemed to have similar sorts of problems, and there’s really no good place to find accurate data that tells us where we can take our pets,” Bowerman said. “She also had a mind of her own like most dogs do, and there had been a time where I thought she was missing, which was kind of scary.”

Pets are connected to their owners through a tag around their neck, which connects to the app via Bluetooth. That tag then integrates with the app to provide medical records, and has a long battery life of upwards of a year.

The app will be available for free download. Tag services would be available for a one-off payment of $39.99, but no monthly fees.

And while the Bluetooth capabilities limit the range of separation between an owner and their pet to about 50 yards, Bowerman said there has progress on that front.

In January, company employees attended the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and agreed to partner with a major tag provider to have tags that use Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth.

Bowerman said that combined with the Ballston Business Improvement District’s initiative to deliver free wi-fi in the neighborhood’s public spaces can help grow the product’s use.

“What we’re really hoping to do on launch in early April is to make [Ballston] the most pet-friendly place possible that we can,” she said. “It’s pretty exciting technology.”

With the launch a matter of weeks away, Bowerman said she and her colleagues are working to get the app as perfect as possible by testing it among themselves. But with hopes of partnerships with pet stores and veterinarians, they have grand ambitions.

Roaming Tails also could be at the forefront of partnerships with local pet-friendly restaurants, Bowerman said.

“Let’s say you’re walking past a restaurant with our tag, what happens is your phone will bark at you and say, ‘Bring Fido in for two-for-one drinks,'” she said. “It really is a way for restaurants to easily market to people with pets and to easily set up rewards programs and things like that.”

Bowerman said with the way the relationship is evolving between pets and their owners, this app can fill a valuable need in one place.

“Technology is changing the way we life live with our pets, but unfortunately it just takes a lot of apps to enhance the quality of life or change that,” she said. “What we have done is taken most features and put them on one platform that allows you to do these things.”

Cafe And Lounge Coming To Columbia Pike

By Chris Teale
1/2

A new cafe appears to be arriving at the Columbia Place condo complex near Columbia Pike

Building permit applications have been filed with the county for a “new cafe and lounge in an existing mixed used building” at 1107 S. Walter Reed Drive.

Currently, the 14-unit building also hosts the Pureluxe Nails and Spa nail salon on its first floor. It is across the street from a branch of the BB&T Bank and the Avalon apartment building (formerly the Halstead), and is a block from Columbia Pike.

But there appears to be plenty of work to be done ahead of the new cafe’s opening.

The county’s online permitting system notes that permit applications in building, mechanical, plumbing and zoning categories have been rejected since the initial paperwork was filed March 8.

There are two potential cafe competitors nearby: Starbucks and Rappahannock Coffee, which is slated for redevelopment.

A spokeswoman for the county’s planning department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hat tip to Chris Slatt

Arlington Agenda: March 27-April 2

By Chris Teale

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.

Tuesday

Hospitality Awards
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel (2800 S. Potomac Avenue)
Time: 7:30-9:30 a.m.

Honor exceptional members of Arlington’s hospitality industry. The event recognizes front-line workers in the hospitality industry, including restaurants, tourist attractions and hotels.

Thursday

Carlos Mencia Live
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: Thursday 7:45 p.m.; Friday 7:30 and 10 p.m.; Saturday 7 and 10 p.m.

Entertainer and comic Carlos Mencia goes back to his comedic roots, performing at a number of comedy stores throughout the country and sharing his newest material with smaller audiences.

Yorktown High School Theatre’s Pippin*
Yorktown High School Auditorium (5200 Yorktown Blvd.)
Time: Thursday 7 p.m.; Friday 7 p.m.; Saturday 2 and 7 p.m.

Yorktown High School presents a spectacular show that tells the story of young prince Pippin, who searches for the secret to true happiness and fulfillment – on the battlefield, in relationships and among the intrigues of political power.

Friday

Washington-Lee International Night
Washington-Lee High School (1301 N. Stafford Street)
Time: 6:30-10 p.m.

Washington-Lee High School’s International Club will be hosting its second annual International Night. There will be performances from numerous cultures, followed by free food, music and a fashion show in which all guests can participate.

Saturday

Handmade Arlington 2017 *
Swanson Middle School (5800 Washington Blvd.)
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

A record number of artisans debut a range of arts and crafts including photography; pottery; jewelry; stationary; home accessories and cleaning products; bags, purses, scarves and other works made from fabrics.

Nova Fencing Club Open House *
Nova Fencing Club (3431 Carlin Springs Road, Suite E)
Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

All ages can try the sport of fencing. Take free mini-classes, get discounts for future lessons and more. The event will be split into two separate floors, with classes including a general introduction to fencing, epee, saber and foil classes.

Sunday

Crescendo Concert *
The Jefferson (900 N. Taylor Street)
Time: 3-4:30 p.m.

A concert as a part of the Arlington Philharmonic’s “Music in Your Home” initiative. Trios and quartets will perform Mendelssohn and Beethoven, followed by the entire ensemble playing several popular John Williams pieces.

2017 Sharon McGowan Breast Health Fund Benefit *
Mercedes-Benz Arlington (585 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 5-8 p.m.

A fundraising event that includes live music, local food and drink, unique silent auction items from local businesses and more. All money raised supports the fund’s work to prevent breast cancer among uninsured men and women.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

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