Feature

Arts Focus: Arts Forward Fund Created to Buoy Arts Organizations Impacted by COVID-19

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

Recognizing the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on arts and culture organizations throughout the region, the Greater Washington Community Foundation and The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation have joined with seven other funders to launch the $1 million Arts Forward Fund to support arts and culture organizations in the D.C. region as they make essential shifts needed to continue their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and respond to the nationwide movement for racial justice.

Arts Forward Fund will make grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to support short-term capacity-building, training, and innovation.

Arts Forward Fund will prioritize organizations that serve Black, Indigenous and other communities of color, and organizations with limited access to philanthropic capital. It will also prioritize requests that address longstanding racial inequities in organizations, in the arts and culture field, and in the broader community.

Arts and culture organizations with annual revenue of less than $10 million in their most recently completed fiscal year are eligible to apply, provided they serve the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, and Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax in Virginia.

Informational webinars will take place on August 14 and 20, in advance of the deadline for application. The application deadline is August 27, and grant decisions will be made on or before September 21. More details and the call for applications are available here.

#ArtsForwardFund

Arlington Pet of the Week: Lou

By ARLnow.com
1/7

Meet Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week, Lou, an adopted cat who just celebrated turning 4.

Here is what Lou’s owner had to say about his life here in Arlington:

“We can’t guarantee he’ll make it to 4 years old,” the adoption counselor told me. He was 2 already. As an adult cat diagnosed with Feline Leukemia, he was barely noticed in comparison to the shelter’s kittens. Under lots of goop, crust, and a squint that looked painful, you could catch a glimpse of his sparkling green eyes. There was no way I was leaving without him. I named him Louis, and talked to him the whole ride home about how we would turn my apartment into a castle for him. My plan was to spoil him with endless love for as long as I could. After lots of research, hard work, and medicine, he transformed so much that I often forget he used to be sick. The real Lou began to shine as he got healthier, and getting to know him was an adventure full of surprises. I am beyond happy to report that Lou turned 4 on July 25th!

Lou’s most predominant feature is that his tongue is ALWAYS sticking out, giving everyone he meets lots of questions but even more smiles. The vet confirmed this was simply a goofy quirk of his. He loves being picked up and bounced like a baby. If it’s been too long since he was last cradled, he’ll meow and stand on your feet. He asks for belly scratches by fully extending his legs into a gymnast-like split complete with pointed toes. When home alone, if you look through the window into our living room, you’ll see him sitting patiently right behind the door staring at the handle. As soon as I get home, he’s eager to ask me about my day and tell me all about his. You can hold entire conversations with him like he really understands you. He doesn’t care for catnip but is a madman for mayonnaise and butter. If you leave the fridge open too long, he’ll swipe a stick of butter and carry it off to lick it like a popsicle. He sleeps in bed like a human with his head on a pillow and his body tucked into the covers (taking up as much space as a human, too).

He’s been thrilled that COVID caused me to be home all the time. During the day time he insists on helping with chores, like using his paw to guide the broom while you sweep or carefully inspecting tabletops after they’re wiped down. He’ll sit directly in front of your webcam if he’s impatient for your Zoom meeting to end. When not right by your side, you can find him in the closet in a bin of stuffed animals, just like the scene from E.T. He’s looking forward to December where his picture is featured on the Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s calendar.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

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 may only be halfway through the week, but some relaxation (hopefully) is just over the horizon.

Saturday, August 15 is National Relaxation Day.

And yes, even on the outskirts of our nation’s capital and within Arlington County’s diverse landscape, there are plenty of places to unwind and relax. Throughout the years, we’ve heard it directly from so many clients: People love living in Arlington County because there are the many comforts that come with urban living as well as plenty of tranquil places to enjoy, too.

Among our team’s favorite spots are the Crystal City Water Park, which boasts ample shade, an expansive water feature and spots primed for a picnic. There’s also Long Bridge Park, with Potomac River views and a scenic garden. And, we’re just touching on a couple of places here, folks.

If and when you’re ready to call the multifaceted paradise that is Arlington County home, the time-tested team at Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to roll on your behalf. Until then, here’s to wonderful week and relaxing weekend.

Now on to this week’s Just Reduced figures.

As of August 10, there are 146 detached homes, 39 townhouses and 232 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 35 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: Real Estate Customs and Contracts Vary Significantly by Market

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: Is it normal for sellers to leave appliances behind for the next owner?

Answer: A friend of mine is moving in Southern California and mentioned having to move his refrigerator to the new house, which I found odd, but apparently, it’s common in California and other parts of the country. My theory is that one day somebody decided to take their coveted refrigerator with them and it created a chain reaction of everybody having to take their appliances with them after that!

Over the years, I’ve picked up on customs and contract terms that differ significantly here from other markets. I thought I’d come up with a list of standard customs and contract terms in Northern Virginia that often come as a surprise to buyers and homeowners who have transacted in other markets.

I’d love to hear from readers in the comments about other local practices that surprised you if you were used to real estate customs and contracts in another market.

  • Appliances Convey: All of the appliances, including washer/dryer, have conveyed (transferred to the next owner) in every transaction I’ve been part of. Buyers and sellers have to agree during negotiations what appliances and other items do or do not convey.
  • No Individual Attorneys: It’s rare for an attorney outside of the Title Company to be involved in a transaction. The same Title Company almost always works on behalf of both parties (without bias).
  • (Lack of) Seller Disclosures: Virginia is one of the few “Buyer Beware” (Caveat Emptor) states in the country; which essentially means that sellers in Virginia do not have to disclose any property defects, but they can’t hide them or lie about them either. For homes built before 1978, there’s a one-page lead disclosure form for a seller to note if they’re aware of the existence of lead paint on the property. Most states, including D.C. and MD, have lengthy seller-disclosure forms.
  • Dual Agency Allowed, Not Common: Dual Agency, as defined in Virginia, is when one agent represents the buyer and seller on the same transaction. While allowed, if both parties sign-off, it is pretty uncommon.
  • No Response/Counter Deadline: The contract does not require either party to respond to an offer or counter within a certain period of time unless one party writes in their own deadline.
  • Earnest Money Deposits/Escrows: It is customary for the deposit (EMD/Escrow) buyers make to secure the contract to be due within 3-5 days of ratification (terms accepted by both parties) and the deposit is usually 1-5% of the purchase price.
  • Days: Contractual obligations are usually measured in days from ratification. A “day” in Northern Virginia contracts is any calendar day, no skipping weekends or holidays, and ends at 9 p.m.

What’s the takeaway here? Even if you have real estate experience in other markets or past experience in our local market, it’s always good to refresh yourself on local customs and contracts.

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

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to set-up an in-person meeting to discuss local real estate, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at www.EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.

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

Arlington Cybersecurity Startup Gets Funding Boost

By Vernon Miles

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow, StartupMonday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. Monday Properties is proudly featuring Shirlington Gateway. Say hello to the new 2800 Shirlington, which recently delivered a brand-new lobby and upgraded fitness center. Experience a prime location and enjoy being steps from Shirlington Village, a large retail hub with a variety of unique restaurants and shopping options. Spec suites with bright open plans and modern finishes are under construction and will deliver soon!

Ballston startup HyperQube recently announced a new batch of funding that will help boost its growth efforts.

The startup specializes in taking a company’s digital infrastructure, cloning it, then throwing every hack and virus imaginable at the clone to see what gets through. Once those weaknesses are found, HyperQube helps companies review, document, and fix their code to be more secure.

HyperQube raised $2.5 million in seed funding, primarily from Leawood Venture Capital, a fairly small Kansas-based investment group that also recently financed Sorcero, a language intelligence startup based out of D.C.

Craig Stevenson, HyperQube’s founder and CEO, said that more companies moving towards working from home as a result of the pandemic will result in an increased necessity to maintain safe and stable online infrastructure.

“With the growing remote workforce necessitating a rush to the cloud, HyperQube is poised to accelerate and manage that process while simultaneously reducing costs and enhancing security,” Stevenson said in a press release.

Beyond cybersecurity, HyperQube’s cloned structures allow companies to test and alter code on their websites safely to see what the results look like without compromising their main website.

The press release said HyperQube plans to use the funding to expand the sales, marketing, and engineering teams.

Photo via HyperCube

Legal Insider: Supreme Court Rules that Sexual Orientation Discrimination is Illegal

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.

The U.S. Supreme Court, on June 15, 2020, by a 6-3 vote, in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County, ruled that federal law protects gay and transgender workers (or applicants) from employment discrimination. A copy of the new landmark Supreme Court case is provided here.

In short, the new court case found that “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII” of the Civil Rights Act.” This is a landmark decision, the extent of which will evolve in the years to come as other courts start hearing these types of employment discrimination cases.

Why is the Ruling Important?

The major reason why the Supreme Court decision is so important is that there have been few protections against sexual orientation discrimination (even fewer for transgender discrimination) under various state laws. Less than one-half of the states have laws banning sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination (Virginia enacted one recently).

For the first time, employees in all 50 states have protections from this type of discrimination. This ruling makes it just as illegal under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for an employer to discriminate against someone for being gay or transgender as it does for employers to discriminate against employees based on race, sex or religion.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, in drafting the Supreme Court’s decision, reasoned that while the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, the language used at the time by Congress had many unintended consequences at the time which have come to light over the past 56 years. Justice Gorsuch believed that the language in the 1964 law applied to gay and transgender employees:

“In Title VII, Congress adopted broad language making it illegal for an employer to rely on an employee’s sex when deciding to fire that employee. We do not hesitate to recognize today a necessary consequence of that legislative choice: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.”

Three Justices disagreed, including Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh.

What does the Ruling Mean?

The new Supreme Court ruling means that employees (or applicants) who are fired, not hired, or otherwise discriminated against at work because they are gay or transgender, will be able to file equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaints and sue their employers in federal court for illegal discrimination.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is currently revising their website to account for this new decision and their role in enforcing the decision of the Supreme Court in the 50 states.

Because the Civil Rights Act applies to employers with 15 or more employees, there remains a gap in protections for gay and transgender employees in the 25 or so states without state law protections. There is also the hope that some states that don’t specifically protect gay or transgender employees from discrimination may interpret their own civil rights laws to now include such protections taking a cue from the U.S. Supreme Court.

In short, it is the first federal step in protecting gay and transgender employees from employment discrimination. It is also long overdue.

Contact Us

If you are in need of employment law 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: Last Chance for Solar!

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.

Arlington’s Solar Co-op is still open to new members — but only for two more weeks!

The sign-up deadline is August 21!

You’re invited to our last free webinar to learn about going solar with the co-op.

You’ll get the scoop on:

  • Things to consider when putting solar panels on your home
  • Ways to finance your new solar system
  • How to add a charger for your electric vehicle
  • What it means to go solar with the Arlington Solar Co-op. (Spoiler alert: going solar at a discounted group rate, with expert guidance throughout the process.)

You’ll get answers to these questions and more:

  • Is my roof good for solar?
  • How does solar technology even work?
  • What are the benefits of going solar?
  • What local and federal laws do I need to know about?
  • How can the solar co-op save me money?
  • How can I get an electric vehicle charger for my home?

Take advantage of one of the last big federal solar tax credits. This year the solar tax credit will be 26 percent. In 2021, it will be 22 percent and in 2022 and beyond, it won’t be available for homeowners at all.

Please RSVP and join us to learn more:

August 11 at 12 p.m. — Solar and Electric Vehicle Charger Info Session

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:

6507 36th Street N.
5 BD/5 BA, 2 half bath single-family home
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $2,095,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

5113 25th Place N.
4 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Century 21 Redwood Realty
Listed: $1,570,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

 

4621 26th Street N.
4 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Re/Max Distinctive Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $1,059,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

 

1881 N. Nash Street #1708
1 BD/1 BA, 1 half bath condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $935,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

1320 N. Wayne Street #406
3 BD/3 BA condo
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $799,900
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

1020 N. Highland Street #812
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $674,999
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

2825 S. Abingdon Street B
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, Llc
Listed: $545,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 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.

Every once in a while, a truly unique, captivating and inspiring home comes to market in Arlington. This week, the Andors Real Estate Group is proud to present a home that has had the same owner since 1960 and is actually two-of-a-kind.

In 1796, the original (Arch Hall) was built in Alexandria and served as the residence for Lewis Lawrence, Nelly Parke Custis and their children when they were not at their Woodlawn Plantation. That property would later be deconstructed and rebuilt in Belmont Bay on a prominent piece of land overlooking the Potomac.

In 1941, a replica of the original was built in Arlington, at 2515 Fort Scott Drive. It was painstakingly built to be as true a rendering of the original as possible, and it has had only two owners.

2515 Fort Scott Drive boasts a grand entry, generous rooms and a graceful flow that will capture your imagination and provide a home for generations. Beautifully sited on a nearly 14,000 sq. ft. corner lot with mature trees and plenty of privacy, it has over 4,300 sq. ft. of finished space on the main and upper levels with a partially finished walk-out lower level. The grand arched entryway runs from front to rear and provides a central focal point for gracious living in this unique home. Its incomparable close-in location is near Metro, schools, shopping, the Pentagon and Amazon’s new National Landing headquarters.

This past week in Arlington, sellers listed some 88 properties for sale while buyers ratified 68 contracts. There are currently 351 homes for sale in Arlington. 126 are detached homes, 25 are townhouses/semi-detached, and 200 are condos. Average days on market (DOM) is 51 and median DOM is 29.

The median list price of currently available properties is $799,900, while the average is $997,537. As these prices continue to fall, and inventory among condos steadily builds, it’s starting to look like condos are falling more out of favor, while the availability of affordable single-family houses is low and new ones get absorbed weekly.

Last year for the same week, sellers listed 41 homes and buyers ratified 57 contracts.

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.

Statutes of Liberty: USCIS Fees Increase By Twenty Percent, Green Card Application Prices Double

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is by James Montana, Esq. and Doran Shemin, Esq., practicing attorneys at Steelyard LLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Arlington, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact James for an appointment.

We warned you that USCIS fees were skyrocketing. We were right.

Now, thanks to the publication of a new Final Rule in the Federal Register, we can give you the details. We’re hoping that this article will prevent someone, somewhere, from having a benefit application rejected due to an improper fee. So please read this carefully, and then pay a lawyer to do it for you anyway.

First, the highlights (and lowlights):

$50 Fee for Asylum Applications

For the first time in memory, asylum applicants will be charged a fee to apply for asylum. This fee applies to every asylum applicant. It applies to asylum applicants who are sitting in detention facilities without the ability to work and earn money; it applies to asylum applicants who are five years old. This fee is not waivable.

$550 Fee for First Asylum-based Work Permit Application

For the first time in memory, asylum applicants will be charged a fee to apply for their first work permit. (The logic was: if you aren’t allowed to work legally, it would be immoral to charge you a fee to apply to work.)

Green Card Application Fees Technically Decrease by $95 but Effectively Increase by About $1,000

This is extremely unwelcome news. The application for a green card formerly cost $1,225; now it costs $1,130. However, as a matter of ordinary, prudent practice, most immigration attorneys file work permit and travel permit applications with the green card application. These applications were formerly ‘bundled’ with the I-485 fee, and included at no additional cost. That is no longer true. Now, to apply for a green card, a work permit and a travel permit, the total cost is $2,270. In addition, if USCIS fails to adjudicate the application within a year — as it frequently does — the applicant will have to pay a further $1,040 to renew his work and travel privileges.

Green Card Renewal Fees Decrease by $125 

This is welcome news. The current fee for a green card renewal is $540; the new fee is $415. USCIS will also discount the renewal fee by a further $10, to $405, if you file online. Caution: the online system is as useless as a bag of hammers. We recommend filing on paper.

Form I-751 Petition Fees Increase by $120  

If you have your green card via a relatively new marriage to a U.S. citizen, the green card is only valid for two years. After one year and nine months, you generally have to apply to make your green card ‘permanent’ and valid for ten years. The fee for that was $680; now it is $760.

Naturalization Application Fees Increase by 60%

This is a huge deal. Right now, it costs $725 to apply for naturalization, which is already a heavy burden for poorer folks. The new fee will be $1,160. Ordinary economic incentives matter. This will mean fewer immigrants naturalizing, and therefore fewer naturalized voters. (Side note: We work pro bono with a nonprofit that helps low-income Arlingtonians naturalize for free: PM us if you have a referral.)

There are lots of other adjustments to the fees; read here for the details. The new fees go into effect on October 2, 2020. If you apply before then with the higher fee, your application will be rejected; if you apply later with the lower fee, your application will be rejected.

Now as ever, we suggest hiring competent counsel. Having a work permit application rejected delays starting your job for six weeks — in our experience, that’s how long it takes USCIS to open an envelope, see the check, and spin it around.

Our fees aren’t going up, and we don’t charge to answer questions on ARLnow. As always, we welcome any comments and will do our best to respond.

Biz Talk: Arlington Economic Development and Arlington Chamber of Commerce Partner on Return to the Workplace Toolkit

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/2

This article was cosponsored by Arlington Economic Development and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

As companies throughout Arlington begin to make plans for a return to the workplace, Arlington Economic Development and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce have partnered to release the Return to the Workplace Toolkit. The toolkit is a resource designed to aid Arlington’s businesses in safely welcoming back employees and customers when they choose to do so.

The toolkit consists of an online collection of signage and informational materials that businesses may print and display in their spaces. The two organizations are also printing 1,000 copies of the two most critical posters, with content designed by the CDC and required under Forward Virginia guidance.

Arlington businesses may pick up copies of the two posters and a complimentary mask at a distribution event to be held Wednesday, August 12 from 2-4 p.m. at the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, 2009 14th Street N., Suite 100.

The online toolkit features numerous printable posters and additional digital resources aimed at educating business leaders and employees, including several recorded webinars with additional return-to-work webinars scheduled for the coming months.

The goal of the digital toolkit is to organize and simplify the abundance of information and guidelines on returning to the workplace for Arlington companies grappling with the responsibility and complexities associated with such a decision. The content will continue to grow and adapt as the needs of the business community continue to develop.

Arlington Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Kate Bates, reaffirms this. “Operating a business in standard times takes a tremendous amount of work,” Bates said. “The coronavirus pandemic has brought an unparalleled hardship to our businesses as they work to pivot their operations while keeping their employees and customers safe. We want to help make it just a bit easier to keep up with the regulations and best practices by compiling the key materials into this toolkit.”

AED Director, Telly Tucker, has directed staff to focus on initiatives that will support the business community in safely bringing employees back into the office when appropriate. “While the timing of a large return to the office is still uncertain for many companies, AED’s goal is to ensure that the business community feels welcomed, supported, and prepared to return to the office when they choose to do so,” said Tucker. “The digital toolkit resources are meant to help inform these decisions and ease the burden on Arlington businesses when a decision to return is made.”

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