Feature

Crystal City-Based Technology Association Invests in Diversity-Focused Companies

By Vernon Miles

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.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), formerly the Consumer Electronics Association, has launched a new initiative to invest in companies that make a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The organization, headquartered at 1919 S. Eads Street in Crystal City, announced in January that it planned to invest $10 million into an effort to support diversity in the tech industry.

The first two companies to receive funding were both New York-based companies Harlem Capital Partners and SoGal Ventures, respectively minority-owned and female-led venture capital firms.

“For innovation to reach its fullest potential, different voices and perspectives must have an opportunity to come together in our workforce,” said Tiffany Moore, senior vice president of CTA said in a press release. “CTA is committed to finding solutions through education, investment, membership and leading by example.”

The amount disclosed to each company was not made public.

Photo via Consumer Technology Association

Legal Insider: New Virginia Law Restricts Non-Disclosure Agreements

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 Kimberly H. Berry, Esq.

A new Virginia employment law has gone into effect that restricts what employees and employers can agree to in non-disclosure agreements as a condition of the employee’s employment.

On February 22, 2019, the Virginia Governor signed off on House Bill 1820, affecting all Virginia employers. HB 1820 was unanimously passed by both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate during the Virginia General Assembly 2019 Regular Session.

The new law specifically limits the scope of non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements between employees and employers regarding the disclosure or concealment of sexual assault claims.

The new law, at Va. Code § 40.1-28.01, prohibits a Virginia employer from requiring an employee or prospective employee from agreeing to a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement that attempts to conceal the details relating to a claim of sexual assault as a condition of employment. Under the new Virginia law, claims of sexual assault include claims of rape, forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and sexual battery.

Va. Code § 40.1-28.01 provides that these types of settlement provisions are contrary to public policy, void and unenforceable in the courts. Va. Code § 40.1-28.01 further provides that the new prohibition on non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements will in no way limit other grounds that exist in law or equity for the unenforceability of any such agreement or any provision of such agreement.

The new law can affect new and existing non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements that attempt to hide claims of sexual assaults related to employment.

Conclusion

If you need assistance with a federal retirement or an employment issue, please contact our office at (703) 668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc.

New Homes in Arlington: July 26

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Welcome to New Homes, a biweekly column highlighting the new construction real estate market, written by Conor Sullivan and Dave Moya of Three Stones Residential at Keller Williams Realty. We are here to share our experience and expertise in lot acquisition, financing and construction of custom homes. 

With increased interest of lowering our environmental impact and reducing monthly costs in homes, homeowners are looking to the installation of green features as they look to build new or upgrade their current home.

Making a few energy efficient upgrades will not only help the environment, but also increase the value of your home.

Solar Panels

If you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels to power your home, now is the time to do it. While the initial installation costs may be a bit daunting, there is a 30% federal renewable-energy tax credit available in 2019. To qualify, your system must be placed and in service (or ready for inspection) by December 31, 2019.

In 2020 the tax credit will fall to 26%; 2021 it will fall to 22%, and after that it is no longer available. With significant estimated savings in the first year as utility rates continue to rise, the system is projected to pay for itself in the first 10 years.

Geo-Thermal HVAC

These heating and cooling systems work by utilizing ground’s natural temperature to help regulate the temperature in your home without burning fuel or emitting greenhouse gases. The system consisting of underground piping, called group loop, and an indoor heat pump, work to help heat in the winter and cool in the summer.

We recommend contacting a qualified geothermal heat pump contractor or engineer to give an estimate of the size of the system needed for your home.

Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters help reduce the inefficiency of heating unused water by using thermal optic sensors that are activated as water passes through the system, heating only the water that is being used at that time — thus saving money!

This on-demand heating process helps reduce the energy and costs associated with reheating water. Additionally, tankless water heaters take up minimal space and can fit under the sink or in cabinets so homeowners won’t have an issue finding a place to put it.

Energy Efficient Windows

Choosing high-quality and energy efficient windows can result in significant cost savings and benefits in your home all year long. Having energy efficient windows can better insulate your home, forming a barrier against the cold in the winters and keeping rooms cooler in the summer.

With better insulation, you’ll consume less energy heating and cooling your home, resulting in cost savings and a more eco-friendly home. Additionally, these windows are made with a special coating that can block out the sun’s UV rays, which help protect your rug, carpet, wood and other fabrics that could be damaged by the sun.

LED Lighting

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lights are designed to use at least 90% less energy than the standard bulbs, helping to save money right away on your energy bill. They are smaller in size, have reduced temperatures and have a longer lifespan than traditional bulbs (up to 50,000 hours) so you won’t need to replace them nearly as often as fluorescent or incandescent bulbs.

From an environmental standpoint, LEDs don’t contain mercury as traditional lighting does, meaning when the time comes for a replacement, these lights can be recycled and do not require specific disposal handling.

Here are some new homes now on the market in Arlington:

Want to learn more about financing a New Home build? McLean Mortgage (NMLS ID: 99665) can handle all of your construction financing needs. You can build your new home with as little as 5% down. Contact construction loan expert Troy Toureau (NMLS ID: 5618) at 301-440-4261 or AnyHomeLoans.com to learn more.

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:

2818 24th Street N.
6 BD/5 BA, 2 half bath single-family home
Agent: Washington Fine Properties, Llc
Listed: $2,550,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

1900 N. Uhle Street
4 BD/3 BA single-family home
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $1,340,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

5105 26th Street N.
4 BD/2 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Re/Max Allegiance
Listed: $975,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

 

2310 S. Dinwiddie Street
4 BD/3 BA single-family home
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $879,900
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

1818 N. George Mason Drive
4 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath villa/townhouse
Agent: Re/Max Allegiance
Listed: $749,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

2272 S. Garfield Street
4 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath condo
Agent: Arlington Realty, Inc
Listed: $619,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

851 N. Glebe Road #507
1 BD/1 BA condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $424,750
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.”

Arlington’s real estate market is starting to show the expected signs of a summer slow down, but many buyers didn’t get the memo and kept up the pace this week.

They ratified 63 contracts compared to typically 50-55 sales a week in the summer. By contrast sellers only added another 42 fresh listings to the inventory. Some 20 of those got snatched up in less than seven days, mostly in price points under $750,000.

This has caused the total inventory to shrink to just 250 homes actively for sale. At this week’s pace of sales, all inventory would be sold in just 1 month which is considered very low. Any sellers on the fence about when to put their home on the market should consider listing now.

Mortgage rates continue to hold to near three year lows with this week’s rates at 3.88% for a 30-yr fixed rate with no points.

The summer’s afternoon thunderstorms are causing falling trees or branches to become an issue for many homeowners. The big question we hear: Who is responsible for maintenance, and damages caused?

In Arlington, you have the right to trim any trees or branches that come across your property line. You can trim up to the property line, but not beyond. Any property damage caused should be covered by the hazard insurance of the damaged party regardless of the origin of the tree. There can be exceptions if a property owner serves notice to a neighbor about a risky tree. In such a situation, you are advised to get advice from legal counsel.

Click to see all the fresh new inventory in MRIS and call Team Cathell (703-975-2500) when you find a home you like.

Arlington Pet of the Week: Chloe

By Airey
1/2

This week, the Arlington Pet of the Week is continuing to profile companions of those whose homes were affected by last week’s flash floods.

Chloe, 13, is the feline friend of Westover residents Melinda Root and John DeMarce, whose home was damaged by water that filled the basement and rose almost two feet high in the first floor.

Root previously told ARLnow that she awoke that morning to the flood waters rising out of the floorboards at her bed.

“The first thing I thought of was my cat,” she said.

Luckily, Chloe made it to higher ground on the house’s second floor thanks to the quick thinking of a friend. Unfortunately, the couple still lost their car, parts of their dry wall, kitchen appliances, hot water and HVAC system, and many personal keepsakes.

“I’ve thrown away hundreds of books and CDs,” said DeMarce, who tore up the first floor carpet after worrying the water that saturated it could lead to mold in the house.

Two days after the flood, when ARLnow visited, Chloe could be seen winding around DeMarce and Root’s legs, and perched on the books and boxes piled for the garbage truck like little islands in a sea of lost belongings.

Now, DeMarce says they’re “down to the guts of the house” but they were able to save the floor and the older plaster walls. He said the house is “almost dry” again, but he’s been keeping Chloe upstairs where he and Melinda are staying while contractors are repairing the downstairs.

“She’s not afraid of them,” he said. “She likes to help.”

So for now, Chloe is busy dozing on the second floor where she can’t rub up against any sharp tools or step on any nails. And outside, a young wild bunny has returned to their yard after DeMarce and Root feared it had drowned in the storm.

In the heavily damaged Westover neighborhood, DeMarce said two young girls held a bake sale to raise money for gift certificates to the nearby Ayers Variety and Hardware store. They delivered one gift certificate off to him this week, writing on a note in blue marker, “I hope this will brighten your day.”

“It was just the cutest thing ever,” he said.

DeMarce’s coworkers at the Arlington Animal Welfare League have also launched two GoFundMes that hopes to raise $10,000 to cover the cost of the damage to the couple’s home — one of several fundraising efforts in the county aiding flooded neighbors and businesses.

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!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

Biz Talk: HQ2 Helps Virginia Claim Top State for Business

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This article was sponsored by Arlington Economic Development‘s Business Investment Group.

Virginia has been announced as CNBC’s choice for “Top State for Business” in 2019.

It’s the fourth time the Commonwealth has taken the top honors, which studies all 50 states based on 10 different categories of business competitiveness. And of course, Arlington’s nationally-watched deal for Amazon HQ2 was cited as a big reason for the win.

“When Amazon announced late last year that it had chosen Arlington, Virginia, as the home for part of its new, $5 billion second headquarters, it did not reach the decision haphazardly,” explains the ranking.

“The state has the nation’s best workforce, including the fourth-highest concentration of science, technology, education and math (STEM) workers. Strong school test scores, small class sizes and a wealth of colleges and universities make Virginia’s education system the best in the nation. And with Virginia Tech University announcing plans to build a new campus adjacent to Amazon’s HQ2 focused on innovation, things could get even better.”

But taking a deeper dive, it’s that critical formula of workforce and education along with a healthy dose of collaboration that’s led Virginia back to the number one spot. After all, Virginia has the number two tech workforce in the nation — much of it centered right here in Arlington and around the DMV.

Not only that, it’s one of the highest educated workforces in the nation — nearly three-quarters of our working population in Arlington has at least a bachelor’s degree; about 40% reach even higher on the educational charts. We’re leading the way in fields like cybersecurity, big data, ed tech and clean tech — all industries that are really coming to the forefront as we move into this innovation economy.

It’s also not surprising that CNBC called out Virginia’s impressive education system, and nowhere is that more prevalent than here in Arlington and around Northern Virginia.

The Amazon deal brought with it plans to build a $1B Virginia Tech Innovation campus, which will be located just next door in Alexandria. Its goal? Produce a continuing tech talent pipeline of well-educated individuals who are primed (no pun intended) to lead the way in the STEM workforce of the future.

And what’s the secret sauce to this winning business formula? Collaboration. After all, the partnership for the Amazon HQ2 deal was one that would’ve been unheard of in this region just a few short years ago. Now — we’ve shown that collaboration with partners, not just between local jurisdictions but also between the state and private partners, and a sense of regionalism simply works.

We’re stronger together — and nowhere has that been more evident than our success in landing the largest economic development deal in history and leading the way to ensuring Virginia takes the number one business spot again.

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 licensed broker Aaron Seekford of Arlington Realty, Inc. GET MORE out of your real estate investment with Aaron and his team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6116 today!

Please note: While Aaron Seekford provides this information for the community, he may not be the listing agent of these homes.

Just like any other season around here, it’s been interesting weather-wise.

In addition to sweltering temps, parts of our area experienced the absolute worst in terms of flooding recently. This included a state of emergency declaration in Arlington County just two weeks ago.

Ideally, folks were prepared before these torrential storms. But, if not, there is no time like the present to get ready, safety-and insurance-wise at a minimum, for the next round.

Floodplain and flood insurance rate maps for the entire county are publicly available online. While all properties within the county have some level of risk in terms of flooding, it’s important to know where you stand and be proactive!

If and when you are ready to call Arlington County home, I’m always here to help. There have been plenty of things me and my team have learned over the years as residents and we want you to GET MORE out of living here, in every way possible.

As of July 22, there are 145 detached homes, 14 townhouses and 104 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 21 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 Aaron Seekford.

Ask Eli: How Much Are Condo Fees In Arlington?

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: Our Board of Directors is planning for the 2020 budget and we’d like to get a sense of the market rates in Arlington, particularly in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. What are the average condo fees in the Arlington area on a cost per square foot basis?

Answer: It’s that time of year for most Condo Associations — budget planning time! As a former Condo Board Treasurer, I understand the pressure you’re under to balance responsible spending and reserve contributions with resident expectations of low, stable fees. Let’s take a look at what condo fees are across Arlington…

Arlington Condo Fee Rates

Fees are generally set on an annual basis by dividing up the Association’s total budget, including reserve contributions, by the ownership percentage assigned to each unit. Ownership percentage is determined by the builder and can be found in the legal documents you received prior to purchase. In most cases, it’s determined either by the number of bedrooms or square feet.

On a square foot basis, the average condo fee in Arlington is $0.54/sq.ft. with a median fee of $0.53/sq. ft. Along the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor the average jumps a bit to $0.57/sq. ft. and the median remains the same.

On a per bedroom basis:

Not All Fees Created Equal

Before you jump to any conclusions about the relative value of your condo fee, you need to consider what’s included. Amenities that require staffing and/or expensive maintenance like an attended front-desk, on-site management and pools add significantly to the budget. The value for those amenities is subjective.

Amenities that take up a significant amount of space within a building like large lobbies, party rooms, or rooftop gyms take away from the total unit count, thus increasing the ownership percentage of each unit.

There’s also a wide range of utilities included, or not, in a condo fee. Some fees include all utilities (water, sewer, trash, gas and electricity) while others may only include trash with the rest paid directly by each owner. Some fees even include internet and cable! These differences can change your monthly bottom-line between two condos by hundreds of dollars.

Another important consideration when analyzing condo fees is how well they’re being used to fund the reserves (the Association’s savings account for major repair or replacement work) and whether future planned/unplanned building expenses will require a fee increase or special assessment.

A well-funded reserve account usually means long-term fee stability and decreased chances of a special assessment. Associations should complete a new Reserve Study every five years to maintain a sufficient reserve balance and healthy building maintenance.

Other Thoughts On Condo Fees

Over the past couple of years I’ve written other condo fee related columns you might find helpful including A Case For Condo Fees, How Fees Impact Resale Value, and Finding Savings In Your Condo Budget.

While I have the attention of condo owners/Boards, I’ll also remind everybody that I’m organizing an info session on smoking bans in condos and to email me at [email protected] if you’re interested in joining.

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 Real Living At Home, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, (202) 518-8781.

Rosslyn-Based Ostendio Moves to Make Cybersecurity Auditing More Accessible

By Vernon Miles

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.

(Updated at 10:45) Ostendio wants to make it easier for users to see how much more — or less — secure they are compared to their peers.

The growing, Rosslyn-based cybersecurity startup has made some big changes over the last year and is making a push to make security auditing easier for smaller companies.

“We have just launched a major initiative called My VCM CrossWalk,” Miranda Elliott, a spokeswoman for Ostendio, said in an email. “It gives customers an easy way to showcase to an auditor that they are compliant to security regulations. More recently we launched a new web site to showcase our business and provide information to customers who are navigating a security program.”

Elliott said the program is aimed at managing risks for small and mid-size organizations who need to demonstrate compliance to security standards. The program is aimed at making it easy for a company to showcase their security ratings or find the help they need to get on track.

“We are just getting ready to enhance MyVCM with the launch of two new programs,” said Elliott. “One called Vendor Connect, which will allow an organization to push security assessment requirements to any of their vendors, and the other is called Auditor Connect, which will allow a third-party auditor to complete the audit from completely within the MyVCM platform.”

“Both… programs are an extension of our recently launched MyVCM CrossWalk Assessment,” Elliott added. “They make security audits more straight-forward and help our customers save time and money.”

The company also recently moved to a new location in Rosslyn. Elliott said being in Arlington offers the company a competitive advantage

“At the beginning of July we moved to a larger office in Arlington Tower to fit our growing team,” said Elliott. “We chose to stay in Arlington because our organization has grown around this area and we have been able to recruit a skilled, diverse team from the Greater D.C. area here. Our experience is that Rosslyn-Arlington gives us access to a diverse talent pool and is an excellent location for our team in terms of transit options and entertainment outside of work.”

If you’re in the area and interested in a job, Elliott said the company is currently looking for a data product manager.

Your Beermonger: Remembering Mad Fox

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is written by Nick Anderson, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway). Sign up for Nick’s email newsletter and also receive exclusive discounts and offers.

A week and a half ago, just ahead of its 9th Anniversary celebration, Mad Fox Brewing Company’s Bill Madden announced that the Falls Church brewpub would close its doors this coming Sunday, July 21.

With more breweries opening than ever, closings are also becoming more frequent, but the loss of Mad Fox has reverberated throughout the D.C. and Northern Virginia beer scenes like… well, a loss for the local beer scene.

Madden is a D.C. area legend, a mentor to brewers who can be found all over the area, and a brewer whose recipes at Mad Fox ranged from a world-class Keller Kolsch and excellent Pilsner and American Pale Ale, to robust Barleywines, to some future-forward IPAs — the Citra hop laden Orange Whip was years ahead of its time.

I always admired Two Hemispheres: A Wet Hop IPA featuring a blend of Citra and Galaxy that debuted in 2011. Galaxy was already out there, but that beer felt like a harbinger of things to come.

We’re also losing a hub of activity for local beer enthusiasts. Mad Fox’s festivals were well run, well-staffed and always featured a great selection of beers and breweries. The Spring Bierfest, Barleywine Fest, the Cask Ale Fest; lovely lecture/tasting evenings with Bob Tupper; the Festivus release parties. All gone.

So, what happened? Mad Fox’s closing announcement cites the proliferation of taproom breweries among the challenges it faced in staying afloat. Opening in 2010, Mad Fox didn’t have the option of opening a brewery with a taproom; SB 604 wouldn’t become law until 2012, allowing on-premise retail sale and consumption at Virginia breweries. The rise of strong craft beer programs for restaurants has made tougher competitors of them, as well.

As a brewpub, Mad Fox was walking the tightrope of running two high-risk, high-overhead businesses under one roof. The irony, I think, is that as you see taprooms focusing more on food features or planning to add kitchens, it feels like we’re just a few years away from a brewpub renaissance. Alas.

Running a little early on my way into Arrowine on Wednesday, I detoured into Falls Church to drop in on the Fox. Bill was at the end of the bar, spinning all the necessary plates to keep everything running through Sunday’s last service. He noted that the lunch run was the busiest he’d seen in a while, which, of course, right?

He’s obviously had a hard few weeks but was as kind and gregarious as ever, with high praise for the staff sticking things out with him. We caught up and ended up swapping stories, which is impossible not to do with him. I’m hoping to have an interview with him up for you soon. Not before Bill gets some deserved and needed downtime, though.

This will be the last weekend for Mad Fox; if you’re around at the right time on Sunday you might just catch me enjoying a last beer or two.

Upcoming Arrowine Events:

Friday, July 19, 5-7 p.m: Sean Michaels of The Bruery
Saturday, July 20, 1-4 p.m.: Laura Boyle from Three Notch’d Brewing
Saturday, August 10, 1-4 p.m.: ANXO Cidery!
Friday, August 16, 5-7 p.m.: Rafael Mendoza of Hardywood Brewing Company
Friday, August 30, 5-7 p.m.: Stephanie Boles from Old Ox Brewing

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