Update at 10:25 a.m. — Several hundred residents, mostly in the Tara-Leeway Heights and Westover neighborhoods, are still without power Monday morning. Dominion reports that power is still out for 530 customers, despite repair work overnight. The estimated restoration time is between 2-5 p.m.
Earlier: On a cold, damp night — and in the midst of the NFC Championship game — more than 3,000 Arlington homes and businesses are in the dark.
A large power outage has been reported in parts of North Arlington. Much of the outage is centered around Virginia Hospital Center, between I-66 and Langston Blvd, from the Westover area to the west to near Washington-Liberty High School to the east.
Another section of the outage, as seen on Dominion’s website, runs along N. Glebe Road from Langston Blvd to just after Marymount University. As of 9:15 p.m., Dominion says 3,238 customers are without power.
An early, rough estimate for power restoration suggests the lights will come back on between midnight and 3 a.m., according to the Dominion outage map.
@ARLnowDOTcom power went out briefly in Waycroft-Woodlawn. Now somewhat back on but at partial strength, some lights still out but breakers look fine. Street lights totally out.
Protest in front of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house in Arlington (staff photo)
Protest in front of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house in Arlington (staff photo)
Protest in front of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house in Arlington (staff photo)
Protest in front of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house in Arlington (staff photo)
Protest in front of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house in Arlington (staff photo)
Protest in front of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house in Arlington (staff photo)
A loud, sizable pro-Palestinian protest has taken up residence outside of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house.
Protesters are lining Chain Bridge Road in Arlington, near the McLean border, in front of the house. They’re holding signs with messages like “Full Ceasefire in Gaza Now” and chanting slogans, including calling Blinken a “war criminal.” They’ve also erected several tents.
This protest started last night, after at least two other short-lived protests in front of the house in recent weeks. Police from Arlington and Fairfax County responded to assist the Diplomatic Security Service with security and roadway safety.
As of midday Saturday, a number of Arlington police cruisers and Arlington County vehicles were on scene, along with two electronic signboards, advising drivers to slow down and stay alert.
Arlington Independent Media in Clarendon (file photo)
Arlington’s local radio station has been playing the same music on repeat since December.
The continuous lo-fi beats, noted by listeners more than a month ago, are a result of aging equipment and financing delays complicating Arlington Independent Media‘s move into a new office building that is home to a transmitter critical to AIM’s operations.
The nonprofit community media outlet — which has TV and radio programming and offers media training courses — is mid-way through its move from its Clarendon outpost at the corner of N. Danville Street and Wilson Blvd, behind the Beyond Hello dispensary, to a new location at 2300 Clarendon Blvd.
Staff packed up and stored all AIM’s non-technical equipment in its new Green Valley outpost while its TV and radio broadcasting equipment sits in the lobby, awaiting contractors who can rewire it in 2300 Clarendon Blvd, a new space dubbed AIM Live!
It is a point of consternation for Alvin Jones, the station manager for the community media outlet’s radio station, WERA 96.7 FM.
“It’s been frustrating,” he told ARLnow. “I don’t get to hear, when I’m in my car, the great programming 50 producers are putting out.”
Former radio show producer Bennett Kobb says he has noticed the same music playing since Dec. 1, 2023. The beats are intended as a backup when interruptions arise, whether that is due to a power outage, a delayed DJ or problems with a station computer, he said.
“It is not permitted to broadcast ‘dead air’ for any significant length of time, that is, a radio signal with no content and no station identification,” he said. “Many radio stations have such arrangements in place… But this was never intended to go on for weeks as it has.”
As of Jan. 12, he had not heard of any communications to the public explaining what was going on. AIM did ultimately provide an update that listeners should expect the radio to go silent on Jan. 20, followed by TV on Jan. 24, as a result of the move. The post noted listeners “will continue to hear music through our transmitter on WERA 96.7 FM.”
The reason for the prolonged continuous loop is because the equipment that relayed microwave signals from AIM’s Clarendon location to the transmitter at 2300 Clarendon Blvd went down, says Jones. AIM will not need this equipment once it is set up in the same building as the transmitter. Jones likened fixing it before the move to upgrading the tires on a car just before trading it in for a new vehicle.
AIM originally had until Dec. 31, 2023, to move out but now predicts that full move-out will happen next week. The delays come down to finances, according to Jones and AIM CEO Whytni Kernodle.
They say they are waiting for Arlington County to approve the rest of a funding request from November for Public, Educational and Government (PEG) funds — subscription revenue that the county receives from franchise agreements with Comcast and Verizon.
These funds only cover capital expenses, which include hiring contractors to take down and rewire equipment.
Police are investigating a pair of vehicular incidents in Rosslyn and Clarendon on Wednesday.
Around 12:30 a.m., a man driving an SUV started yelling at a female pedestrian, then got out of the car and brandished a gun, according to police. He then allegedly got back in and tried to run her over.
The victim was not injured and called police. It’s unclear what prompted the incident, which happened in the Rosslyn area, near H-B Woodlawn.
More, below, from an Arlington County Police Department crime report.
BRANDISHING, 2024-01240004, N. Quinn [Street] at 18th Street N. At approximately 12:33 a.m. on January 24, police were dispatched to the report of a person with a gun. Upon arrival, it was determined the female victim was walking in the area when a black SUV pulled up to her and the suspect, who was also the driver of the vehicle, began yelling at her. The suspect then parked the vehicle, exited and approached the victim making threatening statements. The suspect subsequently brandished a firearm at the victim before re-entering the vehicle and attempting to reverse into the victim. The victim was able to move to avoid being struck and the suspect fled the scene. No injuries were reported. A lookout was broadcast and responding officers canvassed the area for the suspect yielding negative results.
Later Wednesday night, a driver in Clarendon was attacked by two drunk men, who also damaged his car, according to ACPD.
No motive for the incident was given.
The suspects tried to run from officers but were both taken into custody after foot pursuits, police said.
ASSAULT BY MOB, 2024-01240294, 3100 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 10:39 p.m. on January 24, police were dispatched to the report of an assault in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was driving in the area when he became involved in a verbal dispute with the two male suspects who were on foot. The suspects allegedly then began banging on the victim’s vehicle, causing property damage, and assaulted him through the open driver’s side window. Responding officers observed both suspects run from the area and following foot pursuits, they were taken into custody. The victim and one suspect sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention. [Suspect 1], 29, of Arlington, Va. was arrested and charged with Assault by Mob, Destruction of Property, Public Intoxication and Obstruction of Justice. [Suspect 2], 20, of Arlington, Va. was arrested and charged with Assault by Mob, Destruction of Property and Public Intoxication.
Clarendon Metro station in the rain (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Pike Tapas Spot Lauded by Yelp — “Yelp has released its annual list of the Top 100 U.S. Restaurants of 2024, and this year one NoVA restaurant made the cut: Sabores Tapas Bar, an Arlington restaurant serving sharable Spanish and Latin American dishes. The restaurant was ranked No. 48 in the list of 100.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Bigger Building Proposed in Crystal City — “JBG Smith Inc., the principal developer at National Landing in Arlington, wants to go bigger on a long-planned office tower just down the road from Amazon.com Inc.’s HQ2 despite woes in the office market. The company filed a conceptual site plan Tuesday seeking to build a 312,000-square-feet building at 1800 S. Bell St. across the street from the Crystal City Metro station.” [Washington Business Journal]
Trash Collection Extended — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “Bonus curbside collection runs will take place Saturday as tomorrow’s routes will likely involve heavy volumes due to last week’s weather disruptions. Regular Friday customers are asked to report any missed collection Saturday night at the earliest.” [Twitter]
Board Candidate Blasts Suit Defense — From Arlington County Board candidate Julie Farnam: “In yet another example of wasteful spending, Arlington County recently approved spending up to $750 per hour on expensive attorneys to fight its Missing Middle Housing lawsuit. This is happening as County departments are cutting their budgets and while the County is seeking more tax revenue from residents. This could negatively impact services that people count on, including childcare subsidies, neighborhood improvement projects, and drug counseling treatment programs.” [Patch]
Mixed Response to Deer Culling Poll — “Proponents of using lethal means to rid Arlington of what they say is a deer overpopulation didn’t get anywhere near unanimous backing from a new community survey. In fact, the responses to the county-government poll proved decidedly all over the map.” [Gazette Leader]
Crashes on Camera — From Dave Statter: “Three Arlington crashes the last two days that were at least partially #caughtoncamera.” [Twitter]
Serious DUI Crashes Rise Regionally — “The number of alcohol and/or drug-related traffic fatalities increased nearly 13 percent in the metropolitan Washington area between 2021 and 2022, according to the annual “How Safe Are Our Roads?” Report prepared by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) for the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program.” [MWCOG]
It’s Friday — Rain showers and drizzle are possible before 1pm. Clouds will later give way to mostly sunny skies and a high around 68 degrees. A westerly wind at 6 to 9 mph accompanies the 30% precipitation chance. Expect a mostly cloudy Friday night with lows near 45 degrees and a northwest wind at 7 mph. [Weather.gov]
Body armor and guns recovered after arrest (via ACPD)
Police recovered body armor and multiple guns after an alert officer spotted a stolen vehicle near Columbia Pike.
It happened around 5 p.m. Wednesday, near the Dominion Plaza apartments on S. Courthouse Road.
Arlington County police say the officer “located a parked, unoccupied stolen vehicle,” then waited until three people returned to it. Two women were detained while a male suspect — who was wearing body armor — tried to run away, according to ACPD.
The suspect was taken into custody after a foot pursuit and officers subsequently found three guns, pepper spray, and possible drugs, police said. A photo of the haul, including the ballistic vest, was posted online today.
The 29-year-old suspect, a Manassas resident, is now facing an array of charges, including vehicle theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
STOLEN VEHICLE (Significant), 2024-01240218, S. Courthouse Road at 12th Street S. At approximately 5:01 p.m. on January 24, an officer conducting patrols in the area located a parked, unoccupied stolen vehicle. Three individuals returned to the vehicle, during which two female subjects were detained. The third individual, the male suspect, attempted to flee the scene on foot. Officers initiated a foot pursuit and took the suspect, who was wearing body armor, into custody. During the course of the investigation, officers recovered three firearms, a ballistic vest, suspected controlled substance, and pepper spray… [The suspect], 29 of Manassas, VA was arrested and charged with Possession of a Firearm by Felon (x3), Grand Larceny Motor Vehicle Theft, Receiving Stolen Firearm, Wearing Body Armor while Committing a Crime, Carry Concealed Firearm (x2) and Obstruction of Justice. The investigation is ongoing.
Yesterday, an investigation into a stolen vehicle resulted in the recovery of three firearms, a ballistic vest, suspected narcotics, and pepper spray. Another great example of our officers keeping our community safe!https://t.co/lwPo2xiUtmpic.twitter.com/d4ZOS1OMii
Parking meter in a performance parking zone in Ballston (staff photo)
The cost to park in many of Arlington’s busiest neighborhoods could change March 1.
The most popular places to park along the Rosslyn-Ballston and Route 1 corridors could ultimately cost up to $5 per hour, according to a county report. Less popular spots, meanwhile, could become less expensive than the current rate.
These changes are part of a state-funded “performance parking” pilot project that seeks to make it easier to find a parking spot in Arlington by incentivizing drivers to park in underused areas.
Arlington County kicked off the project earlier this year, installing sensors to collect data on parking behavior and determine what streets and neighborhoods should see higher and lower prices.
“These goals relate to improving the experience with parking at the curb, as well as reducing the negative impacts associated with inefficient or unsuccessful search for parking,” the report says.
On Saturday, the Arlington County Board voted to hold a public hearing about a proposed ordinance on Feb. 24. If it is approved next month, the pilot program would last until March 2026.
Parking rates could change up to once every three months but large, sudden changes are unlikely, according to the report.
Although costs could vary based on the time of day and length of stay, the project would not involve surge pricing or an across-the-board rate hike. Instead, each rate change would probably bring a roughly $1 increase to parking rates at some spots and a $0.25 decrease to other spots.
Arlington’s parking rates are currently capped at $1.75 per hour at short-term meters and $1.50 per hour at long-term meters.
A map of areas included in the performance parking pilot (via Arlington County)
While county staff would set the rates, they could never charge more than $5 per hour without the County Board’s approval, per the proposed ordinance.
The pilot program would follow in the footsteps of similar initiatives in major cities including D.C., Boston and San Francisco.
“These pilots have generally shown measurable changes in drivers’ parking behavior, reductions in negative impacts, and more efficient use of available space,” the report notes.
County staff would track this project’s effectiveness using some 4,500 sensors installed in parking spaces in the Rosslyn-Ballston and Route 1 corridors. The county has already begun investigating where and when parking is most readily available in these areas — along with how often drivers pay for parking.
A recent analysis found that on average, only a third of vehicles parked at meters in these areas had actually paid to be there, which will inform how the county uses its limited cadre of parking meter enforcers.
Parking compliance in October 2023 (via Arlington County)
Although similar programs have tended to increase revenue, the report says this project is primarily designed to improve parking conditions for drivers — not to extract more money from them.
“Intentionally, there is no project goal regarding revenue impact,” the report says. “This is because the project goals are about curb space performance from the community and customer perspective.”
A new bill in the Virginia General Assembly would give the Arlington County Board the authority to change its structure without seeking further approval from state lawmakers.
Del. Patrick Hope’s HB 1225 would allow the Board to decide if it should retain its 5-member, at-large form of government or consider altering the size, to between three and 11 members, and changing to a district-based representation model. It would also allow the County Board Chair to be elected by popular vote for a 4-year term where currently, the practice is to rotate the chairship among members yearly.
Hope tells ARLnow he wants the County Board to have the same powers currently enjoyed by governing bodies of neighboring jurisdiction. As Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, local governments only have the powers conferred on them by the state legislature.
“The Arlington County Board is one of the weakest localities in Virginia. It is certainly the weakest of a locality of our size,” he said. “If the Board, this year, or the Board five years from now, wants to make these changes, they shouldn’t have to go to General Assembly and figure out who’s in control. They should have the power to make the decision how they want to run their government.”
The Board is not yet on board, however.
Members directed legislators last fall to “oppose any efforts that make changes to Arlington County’s form of government without the County Board’s explicit policy support.” Now, the Board is looking to punt on it until these questions can be put to the community as part of the year-long 2050 Visioning Process — where community members can envision what Arlington should look like in 26 years.
The visioning process is set to launch on Feb. 5.
“We are hopeful those who support such changes will engage more fully with the community during this process,” Board Chair Libby Garvey said in a statement. “Board members have connected with Delegate Hope to discuss our visioning process and the opportunities it offers to engage more fully with the community on H.B. 1225, to consider its implications, what it proposes to solve, and what the community thinks about it.”
“We believe continuing this bill to 2025 will provide the time needed to do that, and we offer the Arlington 2050 Initiative to help create the space for that discussion,” Garvey added.
Some of suggested changes in the bill are not new. Longtime former Arlington County Board member Jay Fisette said in 2017 that Arlington County should have an elected mayor and city council. Before that, in 2010, an attempt to enact district-based representation failed to gather enough valid petition signatures.
More recently, the Arlington County Civic Federation recommended making the Board bigger, among other changes, to improve diversity and competition.
Hope said the impetus now was the unexpected outcome of a 2022 bill, vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, that would have allowed the County Board to hire an independent policing auditor to oversee Arlington’s police oversight board — something other jurisdictions could have done without going to the state.
Arlington’s independent policing auditor now reports to County Manager Mark Schwartz, who also oversees the Arlington County Police Department. Hope and the Arlington branch of the NAACP, concerned about conflicts of interest, chafed at this decision.
“It’s not the Governor’s business, nor the House or the Senate, who Arlington County hires,” said Hope. He previously championed a 2015 bill, which passed, allowing the County Board to hire an independent auditor tasked with conducting performance reviews and finding inefficiencies in county government.
Olympic-regulation diving boards at the Long Bridge Park Aquatics & Fitness Center (staff photo)
(Updated at 11:15 a.m.) The 50-meter pool at the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center will have shorter hours for several months for needed repairs.
The pool area will close at 8 p.m., about two hours early, on weekdays starting next Monday, Jan. 29 to replace leaky pipes and water-damaged ceiling tiles caused by a corroded sprinkler hose, the Arlington County Dept. Parks and Recreation said in a press release. Weekend hours will not be affected.
The faulty sprinkler and the damage it caused were discovered by the contracting company given the $60 million contract to design and build the facility in 2017, Coakley Williams Construction, the county says. Coakley Williams will handle all the maintenance work and pay for the repair costs.
After attending to the 50-meter pool, repairs to the leisure pool will begin in early April. Its temporary operating hours will be available at a later date.
All repairs should be complete by this summer, the county said.
Some classes held at the pool have shifted their schedules because of the repairs. Affected participants will receive emails with more details.
It’s not the first time infrastructure issues have troubled the $70.7 million recreation complex. Delays in installing electrical power caused a $1.2 million increase in construction costs for the facility, which opened in 2021. An electrical emergency then caused the center to close briefly last April.
More information from the press release is below.
Repair Schedule
The repair schedule will begin with the 50-meter pool area on January 29. For the duration of the 50-meter pool repairs, it will be closed to the public by 8 p.m.— two hours early on weekdays, and the current closing time on weekends. Crews will work at night from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow for a maximum number of operating hours. Through the duration of each phase, the work area will be sectioned off to allow programming to take place in other parts of the pool. During the daytime, scaffolding equipment will remain in the areas being addressed to allow for quick transition to maintenance work once the pool is closed. The leisure pool will operate as normal until repairs begin in early April. Details of this schedule will be shared at a later date. All repairs to both pools are estimated to be complete by summer, 2024.
As repair work begins at 8 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, the fitness rooms will also continue to operate on a normal schedule.
Adjusted Programming and Operating Hours
Most Winter ENJOY and 55+ classes will continue this season. To accommodate as many programs as possible, some classes have been shifted to either a different time or pool area. Class cancellations have been limited and are only being instituted for those that cannot be moved. Participants who have signed up for Winter ENJOY and 55+ programs at LBAFC will receive direct emails that detail adjustments to their program and refund options if they choose to use them. Program adjustments for these classes will not begin until the first day of repair work on January 29.
All LBAFC membership and passholders, as well as daily passholders, may use open sections of the pool during the adjusted operating hours. To see when lanes are open for drop-in use, please refer to the pool hours and lane schedules page. The schedule is updated with the week’s programming schedule every Sunday.
We look forward to a speedy and efficient repair process and want to make sure you stay in the know! To get the latest information, sign up for updates at the bottom of the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center webpage.
Store closing signs at Macy’s in Ballston (staff photo)
Store closing signs at Macy’s in Ballston (staff photo)
Store closing signs at Macy’s in Ballston (staff photo)
Macy’s in Ballston (staff photo)
The Macy’s store in Ballston is slated to close this spring, as soon as March, ARLnow has learned.
The department store at the Ballston Quarter mall was one of five locations the company identified last week as set to close in 2024. Macy’s is also planning to cut some 2,350 jobs this year.
Signs are now up outside and inside the store, advertising a storewide 30% off sales. All sales are final as of Monday, Jan. 22, according to the signage.
A Macy’s spokesperson tells ARLnow that the clearance sale “will run for approximately 8-12 weeks.” The store is expected to close after that.
The Arlington County Board approved a redevelopment plan for the Macy’s site in December 2022. The plan calls for a 16-story, 555-unit apartment complex atop a grocery store and another 1,400-square-foot retail space.
Looking west from Rosslyn at sunset (Flickr pool photo by Brian Gannon)
Murder Suspect Nabbed After Carjacking — “A woman wanted for murder in Prince William County was arrested Tuesday after a carjacking in Arlington and pursuit into Prince George’s County, Md. At 11:55 a.m., police were called to 2nd Street North in Arlington after a woman approached another woman from behind, grabbed her shoulders and demanded her car keys, Arlington County police said. A struggle ensued and the suspect indicated she had a gun, stole the keys and took the car.” [InsideNova, Twitter]
Theft Suspect Arrested After Bike Chase — “At least seven Fairfax County Police Department vehicles were involved in the pursuit. They get held up at a stop light in the eastbound lanes on Columbia Pike at the Arlington County border while a bicyclist passes by, headed in the wrong direction in the westbound lanes. The man was ultimately caught at the Columbia Pike and S. Greenbrier Street intersection.” [FFXnow, Twitter]
VSP Stops Dangerous Driver — From Dave Statter: “At 10:55 a.m., a driver stopped in the middle of I-395S Exit 8C to Crystal City, backed up in the roadway, and made a right turn in front of traffic to get off the exit and to the thru lanes. And all of this was witnessed by a @VSPPIO trooper who promptly went to work.” [Twitter]
‘Dippin Dots Attack’ at Mall — “This past Saturday evening, January 20, 2024, 1 was sitting in the food court at the Pentagon City Mall with my brother and my children when we were bombed from above. Dippin Dots suddenly landed all over us, our food, and our possessions.” [Reddit, Twitter]
Ranked-Choice Voting on Feb. Agenda — “What any final action will look like remains up in the air, but Arlington County Board members on Jan. 23 committed to addressing, within a month, the potential change to ranked-choice voting for Arlington County Board general elections.” [Gazette Leader]
WHS Basketball Team Stays Hot — “With a 10-point road victory over the McLean Highlanders, the Wakefield Warriors continued to increase their lead in the Liberty District boys high-school basketball standings. Wakefield (14-2) won, 45-35, on Jan. 22 to improve to 6-0 in the district.” [Gazette Leader]
Alexandria Facing Housing Suit, Too — “A group of opponents to the Zoning for Housing policy last year, which ended single-family housing zoning among other changes, has filed a lawsuit over the case. The lawsuit was filed in the Alexandria Circuit Court and argues the city violated its charter and the Virginia Constitution by not showing the impact on the real estate market or city infrastructure.” [ALXnow]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain and patchy fog with a high near 60 and south winds at 6-8 mph. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch. Expect a nighttime low of around 55 and south winds at 5-7 mph. [Weather.gov]
