Home Sales Increase — The number of homes sold in Arlington last month totaled 252, which is an 18.3 percent increase over last year. The average length of time between listing and ratified sales contract for homes that went to closing in March was 55 days, which is unchanged from last year. [InsideNova]
E-CARE Recycling Event on Saturday — Arlington County will hold its biannual E-CARE event on Saturday. Residents can safely dispose of items including household hazardous materials, bikes, small metal items, clothing and compact fluorescent light bulbs. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 15 at Thomas Jefferson Middle School (125 S. Old Glebe Road). [Arlington County]
Wardian Runs Barkley Marathon — Well-known Arlington marathoner Michael Wardian competed in the notoriously difficult Barkley Marathons trail race, but he did not finish under the 60-hour time limit. In fact, only one person finished the race this year. Wardian says this was one of the most difficult races he’s ever done. [Washington Post]
The bomb squad investigates a threat on 16th Street S.
Police blocked 16th Street S. from S. Pollard Street
A medic was also on scene
The fire department responded to the area
Street closed by police with cones (file photo)
Update at 5:05 p.m. — The fire department said 16th Street S. is reopened after the investigation of a bomb threat earlier this afternoon. The scene has now been turned over to Arlington police, and the house being investigated for the possible bomb was deemed safe.
Earlier: Emergency crews closed 16th Street S. between S. Quincy Street and S. Pollard Street in the Douglas Park neighborhood while they investigate a bomb threat.
At around 3 p.m., police had contact with a person threatening self-harm near S. 16th Street and Quincy Street. Police said the person then indicated a house in the area may contain an explosive device. The person was removed from the scene, police said.
While the bomb squad investigates the threat, police evacuated neighbors and are preventing vehicles and pedestrians from entering the area. Also on scene was a fire truck and medic from the Arlington County Fire Department as well as a half-dozen police cruisers.
“We’re just taking all precautions,” a fire department spokeswoman said at the scene.
Medal of Valor-Gold award recipient firefighter/EMT Chad Eldridge
Medal of Valor-Silver award recipients firefighter/EMT Jason Updyke (l) and Lt. Fred Kawatsky (r)
Colorguard at ACFD awards ceremony
Chief Bonzano speaks at ACFD awards ceremony in April 2017
Three first responders who braved dangerous conditions during significant fires received top honors at today’s Arlington County Fire Department Recognition and Awards Ceremony.
ACFD’s highest level of recognition is the Medal of Valor-Gold, which honors a member of the fire department who performs an act of valor or heroism in life threatening conditions while trying to save another person. Firefighter/EMT Chad Aldridge received the award for his attempts to rescue two people trapped in a 2014 house fire in Nauck. Aldridge escaped the deadly blaze with first- and second-degree burns, which he sustained when a flashover occurred.
Lt. Fred Kawatsky and firefighter/EMT Jason Updyke received the Medal of Valor-Silver for performing acts that involve great personal risk. They assisted with rescuing victims at a 2014 apartment fire near Columbia Pike. The two moved a wheelchair-bound victim to a safer place inside the smoke-filled building and provided medical care when the person stopped breathing.
Fire Chief James Bonzano and Deputy Chief John Warren presented these and other awards. A total of 23 awards were given to both uniformed and non-uniformed members of the fire department, an Arlington police officer, an Emergency Communications Center dispatcher and three civilians.
Crews clear ground on N. Rolfe Street for Gables Pointe 14 (file photo)
The site will also include a new Independence House for those recovering from substance abuse
Construction is expected to be completed in 2020
Ground has been broken at the site of two new residential buildings and a rebuilt substance-abuse recovery facility in Courthouse.
Approved in 2015 by the County Board, Gables Pointe 14 at 1307 N. Rolfe Street by developer Gables Residential will have 370 apartments in two buildings, underground parking and an 8,000-square-foot shared park.
As of Tuesday, crews were in the early stages of clearing ground for the new development. A pick-up point for school buses is located close to the construction zone, which is fenced off to the public. Cars are still able to park on both sides of N. Rolfe Street, with dump trucks and other construction vehicles also using it as an access road.
The buildings will be six and 12 stories in height, respectively, and include studio as well as one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Thirty-nine of the units will be committed affordable housing and the developer also has the option to install a $75,000 work of public art on the site or donate to the county’s public art fund as a community benefit.
“The Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is a highly desirable area,” Gables Residential regional vice president Jorgen Punda said in a prepared statement distributed to multipleoutlets. “Our site involved the assemblage of thirteen lots, owned by both private individuals and Arlington County. It was a successful collaboration and we believe it is a great opportunity to deliver a ‘best in class’ apartment home community, with unparalleled amenities within walking distance to the Courthouse and Rosslyn Metro stations and a variety of dining and entertainment options.”
Also on the 2.7-acre site will be a new building for Independence House, a transitional living facility for those recovering from substance abuse.
The Independence House would be rebuilt, but not expanded, because more residents might limit the program’s effectiveness. The new building will have 14 single-occupant units.
The project is set to be completed in winter 2020.
A man was robbed while leaving a restaurant in the Buckingham neighborhood early Sunday morning.
Police say he was leaving a restaurant on the 200 block of N. Glebe Road around 2:30 a.m. when he was assaulted by four men. The suspects took off on foot with items they stole from the victim.
The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
More from an ACPD crime report:
ROBBERY BY FORCE, 2017-04090058, 200 block of N. Glebe Road. At approximately 2:30 a.m. on April 9, officers responded to the report of trouble unknown. Upon arrival, it was determined a male victim was assaulted by four unknown male subjects when he was leaving a restaurant. The subjects fled the area on foot with the victim’s belongings. The male victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. All four suspects are described as Hispanic males, approximately 26 years old, 5’4″ tall, 150 lbs, brown hair, with dark complexions. The investigation is ongoing.
The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, including some we’ve already reported, after the jump.
Arlington Housing Sale Prices Drop — Arlington showed a year-over-year decline in housing sale prices in March. The median price of $508,500 was a 6.2 percent drop from a year ago. However, real estate experts indicate that’s only because of changing inventory in Arlington — more condos and townhomes instead of detached houses — and it’s not a sign of an overall slump. [WTOP]
No Fire in Barricaded Person Situation — Police and firefighters responded to the 1500 block of Crystal Drive last night for a report of a barricaded person inside an apartment that may have been on fire. The smell of smoke had been reported coming from the apartment. Emergency responders tried to gain access to the apartment for a couple hours but cleared the scene when they determined there was no fire. [Fox 5]
Motorcyclist Dies Following Collision — A motorcyclist has died following a collision with an SUV in Chevy Chase. The 24-year-old man was an Arlington resident. [Bethesda Magazine]
Caps Fan Leaves Salty Message — Starting tomorrow, the Washington Capitals face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and one fan left a request for a different playoff outcome than in recent years. A photo shows a message written on the boards of the Caps’ practice rink at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston: “Y’all better make it past the 2nd round.” [USA Today Sports]
Police responded to an armed robbery at a Virginia Square store Saturday night.
Two masked men reportedly entered a store on the 3400 block of Washington Blvd a little after 9 p.m., showed a firearm and demanded money and other items. Police did not specify which store was robbed, but that block is home to a 7-Eleven.
The suspects fled on foot with their loot. Their descriptions are in the full report from ACPD below.
ARMED ROBBERY, 2017-04080244, 3400 block of Washington Boulevard. At approximately 9:07 p.m. on April 8, officers responded to the report of a robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined two masked male subjects, one brandishing a firearm, entered a store and demanded cash and items of value. The suspects fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and items of value. The first suspect is described as a light skinned black male, approximately 6’0″ tall. He was wearing a black jacket, gloves, and a black mask. The second suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’8″-5’9″ tall. He was wearing a black winter jacket, gloves, and a black mask. The investigation is ongoing.
(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) A group of people riding dirt bikes and ATVs drew resident and police attention two separate times this weekend.
This is the third consecutive year the riders have caused a stir. Pastincidents sometimes have included more than 100 riders.
The first incident took place around midnight on Saturday. A witness reported in a tweet that more than a dozen riders drove the wrong way on the Key Bridge on their way into Arlington, and police followed.
The 15-20 motorbike/ATV riders have gone wrong way across Key Bridge into Arlington County now. ACPD following them.
Arlington County police say they were notified of the approaching group by Metropolitan Police around midnight Saturday. The riders traveled through Rosslyn onto westbound Route 50, worked their way south to Army Navy Drive, then turned back north on I-395 and re-entered the District at 12:12 a.m., according to ACPD.
The second incident happened around 7 p.m. on Sunday when an Arlington police officer patrolling the 1200 block of N. Courthouse Road spotted a group of about 75 dirt bikes and ATVs driving on Arlington Blvd. They traveled to Route 1 and south into Alexandria.
Police say that during both occurrences they monitored the group of riders and maintained a rolling roadblock to keep pedestrians and motorists safe.
State law prohibits the operation of ATVs on public highways. An ACPD spokesperson says the drivers in question operate the vehicles without considering the care and safety of others; they have been seen locally traveling at high rates of speed, veering into oncoming traffic and driving on sidewalks. Police are investigating the incidents to identify those involved.
Several law enforcement authorities in the region report that they’re aggressively working together on a solution. Last April, they held a joint press conference regarding ATV operation on area roadways. Metropolitan Police offer a reward of $250 for information leading to the identification of suspects in these incidents.
Anyone who sees ATVs operating in Arlington County — or who knows the identity of someone riding the vehicles on county roads — is encouraged to call the police non-emergency number at 703-558-2222. Information can also be provided anonymously to Arlington County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.
Bloomberg BNA Expansion — Crystal City-based Bloomberg BNA will invest $5.5 million to expand in Arlington County and create up to 125 new jobs. Governor McAuliffe approved a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist with the project. [Augusta Free Press]
Suspect Has Missing Ex-Wife — The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested a man in Arlington this weekend in connection with the 2009 disappearance of his girlfriend, who lived in D.C. Now Jose Rodriguez-Cruz also has been tied to the disappearance of his first wife, who was last seen in 1989. Arlington County police have opened an investigation into her disappearance. [WTOP] [NBC Washington]
Overnight I-66 Closures — VDOT will be closing part of eastbound I-66 for 20 minute intervals tonight for toll construction. Beginning at 9:30 p.m. and running until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, closures will occur on eastbound I-66 between I-495 north and Lee Highway.
Damaged trees along I-395 south near Army Navy Country Club
Storm damage to Macy’s in Pentagon City
Storm damage to Macy’s in Pentagon City (photo courtesy David L.)
Storm damage to Macy’s in Pentagon City and damage to car
Storm damage to Macy’s in Pentagon City and damage to car
Storm damage to Macy’s in Pentagon City
There’s been a lot of clean-up in Arlington following last Thursday’s strong storms that produced a weak tornado.
The National Weather Service says the tornado formed adjacent to the Army Navy Country Club and lasted for six minutes on its 4.5 mile journey through Pentagon City and into Washington, D.C. The F-0 tornado had peak winds of 60-70 miles per hour.
The Army Navy Country Club property experienced quite a bit of damage, and a spokesperson issued the following statement to ARLnow on Monday:
“The tornado did interrupt some of the Club’s golf operations, as we had to close 18 of the 27 holes of golf in the Club’s Arlington location. Due to the tornado, we lost dozens of trees, several water coolers, trash cans, and benches on the course. We are fortunate that the path of the tornado did not cause any injuries or damages to the buildings.”
The last time a tornado was recorded in Arlington was on September 24, 2001, when an F-1 that originated in Fairfax County traveled northeast for 15 miles through Alexandria and Arlington, then it crossed the 14th Street Bridge into the District. It caused extensive damage and injured two people in south Arlington.
The scene was different for Thursday’s tornado in Arlington and the two others confirmed in the region that day, said Chris Strong, a warning coordination meteorologist with NWS Baltimore/Washington. Not only were the tornadoes weaker, but they also formed in a different manner.
“These weaker ones last week were basically eddies along a gust front, rather than more classic supercell thunderstorm tornadoes,” Strong says. “Those eddies produced small whirls of wind that in narrow corridors snapped some trees and caused siding and roofing damages.”
Some of that damage occurred when a portion of the facade and roof of the Macy’s at the Pentagon City mall ripped off and fell onto a car, resulting in one minor injury.
Technological advances have prompted changes in how local emergency managers warn the public about tornadoes and other weather emergencies. Some parts of the country, especially those that are more prone to tornadoes, use sirens as a warning. But sirens aren’t necessarily as effective in Arlington and the District, partially because of the dense buildings and foliage.
“Tornado sirens are not used much in this region of the country,” Strong said. “One of the reasons they work better in tornado alley is the wide open spaces with lack of trees that allows the sound to travel well.”
Police picked up two teens accused of breaking into cars early Saturday morning.
Around 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, police received a call from a citizen who reported seeing people tampering with vehicles along the 4100 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive. Officers responded to the area, established a perimeter and located the two suspects matching the descriptions the witness provided.
Investigators determined that eight vehicles had been broken into and rummaged through, and several had items of value stolen. Most of the vehicles had not been locked.
The 16- and 17-year-old suspects both face charges in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Police have not linked them to otherrecent car break-in cases throughout the county, but the investigation is ongoing.
