George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, School of Business, and the Carter School of Peace and Conflict Resolution invite prospective students to attend our in-person Arlington Graduate Open House.
This is the perfect opportunity to explore your graduate school options, meet your future professors face-to-face, connect with our admissions team, and find out where a George Mason graduate degree can take you next.
When: Thursday, January 19, 5-7 p.m. Where: Van Metre Hall Multipurpose Room
3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201
This event will be held at Van Metre Hall at Mason Square in Arlington. Hourly parking is available in the Van Metre Hall Garage. The campus is also metro accessible (Virginia Square — Orange or Silver lines).
Is buying a home in 2023 on your list of New Year Resolutions? Come join the NOVA Buyer’s Club!
We will be focusing on a multitude of different home buying programs and grants to use when purchasing your first home, as well as discussing topics that are relevant to purchasing a home in the DMV!
We’ll also be spilling all the tea on all tips and tricks on how best to smoothly navigate the process.
Come and find out how one of our buyers purchased a condo here in Arlington for only $2,166 down!
WE PAUSED! A Handmade Book by Studio Pause for Gates of Ballston, chronicles a year in the life of one Arlington community during the COVID-19 epidemic through creativity and art.
Now, that book has been ‘unbound’: becoming an art exhibit with four thematic installations from June 2022 to May 2023, at Gallery 3700, located at 3700 South Four Mile Run Drive, in Arlington.
The third installation, I Lost Being Lost, brings attendees into the process through engagement with the artists at the opening “reception.” Admission is FREE to the exhibit which is open during business hours. An Opening Reception will take place on Saturday, January 28, from 5-7 p.m.
Different from a traditional opening reception, attending the Community PAUSE brings Artists and guests together as they listen to each others’ stories, watch demonstrations of how PAUSErs explore creativity, and create artworks together. Artists and writers will engage guests in two interactive sessions making creations which invite responses to the artworks on display in Gallery 3700. The creations will then be added to the exhibit.
The featured artists and writers include: Sharmila Karamchandani, Edith Graciela Sanabria, Sushmita Mazumdar, MaryLouise Marino, Dena Jennings, Susan Sterner, Kara Billings, Kori Johnson, Michael Peteuil, Joan Lynch, Sharon McDaniel.
We PAUSED! is a Community Handmade Book Project created in 2021 by Studio PAUSE for the Gates of Ballston Apartments, an AHC Inc. community in Arlington’s historic Buckingham neighborhood. The book project was supported in part by Arlington Arts, which is the principal sponsor of the exhibit.
As the COVID-19 pandemic surged and the world grappled with its consequences, artist Sushmita Mazumdar, whose art studio and community space are located in the Rinker Community Center at the Gates of Ballston apartment complex, watched AHC Inc’s resident services team work tirelessly to provide essential services to their residents since March 2020.
“What if we shared everything we did when we paused in 2020 with the residents of the apartment community?” stated Mazumdar. “If they could not come to the studio, as the community center was closed to the public, could we take our stories to them? Could the space become a book?”
Project Director Sushmita Mazumdar rallied allies from her studio community, and others to make the project a reality, securing a grant from Virginia Humanities. Other partners were AHC Inc and Arlington Arts. Kori Johnson, editor; Susan Sterner, humanities scholar; Ella Endo, intern; Ruben Villalta, translator (Spanish); Soheir Ghali, translator (Arabic); MaryLouise Marino, adviser
In 2021-22 each of the 460 households in the GOB community was given a free handmade copy of the book. All copies were made during community bookmaking sessions at the Rinker Community Center, by students in the after-school program, or by PAUSErs at home, or in the studio. The bookmaking kept up with the variations in the pandemic, with building closures, and people’s levels of comfort. Then, they were delivered to each home, inviting the community to connect, reflect and share.
About Sushmita Mazumdar — After a 15-year career in advertising in India and the US, Sushmita started writing stories from her childhood for her American children and making them into handmade storybooks. She has designed programs for the Smithsonian Institution, area public schools and libraries, Glen Echo Park, and Arlington Arts Center, and has exhibited at the National Building Museum, and the Smithsonian’s Dillon Ripley Center. In 2018 she received the Woman of Vision Award from Arlington County and in 2019 she was appointed to the Virginia Commission for the Arts representing Congressional District 8.
Come check out the exhibit at Studio 3700 during the building’s business hours (Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday: 12-6 p.m.).
Become part of the exhibit by attending a “Community Pause”/Opening Reception at the Gallery, on Saturday, January 28th, from 5-7 p.m. Visit the arlingtonarts.org for more information.
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.
As of January 9, there are 113 detached homes, 23 townhouses and 138 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 26 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:
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.
Address:1520 N. Randolph Street Neighborhood: Cherrydale Type: 6 BR, 6 BA single-family detached — 5364 sq. ft. Listed: $2,500,000
Noteworthy: Coming Soon! New, Custom-Quality Modern Tudor in Cherrydale
Amazing opportunity to own a custom-quality Modern Tudor in Arlington’s sought-after Cherrydale neighborhood!
With 5,000 sq. ft. on four finished floors, sitting on a .28-acre lot, this 6 BR/6 BA home with a thoughtfully-designed layout and high-quality finishes checks all the boxes. Incredible details include 8″ wide engineered hardwood flooring on the main and upper levels, main level guest suite/office with full bath, informal dining area, oversized mudroom with washer/dryer, additional upper level laundry, dual spacious walk-in closets in the Owners Suite, and solid core interior doors.
The gourmet kitchen features Subzero and Wolf appliances, 42″ designer cabinetry, 2 dishwashers, an under-counter beverage center, and an oversized pantry with wood shelving.
The bonus 4th level loft offers an en-suite bedroom and additional common area, ideal for guests desiring additional privacy. The lower level includes a spacious recreation room with a wet bar, an additional bedroom with a full bathroom, and oversized storage.
Throughout the home, the abundance of windows integrates beautifully with the exterior living space which features a screened porch with gas fireplace and covered rear porch, overlooking professional landscaping. And finally, the low-maintenance exterior features Hardiplank and brick siding, gorgeous oversized Marvin windows, Energy Star exterior doors, and a 2-car attached garage. All that is left is for you to choose where you’ll find a cozy spot to enjoy lazy summer afternoons and crisp fall evenings.
The Cherrydale community in Arlington is just blocks from Lee Heights Shopping Center, Ballston, Virginia Square, and Clarendon, less than a mile from 3 Orange Line Metro stops with access to trails and bike paths, fantastic restaurants and shopping, and just a few lights from 66 and other major commuter routes.
Stop wasting hours of time getting your car maintained or repaired!
Discover the joy that is CarCare To Go and see why so many people are leaving reviews like the one below.
CarCare To Go brings modern convenience and simplicity to car repair and maintenance. They combine the quality and trust of a full-service shop with a uniquely transparent process, plus free valet pick-up and delivery from your home or work.
If you’re reading this review and considering using this service, I wholeheartedly recommend it. This is the most convenient way to get your car serviced and they’ll treat you like you’re their only customer. Gladys who came to get my car was prompt and polite. They’ll keep you informed about the work while they have your car and return it clean and like new. They won’t upsell you and their prices are reasonable. I will be using them again for sure and I’m very pleased to have come across this business. — John G.
To celebrate the new year, CarCare To Go is so confident that you’ll love their new service and come back for more, that they’re offering first-time clients an oil change for just $20.23. No catch. Synthetic or blend for any make or model car. Just enter coupon code FIRST20 when you book. And the valet and a light hand clean are completely free.
Plus, there’s still time to take advantage of their winter special that combines an express detail, oil change and other important maintenance you need this winter at a big discount.
You’ll wonder why you ever took care of your car any other way.
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. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist. Enjoy!
Question: We’re moving to Arlington from out of state and have always had at least an acre of land. We’d like at least ½ acre in Arlington, but can’t find much. How big are most lots in Arlington?
TL;DR Video Summary (1:11)
Answer: I talk a lot about making sure the home you want exists before setting your hopes and dreams on finding it. Understanding what lot sizes you can expect to find in Arlington is a great example of that, so this week I’ll share data on lot sizes from homes sales going back to 2019.
The data is based on total square footage of a lot, including the land the home sites on. Most people think about lots in terms of acres, so here’s a quick conversion key:
Arlington Lot Size Highlights (sales since 2019):
Average lot = 8,479 SqFt
Median lot = 7,277 SqFt
Lot with ¼ acre or more is in the top 83% largest lots
4% with ½ acre or more
Just six of 4,355 were 1+ acre, none were 2+ acres
More homes sold on 1/10th acre or less than ½ acre or more
The chart below shows the percentage of homes sold in Arlington within five different ranges. 69% of homes sit on lots with 5,000-9,999 SqFt.
Drilling down even further, we see that 1,672 of 4,355 lots (38%) were between 6,000 and 7,999 SqFt.
Join us on Wednesday, January 11 at 6 p.m. for this FREE virtual seminar. Make your new construction dream home a reality with experts by your side!
Building a new home should be a rewarding and memorable experience. That’s why a custom-built home requires personalized service.
Here’s your chance to learn everything you need to know about new construction properties from successful agents on the top-selling real estate team in the D.C. metro area.
Bridget Mendes, one of Keri Shull Team’s most experienced Success Agents, is leading this virtual seminar. Having built multiple properties for herself and alongside her clients, her extensive experience will prepare you for this exciting process.
You’ll learn:
Advantages of New Construction — We’ll take an in-depth look at how you can design the exact home you are dreaming of!
Buying a Builder-Owned Lot vs. Finding Your Own — Which solution is best when finding a lot? In the D.C. metro area, land can be rare, we’ll show you how to find it.
Choosing the Right Agents and Specialists — Don’t risk costly problems or losing your dream home! A good agent will help you close faster and pay less.
This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Doran Shemin, Esq., and Laura Lorenzo, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.
USCIS fee increases could result in ducky times for the agency’s budget.
USCIS is required by statute to re-evaluate its fees every two years.
Naturally, the fees haven’t changed for six years. Partially, that’s due to litigation — when the Trump Administration tried to increase fees massively (for, we thought, pretextual reasons), the federal courts said no.
The Biden Administration’s plan to increase fees is broadly distributed across several classes. In short, the fees are going to hit the following groups: businesses and individual green card applicants. According to the Biden Administration, extra fees imposed on businesses will go to fund asylum adjudication at the border.
What are the fee increases?
Everyone pays more, but especially businesses and green card applicants.
The big news for individuals is as follows:
Citizenship application fees jump from $725 to $760 (a small hop).
Green card application fees jump from $1,225 to $2,820 (a big leap!)
The big news for businesses is as follows:
H-1B lottery registration costs go up from $10 to $215.
H-1B application fees increase from $460 to $1,380, including the new $600 asylum support surcharge.
Premium processing fees don’t change — at $2,500, costs stay flat — but, just like you experience shrinkflation at the grocery story, businesses will see service decline without a drop in price. Premium processing will now mean an answer from USCIS within 15 business days rather than 15 calendar days.
Does this agency deserve more money?
Maybe. We’re skeptical. We favor efficient and fair administration of the law, but USCIS has not shown itself to be an efficient steward of public funds.
Lost your green card? Sixteen months. It used to be four, within the memory of our oldest lawyer. Applying for a green card based on marriage to a U.S. citizen at the Baltimore Field Office? Four years. (In Virginia, it’s better — just a year and a half!)
USCIS’s budget has increased markedly over this time. Presidential administrations have come and gone. The Service still can’t get its work done efficiently.
These fees won’t go into effect for at least another sixty days, so don’t hurry to file an application before the time is right.
Questions about the new fees? Ask away. We appreciate questions and will do our best to respond.
At the start of 2022, the state of the office market was in flux as companies and employees adjusted to an uncertain hybrid work environment that continues to challenge the outlook for office real estate.
While strong headwinds remain, bright spots in the local economy have emerged as evidenced by the 24 companies that Arlington Economic Development (AED) has successfully helped expand or retain in 2022. Combined, these company successes totaled 237,000 square feet of new office space and 262,000 square feet of retained office space.
AED saw growth primarily in the aerospace and defense, government contracting and technology sectors. These industries are taking advantage of not only Arlington’s proximity to the nation’s capital, but also the region’s highly skilled workforce and burgeoning tech talent pipeline. With recent investments in higher education institutions including George Mason University and Virginia Tech, Arlington is well-positioned to continue attracting companies in addition to the notable successes from this past year:
Apogee Research — Headquarters expansion
Boeing — Headquarters relocation
Federated Wireless — Headquarters expansion
Huntington Ingalls — Relocation
MarginEdge — Headquarters expansion
Raytheon Technologies — Headquarters relocation
Shift5 — Headquarters expansion
Targeted Victory — Headquarters expansion
Technomics — Headquarters expansion
AED’s commitment and investment in tech talent is perhaps no better demonstrated than with our ongoing Tech Talent Pilot Program in partnership with Exelaration. This program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, provides 10 Arlington residents with the opportunity to gain valuable software development experience and a pathway into a technology career.
The program provides companies with additional local talent by offering Arlington residents experiential opportunities in the tech industry. The first cohort of the pilot is nearing completion with participants gaining experience with some of the area’s top companies, while the second cohort will start in late January. We believe investments in innovative programs like this will continue to allow Arlington to lead the way in providing a top-notch workforce for companies looking to expand or locate here
Other notable 2022 accomplishments include our efforts to engage existing Arlington companies during Business Appreciation Month in May. After a long hiatus of in-person interaction caused by the pandemic, AED visited 40 companies over a two-week period to thank them for investing in Arlington and to connect them with valuable resources that may support their growth.
AED also sponsored the Accelerate Investment Conference, an event designed to ignite the Metro region’s innovation, startup, and investor ecosystems and showcases Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. as a prime destination for venture investment and job creation.
As we begin in 2023, we’re seeing real potential for growth in the technology verticals of artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things and quantum computing. AED looks forward to building on the momentum of a successful 2022 as we head into the new year.
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.
As of January 2, there are 102 detached homes, 21 townhouses and 130 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 8 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:
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.
