Demolition of the Americana Hotel is underway in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Demolition of the Americana Hotel is underway in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Demolition of the Americana Hotel is underway in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Demolition of the Americana Hotel is underway in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Demolition of the Americana Hotel is underway in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Demolition of the Americana Hotel is underway in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
It’s time to bid farewell to The Americana Hotel in Crystal City.
The long-time budget hotel along Richmond Highway is being demolished to make way for residential redevelopment across the street from Amazon’s nearly-open second headquarters and a short distance from the Crystal City Metro station.
A spokeswoman for JBG Smith confirmed the demolition to ARLnow this morning (Tuesday).
“Demolition and site work are currently underway, with the earliest possible construction start slated for 2024,” the spokeswoman said, adding that that is all she is able to say at this time.
The Americana Hotel closed in 2020 and JBG Smith quickly purchased it for a new apartment project, consisting of 639 new units, 3,885 square feet of ground floor retail and a distinct architectural feature akin to a partially covered walkway, which was nicknamed the “tabletop.”
Renderings of the proposed apartments to replace the Americana Hotel, with the ‘tabletop’ feature in view (via Arlington County)
The developer’s plans were approved by the Planning Commission and the Arlington County Board in April.
The Americana’s demolition is part of a trend in Arlington County of redeveloping aging motels and hotels.
The iconic Highlander Motel in Virginia Square, a frequent haunt for a motorcycle club, was turned into a CVS. The Days Inn motel in Lyon Village is set to become apartments, which the county is trying to ensure pays homage to the site’s history with a midcentury modern design.
The Key Bridge Marriott, meanwhile, has stood vacant — and is now condemned — after development plans were delayed, likely due to financial issues for the group that owns the site.
A pair of remarkably similar incidents has landed two Arlington men in jail.
The incidents occurred within an hour of one another early Sunday morning. In each, a drunk man allegedly got in a dispute, brandished or claimed to have a gun, and was subsequently arrested and found to be armed after police were called, according to an Arlington County Police Department crime report.
Both happened in or in proximity to bars — one in Ballston, shortly after midnight, and another in Clarendon, around 1 a.m.
From ACPD:
RECKLESS HANDLING OF A FIREARM, 2023-05210005, 4100 block of Fairfax Drive. At approximately 12:12 a.m. on May 21, police were dispatched to the report of a person with a gun inside a business. Upon arrival, it was determined the suspect became engaged in a verbal dispute with the victims, during which he allegedly brandished a firearm. The suspect left the scene on foot, was located by responding officers and taken into custody without incident. A search of his person incident to arrest yielded a firearm. The victims did not remain on scene and no injuries were reported. [The suspect], 32, of Arlington, Va. was arrested and charged with Reckless Handling of a Firearm, Public Intoxication and Carrying a Concealed Weapon While Intoxicated.
RECKLESS HANDLING OF A FIREARM, 2023-05210013, 3100 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on May 21, police were dispatched to the report of disorderly conduct. Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect became involved in a verbal dispute with the victim, during which he allegedly knocked the suspect’s hat off of his head and implied he had a weapon. As responding officers attempted to detain the suspect, he ran from the area and discarded what appeared to be a firearm before being taken into custody. A search of the area yielded a loaded firearm. No injuries were reported. [The suspect], 21, of Arlington, Va. was arrested and charged with Reckless Handling of a Firearm, Assault and Battery, Drunk in Public and Obstruction of Justice.
Also in the crime report, three teens allegedly fired gel pellets at someone inside a business on the 2000 block of Wilson Blvd in Courthouse. That’s the same block as the new Taco Bell Cantina, though the identity business was not revealed by police.
From the crime report:
MISSILE INTO AN OCCUPIED DWELLING, 2023-05210169, 2000 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 4:13 p.m. on May 21, police were dispatched to the report of disorderly conduct. Upon arrival, it was determined three unknown juvenile suspects discharged gel pellets inside a business, striking one victim. No injuries were reported. The suspects fled the scene on foot and responding officers canvassed the area for the suspects yielding negative results.
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 October 13, there are 210 detached homes, 54 townhouses and 244 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 44 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.
Looking down N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Pentagon Explosion Hoax — “A purportedly AI-generated photo of a fake explosion at the Pentagon spread rapidly on social media on Monday – prompting mass confusion among users and a brief selloff in the US stock market. The fake photo, which showed smoke billowing outside the Pentagon, was shared by Russian state media outlet and other accounts alongside claims that an explosion has occurred at the complex. ” [Twitter, New York Post, Vice]
County Comms Questioned — “Despite community concerns that the Arlington government leadership – elected and appointed – is increasingly disconnected from the community it theoretically serves, those very leaders contend there have been marked improvements in the breadth and depth of communication with residents in recent years. ‘We have spent a lot of time coming up with ways . . . [of] expanding our tools,’ County Manager Mark Schwartz said in a May 16 briefing of County Board members.” [Gazette Leader]
Arlington Startup Acquired — “Fifth Third, the ninth-largest U.S.-based consumer bank, has acquired Arlington financial technology firm Rize Money Inc. The Virginia-based embedded payments platform company provides payment infrastructure and risk management capabilities to other fintech and technology companies.” [Washington Business Journal]
Treatment Open Houses — “DHS is pleased to announce a new partnership with National Capital Treatment & Recovery that creates new Substance Use Treatment Services for Arlington adolescents. Join the virtual open house to learn about the program, how to make referrals, eligibility considerations and more.” [Arlington County]
Marymount Holds Graduation — “Like the 8 billion others they share the globe with, those who entered Marymount University as freshmen in the fall of 2019 had no idea the world around them in six short months would never be the same. Yet those students, and the others who also comprise the Marymount Class of 2023, represent a resilient group uniquely prepared to meet an ever-changing world.” [Gazette Leader]
Miyares Applauds Bowser Plan — “Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares today expressed support for Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s new proposals to help D.C. start to address the City’s violent crime problem, joining The Washington Post Editorial Board in applauding the solutions… Following the brutal murder of a Virginia resident in Washington D.C., Attorney General Miyares sent a letter on April 6th to D.C. leadership asking them to address their crime crisis.” [Office of the Attorney General]
Whiskey Lottery Goes Awry — “A state-run lottery to give Virginians first dibs on pricey whiskeys suffered from what was likely a human-induced flaw that wildly skewed the results, allowing several lucky entrants to win multiple times. Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Board officials, in an interview and a statement on Monday, acknowledged the ‘statistically abnormal’ results, after several bourbon aficionados had flagged the irregularities following last month’s drawing.” [Washington Post]
It’s Tuesday — Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East wind 7 to 10 mph. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind 3 to 8 mph. [Weather.gov]
Partly sunny, with a high near 75. East wind 7 to 10 mph. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. East wind 3 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
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