apartments

BREAKING NEWS — Man Dies in Fairlington Fire

By Katie Pyzyk

An elderly man is dead after becoming trapped during a fire in his apartment in the 2900 block of S. Buchanan Street in Fairlington.

According to Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Gregg Karl, smoke was coming from the top level apartment when crews arrived on the scene. Capt. Karl said because the investigation has just begun, it’s unclear exactly what started the fire and whether the man died from burns or smoke inhalation.

According to a law enforcement source, the fire is not considered suspicious. The victim was reportedly a hoarder and clutter prevented him from escaping from his apartment when the fire broke out. We’re told he was the only person in the apartment at the time and was found dead on the scene when rescue crews arrived. Nobody in any neighboring units was hurt.

About 10 residents have been displaced from their apartments while the investigation is underway, according to Capt. Karl. They are being allowed to seek shelter at the Fairlington Community Center until they receive word about being able to head back to their apartments.

Courtesy photo (top)

 

Small Fire Extinguished at Ballston High-Rise

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington County Fire Department responded to a reported fire at the Residences at Liberty Center apartment building, at 888 N. Quincy Street in Ballston, just before noon today.

Light smoke and flames could be seen coming from the balcony of an apartment on the 16th floor, according to scanner traffic.

Firefighters eventually located the source of the flames — which turned out to be an outdoor potted plant that had somehow caught on fire — and used an extinguisher to put out the flames. Most of the fire equipment that responded to the call is now packing up and clearing the scene, though some road closures may remain for another few minutes.

A fire marshal is being requested to respond to investigate the incident.

File photo

Courthouse Office Building Poised for Demolition

By ARLnow.com

It appears that the 1960s-era Arlington Executive Building in Courthouse (2009 N. 14th Street), home to the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and other tenants, is finally set to be demolished.

While there’s no word on exactly when demolition is expected to begin, we’re told a crane has been sitting in the building’s parking lot for the past couple of weeks, while the Chamber just announced that it is in the process of moving to a temporary office in Ballston.

Replacing the office building will be a new 16-story, 254-unit apartment building called the Tellus. The mixed-use building will also include more than 15,000 square feet of office and retail space. Construction had been set to begin in 2010, but financial difficulties forced it to be delayed.

Over the next couple of days, the Chamber will be moving to a new, temporary office at 4600 Fairfax Drive, Suite 804. The Chamber says it will be closed to the public through Monday, July 16, during the move.

The Chamber plans to move back into the first-floor office space of the Tellus, once it’s completed. That could happen as soon as 2014, the Chamber says.

Apartment Fire on Columbia Pike

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 10:45 a.m.) Firefighters are leaving an apartment building on the 1900 block of Columbia Pike, where they responded to a fire earlier.

Arlington and Fairfax County units fought the small blaze, at the Archstone Columbia Crossing apartments. According to Capt. Gregg Karl, the fire started in a second floor utility closet and spread to an apartment.

There is some water damage on the first and second floors, but there’s no estimate yet on the cost of that damage. There were no reports of injuries.

Right now, investigators are trying to determine exactly what started the fire.

 

Man Impaled on Apartment Pool Fence

By ARLnow.com

A man had his lower leg impaled on the fence surrounding an apartment complex’s pool late last night (Sunday).

The incident happened between 11:30 p.m. and midnight at the Wellington apartment complex, at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Scott Street. The 29-year-old Arlington resident was was at the pool after hours and was under the influence of alcohol when he attempted to climb back over the fence, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. The man slipped, fell, and was impaled on the fence through the left calf area.

Two people — a man and a woman — were with the man at the time and attempted to help him. The male friend of the victim helped to lift him and keep him from dangling upside down.

Police and firefighters arrived on scene with heavy technical rescue gear. Firefighters cut off sections of the fence and eventually were able to lower the victim down to a stretcher, with a piece of fence still attached to his leg. The victim was transported to the trauma center at Inova Fairfax hospital.

Sternbeck said no trespassing charges were filed because police were unable to get in touch with the apartment’s management company.

 

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Building Boom in D.C., Arlington — In 2011, an otherwise slow year for residential construction, Arlington and the District of Columbia captured a disproportionately large portion of local building projects. According to the Washington Post: “… while the District and Arlington County have historically accounted for only about 8 percent of the region’s residential building permits over the past two decades, these two jurisdictions accounted for 36 percent of the building activity in 2011.” [Washington Post]

Moran Horse Slaughter Ban Passes Committee — A bill championed by Rep. Jim Moran (D), which would effectively ban the slaughter of horses for food, has passed the House Appropriations Committee. Moran tried to insert language banning horse slaughter in an agriculture bill last year, but the provision was ultimately removed. [Office of Rep. Jim Moran]

Mid-Week Movie at Westover Library — Looking for a way to beat the heat today? The Westover branch library (1644 N. McKinley Road) will be screening the film Pride as part of its summer mid-week movie series. The series features movies with “sporting themes,” in honor of the Summer Olympics. [Arlington Public Library]

Flickr pool photo by ddimick

New Apartment Building Coming to Buckingham

By ARLnow.com

 

A new apartment building is coming to the Buckingham neighborhood, near Ballston.

Earlier this year, the Dittmar Company demolished an older, existing three-story garden apartment building near the corner of N. Henderson Road and N. Thomas Street. In its place, we’re told the developer is building a new four-story, 66-unit apartment building with underground parking.

The building will have the address of 4301 N. Henderson Road. No word on when the construction is expected to wrap up.

Partying Prompts Memo from Apartment Management

By ARLnow.com

Broken glass, mulch fires and huge crowds at the pool — it’s summer time at an apartment building in Ballston.

On Monday, management at the Archstone Ballston Square apartment building (850 N. Randolph Street) sent an email to residents detailing some incidents of excessive partying. The email also reminds residents of rules against tossing objects off balconies and holding drinking game competitions in apartment common areas.

Said the tipster who sent us the memo: “Archstone Ballston Square is turning into quite the frat [house].”

Dear Residents,

Having an enjoyable summer and being able to enjoy our outdoor spaces such as the BBQ area, Pool and Sundeck requires the cooperation of all residents.

This past Friday night someone threw beer bottles from their balcony into the pool and onto the pool deck. Thankfully the lifeguard was attentive and able to clean this out with only a minor delay in re-opening the pool for everyone’s enjoyment. Glass in the pool or on the pool deck poses a huge accident risk and also will force us to shut down the area possibly for extended periods of time. Please be reminded that tossing anything from your balcony is completely unacceptable and it poses dangers to the entire community. The weekend prior we had a minor mulch fire because of cigarettes being tossed off.

In addition, drinking games of any sort are prohibited in common areas. We do not allow alcoholic beverages to be taken to the pool area and alcohol cannot be consumed in the public areas such as the BBQ deck and courtyard. Going forward we will have to enforce this rule and resident found drinking will be asked to retreat to their own apartments. Only plastic cups or bottles may be used on the deck.

Due to the huge crowds we saw last weekend we can only allow each resident to bring one additional guest this summer. Please be reminded that we will hold residents responsible for their guests behavior as well.

Please assist us in maintaining this an enjoyable area for all residents by following the above rules and allowing your neighbors to enjoy the facilities as well.

Regards,

Sandy Russell
General Manager
Archstone Ballston Square

If you live in an apartment or condo, have you had similar incidents happen at your building?

Photo via Google

Construction on Rosslyn Apartment Tower May Begin This Year

By ARLnow.com

The JBG Companies will ask the Arlington County Board this weekend for permission to change the order of its massive Central Place project in Rosslyn.

The project consists of two 390-foot towers — one office tower, one residential tower — both built across from the Rosslyn Metro station, between N. Lynn Street and N. Moore Street. JBG is asking the Board for the option to build the residential tower first, even though the developer’s original site plan called for the office tower to be built first.

The Board is expected to consider a site plan amendment on Saturday that would transfer the community benefits timed to coincide with the office tower construction — including the construction of a public plaza between the two planned buildings, a $3.5 million contribution for the construction of a new Rosslyn Metro entrance, and $5.4 million to the county’s affordable housing fund — to the timeline for the residential tower’s construction, presuming the residential tower is built before the office tower.

According to a staff report, JBG has yet to decide whether to start construction of the office or the residential tower first. Regardless, the developer plans to start construction on at least one of the buildings by the end of this year.

The project has been delayed because JBG “has encountered difficulties financing the construction of both buildings,” the staff report says.

The Central Place residential tower will consist of 350 apartments and will replace what is currently a McDonald’s restaurant and a small park.

New Apartment Building Coming to Waverly Hills

By ARLnow.com

 

Archstone has broken ground on a new 227-unit apartment building next to the strip mall at the corner of N. Glebe Road and 20th Road N. in Waverly Hills.

Parkland Gardens, as the project is currently known, is billed as a high-end residential community in a “pedestrian-friendly, North Arlington neighborhood.” A press release (after the jump) claims the building will be “in close proximity to the Ballston Metrorail station,” though the station is a mile and a half away.

The building will be four stories high, according to county building permit records. The complex will have a variety of desirable features and amenities, Archstone says.

“The one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes and lofts will showcase a host of high-end finishes, including large, open floor plans, nine-foot ceilings, built in book cases, crown molding, European-style kitchen cabinets with glass doors, stainless steel appliances and master bathrooms with double vanities,” according to Archstone. “In addition, residents… will have access to a variety of unique amenities, such as a resort-style pool with a sun deck and private nooks, two courtyards, an outdoor amphitheater with tiered seating and a pet spa.”

The project is being constructed in a large, empty, fenced-in lot just south of the Thirsty Bernie Sports Bar & Grill. No word yet on how much the project will cost or when it’s expected to be complete.

(more…)

New Ballston-Area Apartment Building Approved

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington County Board voted unanimously over the weekend to approve a site plan for a new apartment building at 650 N. Glebe Road, across from Ballston Common Mall.

The six-story, 163-unit apartment building will replace a Goodyear tire store and service center. As part of the site plan, developer Crimson Partners agreed to build a 220-foot long extension of N. Tazewell Street to help break up what’s described as “one of the County’s largest blocks” — and to provide resident access to the building that doesn’t interfere with traffic on Glebe.

The new building will include 2,200 square feet of ground floor retail space along N. Glebe Road. County Board members said adding new residential and retail options will help add to the vibrancy of the area.

“This project continues the transformation of Glebe Road to a boulevard with a mix of retail, office and residential buildings that is a safer, more welcoming place for people to stroll, shop and dine,” County Board Chair Mary Hynes said in a statement. “This vision, now well on its way, is far cry from the funnel for fast-moving cars that we’ve experienced through the commercial heart of Arlington for many years.”

Originally proposed as a five-story building, Crimson was granted extra density in exchange for building to LEED Silver sustainability standards and for constructing the extension to N. Tazewell Street. Crimson also agreed to contribute nearly $500,000 to the county’s Affordable Housing Investment fund, $75,000 to the county’s public art fund, and $42,000 to the county’s utility fund.

Though the building will have 164 underground parking spaces, Crimson agreed to a number of “transportation management measures to encourage residents and retail tenants to live and work car-free.” It was previously reported that the developer was hoping to begin construction this year and wrap up by mid-2013.

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