Ballston

Traffic Signal Installation on Wilson Blvd in Bluemont

By ARLnow.com

A new set of traffic lights and pedestrian crossing signals are being installed at the intersection of Wilson Boulevard and N. Wakefield Street.

The traffic signals are located next to the Murphy Funeral Home and a new residential development, in the Bluemont neighborhood near Ballston. A developer agreed to pay for the traffic signals in 2008 as part of the development’s site plan process. At the time, county staff argued that increased traffic from the development would necessitate the installation of traffic signals.

No word yet on when the traffic lights might be switched on.

Newt Gingrich to Hold Rally in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich will be appearing at a rally in Arlington Wednesday night.

Gingrich’s campaign has scheduled a rally from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Key Bridge Marriott (1401 Lee Highway) in Rosslyn, according to an email published by Politico. The rally is apparently part of an effort to make sure Gingrich collects enough signatures to appear on the ballot in Virginia.

This is not Gingrich’s first appearance in Arlington as a presidential candidate. The former House speaker was in Arlington this summer for the grand opening of his campaign headquarters, which is located on Fairfax Drive in Ballston.

Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia

Traffic Signals Installed at Wilson Blvd Intersection

By ARLnow.com

New traffic signals were being installed today at the busy intersection of Wilson Boulevard and N. Pollard Street in Ballston, near the Gold’s Gym and the Wiinky’s burger restaurant.

The installation comes about three months after the Sun Gazette reported, in an article entitled “Residents Find Developer Payments Don’t Translate Into Traffic-Signal Installation,” that a developer had agreed to contribute $150,000 toward the addition of traffic signals at the intersection back in 2004. At the time of the article, the County Manager Barbara Donnellan promised to investigate why the traffic signal had not yet been installed.

Though the signals were installed today, we’re told it may be a “couple of weeks” until they’re switched on.

Crime Report: Peeping in Bathroom Stalls Edition

By ARLnow.com

In this week’s Arlington County crime report, a 70-year-old man, identified as a registered sex offender from California, is accused of “peeping into bathroom stalls” in the Ballston area.

PEEPING TOM-ARREST, 12/02/11, 4200 block of Wilson Boulevard. On December 2 at 1 pm, a man was witnessed peeping into bathroom stalls. Clyde Medeiros, 70, of Napa, CA, was charged with Peeping and for Violation of a Registered Sex Offender. He was held without bond.

Also this week, a driver was assaulted when he tried to confront a pedestrian who kicked his car in Clarendon.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY, 12/05/11, 1100 block of N. Hudson Street. On December 5 at 9:50 pm, a pedestrian kicked a passing vehicle. When the driver exited the car, the pedestrian assaulted him. The suspect is described as man with a medium complexion, 6′ tall, wearing a black jacket, jeans, and carrying a black book bag with a white antler design on it.

An additional item of note: two young women are accused of robbing a man after being invited back to his hotel on Columbia Pike.

ROBBERY-ARREST, 12/02/11, 3000 block of Columbia Pike. On December 2 at 10:20 pm, a man invited three women back to his hotel. One of the women stole his wallet and when confronted, assaulted him. Two of the suspects were located by police. Sarah Jordan, 24, and Savannah Grant, 21, both of Arlington, were charged with Robbery. They were held without bond.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty. The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump.

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Greene Turtle Hoping to Open Soon in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

The Greene Turtle is hoping to open in Ballston by the end of the year.

The sports bar and restaurant, on the ground floor of the new Virginia Tech National Capital Region building at 900 N. Glebe Road, should open at some point between Christmas and New Year’s Day, The Greene Turtle’s Sattar Shaik tells ARLnow.com.

According to The Greene Turtle website, the restaurant will be open from 11:00 a.m. to midnight Sunday though Wednesday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

The Greene Turtle has more than two dozen locations around D.C./Baltimore region, including two locations along the Delaware shore.

Taxi Van Catches Fire in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

A taxi van caught fire last night in the middle of a Ballston-Virginia Square area intersection.

The fire broke out just before 7:30 p.m. in the intersection of 9th Street and N. Pollard Street. Firefighters quickly arrived on scene and extinguished the blaze.

Photos courtesy Justin C. and @zippychance

Bank Robbery Near Ballston Metro

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:05 p.m.) A bank robbery has been reported in Ballston.

Initial reports suggest a man with a gun held up the Presidential Bank at 901 N. Stuart Street. The bank is less than a block from the Ballston Metro station and a block and a half from Ballston Common Mall.

Police are now looking for the suspect, who fled the bank after the robbery. Per normal police procedure, Arlington County detectives are on the scene and the FBI has been notified.

This is the second reported bank robbery at this particular branch this year. The bank was also robbed in July.

Worker Dies at American Service Center in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

A long-time employee of American Service Center in Ballston (585 N. Glebe Road) died on Saturday in what’s being described by as a tragic workplace accident.

The 56-year-old employee, whose identity has not yet been publicly released, was attempting to move some cars around a service area using a stackable lift when the accident happened.

“It appears the lift came down on him,” said Arlington County Police Department spokesman Lt. Joe Kantor. “We still don’t know how it happened yet, that’s part of the investigation. It’s being classified as an industrial accident at this time.”

Police received multiple calls reporting the accident just before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the initial dispatch. The employee, who suffered significant head trauma, was pronounced dead on the scene.

The man had worked for American Service Center for about 20 years, Lt. Kantor said.

File photo

DEVELOPING — ‘Occupy NoVA’ Plans March on Thursday

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:20 p.m.) A newly-formed group called ‘Occupy NoVA‘ plans to march from Ballston’s Welburn Square to the Key Bridge on Thursday afternoon.

The march is timed to coincide with a march by Occupy D.C. from McPherson Square to the Key Bridge — which some fear may snarl afternoon rush hour traffic.

“A national day of action is taking place around the country in the Occupy movement,” Occupy NoVA said on its website. “We are going to be marching on this day in solidarity with Occupy DC, from Welburn Square to join in a Labor-Community-Occupy Day of Action and March on the Key Bridge in Rosslyn/Georgetown in protest of the deterioration of our public infrastructure and public services.”

Protesters are expected to gather in Welburn Square at 2:00 p.m., before starting their march around 3:30 p.m. The marching route — which would take demonstrators through the heart of Clarendon, Courthouse and Rosslyn — includes parts of Wilson Boulevard, Clarendon Boulevard and N. Lynn Street. It’s not clear if protesters will be marching on the sidewalk or in the street.

So far, Arlington County Police have not had any comment on their planned response to the protest. Last week an Occupy D.C. spokesman told ARLnow.com that the movement was aware of the Occupy NoVA group’s existence.

Occupy NoVA has not yet set up any encampments, but the group says on its website that it will discuss further plans at meetings on Thursday.

Candidates Schmooze at Kiwani Oyster Feast

By ARLnow.com

Candidates for local and state office in Arlington did some last-minute glad-handing at the 40th annual Kiwanis Club of Arlington Oyster Feast and BBQ on Saturday night.

Held at the American Service Center garage in Ballston, the feast attracted dozens (perhaps hundreds) of diners who paid $40 per head for unlimited oysters, burgers, hot dogs, barbeque and beer. Money raised at the event “helps to fund community youth projects and grants for other educational and non-profit organizations focusing on children in Arlington.”

The pre-Election Day event always attracts a large contingent of political candidates, who take the time to individually greet members of the civic-minded crowd — in between chowing down on fried food. Among the attendees was County Board member and state Senate candidate Barbara Favola, who’s facing off against Republican Caren Merrick in one of the most closely-watched local races in Northern Virginia.

Favola said she’s feeling optimistic heading into Tuesday, thanks to some unspecified internal statistics her campaign has been observing as of late. Merrick also attended the oyster feast, but we were unable to catch up with her for comment.

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Affordable Housing Development Opens in Ballston

By Katie Pyzyk

The opening of an affordable housing community in Ballston was welcomed with much fanfare on Tuesday evening. Numerous county officials joined new residents at The Jordan (801 N. Wakefield St.) for a grand opening ceremony.

The apartments are aimed at individuals or families earning 50-60% of the area’s mean income. A key selling point of the apartments is their proximity to local businesses and public transportation. They’re about one block from Ballston Commons Mall and about four blocks from the Ballston Metro. County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman pointed out that this is important because the people who typically need public transit the most are those with lower incomes. Residents at The Jordan are also eligible for a public transit subsidy.

Zimmerman said because Arlington is becoming a more expensive place to live, it’s vital to be creative and innovative in providing housing options. He said the county is at risk of losing its diversity without such options.

“We need to make sure this is a place in which everyone can live,” Zimmerman said. “Not just those who are privileged with a high income.”

The property is owned and managed by AHC Inc., a nonprofit developer of low and moderate-income housing. They acquired the property through a land swap with The JBG Companies. It’s part of the larger mixed-use development under construction at the corner of Glebe Rd. and Wilson Blvd.

The Jordan replaces the previous affordable housing complex nearby, Jordan Manor, which was demolished nearly three years ago. Residents at Jordan Manor who wished to move into The Jordan received first pick on the apartments. The Jordan houses 90 apartments, whereas Jordan Manor had only 24.

Five of the building’s units have three bedrooms and can accomodate larger families. Nine of the units are fully accessible to residents with disabilities. Amenities include a library, business center, courtyard with fountain and community room.

The first residents moved into The Jordan about a month ago, and the building is currently two-thirds occupied.

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