Courthouse

Gun Brandishing in Clarendon Leads to Chase on Route 50

By ARLnow.com

A man allegedly pulled a gun during a dispute at a business in Clarendon, leading to a high-speed chase that ended when it crossed the Potomac.

The incident happened around 2 p.m. on Monday, on the 2600 block of Wilson Blvd. Scanner traffic at the time suggests that the business involved was the used car lot on the block.

Two suspects were engaged in a verbal dispute with two employees of the business, when one suspect became irate and allegedly pulled a gun, according to police.

“The two suspects then fled in a vehicle prior to police arrival,” Arlington County Police said in a crime report today. “Arriving officers observed the suspect vehicle in the area. They attempted to effect a traffic stop in the area of N. Uhle Street and Clarendon Boulevard” — near the Courthouse Metro station — “after observing it run a red light, however, the driver disregarded officers and failed to pull over.”

“The driver continued to disregard officers, and a pursuit was initiated,” the crime report continues. “The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed onto Route 50 and fled into Washington, D.C. at which point the pursuit was terminated.”

Generally, Arlington County police will not chase suspects for minor crimes or traffic violations, but department policy does allow pursuits for more serious crimes. Yesterday’s chase was called off once the suspects crossed jurisdictional boundaries in D.C., though a lookout for the suspects was given to U.S. Park Police, according to scanner traffic.

ACPD said today that they were able to ascertain the identity of the suspect who pulled the gun, and issued warrants for his arrest.

“Based upon information provided by the subject to the business, a suspect was developed,” the crime report says. “Warrants for Brandishing (x2) were obtained for Suspect Two. The investigation is ongoing.”

Police: Would-Be Rapist Scared Off By Witness

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County police are searching for a man they say tried to rape a woman near Courthouse last night.

The incident happened around 10:45 p.m. in the Radnor/Fort Myer Heights neighborhood.

The victim was walking her dog alone when the suspect allegedly started chasing her. He fell on top of her at the corner of Fairfax Drive and N. Rolfe Street, then tried to remove her pants, but a witness started yelling at the suspect and he ran of, according to ACPD.

Officers on the ground and a police helicopter tried to find the man, but the search was unsuccessful.

More from ACPD:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is investigating an attempted rape in the Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood that took place on the evening of November 17, 2020.

At approximately 10:47 p.m., police were dispatched to the 1300 block of N. Rolfe Street for the report of an attempted rape. Upon arrival, it was determined that the female victim was walking her dog along the N. Rhodes Street bridge over Arlington Boulevard when she noticed the male suspect begin to follow her. The victim picked up her pace to a run in an attempt to separate herself from the suspect who then began to chase after her. At the corner of Fairfax Drive and N. Rolfe Street, the victim and suspect fell to the ground. The suspect ended up on top of the victim, told her not to talk and attempted to remove her pants. A witness heard the victim yelling and called out to the suspect. The suspect froze and the victim was able to run away. Responding officers established a perimeter and canvased the area with negative results.

The suspect is described as a Black male in his 20’s, approximately 6’0″, 225-250lbs with broad shoulders. He was wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, dark jeans and a navy-blue face mask at the time of the incident.

This remains an active criminal investigation and anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Detective J. McGrath at 703-228-4244 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided to the Arlington County Police Tip Line at [email protected] or anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Map via Google Maps

Storyblocks Launches Campaign to Diversify Stock Video Footage

By Jo DeVoe

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups, founders, and other local technology news. Monday Properties is proudly featuring Shirlington Gateway. The new 2800 Shirlington recently delivered a brand-new lobby and upgraded fitness center, and is adding spec suites with bright open plans and modern finishes. Experience a prime location and enjoy being steps from Shirlington Village. 

Courthouse-based Storyblocks, an online platform for stock video footage, has released new video content meant to close the diversity gap in media and advertising.

The company, at 1515 N. Courthouse Road, trained eight creators to make video collections specifically depicting people of color and members of the LGBT communities doing everyday activities. These reels are part of a campaign, Re: Stock, which was launched to address the need for videos of people with different racial identities, sizes, abilities and sexual orientations.

“Sourcing from authentic places will lead to authentic footage and authentic representation,” said Sydney Carlton, Director of Brand Marketing at Storyblocks.

The first batch of videos were released starting in mid-October. Although the pandemic delayed the launch from this spring Storyblocks aims to double its diverse content by the end of 2021 and quadruple it by the end of 2022.

The push comes after years of feedback from clients asking for more diverse footage, since existing footage tends to skew towards white subjects and straight couples.

“We were receiving hundreds and hundreds of comments for more people of color and more same-sex couples,” Carlton said. “It really ran the gamut, but it was loud and a lot.”

1/5

A recent company survey found that 72% of users — who include independent filmmakers, advertisers and journalists — said diverse content is important for their projects, but people of color are represented in just 5% of Storyblocks’ current digital library.

“You can only find happy white women eating salads,” Carlton said.

The problem is primarily due to location and access, since most stock video contributors hail from Eastern Europe, where creators do not have the same access to a diverse array of subjects, she said.

The first collections were produced by Monica Singleton and Samson Binutu. They focused on Black families educating their children, Black teens and adults in romantic relationships, family dinners at home and Black women enjoying the outdoors.

“These are things people do every single day,” Carlton said. “That’s the power of the campaign.”

In a statement, Singleton said her personal experience searching footage libraries made her excited to join the project.

“In the past when I’ve looked for certain stock footage or music, it’s been really hard to find representation for people that look like me,” Singleton said.

Future Storyblocks projects will focus on people with from other racial identities, and with a range of body shapes and sizes as well as abilities. Going deeper, Carlton said the goal of Re: Stock is invert stereotypes of who plays board games, does homework with their kids, and lives together.

“That’s where you instill a sense of humanity in people,” she said.

The company has thrived during the pandemic and was acquired by a private-equity firm in Boston this summer.

ACPD Investigating Another Note-Passing Robbery Attempt

By ARLnow.com

Perhaps the pen is not mightier than the sword, after all.

A man who tried to rob a local store by passing a note to a clerk yesterday left empty-handed, according to Arlington County police.

The incident happened shortly after 1 p.m. on the 2100 block of 15th Street N., in Courthouse. That’s the same block as the CVS Pharmacy adjacent to the Metro station entrance.

Police say a man passed a threatening note to a store clerk, demanding cash, but “the employee declined.” The man then snatched the note back and ran off, according to a crime report.

ACPD is investigating whether the crime may be connected to three similar note-passing robberies and robbery attempts in September and October.

“Based on similarities with the other reported incidents, detectives from the Homicide/Robbery Unit are investigating this as a possible additional case in the series,” police spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow.

More from the crime report:

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY, 2020-11110082, 2100 block of 15th Street N. At approximately 1:19 p.m. on November 11, police were dispatched to the report of an attempted robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 1:09 p.m., the suspect approached an employee at the counter and passed them a note demanding cash and threatening them. The employee declined to provide cash and the suspect took the note and fled prior to police arrival. The suspect is described as a middle aged Black male, approximately 5’10”-6’0″, with a slim build, wearing a yellow jacket with the hood up, a dark colored baseball cap, a dark colored shirt, dark blue jeans, tan shoes and a tan backpack. The investigation is ongoing.

‘Protect the Results’ Rally Held in Courthouse

By ARLnow.com
1/11

(Updated at 10:45 p.m.) Dozens gathered in front of Arlington County government headquarters in Courthouse for a rally calling for every vote from Tuesday’s election to be counted.

The “Protect the Results” rally, which kicked off at 5 p.m., was organized and promoted by a variety of local Democratic and progressive groups. It was held as the 2020 presidential race hangs in the balance, still too close to call in a number of key states.

The rally was intended as a show of support for the continued counting of ballots, including mail-in ballots. President Trump’s campaign said earlier today that it is suing to stop ballot counts in Pennsylvania and Michigan.

“This morning, the president declared victory prematurely. Neither candidate has reached the threshold of 270 electoral votes,” said Democratic organizer Matt Royer. “We have millions of voters who have not been counted yet. It’s time for us to mobilize and get ready.”

“We will stand together to make sure that every vote is counted,” Royer continued. “We will not let this election be stolen from the people. Hold the line.”

Police: Man Arrested for Following, Groping Women

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) A 23-year-old from Stafford, Virginia is behind bars after police say he followed and groped a woman on a trail and stalked two others in Clarendon and Courthouse.

The first incident happened around 10 a.m. on a Tuesday in September. A woman was walking on the Custis Trail when she noticed a man following her. The man then caught up to her and groped her, before fleeing, according to Arlington County police.

Then, on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 9, the man followed two different women in Clarendon and Courthouse, even following them into businesses, prompting calls to police, according to ACPD.

Police announced this morning that they had arrested Lamar McCarthy of Stafford and charged him with sexual battery and two counts of felony stalking. He is currently being held in the county jail.

This is not the first time the 23-year-old has been accused of such crimes. From the Falls Church News-Press in May:

Falls Church police said they arrested the man responsible for a string of incidents over the past few weeks where he either followed or chased after women on both the W&OD Trail and through residential neighborhoods.

Lamar Dontae McCarthy, a 23- year-old from Stafford, was charged with assault for his latest instance on Saturday, authorities said.

McCarthy is facing an assault and battery charge in connection to the May incident, one of three such incidents in Falls Church this spring, according to the paper. He appears to have been released on bond after his May arrest.

Arlington police are now asking any other potential victims of McCarthy to step forward.

More from an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is announcing the arrest of a suspect charged after following three women walking in Arlington County. Lamar Dontae McCarthy, 23, of Stafford, VA was arrested and charged with sexual battery and two counts of felony stalking. He is being held in the Arlington County Detention Facility on no bond.

At approximately 9:58 a.m. on September 8, police were dispatched to the 3100 block of Lee Highway for the report of an assault just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that the female victim was walking on the trail when she observed the suspect walking towards her from a distance. She subsequently turned around and began walking away from the suspect, who increased his pace, closing the distance between them. The suspect caught up to the victim, grabbed her hip, and touched her inappropriately. The victim yelled, prompting the suspect to flee on foot prior to police arrival.

At approximately 1:27 p.m. on October 9, police were dispatched to the 3000 block of Wilson Boulevard for the report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, it was determined the victim was walking in the area when the suspect followed her into a business. The victim recognized the suspect from a previous encounter in April and contacted police.

At approximately 3:37 p.m. on October 9, police were dispatched to the 2300 block of Clarendon Boulevard for the report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, it was determined the female victim was on a walk when she noticed the suspect following her. The victim attempted to evade the suspect by taking various routes, sitting in a park and entering a business. The suspect continued to follow, prompting her to contact police.

This remains an active criminal investigation. Anyone with past inappropriate encounters with the suspect or who has additional information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective P. Peña at 703-228-4183 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Courthouse ‘Landmark Block’ Development Under Review, Meetings to Come

By Jo DeVoe

Six years after redevelopment discussions began, a plan to upgrade a block of aging brick buildings in Courthouse is winding through Arlington County’s levels of review.

“The Courthouse Landmark Block (2050 Wilson Blvd) is currently under review via our site plan review process,” said Jessica Margarit, the communications manager for the Department of Community Planning, Housing & Development, in an email.

An online engagement opportunity focused on transportation, sustainability, community benefits and construction opened Monday and will run through Sunday. County Board consideration of the project is expected in the next few months.

“The Planning Commission and County Board intend to consider this application during Winter 2020-21,” Margarit said.

Greystar Real Estate Partners is proposing a 20-story apartment building with ground-floor retail, rooftop amenities and open space, as well as a below-grade parking structure. The development would replace the one- to three-story brick buildings, including the now-closed Summers Restaurant, just east of the Courthouse Metro station entrance.

The proposal includes keeping, with some changes, the façades of two buildings deemed to be historic.

“Our concept is to embrace the site and its position as one of the highest elevations in the Clarendon-Courthouse area, as well as a prominent building in all directions,” said architect Stephen Smith of Cooper Carry in a September meeting.

The building will have 418 residential units and 160 parking spaces. It will also have 17,000 sq. ft. of retail space with 61 retail parking spaces. The proposal includes prominent ground floor retail spaces with the tower set back a bit from the street, “producing a lighter, more enjoyable pedestrian feel on the sidewalk.”

“It became clear to us when we first approached the site and looked at the sector plan’s recommendations, the site’s very unique and highly visible location in the heart of central Courthouse meant that the site has a lot of design response,” Smith said.

Greystar will fashion a pedestrian promenade along N. Uhle Street between the Courthouse Metro station and the development

“This is intended to become a vibrant and broad pedestrian walkway lined with trees and active retail uses and distinctive lighting,” said John Beinert, the director of development for Greystar.

The pathway comes with two challenges, accommodating a utility vault and a four-foot elevation change. To overcome these, the promenade will have a slight bend to move around the vault, creating “a more dynamic and inviting experience,” and the green space will be terraced to solve the grade-change problem.

Retail space will line the promenade and an elevator lobby will provide access to a garage below-ground.

“Making this new space active and engaging is our highest priority,” Beinert said.

Other proposed community benefits include additional improvements to the streetscape, LEED certification, and contributions to the county’s public art and affordable housing funds.

Two existing buildings will be preserved and their façades redone with historically accurate design and materials.

These are the First Federal Savings and Loan Building (2050 Wilson Boulevard), constructed in 1946, and the Investment Building (2049 15th Street N.), constructed in 1948. They are identified as “important” on the County’s Historic Resources Inventory.

Greystar, meanwhile, has picked up another project in Courthouse. The company is now planning to redevelop the former Wendy’s site, across from the Landmark block, into another residential tower, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Courthouse Wendy’s Project Changing — “A new developer appears to be taking over a Carr Properties’ project in Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood, queuing up a switch from office to residential in the process. Greystar Real Estate Partners filed new plans with Arlington County earlier this month for a triangular parcel at the confluence of Clarendon and Wilson boulevards… [for] a 16-story residential building with 225 units above 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.” [Washington Business Journal]

Opera at Local Farmers Market — Two operatic performance will be held at the Crystal City farmers market this afternoon. The Washington National Opera performances will take place from a converted moving truck. [Facebook, WUSA 9]

Airports See Big Revenue Drop — “The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has seen its year-to-date revenue from airlines decline more than 23 percent, according to new figures, with revenue from sources indirectly related to aviation service declining 46 percent.” [InsideNova]

Dog Hit By Car Gets Second Chance — Thanks to efforts by the Animal Welfare League of Arlington and three other groups, a puppy named Cash had a broken leg, suffered after being struck by a car, saved from amputation. [Facebook]

Alexandria Releases Contact Tracing Info — Alexandria just released an analysis of its contact tracing findings, showing the most common recent activities reported by those diagnosed with COVID-19. Among the top activities reported by COVID patients: living with someone who contracted the disease and going to a workplace. Relatively few reported recently dining outdoors. Arlington has yet to release similar information. [City of Alexandria, Twitter]

New Apartments Planned for Arlington Court Suites Hotel

By Jo DeVoe
1/3

A proposal to return Arlington Court Suites Hotel to its original purpose, an apartment building, is slated to be considered by the Arlington County Board on Saturday.

The 187 guest rooms at 1200 N. Courthouse Road would become 180 homes, possibly condominiums, according to an application filed by the property owner. This hotel-to-residential project is just a couple of blocks south of the Court House Metro station.

County staff are advising the board to approve the plan, which has been amended after Transportation Commission members argued that the original plans provided too much parking.

“Overall, the applicant’s proposal presents an opportunity to provide new housing units within a transit-rich neighborhood through the conversion of an existing building in a manner that is generally consistent with applicable County adopted plans and policies,” the staff report says.

One feature includes an upgraded and expanded pedestrian route making it easier to get to and from the Metro station and the Arlington Boulevard Trail. The route will also connect with nearby apartment and condo buildings, but will not be ADA accessible due to how steep the the grade is, the staff report says.

The project is exempt from providing mandatory affordable dwelling units, according to county staff.

“Given that the proposed density of the subject site plan is decreasing, and is a renovation of an existing building, the ADU provision does not apply,” the document says.

An apartment building was originally constructed on the site in 1962, and was turned into a hotel in 1980. In 2005, the County Board approved a plan to construct 252 new multifamily, townhouse and stacked residential units nearby, known currently as the Vista on Courthouse and the Bell at Courthouse.

The ratio of parking spots to dwellings for the renovated building has been the subject of scrutiny. In February, Transportation Commission members unanimously objected to the first iteration of the plan, which knocked the original 203 spots to 171.

The revised plan includes 150 spaces for a new parking ratio of 0.83 spots per unit. Many of those would be located on a surface parking lot, with the rest in a garage under the building. A county policy adopted in 2017 said parking at residences near Metro stations could be as low as 0.2 spaces per unit.

In a letter to the Board, Transportation Commission Chair Chris Slatt said his commission appreciates the reduced parking and added pedestrian route.

“That said, many commissioners remarked that they would support an even lower parking ratio given proximity to (the) Metro and encouraged the applicant to further reduce the amount of parking on-site, particularly the surface parking,” he wrote.

The County Board will meet virtually this Saturday, Oct. 17, starting at 8:30 a.m.

JUST IN: Summers Restaurant Closing Permanently After 38 Years

By ARLnow.com
1/3

The pandemic has claimed yet another local restaurant — and this time, it’s one of the oldest bars in Arlington.

Summers, the soccer bar at 1520 N. Courthouse Road, will not reopen, owner Joe Javidara confirmed to ARLnow today. The restaurant’s furnishings — from kitchen equipment to framed soccer memorabilia to the Tiffany-style stained glass lamps — are now being offered for auction through Oct. 13.

Summers temporarily closed at the end of August, warning that the closure could be permanent if it was unable to obtain a permit for an expanded outdoor seating area. Javidara said he was not able to get the county permit and instead made the tough decision to close permanently.

A staple of the Courthouse neighborhood, Summers first opened in December 1982. It showed soccer matches from around the world at a time “when no one else in the U.S. watched soccer,” Javidara said, but went on to serve millions of customers over its 38 years.

It has remained in business through big changes to Arlington, but rent increases have made it difficult to make ends meet, said Javidara. It was set to close eventually due to a planned redevelopment of the block, but COVID-19 hastened the inevitable.

Javidara says he has been losing money every month since the start of the pandemic. The main dining used to hold 150 cheering soccer fans, but social distancing restrictions reduced that to 16. Only a handful actually would show up to watch the games, making it hard to retain employees who rely on tips.

Sales were off 95%, Javidara said, but the rent remained $20,000 per month. He said he was also unable to obtain a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan as a potential lifeline.

“It’s disappointing we have to go like this after 38 years,” Javidara told ARLnow.

Still, there’s some hope for the future. After taking some time off, something he hasn’t been able to do for decades, Javidra said he’ll test the waters to see if any investors might want to help Summers reopen elsewhere, perhaps as soon as next year.

Any new location would have to have more outdoor seating and, potentially, a rooftop. A German beer garden with sports could be a new format worth exploring, he said.

“We’ll look for another place,” he said.

You Can Now Get a Hurricane “To-Geaux” in Courthouse

By ARLnow.com

(Updated on 9/30/20) It’s not quite the full Bourbon Street experience, since you can’t drink them on the sidewalk, but you can now get frozen Hurricane cocktails to go in Courthouse.

Bayou Bakery (1515 N. Courthouse Road) is now serving carry-out Hurricanes in 16-oz pouches, the restaurant said in a press release. Also newly available frozen: The Dude, “a White Russian meets a Mudslide.”

The New Orleans-centric restaurant is also offering other cocktails “to geaux” in 16-ounce mason jars, including:

  • NOLA Swinger — “Grapefruit Juice, Honey, Rosemary, Jalapeño, and Bourbon”
  • Gator-Aid — “Sweet Tea, Lemonade, Mint Syrup, and Bourbon”
  • Milk Punch — “the quintessential brunch drink of Bourbon, Brandy, Cream, and Nutmeg”
  • Bayou Bloody Mary
  • Mimosa

Bayou Bakery closed to customers during the first few months of the pandemic, but chef and owner David Guas stayed busy preparing free grab-and-go meals for kids. The restaurant reopened in August after a COVID-conscious reconfiguration.

More on the new frozen drinks, from a press release:

Its as if the fabled corner of Bourbon & St. Peter was picked up from the French Quarter in New Orleans and plunked down at the intersection of N. Courthouse Road & 15th Street in Arlington, Virginia, the boozy libations are flowing freely and ready to roll. No, you’re not at Pat O’Briens, home of the Hurricane: this is Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery, where proprietor David Guas channels the spirit [and spirits!] of his hometown through every morsel and sip he serves. These days, he’s loaded the larder with his signature savories and sweets, and inundated the icebox with a new slew of alcoholic beverages that make his cheery establishment a one-stop depot for the complete “Big Easy” experience.

Stay chill with ice-cold Abita, PBR, Miller High Life, and White Claw — the popular spiked seltzer with lots of flavors… cocktails, from the Bayou Bloody Mary to the NOLA Swinger [Grapefruit Juice, Honey, Rosemary, Jalapeño, and Bourbon] to the ‘Gator-Aid’ [Sweet Tea, Lemonade, Mint Syrup, and Bourbon], will all transport you southward sooner than you can say “Cheers, Y’all!” A given is the Mimosa with a dose of daily squeezed Orange Juice and the Milk Punch, the quintessential brunch drink of Bourbon, Brandy, Cream, and Nutmeg that gets shaken and frothy to the final pour. A ‘select’ selection of wines pairs just to the right tasty notes for the New Orleans nibbles.

Two new frozen pours right out the slushy machine are now available… The Hurricane, the classic Bourbon Street concoction of fresh juices, simple syrup, and rum will blow your cares away. The Dude, a White Russian meets a Mudslide, is a nod to The Big Lebowski, a creamy blend of Half & Half, Vanilla Bean Syrup, Kahlua, and Espresso. The bigger, the better and the more, the merrier, now that Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery is pouring in bulk! You may not be able to drink on the street around here, but get that go-cup New Orleans experience with double to triple sized portions that are the best get yet!

Whether you linger on the patio for a front-porch ambiance, step it inside, or take your drinks ‘to-geaux’ Bayou Bakery has got the NOLA vibe that no other has ’round here!

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