Courthouse

Construction Underway on Courthouse Pedestrian Safety Improvements

By ARLnow.com

Crews are starting construction this week on changes to an intersection in Courthouse.

The $640,000 project is intended to provide pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Clarendon Blvd and 15th Street N. One major change is the removal of a slip lane.

The plan is to remove a one-way portion of roadway that serves as a shortcut to 15th Street N. in front of county government headquarters, and instead have Clarendon Blvd traffic access 15th Street via a 90 degree turn at the traffic signal-equipped intersection a bit farther down the road.

As currently configured the triangle of roadway leads to conflicts between cars and pedestrians, county staff says. The goal of the project is to improve “pedestrian safety, circulation and access in and around Courthouse Plaza.”

The new intersection will include additional trees, green space and other amenities for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Construction hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, according to the county website.

Here’s Where You Can Buy Girl Scout Cookies in Arlington in March

By Anna Merod

About a month ago, Girl Scouts began selling their famous — dieters might call them infamous — cookies in Arlington.

The net revenue raised from Girl Scout cookies funds the organization’s local council and troops, which in turn is used for trips or donated to community projects or causes.

This month Girl Scouts will again be posting up at Metro stations, grocery stores and other high-foot-traffic locales, offering a fix of their seemingly addictive mass-produced baked goods.

Below, after the jump, are some of the times and places places you can grab some Girl Scout cookies in March.

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Demolition Underway at 2000 Clarendon Blvd

By Anna Merod
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Demolition is underway on an old office building in Courthouse.

The demolition of the building at 2000 Clarendon Blvd will allow the construction of a new, 15-floor condominium tower. The 18,380 sq. ft. site will also feature ground-level retail and a garage fitting 112 parking spaces.

The site is currently fenced off while the building is torn down.

Photo (third) courtesy @721tv

Here’s Where You Can Buy Girl Scout Cookies in Arlington This Month

By Anna Merod

Girl Scout cookie season is upon us, and there will be plenty of booths throughout Arlington where residents can get their sweet fix.

The net revenue raised from Girl Scout cookies funds the organization’s local council and troops, which in turn is used for trips or donated to community projects or causes.

According to the Girl Scouts website, booth sales in Arlington will kick off this coming Friday, Feb. 16. Below are some of the times and places places you can grab some Girl Scout cookies this month.

  • Four Sisters Grill (3035 Clarendon Blvd.)

    • Feb. 16 — 4-7 p.m.

  • Giant Food (3450 Washington Blvd.)

    • Feb. 16 — 4-8 p.m.
    • Feb. 17 — 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 18 — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Feb. 23 — 4-8 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 25 — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

  • Giant Food (3115 Lee Highway)

    • Feb. 17 — 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 18 — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 25 — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

  • Giant Food (2901 S. Glebe Road)

    • Feb. 16 — 4-8 p.m.
    • Feb. 17 — 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 18 — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Feb. 23 — 4-8 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 25 — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

  • Giant Food (2501 9th Road S.)

    • Feb. 16 — 4-8 p.m.
    • Feb. 17 — 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 18 — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Feb. 23 — 4-8 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 25 — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

  • Key Elementary School  (2300 Key Blvd.)

    • Feb. 16 — 3-6 p.m.

  • Courthouse Metro Station (2100 Wilson Blvd.)

    • Feb. 16 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 19 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 20 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 21 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 22 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 23 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    • Feb. 26 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 27 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 28 — 3:30-7:30 p.m.

  • Virginia Square-GMU Metro Station (3600 Fairfax Drive)

    • Feb. 16 — 4-7 p.m.
    • Feb. 23 — 4-7 p.m.

  • Pentagon Center Mall (1201 S. Hayes Street)

    • Feb. 16 — 4-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 17 — 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
    • Feb. 18 — 1-6 p.m.
    • Feb. 23 — 4-7:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
    • Feb. 25 — 1-6 p.m.

  • Ace Hardware (2001 Clarendon Blvd.)

    • Feb. 17 — 12-4 p.m.
    • Feb. 18 — 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 12-4 p.m.
    • Feb. 25 — 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

  • Central Library (1015 N. Quincy St.)

    • Feb. 17 — 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 18 — 12:45-5 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Feb. 25 — 12:45-5 p.m.

  • Meridian (1401 N. Taft St.)

    • Feb. 17 — 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

  • Nice Cream (2831 Clarendon Blvd.)

    • Feb. 17 — 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

  • Delancey at Shirlington Village (4220 Campbell Ave.)

    • Feb. 17 — 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

  • Io Piazza Apartments (2727 S. Quincy St.)

    • Feb. 17 — 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

  • The Whitmore (4301 Columbia Pike)

    • Feb. 16 — 4:30-7 p.m.

  • Goodwill Industries  (10 S. Glebe Road)

    • Feb. 17 — 12-6 p.m.
    • Feb. 24 — 12-6 p.m.

  • Market Common (2801 Clarendon Blvd.)

    • Feb. 24 — 2:30-6 p.m.
    • Feb. 25 — 1-5 p.m.

  • The Citizen at Shirlington Village  (3000 S. Randolph St.)

    • Feb. 24 — 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Photo via Girl Scouts of the United States of America

Police: Indecent Exposure Near Courthouse

By ARLnow.com

A man turned around and exposed himself to a woman after walking past her on 16th Street N. near Rosslyn and Courthouse, police say.

The incident happened Friday night just before 10 p.m. The man ran off and police were unable to locate him.

More from an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2018-02090265, 1800 block of 16th Street N. At approximately 9:55 p.m. on February 9, police were dispatched to the report of an indecent exposure just occurred. Upon arrival, it was determined that the female victim was walking in the area when the male suspect walked past her and turned back to ask her a question with his genitals exposed. The suspect then fled on foot in the opposite direction. The suspect is described as a darker skinned male, possibly Hispanic or Arabic, younger than 35 years old,  approximately 5’6, wearing a gray hoodie with dark stripes and the hood up, blue jeans, and something covering his mouth. The area was canvased with negative results. The investigation is ongoing.

Image via Google Maps

Korean Restaurant to Open in Place of Shawafel in Courthouse

By Anna Merod

Bibimix, a quick-service Korean restaurant, is getting ready to open in Courthouse as soon as next week.

The new Korean restaurant at 1910 Wilson Blvd will be replacing the former Shawafel, which closed in 2016 after only being open for about a year.

Restaurant co-owner Sang Moon described Bibimix’s format as “Chipotle style,” where customers can make their own rice or salad bowls using up to 40 different toppings. They will also be serving Korean fried chicken, he said.

Moon expects to host a soft opening next week. Customers will be able to get 20 percent off their meal on March 1, during the store’s official grand opening, Moon said.

Bibimix hopes to be able to find staying power after an eatery with a similar format struggled elsewhere in Arlington. Chipotle-style Korean restaurant KBQ Korean BBQ & Bar closed in Crystal City last year after being in business for six months.

Photo courtesy Christopher Cahill

Crime Report: Man With Gun Threatens Hotel Employees

By ARLnow.com

A Maryland man entered the lobby of a Courthouse hotel early Tuesday morning, made some demands and then threatened employees with a gun when the demands were not met, police say.

The man was seeking “the business cards of management,” according to this week’s Arlington County crime report. Police did not give an explanation for why he wanted business cards at 1 a.m.

Responding officers were able to find the man nearby, based on a “lookout” broadcast after the victims called 911. He was arrested and now faces multiple charges.

More from ACPD:

BRANDISHING, 2018-01230010, 2400 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on January 23, police were dispatched to the report of a brandishing. Upon arrival, it was determined that a male suspect entered the lobby of a business, made contact with two employees and requested the business cards of management. When the victims declined, the suspect threatened them, brandished a firearm and fled in his vehicle prior to police arrival. A lookout was broadcast based upon the suspect description provided by witnesses and arriving officers located a vehicle and suspect matching the description nearby. Richard Hylton Jr., 28, of Gaithersburg, MD, was arrested and charged with Assault & Battery (x2), Brandishing a Firearm, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon (x2).

This week’s crime report was one of the shorter ones in recent memory. The remaining items from it are below.

LARCENY FROM AUTO (series), 2018-01170105, 4000 block of Lee Highway. At approximately 12:06 a.m. on January 17, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny from auto. Upon arrival, it was determined that an unknown suspect(s) removed the tires from and tampered with multiple vehicles in the parking lot of a business. There is no suspect description. The investigation is ongoing.

LARCENY FROM AUTO (series), 2018-01170002, 01170124, 1000 block of Arlington Boulevard. At approximately 12:08 a.m. on January 17, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny from auto. Upon arrival, it was determined that between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on January 16, an unknown suspect(s) smashed the windows of two vehicles and stole items of value. There is no suspect description. The investigation is ongoing.

County Board to Vote on Taking Control of Fairfax Drive from VDOT

By Anna Merod

Arlington County is one final step away from controlling sections of Fairfax Drive and 10th Street N. along the Orange Line corridor.

The Arlington County Board will vote on Saturday (January 27) to approve a deal that would give the county control of the road between its intersections with N. Glebe Road and N. Barton Street, from roughly the Ballston to Courthouse neighborhoods. The roadway is currently controlled by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The vote follows after the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the transfer of control of the road, also known as Route 237, in December. The county requested that transfer in July 2017.

Making the portion of the roadway a part of Arlington’s local road system would streamline reviews for development and other changes, and give the county more flexibility to implement multimodal improvements.

In a report, county staff said Route 237’s current ownership under the state makes the county go through an “extensive review process with the Virginia Department of Transportation for all site plan development reviews and county transportation infrastructure projects.”

Staff said there is also a “cumbersome design-exception process” that costs the county more time and money for each project under VDOT supervision. The transfer could also cost the county between $60,000 and $70,000 a year for added road maintenance responsibilities, the cost of which are only partially reimbursed by the state, according to a fiscal impact statement.

Image via Arlington County

Crime Report: Attempted Carjacking in Courthouse Area

By ARLnow.com

A Maryland man armed with a “piece of metal” allegedly threatened to steal a woman’s car in the Courthouse area last week.

The crime, described as an attempted carjacking, happened just after 4:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, according to police.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ATTEMPTED CARJACKING, 2018-01040128, 1400 block of N. Scott Street. At approximately 4:37 p.m. on January 4, police were dispatched to the report of a suspicious person. Upon arrival, it was determined that the male suspect, holding a piece of metal, approached the female victim and allegedly told her he was going to take her vehicle. The victim was able to safely leave the location and contact police. Responding officers canvased the area and located a suspect matching the description provided by the victim. Jeffrey Johnson, 40, of Waldorf, MD was arrested and charged with attempted carjacking. He was held on no bond.

The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, including some that we’ve already reported, after the jump.

Map via Google Maps

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Verre Wine Bar Open in Courthouse

By Chris Teale
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A new wine bar and restaurant is open on the first floor of a Courthouse hotel.

Verre Wine Bar and Restaurant is located at 2415 Wilson Blvd, on the first floor of the Hyatt Place hotel, which opened ahead of schedule last year. Based on photos posted to the wine bar’s Yelp page, it opened in November.

Verre has an extensive wine and draft beer list, as well as small plates and cheese and charcuterie boards among other foods. It opens at 5 p.m. each day with happy hour.

UPDATED: Hundreds Without Power in Rosslyn, Courthouse Area

By ARLnow.com

Update at 9:45 a.m. — Power has not been fully restored. According to the Dominion website, 282 customers are still without power. Restoration is currently expected by 1 p.m.

Earlier: Hundreds of Arlington residents are without power in the Courthouse and Rosslyn areas.

About 780 Dominion customers are in the dark on a frigid Sunday night, according to the power company’s website. The outage is between Route 50 and Clarendon Blvd, within the Radnor-Fort Myer Heights civic association boundaries.

The cause of the outage is reported to be under investigation and restoration is estimated between 7-11 p.m.

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