Slowly but steadily, the former DoD Inspector General’s Office in Pentagon City is being demolished floor-by-floor.
Also known at the “Paperclip building,” the structure is being torn down to make way for a new 20-story condo tower known at “The Altaire.”
“Bordering Crystal City and Pentagon City, The Altaire, referencing the double star in the constellation Aquila, will offer 450 condominium homes to the growing region,” says an older website for the forthcoming development. “With expected unobstructed views of The District, The Altarie will be one community to not miss.”
The website pegs the price range of Altaire condos at $300,000 to $2.5 million. It’s unclear if those prices have since been updated.
A groundbreaking for the project is expected to be held later this year.
At its meeting on Wednesday, the Arlington County Board unanimously approved a permit for use of the county-owned “teardrop parcel,” adjacent to the property, for temporary construction storage, staging and parking.
The Arlington County Board on Saturday unanimously gave its blessing to a developer’s plan to build a new 22-story apartment building in Pentagon City.
Developer Vornado is set to break ground on a new building within the Metropolitan Park development. As planned, the new building at 1400 S. Eads St. will include 577 residential units, 9,665 square feet of retail.
The development will also include a number of community benefits. As planned, the new building will bring with it either a commissioned piece of on-site public art or a $75,000 public art contribution; 23 units of affordable housing or a cash contribution to the county’s affordable housing fund; and three open space areas including the completion of a public courtyard called Metropolitan Park Central Park.
The new building represents the sixth and final phase of the Metropolitan Park development.
“We have seen previous phases of Metropolitan Park transform this area of Pentagon City from warehouses and parking lots to a vibrant, walkable place,” County Board Chair Libby Garvey said in a statement. “We look forward to its completion with the construction of Phase 6 and are particularly excited to see the completion of its Central Park for all to enjoy.”
Arlington is set to lose one of its Metro stops on the Blue and Yellow lines for seven days as part of another “SafeTrack surge,” which is set to start tomorrow.
“Surge 4” track repair work is slated to begin Tuesday and will keep the station closed through the following Monday.
Until the Crystal City station’s scheduled reopening on Tuesday, July 19, Metro will have free shuttle bus service to connect the stop with the Reagan National and Pentagon City stations.
Arlington and airport officials are encouraging travelers to avoid driving near the three stations and use buses and other modes of transportation to get around.
An Arlington County website has the following information those affected by the Metro maintenance work and station closure.
Street operations changes for Surge 3 and 4
Temporary changes around the Pentagon City Metro station will accommodate alternate travel options.
Includes removing street parking on east side of South Hayes Street to allow for shuttle bus drop-off and staging.
Supplemental local bus service continued from prior surges
The new ART service and additional ART bus capacity on routes that parallel the Blue Line will continue through Surges 3 and 4:
Midday, evening and weekend service for ART 43 (Crystal City-Rosslyn-Courthouse) – This route provides a direct connection from Crystal City to the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. On weekdays, 40-foot buses will be used to add capacity.
40-foot buses for ART 42 (Ballston-Pentagon) to add capacity – Each 40-foot bus has five more seats and room for more standees compared to 35-foot buses normally used on this route.
For changes to bus service operated by Metro and other jurisdictions, visit Metro’s website.
Alternate travel and work options
The County continues to encourage telework/flex time, ridesharing, biking and walking – options other than driving alone:
Arlington Transportation Partners is reaching out to employers and building managers to urge them to encourage telework or flex schedules and provide travel option information.
Arlington’s Commuter Page has travel option resources for residents and businesses – for example, assistance for vanpooling and other car-free options.
For teleworkers who can’t work at home, Arlington Public Libraries offer wifi, office equipment, design stations with Adobe software, and small meeting rooms.
For those who bike, these changes are continued from prior surges:
Additional capacity at Capital Bikeshare stations and bike parking around the Rosslyn and Crystal City Metro stations.
Custom Bike Trains arranged for County residents upon request – contact [email protected]. BikeArlington also will support promotion of Alexandria’s bike trains that will run from Braddock Road Metro station to Pentagon City.
Improved directional signage along bike commuter routes.
For those who use transit, bike or walk:
Ambassadors will be at Pentagon City Metro station to help travelers with their questions and trip planning.
Enhanced wayfinding signage at affected Metro stations will point people along safe routes to buses, shuttles, bike parking, Capital Bikeshare, station elevators, and other service locations.
Image via Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Starting today, the third stage of Metro’s SafeTrack maintenance plan begins, affecting Blue and Yellow line service in Arlington.
The third stage will begin at 8 p.m. on July 5, continuing until July 11 and it will involve the Blue and Yellow lines being completely shut down between National Airport and Braddock Road, in Alexandria.
Blue Line trains will run every 15 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road and every 12 minutes between National Airport and Largo Town Center.
Yellow Line trains will run every 12 minutes between Huntington and Braddock Road and every 12 minutes between National Airport and Greenbelt.
Riders will be able to take Metroway BRT buses for free, between Pentagon City and Braddock Road, to bypass the closure. For airport customers coming from stations below Braddock Road, shuttle bus service will run between the station and the airport.
The fourth SafeTrack stage will run from July 12-18 and the same lines will be shut down between National Airport and Pentagon City. That includes a closure of the busy Crystal City station.
Blue Line trains will run every 12 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and National Airport and every 12 minutes between Pentagon City and Largo Town Center.
Yellow Line trains will run every 12 minutes between Huntington and Braddock Road and every 12 minutes between Pentagon City and Greenbelt.
Shuttle bus service will run to National Airport from Braddock Road and Pentagon City. Metroway shuttle service will also be available for free during this stage.
For its part, Arlington County will continue to run the expanded bus service implemented for SafeTrack’s second stage. That includes expanded midday, evening and weekend service on the ART 43 between Rosslyn and Crystal City and additional 4o-foot buses to increase capacity on the ART 42, which runs from Ballston to Pentagon.
Arlington County is encouraging alternative commute options during the surge, such as teleworking, ridesharing, biking and walking if possible.
Future Roosters Men’s Grooming Center in Pentagon City
Photo via Roosters Men’s Grooming Center
Future Roosters Men’s Grooming Center in Pentagon City
A new barbershop called Roosters is coming to Pentagon City.
The shop will be opening on the ground floor of The Acadia at Metropolitan Park apartment building, near the corner of 12th Street S. and S. Fern Street, according to “coming soon” signs in the window.
“Roosters Men’s Grooming Center provides an authentic barbershop experience in a modern, upscale, and unpretentious environment,” says the company’s website. “Our focus is on delivering consistent, exceptional service, and providing men an escape from their busy lives.”
Services offered include hair cuts, shaves, beard trims, facials and hair coloring. Discounts are offered for active duty military, police, fire and EMS personnel.
“We believe you deserve to have a space of your own, so sit back and enjoy the charm and comforts of an old school barbershop updated for the modern man,” the website said.
No date was given for the expected opening. Roosters has existing locations in 21 states, including locations in Ashburn, Herndon, Leesburg, Reston, Vienna and Bethesda.
Other ground floor businesses in the Acadia building, both opened and planned, include Sweetgreen, Orangetheory Fitness, Corepower Yoga and European Wax Center.
Police Conduct Pedestrian Safety Detail — Arlington County Police conducted a pedestrian safety detail at the intersection of Washington Blvd and N. Utah Street, in Ballston, where a teen was struck by a car and seriously injured in April. In a tweet, a driver is shown receiving a ticket for failure to yield to a pedestrian. [Twitter]
Pure Barre Coming to Pentagon City? — Exercise studio Pure Barre is finalizing a lease on the ground floor of the new Bartlett apartment building in Pentagon City. That was revealed during an opening party for the Bartlett on the building’s rooftop (see photo, above) Wednesday night.
Photo Shows Big Changes in Pentagon City — As seen in an old black-and-white photo, 56 years ago Pentagon City was mostly empty fields on the outskirts of Crystal City and the Aurora Highlands neighborhood. Development has transformed it into a Metro-accessible hub for shopping, apartment living and offices. [Twitter]
Arlington Mom Gives Birth Live on Facebook — An Arlington mother gave birth to her son live via Facebook Live for the TLC show “A Baby Story Live.” [Patch]
Light Pole Snaps During Storm — Earlier this week, a light pole in the park along Lubber Run snapped during a storm. [Twitter]
The new Whole Foods store in Pentagon City will open its doors at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).
Located at the corner of S. Eads Street and 12th Street S., two blocks from the Metro station, the 36,800-square-foot store will serve both those who live and work in the area — Pentagon City is growing with new apartment towers and other planned development — and those driving in from elsewhere. Underground parking is available.
As part of tomorrow’s opening, the store will holding a “bread-breaking ceremony.”
“The public is invited to join team members and community leaders in a bread-breaking ceremony that begins at 8:45 a.m. and will include the presentation of a $2,000 check to the Arlington Food Assistance Center,” said a press release. “Opening day shoppers will experience first-to-market exclusive products and special door buster savings. The first 500 shoppers who spend $50 will receive a limited edition Whole Foods Market Pentagon City canvas tote bag.”
“Those who can’t make the bread-breaking ceremony will want to stop by for the store’s inaugural happy hour from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, when chef, restaurateur, reality TV star and winemaker Fabio Viviani will meet customers and sign bottles of his wine collection – Fabio Viviani Wines,” said the press release.
On Thursday, its second day in business, the store will donate 5 percent of the day’s sales to two local nonprofits — Blue Star Families in Falls Church, which supports D.C. area military families, and the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
In Pentagon City, Whole Foods is seeking for be more than a grocery store — there’s a bar, a coffee shop and other features intended to get customers hanging out instead of just shopping.
Among the store’s features are:
“A full service coffee and juice bar with nitro dispensed cold brew coffee, hemp milk lattes, cold brew teas, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and acai bowls.”
“Farmstand Freeze. Fruits and veggies are frozen overnight, put in a Pacojet machine and shaved while injecting air to create a light, fluffy, fruity frozen dessert. Low sugar, only sweetened with honey and dates, and also non-dairy.”
“The Basin Barroom, offering 15 beers and one flavor of kombucha on tap, as well as wine and cocktails.” Plus a seafood-focused food menu that includes “a must-try lobster roll served on local favorite LeoNora Gourmet Bakery’s split top roll.”
“Paper Horse, ramen master Erik Brunner-Yang’s latest venue.”
“In-house smoked and dry-aged meats.”
“Eight varieties of scratch-baked bread daily.”
An extensive bulk foods aisle.
A barbecue station, featuring smoked meats and sauces.
A kitchen that includes a large pizza oven.
A dog-friendly outdoor patio.
“More than 2,500 organic offerings in the grocery aisles… Every product in the store will be free of artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, preservatives and hydrogenated oils.”
Disclosure: Whole Foods is an ARLnow.com advertiser.
Arlington County Police are investigating an armed robbery Saturday morning in the Pentagon City area.
Police say a man with a gun got out of a car, robbed a woman of her belongings, and then got back into the car and drove off.
From an ACPD crime report:
ROBBERY, 160625017, 500 block of S. 15th Street. At approximately 6:45 a.m. on June 25, an unknown male subject, brandishing a firearm, exited the passenger side of a vehicle and approached a female victim. The suspect demanded her personal belongings and then fled in the nearby vehicle. The suspect is described as a black male in his twenties, approximately 5’5″ tall with a small frame, and was wearing black sportswear and a mask that covered his face.
Arlington County and Pentagon police are responding to two Noodles and Company restaurants in Arlington due to bomb threats.
According to initial reports, someone phoned in multiple bomb threats to the Noodles and Company restaurants at 2011 Crystal Drive in Crystal City and 1201 S. Joyce Street on Pentagon Row.
The restaurants have been evacuated, we hear, and bomb-sniffing dogs from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency are en route to sweep the area.
Historic Designation May Not Stop Westover Redevelopment — It’s probably too late to start the process of designating a soon-to-be-redeveloped garden apartment complex in Westover as a local historic district, county officials said in response to residents who want to stop the development. By state law the county can’t stop a by-right development, so the only option for preserving the garden apartments would be for the county to buy the property, said County Attorney Stephen MacIsaac. [InsideNova]
Zara Now Open in Pentagon City Mall — The fashion retailer Zara is now open in the expanded portion of the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall. [Patch]
Continued Kudos for W-L Soccer — After winning the state title, the Washington-Lee High School boys soccer team has since been recognized by the Arlington County Board, the School Board and has received a raft of media interest. [InsideNova]
Wardian Wins Crazy Trophy at Crazy Race — Arlington’s resident elite ultramarathoner Michael Wardian has won the Great New York City 100 Mile Running Exposition and the very unique trophy that goes along with it. [Instagram]
Arlington’s Street Names, Explained — In a post that was just republished, after originally appearing in 2009, urbanist blog Greater Greater Washington explains the complex but mostly logical system for naming streets in Arlington. [Greater Greater Washington]
A brand new Starbucks store is open on the corner of 12th Street and S. Fern Street in Pentagon City.
The cafe opened last week and has already attracted a sizable flock of MacBook-bound latte sippers.
The coffee shop is one of the first businesses to open along the new 12th Street extension between Fern and S. Eads Street. A Whole Foods is also opening soon on the block, and a competing cafe — Commonwealth Joe — is working to open its “flagship” location on the block, on the ground floor of the new Bartlett apartment building, this summer.
