First responders on scene at the townhouse fire on N. Colonial Terrace in Rosslyn
First responders on scene at the townhouse fire on N. Colonial Terrace in Rosslyn
Townhouse fire in Rosslyn (photo via Arlington County Fire Department)
Map showing location of Rosslyn townhouse fire (photo via Google Maps)
First responders on scene at the townhouse fire on N. Colonial Terrace in Rosslyn
First responders on scene at the townhouse fire on N. Colonial Terrace in Rosslyn
(Updated at 1:30 p.m.) Firefighters have extinguished a fire at a townhouse on the 1500 block of N. Colonial Terrace in Rosslyn.
Fire department spokesman Capt. Ben O’Bryant said the fire was under control around 1:10 p.m. and that no one was injured. He told ARLnow that the department is now investigating what sparked the flames.
Crews on scene began retracting the ladders and taking apart the hoses shortly afterwards.
At 12:55 p.m., first responders reported that the fire appeared to be contained to the building’s outdoor balcony, and that they were working on extinguishing it.
Crews entered the building at around 12:45 p.m. after firefighters reported seeing smoke upon arriving at the scene. A 911 caller, who O’Bryant said was a neighbor, described “flames coming out of a French window,” per scanner traffic.
Fire is out. Confined to exterior wall on third floor. No one home at time of fire. No injuries reported. Units starting to pick up. Fire Marshal on scene investigating. pic.twitter.com/OpUfP8WSSS
Bike to Work Day celebration at Gateway Park in Rosslyn
Cyclists on the Custis Trail
Staff from Contre’s Bike Shop at 3449 Wilson Blvd. tune up a bike in Gateway Park
Bike to Work Day celebration at Gateway Park in Rosslyn
Bruce Deming, a lawyer in Arlington who specializes in bicycle injuries, at Bike to Work Day
Bike to Work Day celebration at Gateway Park in Rosslyn
Bike to Work Day celebration at Gateway Park in Rosslyn
Cyclists at the N. Lynn Street and Lee Highway intersection
Meter in Rosslyn tracks cyclists passing
Cyclist on the Key Bridge
(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) It was clear skies for commuters this morning (Friday) celebrating Bike to Work Day.
The annual tradition encourages commuters to ditch their cars and ride their bikes to and from work. In Arlington, 10 pit stops and themed celebrations were sprinkled across the county.
The Bike to Work event at Rosslyn’s Gateway Park filled the park with spandex-clad cyclists mingling and expressing exuberance at the perfect weather. In the tight-knit community of cyclists, there were frequent reunions between riders throughout the park.
“It was a great ride today,” said Henry Dunbar, director of active transportation for Bike Arlington and a coordinator of the event. “This is about as ideal as it gets.”
Dunbar said the event caters to the one-third of riders who are first-time bicycle commuters. Dunbar said the goal is to teach them about bicycle safety and encourage them to make bicycle commuting a daily habit.
For new riders, Dunbar said the best thing to do is find a more experienced rider and tag along with them.
“Ride with experienced cyclists,” Dunbar said. “All the brochures in the world aren’t as good as someone guiding you through that one tricky intersection on your way into work.”
Dunbar nodded over to the N. Lynn Street and Lee Highway intersection — a crossing regularly packed with cyclists, pedestrians and cars. The crowding is exacerbated by construction around the intersection that’s part of the Custis Trail improvements — construction Dunbar said is likely to continue for another full year.
Several bicycling-focused organizations had stands set up in Rosslyn to help encourage a car-free lifestyle. Robert Santana attended on behalf of the Arlington Car-Free Diet campaign and distributed information about the impending Metro closures.
“I was worried we’d be talking mostly to people who were already car-free,” Santana said, “but people have seemed really interested.”
Tents were set up around the park, with businesses like Nando’s Peri-Peri offering free meals or other local organizations offering bicycle-specific services.
“Today has been fantastic,” said Bruce Deming, a “bike lawyer” who specializes in representing injured cyclists. “There’s a huge crowd, just tremendous turnout. I’m proud to be a part of this event.”
Rendering of unit inside new Pierce condo building in Rosslyn (Image courtesy of Neoscape)
Renderings of unit balcony at new Pierce condo in Rosslyn (Image courtesy of Neoscape)
Rendering of pool at new Pierce condo building in Rosslyn (Image courtesy of Neoscape)
Rendering of unit inside new Pierce condo building in Rosslyn (Image courtesy of Neoscape)
Renderings of gym inside new Pierce condo in Rosslyn (Image courtesy of Neoscape)
Renderings of unit inside new Pierce condo in Rosslyn (Image courtesy of Neoscape)
(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) New renderings show one of the three luxury condo buildings being built in Rosslyn.
The Pierce is part of the Highlands development of three high-rise housing buildings on 1555 Wilson Blvd, which is slated to include 884 luxury housing units and 40,000 square feet of retail space when it’s completed.
At 27 stories tall, the Pierce will include a total of 104 one-, two-, and three-bedroom condominium residences, according to a spokeswoman for the developer Penzance. The size of the units range between 1,266 to 2,403 square feet.
The project originally faced opposition for replacing what was once recreational space and Arlington Fire Station 10. In exchange, Penzance pledged to build a new fire station on the ground floor of the new development, along with a landscaped public plaza and an extension of N. Pierce Street to 18th Street — a deal the county accepted in 2016.
A new 360-tour using renderings of the luxury units in the Pierce building show 10-foot ceilings, quartz countertops, and windows facing the Potomac or Rosslyn. A spokeswoman added that bathrooms in the units will have heated floors.
Other renderings show such building amenities as a gym, pool, and rooftop space for residents. In total, the building offers 2,250 square feet of outdoor amenity space, and an additional 8,600 square feet of shared amenity space when you include the rooftop pool in the adjacent Evo building.
The project recently generated some controversy after the developer asked the County Board to extend permitted construction hours by one hour in the mornings, to 6 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. weekends, through the end of the year. The developer previously said the project is slated to finish in 2021.
Some in the area are unhappy with the proposed extended hours.
“This will be disruptive to all in the area, including businesses, residents, and the already increasing traffic issues,” one tipster told ARLnow. “I also want to note that this is yet another time Arlington County Board shows a disregard for the community in the area.”
The County Board is scheduled to vote on the new hours during a meeting this Saturday. The item is currently included in the meeting’s consent agenda, which is typically reserved for matters expected to pass without debate.
Plans for a new boathouse in Rosslyn (via the National Park Service)
Transportation networks around the boathouse (Image via Arlington County)
Arlington County Board is scheduled to vote on the latest step in the decades-long plan to build a Rosslyn boathouse.
On Saturday, members are set to consider a “programmatic agreement” to build a boathouse at 1101 Lee Highway in Rosslyn, which would allow non-motorized boats like kayaks to launch into the Potomac from Arlington’s shore.
County spokeswoman Jennifer Smith said this agreement, if approved, would bring the country one paddle closer to a boathouse:
The Programmatic Agreement is a routine element of the environmental review process and reflects the intent of National Park Service and the various regional parties involved in development of the project to cooperate in implementing it. The Board vote is required to authorize the County Manager to sign the agreement. This administrative step, if approved by the Board and by other regional entities, would allow for the National Park Service’s Environmental Assessment to be completed. Completing the EA is an important next step in the project’s timeline. A public process for development of the boathouse would be established separately.
A copy of the design plans shared in a staff report to the Board call for:
a 14,000-square-foot boat storage house that’s designed to be flood-resistant
a 300-foot-long dock for non motorized boats (like kayaks)
a building for bathrooms, locker rooms, educational rooms, and offices
an ADA-compliant parking area
a 300-foot-long emergency vehicle access lane
“The Arlington County and Vicinity Boathouse project is included in the Adopted Fiscal Years (FY) 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which envisions $500,000 in FY 2022 for development of the management model and formulation of the long-term use arrangement and $2.245 million in FY 2026 for the final design of the Boathouse project,” the staff report says.
It’s been almost 25 years since the “boathouse task force” formed to propose the idea, but the project didn’t gain momentum until 2012 when the National Park Service began studying potential environmental impacts. The study was put on hold several times, before resuming in 2016.
At the time, the Park Service worried about how construction could affect flood plains along the river, as well as species that called the waterway home.
In this week’s staff report, a resolution says that the Park Service determined that the boathouse could “have a direct adverse effect on the George Washington Memorial Parkway Historic District and an indirect adverse effect on Theodore Roosevelt Island.” However, it approved going forward provided the following steps were taken to reduce impact:
Restricting and minimizing ground and vegetation disturbance during construction, including limiting tree removal.
Minimizing the size of construction equipment and using minimally invasive construction methods.
Developing a “light on the land” facility with a minimal footprint and massing that is in scale with the surrounding landscape.
Limiting the depth of excavation to avoid disturbing any unknown archeological resources below the depth of previous testing.
Keeping a 50-100 foot area of protection around known archeological sites where heavy equipment is not allowed to help avoid compression/compaction.
Applying avoidance and minimization strategies to staging and storage areas as well.
The project has many fans in the county’s rowing community, which recently banded together to reinforce their support for the water sport after APS threatened to cut the high school teams from the county’s budget.
The Arlington Boathouse Foundation writes on its website that although the county was among the first to introduce rowing teams to its high schools, teams for many years have had to launch crew boats out of D.C. “The George Washington Memorial Parkway severed Arlington’s access to its own shoreline,” the foundation notes.
Since the D.C. boathouse serves multiple jurisdictions, accessing those facilities can be tricky.
“Some area boathouses have a two- to three-year waiting list for membership and an additional waiting list for storage space for a single scull,” the National Park Service wrote on its website about the Rosslyn plan.
A new Thai restaurant is set to open in the Colonial Village Shopping Center near Rosslyn.
“Thai Select” is currently redecorating the space formerly occupied by sushi restaurant Rolls By U and is hoping to open next month, staff told ARLnow today (Thursday).
Their new restaurant will be able to seat 48 people, according to permits.
Staff said Thai Select will serve a variety of Thai dishes and bubble tea. The latter may compete with the bubble tea served next door at frozen yogurt shop IceBerry.
Thai Select will replace the create-your-own sushi eatery Rolls By U that closed in December after opening in the shopping center in 2015. Its sister location in Foggy Bottom which opened in 2017 also appears to be closed. The Rolls By U owners’ other venture, Guarapo Lounge in Courthouse, closed in 2016.
A new JPMorgan Chase bank branch is coming to Rosslyn.
The bank filed for a building permit in April for a 1,688 square feet space at Rosslyn City Center (1700 N. Moore Street), according to Arlington Economic Development.
The building is in the middle of an overhaul by owner American Real Estate Partners, though one smaller than what was initially proposed. Interior alterations include changes to the first-floor lobby and building facade.
It’s unclear which space inside the building will house the bank. Inside Rosslyn City Center, there are more spaces empty than full, including two spots vacated by other banks — Bank of America and Presidential Bank. Presidential Bank moved nearby to a new space at 1515 Wilson Blvd.
JPMorgan Chase has been expanding in the D.C. area. It opened a location on Wilson Blvd in Clarendon in December.
(Updated on 05/22/19) Rosslyn’s annual outdoor movie festival is returning to Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway) starting next month.
“Every Friday this summer in Gateway Park, bring a blanket or low chairs and a group of friends and enjoy a night under the stars with your favorite movies,” the event’s website says. “Movies start at dusk, but the fun starts at 5 p.m. with games and our Pub in the Park. This event is kid and dog friendly.”
During the events attendees can “enjoy some popcorn from Popped Republic and food from local food trucks.” A spokeswoman told ARLnow that attendees can also get 10 percent off their bill at the nearby Continental Pool Lounge or Beer Garden if they mention they’re at the outdoor festival, and will also be able to order a “special, movie-themed cocktail.”
The film schedule is as follows.
June 7 — Spider Man: into the Spider-Verse
June 14 — Paddington
June 21 — Casablanca
June 28 — Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
July 5 — Crazy Rich Asians
July 12 — Incredibles 2
The June 14 and July 12 movies — Paddington and Incredibles 2 — are “special family nights,” according to the website. If there’s a chance of rain, organizers will announce cancellations by 3 p.m. on the event website.
(Updated at 10:25 a.m.) WeWork will soon open its newest Arlington co-working space, the company says.
“Our new Rosslyn location at 1201 Wilson is slated to open this June,” company spokeswoman Nicole Sizemore told ARLnow on Monday. The company is also now listing the new Rosslyn location on its website with an option to call for information about pre-opening rates.
“Amid federal agencies and corporate giants, WeWork’s shared office in Arlington is a powerful locale to put down roots,” reads a description on the company’s website. “Several floors in this modern building are converted workspace, featuring comfortable lounges, bright and airy conference rooms, and sleek private offices.”
The final lease includes 83,294 square feet of space across four floors near the top of the 31-story CEB Tower, according to a December press release. The Washington Business Journal reported that the coworking space will have more than 1,400 desks and will “target large, ‘enterprise-level’ corporations — government contractors, trade associations and the tech sector.”
(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) Rosslyn’s Kona Grill is gone for good, the restaurant confirmed in an announcement one tipster forwarded this afternoon.
“Want to thank all our guests for their patronage and hope you’ll visit Kona Grill again when you are near our other locations,” the company’s announcement read.
Tipster Rob Stern said he saw received the announcement as a rewards club member and he is sad to see the restaurant go.
“I’d made a point to go to Kona Grill when I was in town for visits, from Raleigh, NC,” said Stern. “I’ve also enjoyed their Orlando location. Their salmon and macadamia nut chicken were two of my favorites.”
Four other tipsters sent ARLnow pictures of the signs that thank people for their patronage, saying, “We are sorry but we are now closed!!”
The restaurant, located at 1776 Wilson Blvd, served a mix of American fare like sliders and pan-Asian dishes like sushi and pad Thai noodles, according to its menu.
The news comes two weeks after its Arizona-based parent company Kona Grill Inc. announced the chain may file for bankruptcy after reporting $32 million in losses last year and closing eight other restaurants, reported the Phoenix Business Journal.
As of today (Monday), calls made to Kona Grill’s Rosslyn location went unanswered and the restaurant was no longer listed on the chain’s map of locations.
A Yelp reviewer noted yesterday (Sunday) that “stuff is packed up in large plastic tubs, and furniture is being loaded onto a box truck.” The restaurant’s Facebook has not posted since mid-February.
The Rosslyn location originally opened in 2015. At the time, Kona’s general manager Joesph Ortega said Rosslyn was scouted because, “It’s a growing area, young and upcoming” which he hoped would gel with the restaurant’s “very hip or retro feeling.”
The restaurant celebrated Kona Grill Inc.’s 20th birthday in September in Rosslyn, according to Rosslyn BID’s social media.
Over 25,000 used books, DVDs and CDs are set to be offered for sale at a sprawling book festival in Rosslyn on Thursday (April 25).
The Rosslyn Reads Book Festival is an annual fundraiser for Turning the Page, a non-profit that helps students receive educational resources. The festival is planned to be held in Rosslyn’s Central Place Plaza at 1800 N. Lynn Street.
Book prices range from $1 to $8. Attendees are also invited to bring their own used books to donate as well.
A series of events are also planned throughout the day, with children’s activities through most of the day and adult-focused activities in the evening.
10 a.m. — Tunes & Dales, a family story time organized by the Arlington Public Library
The Arlington County Board is poised to approve $1.7 million in state and local funds to incentivize Gerber to move its headquarters to the county.
The Board is scheduled to vote tonight (Tuesday) on whether or not to give $862,500 in state funds to baby food maker Gerber Products Company. Another $862,500 will be allocated for infrastructure improvements around the Rosslyn area, where the company’s headquarters will be moving.
The money is part of a bid enticing Gerber to make good on its promise to relocate its headquarters and 150 jobs to Rosslyn. Gerber parent company Nestle has already moved in to its new Rosslyn headquarters.
A staff report to the Board says $862,500 will come from the state’s Commonwealth Opportunity Fund (COF). It will be sent to Gerber via Arlington’s Industrial Development Authority “upon Gerber’s submission of a Certificate of Occupancy and with evidence that Gerber’s Chief Executive Officer has moved his or her office and operations to the facility.”
The incentives are intended to help Gerber build out its headquarters. More from the staff report:
The agreements require signatures by the County Manager on behalf of the Arlington County Board, by the Chair of the IDA, by the President and CEO of VEDP and by a representative of Gerber. The agreements contain the following requirements, among others:
Gerber must make, or have made on its behalf, a capital investment of $5 million in the building at 1812 North Moore Street;
Gerber must create and maintain 150 New Jobs in the Commonwealth of Virginia at an average annual compensation of $127,719; and
Gerber must make its best efforts to ensure that at least 30% of the New Jobs are offered to residents of Virginia.
If the Board approves the plan, it will allocate $862,500 in funding to a handful of infrastructure projects already in motion:
Move three bus stops blocking the front of Gerber and Nestle’s headquarters at 1812 N. Moore Street (a project staff said is already complete).
The funding vote is currently listed on the Board’s consent agenda, which is typically reserved for topics members intend to pass without debate.
Gerber was acquired by Nestlé in 2007 and has pledged to invest $5 million in relocating to Arlington. Nestlé has set up shop in its 250,000 square-foot office space in Rosslyn and promised to bring 750 jobs to the county.
