Arlington County Government Will Open at Noon Tuesday

• County offices, facilities, most courts will open 12 p.m. Tuesday
• County Board Meeting will convene at 3 p.m.
• Arlington Public Schools remain closed through Wednesday
• County urges everyone to help clear sidewalks

Arlington County Government offices, facilities, Circuit, Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts will open to the public at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 26 in the aftermath of the blizzard that slammed the region last Friday and Saturday.

Arlington County General District Court will be closed.

County crews are now deep into Phase 3 of snow cleanup operations, focusing on residential streets. In many areas, crews have had to bring in heavy construction equipment to break through snow/ice banks at the ends of streets so plows can get in.

The goal is to get to all neighborhood streets by Tuesday night but it may take until Wednesday, Jan. 27, to reach some sections given the amount of snowfall and related conditions, including buried parked cars.

County officials are asking residents for continued patience as enormous amounts of snow are removed from roadways and, in many cases, transported miles away. Overnight temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing early Tuesday, creating new icy conditions that will complicate the cleanup and make travel difficult in some areas.

Residents can check for updates on the recovery by visiting the County snow progress map (updated after each 12-hour shift) and report a snow issue online or by calling 703-228-6485.

Unscheduled leave and telework options are encouraged for County employees, with supervisor’s approval.

Many Parks and Recreation programs are canceled. Arlington Public Library will operate on an abbreviated Tuesday schedule beginning at noon with no children’s programs.

Schools closed through Wednesday

Arlington Public Schools will remain closed through Wednesday. School officials ask the community to assist in clearing school bus stops and nearby sidewalks in advance of students heading back to class.

Trash and recycling

Trash and recycling services are canceled for Monday, Jan. 25 and Tuesday, Jan. 26, to assist snow crews in the clearing of residential streets. Service for Monday and Tuesday customers will resume next Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 1 and 2.

County Board Meeting

The Arlington County Board will convene as scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. It will defer consideration of both the January Consent and Regular Agendas to the Recessed Meeting now scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28.

The Tuesday Meeting will include:

• Storm recovery snow report and vote on lifting of Local Emergency status
• Board Reports
• Manager’s Report
• Update on Transportation Development Plan
• Update on Rosslyn Highlands Park
• Adjournment around 5 p.m. for closed session
• Reconvene around 6:30 p.m. Public Comment will be heard at this time, and again at 6:30 p.m. at the Thursday, Jan. 28 Meeting.
• Carry over Public Comment and Consent and Regular Agenda items to Thursday, Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Getting our community back up and running

Because of the massive amounts of snow that fell on area sidewalks, Arlington County has suspended enforcement of its Snow Removal Ordinance – meaning no citations will be issued during the cleanup.

However, the goals behind the ordinance remain: to keep pedestrians safe and ensure mobility for everyone. So all efforts to clear sidewalks for the community are appreciated. When clearing snow, shovel into yards if possible — not into the street.

Media Contact, Mary Curtius, 703-228-7943

A big congratulations to my wonderful first time home buyer Sharon on the purchase of her home in The Wentworth building at 3515 Washington Blvd. Arlington, Va. I had sold a home in Arlington for Sharon’s parents and when it was time for her to purchase she came to me for assistance. This building is an excellent value. It’s walkable to the metro but just a little farther then the newer condo buildings right on the Orange line. The units are more spacious and the cost per sq. ft is considerably lower then many of the North Arlington condos. Plentiful parking (outdoors) is an excellent feature as well as the condo fee including all utilities (except phone/internet). Walk to the grocery store, restaurants and metro. All in all a terrific starter home.

For more information contact me at janejensen@comcast.net

571-228-5656

I would like to congratulate my wonderful buyers Ingrid and Ryan on the purchase of their new home.

They elected to buy a home in the Shirlington  area of Arlington. This increasingly vibrant area is a great place to buy a home and has room for appreciation. This home is newer and was built by Stanley Martin. From here it’s an excellent commute to DC, the Mark Center, and is a short bus ride to the metro. It’s a short walk to all of the amenities of Shirlington and the trail head for the W&OD bike trail which runs all the way to Purceville, Va.

Rounding back to the W&OD trail head.

For more information on investing in Arlington or any where in N. Virginia contact me at janejensen@comcast.net

The Arlington County Board will be considering several Real Estate Development Proposals. The Board Meeting is Held in the Board Room on the 3rd floor of 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, Va. and is open to the Public.

The meeting on November 14th will begin at 8:30. Here is what is on the table regarding real estate development in Arlington:

• Site Plan Amendment for 4000 and 4040 Fairfax Drive. Developer Penzance wants to combine two sites in Ballston — one at 4000 Fairfax Drive, where Carpool restaurant now stands, and the other, at 4040 Fairfax Drive, where the Webb office building stands. The proposed development would replace the Carpool building with a 330-unit, 22-story, multi-family residential building with ground floor retail. The Webb building will remain. To read the Staff Report for this item, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item #37 on the Agenda for the Nov. 17 Regular County Board Meeting.
• Ballston Oak Townhomes. This request for a site plan amendment would redevelop property at 1124-1138 N. Stuart Street in Ballston, where four houses now stand, with four townhouse buildings containing a total of 12 units. The Staff Report for this item, #38 on the Agenda for the Nov. 14 Regular County Board Meeting, has not yet been posted.

At the 3 PM Session November 17, here is what is on the table:

• Ballston Quarter. The Board will consider a proposed redevelopment of the Ballston Mall that would modify the three-story mall and three levels of existing office building above Macy’s department store, demolish Macy’s Home Furniture store at the corner of Wilson Blvd. and N. Randolph Street and build a 22-story residential building with 406 dwelling units and about 66,475 sq. ft. of ground floor and second-story retail. The applicant is requesting bonus density and height for the proposed residential building. The Staff Report for this item, #41 on the Agenda for the Nov. 17 Recessed County Board Meeting, has not yet been posted.

Redevelopment of the Ballston Mall has been long overdue. The mall has long been the brunt of jokes and despite it’s convenience in proximity to affluent shoppers, has failed to attract any consistent traffic. The addition of 406 residential units would be a likely plus for the Ballston Community. Hopefully, the redevelopment plan will include the interior of the mall area which is showing it’s age and has been without any major changes or updating in 20 years.