Arlington County Events

Interested in getting involved in Arlington County? Check out what we are working on below.

Don't forget to sign up for email updates! Be sure to note your zip code so that we can send action alerts specific to Arlington.

Join us on Tuesday, April 23 for a training on how to advocate for housing! We'll be at the Central Library from 6:00-7:45pm for this open training session. All attendees will get a free volunteer membership with YIMBY Action.

Following the training, we'll gather at Uncle Julio's Ballston for socializing, starting at 8pm. Feel free to attend one or both of these events. 

What We're Watching...

Arlington has a lot of new developments and planning processes happening, but here are the ones that we are following. Reach out if you would like to support anything on this list, or let us know about something we should add.

Arlington County FY25 Budget
The County Manager is proposing to eliminate two Associate Planner positions from the FY25 budget, which means less capacity to do the comprehensive planning we need to allow more housing. This will delay the update to the East Falls Church area plan especially. Help us advocate to restore these positions by speaking at Open Door Monday (see below) or at the Public Hearing on the Budget on Tuesday, April 2. Reach out to hello@yimbysofnova.org if you have questions.

Clarendon Presbyterian Church
The church has applied for a Special GLUP Study to update it's zoning to allow for a ~100 unit apartment building, which would serve low-income senior citizens and incorporate LGBTQ-friendly programming. The church and daycare would remain on site. This development is getting a lot of push back from adjacent neighbors. 

Barcroft Land Use Plan
In 2021, Arlington County took out a $150 million loan to help a developer purchase the 1,300 unit property of Barcroft, which is comprised of market-rate affordable garden-style apartments. The developer, Jair Lynch, will preserve all of the existing units as Committed Affordable Housing. Now they are planning the additional development that can happen on the property, which could included significant market-rate apartments.

Melwood Redevelopment
Melwood, a longstanding nonprofit in Arlington that provides jobs, employment training services, and community support for adults with disabilities, owns a building on 23rd Street near Crystal City. They would like to redevelop the building to add ~100 units of Committed Affordable Housing, with about 25% set aside for residents with disabilities. Stay tuned for the next step.

Recurring

Each Monday, a member of the Arlington County Board holds a virtual session to meet one-on-one (or in small groups) with constituents. Each Virtual Open Door Monday runs 7-9pm, but you do not have to stay for the entire time. 

Plan Langston Blvd

Another win!

The Langston Blvd Area Plan passed the County Board. Now property owners have more opportunity to add housing and improve the streetscape as they redevelop their properties. 

County Board Democratic Primary

Maureen Coffey wins one of the Democratic endorsements!

Thank you to everyone who canvassed, phone banked, texted, talked to friends, and took time to vote. We are thrilled that one of our endorsed candidates claimed one of the two seats and will be on the November ballot. 

Maureen understands firsthand Arlington's housing crisis, and if elected in the November General Election she will be the first renter Board. 

Missing Middle Housing

We won!

Thanks to the work of YIMBYs and our allies, Arlington will allow homes with up to 6 units on nearly every lot, in all neighborhoods! 

Thank you to everyone who spoke out in support!