INSIDE: A photo finish for county’s ‘I Voted’ sticker • Page 3 Enjoy FREE E-edition Access at www.sungazette.news our local newspaper keeps you connected 6-7 Opinion Yto the faces, places, information and Keep events that matter most to you. Now with 11 Politics print and online, we’ve made it easier than 4-5 21 12 Schools In ever to keep your fi nger on the pulse of what’s COLLEGES PATRIOTS 16 Real Estate happening in the community. SALUTE GARNER 20 Police Beat Touch GRADS SOCCER 26 Classied OF 2019 CROWN 30 Crossword Sun Gazette ARLINGTON’S SOURCE FOR HOMETOWN NEWS SINCE 1935 VOLUME 84 NO. 23 MAY 23-29, 2019 Land Swap with Hospital a Done Deal Co. Board OKs Plan to Gain Control of Carlin Springs Tract SCOTT McCAFFREY Sta Writer Nearly six months after a divided Ar- lington County Board approved a major expansion of Virginia Hospital Cen- ter, board members have taken the nal plunge and consummated the deal. On a 5-0 vote, County Board members on May 18 formally approved purchase of an 11.6-acre tract of hospital-owned land on South Carlin Springs Road, part of a deal that also saw Virginia Hospital Cen- ter acquire ownership of land currently owned by the county government just north of the hospital’s existing campus along the 1800 block of North George Mason Drive. “We’re excited that this deal has worked out,” County Board Chairman Christian Dorsey said after the agreement was approved as part of the board’s con- sent agenda at the start of the meeting. What does the county government plan to use the Carlin Springs site for? There are a wide swath of options and opinions; the County Board chairman said a plan- ning effort will be undertaken “at some point in the future.” Under the land-swap agreement, the Carlin Springs parcel was valued at $9.2 million, and the Edison Street site was valued at $13.86 million. The difference BRINGING HOME A STATE TITLE – about $4.7 million – could have come Washington-Lee High School girls varsity eight members gather with their winning shell and the state-championship trophy, capturing the title for the rst time in 30 years. See full coverage in Sports. WASHINGTON-LEE CREW Continued on Page 26 ONLINE www.sungazette.news l On Facebook: sungazettenews l On Twitter: @sungazettenews @sungazettespts Local Postal Customer Postal Local Refreshing revival of classic Springstreet Development seekingArlington colonial in new small rental buildings and commercialSpringstreet Development home for July 2019 delivery. properties for redevelopment. 4720 Lee Hwy 2231 N. Vermont St. Arlington 22207. Arlington, VA 22207 PERMIT NO. 605 605 NO. PERMIT Frederick, MD Frederick, 703.525.1900 PAID Contact Betsy Twigg Today!Please contact Betsy Twigg for McEnearney.com U.S. POSTAGE U.S. ECRWSS 703.967.4391 | [email protected] and pre-market pricing. PRSRT STD PRSRT 703-967-4391; [email protected] Join us for an Home Prices Show Solid Artisan A Fair on June 1st! Growth in April Sales Data A slight bump up in year-over-year lowest sales total of the decade for April home sales coupled with a solid increase was recorded in 2011, at 3,525. in average prices pushed the Arlington Sales data were reported May 13 by homes market’s April sales volume up MarketStats by ShowingTime based on 12.4 percent, according to new data. listing activity from Bright MLS. Figures A total of 264 properties went to clos- represent sales in the District of Colum- ing last month, according to gures re- bia; Arlington and Fairfax counties and ported May 12 by MarketStats by Show- the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls ingTime, up slightly from the 261 sales Church in Virginia; and Montgomery and reported in April 2018. Prince George’s counties in Maryland. While sales were up only marginally, Sales were higher in every jurisdiction average prices increased in all three seg- except Montgomery County and the city ments of the market, albeit by varying of Fairfax. Locally, sales were up 1.2 per- degrees: cent to 264 in Arlington; 4.3 percent to There’s always something fun going music, beer and wine tastings, artist • The average price of single-fam- 1,596 in Fairfax County; 6.5 percent to ® on at Trilogy at Lake Frederick! On and pottery demos, and delicious food ily homes sold during the month was 247 in Alexandria; and 20 percent to 24 Saturday, June 1st, we’re hosting prepared by Executive Chef Brian! $1,017,215, up 0.24 percent. in Falls Church. “Artisan A Fair,” a laidback afternoon Join us June 1st, 12:00pm to 3:00pm! of art, food, and music. Join your future • The average price of attached homes, The ongoing increase in median sales neighbors for a fun-filled day. Browse Want to be a vendor at this such as townhouses, was $546,026, up prices continues, with the overall median the work of local artists to find unique event? Email Eva at 13.3 percent. price of $475,000 up 5.6 percent from a pieces for your home, and enjoy live [email protected] • The average price of condominiums year before. April marked the 31st consec- was $515,319, up 16.8 percent. utive month of year-over-year increases in New Homesite Release The average sales price for all proper- median sales price. An Award-Winning ties – $742,355 – was up 11.2 percent from Higher prices were fueled, in part, 55+ Community On June 8th at 10:00am, we’re releasing a year before. by a 13-percent year-over-year decline three new homesites—the closest Trilogy at Lake Frederick is an Add up all the sales and prices, and the in active listings, which left some buyers homesites to the Club! If you love the amazing place to call home. total sale volume for April stood at just without much room to maneuver in nego- idea of walking to the fitness center for This peaceful setting nestled on a workout with friends and meeting up under $196 million, up 12.4 percent. tiations – homes that went to closing in the shores of the 117-acre Lake afterward for coffee, schedule a tour A total of 55 properties, or about 20 April received, on average, 99.3 percent Frederick in the foothills of the these homesites and our five Model percent of all homes that sold, traded of original listing price, easily the highest Blue Ridge Mountains is just 90 Homes, which are open seven days a hands at more than $1 million. That’s April gure of the decade. minutes from Washington D.C. We week! have seven floorplans that range about twice the percentage of just ve The highest median sales price of from ~1,762 to 5,033 square feet, years ago. all jurisdictions was found in Falls starting from the mid $300s. Homes Homes that sold during the month Church ($970,000, up from $745,000 have open living spaces, spacious garnered 100.3 percent of listing price, a year before), followed by Arlington kitchens, great rooms, covered suggesting bidding wars had broken out ($661,500/$556,500), the District of Co- patios, owner suites, and so much in some cases, and spent an average of 33 lumbia ($586,900/$590,000), Alexandria more. In fact, ‘Where to Retire’ days on the market between listing and ($560,000/$542,950) and Fairfax County magazine named Trilogy at Lake ratied sales contract, an improvement ($546,000/$520,000). Frederick one of the 50 Best Master- from 57 days a year before. The combination of more sales and Planned Communities in the U.S. in Of homes that went to closing, conven- higher prices pushed the total market 2017! tional mortgages represented the method volume for April up 5.9 percent to nearly Resort Living in the Shenandoah Valley of transacting sales in 187 cases, followed $2.8 billion across the inner core. by cash (44) and VA-backed loans (25). Homes that went to closing in Febru- One of the best parts of Trilogy at Lake Frederick is the lifestyle! Life revolves around Inventory tightened signicantly, with ary garnered an average 97.7 percent of the ~36,000-square-foot Shenandoah Lodge & Athletic Club, which is home to Region’s 117, Trilogy at Lake Frederick’s award-winning restaurant. The Lodge also has a fully the 245 properties on the market at the original listing price, tied with last year equipped fitness center, café, culinary studio, sports escape with poker and card end of April down nearly 50 percent from for the highest February rate in a decade. tables, billiards, and TVs, and other social and the 475 properties available in April 2018. Regionwide, the total available invento- event spaces. The number of new listings coming on the ry at the end of April was 7,535. All three market during the month was down about segments of the market – single-family, Schedule Your Visit 30 percent from a year before. townhome and condomonium – showed What is the Arlington market’s trajec- year-over-year drops in inventory. Join us for the Artisan A Fair and call a New Home Advisor to schedule your tory? Homes coming under contract in With the exception of the District of tour of our new homesites before they’re April were way up from a year before, al- Columbia, every jurisdiction across the released June 8th! 888.244.8063 though total pending sales were down.