The Arlington, VA County Board is voting in July on naming 23 properties as 'essential' to preserve. Among those chosen are two strip malls.
The Sun Gazette explains the designation:
"Following 'essential' in the rankings are those deemed 'important,' 'notable' and 'minor,' along with properties that have been altered significantly enough to eradicate their historical provenance, and those that have been demolished."
The Colonial Village Shopping Center in Arlington is among the chosen. Blogger Miles Grant thinks that is absurd:
"Really? Sure, its current tenants are cool, what with Ray's Hell Burger and one of Arlington's few remaining non-Starbucks coffee shops. But is it really "essential" to have an old strip mall with a large surface parking lot on a prime spot on Wilson Blvd. between Rosslyn & Courthouse?"
FULL STORY: Arlington To Deem Old Strip Malls "Essential"?

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
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DOT Memo Directs Transportation Funding to Communities With Higher Marriage and Birth Rates, Compliance with Immigration Officials and No Mask Mandates
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Washington State E-Bike Rebate Set to Launch in April
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BLM Approves Controversial Oil and Gas Leases on Navajo Land
The parcels are located near a sensitive archaeological site, but some Indigenous leaders approve of the move, which will bring in millions in revenue.

Hong Kong Cab Hailing App Folds — and Uber Takes Over
HKTaxi launched a year before Uber came to town. Now, it’s shutting down. Lawmakers worry a monopoly looms.

Rural Homelessness Could Be Vastly Underestimated, Study Finds
The annual ‘point in time’ count fails to capture the diverse types of situations experienced by unhoused people in rural communities.
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