Sun Gazette Arlington July 17, 2014

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Arlington, N.Va. home sales stuck in neutral – See story, Page 14

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JOAN COOPER REMEMBERED FOR HER SERVICE TO COMMUNITY

NVSL SEASON REACHES ITS PEAK

FREE CLINIC CHIEF SET TO RETIRE IN DECEMBER

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Highs & Lows Letters 55+ News Real Estate Classified Crossword Local History

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SunGazette

VOLUME 79 NO. 34

ARLINGTON’S SOURCE FOR HOMETOWN NEWS SINCE 1935

JULY 17, 2014

Million-Dollar Home Listings Become the Norm DAVE FACINOLI and SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writers

Million-dollar single-family homes are becoming the norm, rather than the exception, in the Arlington real estate market. Fully 57 percent of the single-family prop-

erties on the market at the end of June (127 of 222) were priced at more than $1 million, according to figures from RealEstate Business Intelligence, an arm of the local multiple-listing service. And local real-estate pros are not surprised. “I am very much aware of this trend, and

I expect it to continue,” said Libby Ross of Long & Foster Real Estate, who pointed to the high cost of land in the county as driving up the price of new construction, which then impacts the entire market. “Obviously if the price of the land is more than $600,000 – and it will be – the price of the finished house has to be over $1 million,”

Ross said. John Mentis of Long & Foster agreed with that sentiment. “The trend for a majority of homes being over $1 million in list price has been around for a while,” he said. “A lot of this is new or Continued on Page 20

Streetcar Battle Might Not Be Settled Until ‘16

NEW TREASURER TAKES THE HELM

SCOTT McCAFFREY Staff Writer

Arlington and Fairfax officials increasingly appear to be playing a game of beat-the-clock: Trying to get the Columbia Pike streetcar project into the construction stage before voters get a chance to alter the political landscape. The latest indication? Officials with the two county governments announced July 11 they would skip applying for federal funds to support the one-third-billion-dollar transit A rendering by the county government project, instead re- shows what the streetcar line might lying on local dol- look like. lars and the promise of additional state funding. That move, officials said, will allow them to shave about a year off the timetable for the project. Why might that be important? Because by Jan. 1, 2016, the political environment in each county, but particularly Arlington, may change radically. That’s the date anti-streetcar forces hope they will wrest control of the County Board by ousting at least

Carla de la Pava (front left) was sworn in July 7 as Arlington treasurer following the retirement of 30-year incumbent Frank O’Leary. De la Pava has served as chief deputy treasurer for six years, and so far is the only announced candidate in the upcoming special election to fill the remainder of O’Leary’s term. She is shown with her husband, Mark Dola; their sons, Christopher, Michael and Peter Dola; and her PHOTO BY EVELYN POWERS/DESIGN POWERS mother, Mary Frances de la Pava. See full coverage on Page 3 and Page 7 inside.

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