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From YouTube: Around Arlington, April 6, 2015

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We're a smart bunch here in Arlington and we may be named the top Intelligent Community in the World for 2015. We'll tell you how later in our program, but first...

Have you noticed the water tasting a little different lately? No your not going crazy it actually does! Each year, the Washington Aqueduct temporarily changes the water disinfectant it uses to clean the pipes and maintain high water quality for customers. It will revert to the regular disinfectant after May 4th. for more information, go to water.arlingtonva.us.

No more searching for coins with EasyPark! and you don't need a credit card either to park in Arlington's metered parking spaces. Instead, you buy an EasyPark device and add parking money to it. You can do this on line, on the EasyPark site, or in person at the Treasurer's office, at Courthouse Plaza.

Residents weighed in on priorities at recent budget & tax rate hearings on the 2016 budget. Be sure to watch the April edition of County Board Wrap Up as Chair Mary Hynes will discuss the Board's budget and tax decisions. You can review the proposed 2016 budget online at budget.arlingtonva.us.

Arlington's smart planning and smart growth has earned it a spot among the top 7 finalists in the Intelligent Community Forum. Longtime resident Joe Pelton was among the many people who have worked to earn us this prestigious recognition. To learn more about the Intelligent Community Forum, go to their website at intelligent community.org. We'll find out if we won in June. But even if we don't win, it is truly an honor to be nominated and share top billing with only 7 other communities in the world.

The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing broke ground for construction on The Springs Apartments, which will add 98 new units to Arlington's affordable housing stock. Arlington has seen a dramatic decrease in the amount of affordable housing in recent years. The Affordable Housing study and draft master plan will provide a framework for increasing affordable housing options for residents. Community review of the plan is continuing throughout the spring. To learn more about affordable housing options in Arlington, check our website at arlingtonva.us, search housing.

The affordable housing in Courthouse are classified as historic resources and they will continue to be affordable even after the new development there. Planning has begun for an office building, public plaza, ground-floor retail and underground parking at the intersections of Courthouse Road, Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard. The site currently houses a Wendy's and a Wells Fargo bank. The planned redevelopment will preserve the Wakefield Manor and Courthouse Manor apartments, which will continue as market rate affordable units. Well, that's it for now. Thanks for watching! We'll see you next time, Around Arlington.