Arlington’s Blackfin acquires Roanoke County apartments for $23.2M
Arlington-based Blackfin Real Estate Investors LLC purchased Villages at Garst Creek, a 504-unit apartment complex in Roanoke County, for $23.25 million. The deal closed on April 21. Built in 1974, the 33-building property is located at 4375 Garst Mill Road. The property was rehabbed in 2007 under the Section 42 Low-Income Housi[...]
U.Va. names new engineering school dean
The School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia announced Friday the appointment of its first female dean, Jennifer L. West. She will start July 1. A researcher, inventor and entrepreneur, West comes from Duke University, where she’s been associate dean of doctoral education for a little more than six years at […]
Virginia’s median home price jumps 9.8% over previous year
On April 20, Virginia Realtors reported that the median statewide home sales price for March was $335,000, up 9.8% from a year ago. Outlined in Virginia Realtors’ March 2021 Home Sales Report, the trade association reports that home prices have been rising quickly since last summer, with year-to-date home prices up in nearly[...]
Fortnite video game CEO makes Va.’s largest land conservation gift
North Carolina billionaire and Epic Games Inc. CEO Tim Sweeney has donated 7,300 acres of privately-owned land in Halifax County to the state — the largest single private land conservation gift in Virginia history, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. Cary, North Carolina-based Epic is the company behind the massively popular [...]
Northam: State to loosen more restrictions May 15
Beginning May 15, the state will loosen more restrictions, including allowing larger social gatherings and expanded audiences for entertainment venues and sporting events, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced in a video message released Thursday. Restaurants will also be allowed to resume serving alcohol after midnight. Northa[...]
Va. jobless claims up 173% from last week
For the April 13-17 filing week, 13,751 Virginians submitted initial unemployment claims, a 173% increase from the previous week, but an 83% decrease from this time a year ago when jobless claims were near a peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week’s new claims rose by 8,717 compared to those from the week ending Apri[...]
Bar seating reopened statewide, governor declares
For the first time in more than a year, Virginians are now allowed to sit at bars for service as long as they stay at least six feet apart. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam amended Executive Order 72 on Wednesday without an announcement, making the following policy change for restaurants, breweries, distilleries, wineries and tasting[...]
McAuliffe has significant lead among Dems in latest poll
In a poll released Thursday, 47% of Virginia Democratic voters surveyed are backing former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s primary bid for his party’s gubernatorial nomination, according to data from Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center for Public Leadership. Two months ago, McAuliffe had 26% of the vo[...]
Virginia colleges mull legality of mandatory COVID vaccine
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia universities plan a return to campuses in the fall, but there are questions if the COVID-19 vaccine can be mandated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration only authorized the vaccine for emergency purposes, according to Lisa Lee, professor of public health at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The vaccin[...]
Maximus acquires Houston veterans services company for $1.4B
Reston-based government services company Maximus announced Wednesday that it will purchase the parent company of Veterans Evaluation Services Inc. (VES) for $1.4 billion. Based in Houston, VES is a privately held company that serves the federal government, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as a provider of medical disability examinations to determine veterans’ eligibility […][...]
Unison acquires Price Systems
Dulles-based Unison Software Inc. announced Wednesday that it has acquired New Jersey-based Price Systems LLC for an undisclosed amount. Both companies provide software to support governmental missions, acquisition professionals, government contractors and manufacturers. “Our customers’ mission-critical programs continue to grow more complex. Price Systems best practices, thought leadership and unrivaled data-driven software are the[...]
Leidos awarded $480M contract from U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Reston-based Fortune 500 company Leidos Holdings Inc. announced Tuesday it has been awarded a $480 million contract by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide multi-energy portal (MEP) systems for nonintrusive inspections of commercial vehicles at land and sea ports of entry. The award for the science and technology company includes a base period […]