Uncle Julio’s, a Mexican restaurant in Reston Town Center, has reached a settlement in a lawsuit the business filed against Boston Properties in late 2018 over its paid parking policies.
In early August, the case was voluntarily dismissed and all parties were ordered to pay their own legal fees. Uncle Julio’s, which has been located in RTC since 1992, sought $5 million from Boston Properties to account for the effects of paid parking on its business. The restaurant argued that the system — which has been in effect for more than two years — led to $1 million in losses annually.
A spokesperson for Uncle Julio’s told the Washington Business Journal that the issue was resolved “amicably.” The business plans to continue to offer validated parking for all customers for dining at Uncle Julio’s.
Here’s more from the WBJ report:
One of the issues Uncle Julio’s had raised in its complaint was that its closest parking garage in the development had become less accessible as a result of another parking-related lawsuit at the property. According to the Uncle Julio’s complaint, after Jackson’s restaurant sued over paid parking, a judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing Reston Town Center from enforcing the pay-to-park system on Jackson’s customers in the Orange garage. Subsequently, according to Uncle Julio’s, the pay-to-park system was disabled at the Orange garage.
“As a consequence, patrons throughout the Reston Town Center now attempt to park at the Orange Garage in order to avoid the imposition of parking charges,” stated the complaint, which was amended in March.
In March 2017, Boston Properties and Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge settled a dispute over the paid parking system — part of a continuing uproar from local businesses and residents over the parking system. Previously, public backlash has pushed Boston Properties to cut back hours when payment is required by allowing free parking on weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
Image via Google Maps
Thursday Takeover with Lululemon — Enjoy a 45-minute sweat session at the Reston Town Center’s pavilion with Lululemon ambassador Cameron. Class is free and begins at 6 p.m. [Reston Town Center]
New Exhibit Comes to Signature — Maremi Andreozzi’s work will be on display at the Greater Reston Arts Center’s satellite gallery at the apartment building in Reston Town Center. The exhibition, “Hidden Histories,” begins today and runs through January 7. [Greater Reston Arts Center]
Voting Now Open for Reston Community Center Preference Poll — Voting is now open for this year’s preference poll, which offers five candidates for three, three-year positions on RCC’s Board of Governors. [Reston Community Center]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Two Maryland men were arrested on Labor Day in connection with a robbery, officer-involved shooting and carjacking on the 700 block of Elden Street.
Edward Maul Mejia Sandoval, 22, was charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of threatening to abduct with the intent to defile. Manual Enrique Casco, 34, was charged with robbery, carjacking and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Police believe the suspects attempted to rob a local business on Labor Day after assaulting two female employees. A Town of Herndon police officer chased the suspect on foot when one suspect brandished a handgun.
After a brief exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the officer, police officers arrested Sandoval. Casco was arrested a short time later after an armed carjacking on the 1000 block of Elden Street.
No injuries were reported.
Detectives are actively investigating the incident. A handgun was recovered during the initial investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call FCPD’s major crimes bureau at 703-246-7800.
Photos via FCPD
A new fine arts academy that was approved by Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors three years is set to transform the rural nature of land adjacent to Frying Pan Farm Park.
The Floris Conservatory of Fine Arts is expected to break ground sometime this month, bringing a 48,000 square foot conservatory with a 300-seat auditorium and music, dance, creative and visual arts classes.
The project is located at the intersection of Centreville Road and West Ox Road, south of the Town of Herndon.
The developer, Scimores Academy LLC, successfully received the county’s blessing to rezone the property, which is located within the nationally listed Floris Historic District, in June 2017. The approval came after more than two years of negotiations with landowners, historic preservation organizations, and educational entities.
Roughly six acres from the eight-acre project were rezoned to allow the project to move forward. Three existing structure on the site will be incorporated into the development.
The academy will be placed at the lowest point of the site in the southeastern corner in order to minimize its visual impact on neighboring areas.
Photos via handout/Fairfax County Government
Several minors were targeted in separate indecent exposure incidents in Herndon in late August on Elden Street.
On August 29, minor victims told police that a man they knew exposed his genitals to them on the 1200 block of Elden Street.
Jabril Mohamed, 47, of Herndon, was arrested for taking indecent liberties with a child and indecent exposure, according to the Herndon Police Department.
In a separate incident also on the 1200 block of Elden Street, a minor said a man she knew was recording her in her room while she was getting dressed. The incident happened on August 29.
Salvador Arnoldo Lima Reyes, 35, of Herndon, was arrested for creating an unlawful image of a minor.
Both men were taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where they were being held without bond. The Town of Herndon released information about the incidents yesterday (September 3).
Photo via Herndon Police Department
Plant lovers can take advantage of a local sale for native shrubs this month. All orders for the Walker Nature Center’s annual native shrub sale must be placed by September 27.
All shrubs are sold a pre-order basis and are native to Virginia. All sales are final and orders must be picked up on October 5 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m at the nature center.
The following plants are available for $32 in three-gallon containers:
- American Beautyberry
- American Witchhazel
- Fragrant Sumac
- Inkberry Holly
- Possumhaw Viburnum
- Summersweet
- Virginia Sweetspire
Orders can be placed online.
File photo
Neustar, a global information services company, is moving its headquarters from Sterling to Comstock’s Reston Station Development.
The company will anchor 100,000 square feet of space in Comstock’s second trophy office tower (1906 Reston Metro Plaza), which is one of three office towers at Reston Station. Google is currently moving into its office space in the mixed-use development.
Neustar will consolidate two offices from its Sterling campus, with currently house more than 400 employees. The company serves more than 8,000 clients around the world.
“The technology advances and company growth at Neustar require a world class headquarters that embraces the future,” wrote Neustar President and CEO Charlie Gottdiener, in a statement. “This is a big investment that addresses both our current and future requirements. By relocating into one building, we will provide our headquarters-based employees a more collaborative and connected work environment with the added benefit of an on-site metro station. The new office will also enhance Neustar’s ability to attract and retain emerging tech talent, address current workspace needs and foster future growth in a sustainably-minded environment.”
The company plans to move into its new offices next year, according to Tim Steffan, executive vice president of leasing for Comstock.
Photo via Comstock
Deadline for Reston Community Center Survey Extended — The center has extended its deadline to access a community survey to September 10. The survey, which is being conducted in partnership with the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, explores how residents use RCC programs and services. [Reston Community Center]
The Last Dog Days of Summer — Today is the last chance for dogs and their owners to take part in the summer series in Reston Town Center’s pavilion. Off-leash time is scheduled to take place from 5-7:30 p.m. [Reston Town Center]
Parks or Parking Near Metro Stations in Reston — “In Reston, fights over how the area should grow are on to a new round, this time over some parking lots just outside of a Metro station. A development proposed for an area near the Silver Line would include new office space, retail storefronts, and apartments, but one local group is not pleased.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
A Herndon police officer was involved in a shooting while responding to a report of an armed robbery in the area on Monday night.
Two suspects have been arrested, according to the Herndon Police Department. There is no active threat to the community.
The severity of the officer’s injuries is unknown. The incident happened near Locust Street at around 9 p.m. on Monday (September 2).
The investigation is ongoing and the Herndon Police Department declined to release any other details about the incident.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1600 block of Becontree Lane, cell phone from school
11900 block of Freedom Drive, cell phone from location
1800 block of Presidents Street, property from vehicle
1600 block of Reston Parkway, merchandise from business
1900 block of Reston Station Boulevard, bicycle from parking lot
11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, bicycle from location
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
This story was updated.
UFC Gym officially opened its doors in Plaza America on August 28, nearly a week after the original opening date.
The gym, which is located 11710 Plaza America Drive, is above the Panera and offers classes for all fitness levels. Programs include boxing, kickboxing, functional training, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and personal training. More information about classes and schedules is available online.
The fitness franchise has more than 70 locations spanning the country, along with a handful in Canada. The gyms offer a range of mixed martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing classes for individuals and groups, along with standard gym equipment like ellipticals, bikes and treadmills.
Photo via UFC Gym
The mystery of the headless horse has wound its way to Lake Anne Plaza where the head of a piece of public art mysteriously disappeared late last week.
The head of “The Wooden Horse,” which was constructed by Reston artist Marco Rando, no longer rests atop the commissioned art. The horse is inspired by the Lake Anne original of the same name, which was created by artist Gonzalo Fonseca in 1965.
While some have posited the situation amounts to a beheading, folks from businesses at the lakefront believe insects gradually hacked away at the horse’s neck, resulting in the unfortunate fall of its head. Thus far, no official cause has been confirmed.
After a brief stop at a local museum, the head has returned to the hands of its maker. Rando is working on finding ways to restore the horse to its former glory.
Photo via Restonian
A new exhibit featuring detailed paintings inspired by patterns, objects and biographies from art and art history comes to the gallery at Signature this week.
Maremi Andreozzi’s work, “Hidden Histories,” will be on display at the Greater Reston Art Center’s satellite gallery at the apartment building in Reston Town Center from Thursday (September 5) through January 7.
GRACE wrote the following about the exhibit and Andreozzi’s background:
An avid researcher, Andreozzi makes symbolic portraits of inspirational women artists and the female politicians, ambassadors, and patrons who influenced their lives. Each portrait appropriates imagery from the subject’s own body of work and period-specific details of cultural production.
Andreozzi earned a BFA from Cornell University and a MFA from Clemson University. She has had solo exhibitions at Glen Echo Park, The Rachel M. Schlesinger Art Center/NOVA, The Torpedo Factory, Radford University, Glenview Mansion, Rockville Arts Place, Ritz Carlton Georgetown, and The Stimson Center, to name a few. Her work is in the collection of Restaurant Eve, JD Marriot, DC Commission for the Arts, Arlington County Arts Commission and many private collectors. She recently completed international artist residency in Greve in Chianti, Italy.
An opening reception is set for Thursday (September 5) from 6-8 p.m. The gallery is located at 11850 Freedom Drive. The gallery is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The closest parking is in the Silver garage.
Photo courtesy Maremi Andreozzi/Greater Reston Arts Center
Local Firefighter Retires — Local fire and rescue personnel gathered over the weekend at Station 25 in Reston to celebrate the career of Captain Eric Cunningham, who retired after 28 years of service in the county. [Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department]
Furry Recruits for Fairfax County Police Department — “The department has long used dogs to search for illegal drugs or explosives or to track missing people. But Holmes and his fellow recruits, Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers, will have a far different role. Instead of helping to solve or uncover crimes, they will be tasked with helping first responders cope with the stress of the job.” [The Washington Post]
Farmers & Makers Market is Today — The market, which features local farmers and artisans, returns to Reston Town Center today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. [Reston Town Center
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
This Labor Day weekend, the 13th annual Lake Anne Jazz and Blues Festival returns to Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday (August 31).
The festival features an afternoon and evening of jazz on the lake. It takes place from 1-8 p.m.
The following performers are set to take part in the festival, among others:
It is hosted by Lake Anne Plaza and sponsored by Friends of Lake Anne and the Lake Anne Plaza Merchants, with support from Reston Community Center.
Photo via Charlotte Geary Photography
A plan to rezone Golf Course Plaza, a three-acre parcel on the west edge of Isaac Newtown Square, heads to the Fairfax County Planning Commission for a public hearing on September 12.
The proposal, which has been in the works since May 2016, would bring up to 300 residential units in a nine-story building and an office building to the site, which is located at 11480 Sunset Hills Road.
A three-story parking garage, which is connected to the building with a tunnel, with 554 parking spaces is also planned.
In an August 27 report, the county’s planning and zoning staff recommended approval of the project.
Photos via handout/Fairfax County Government
