Construction on a new pedestrian bridge over Wiehle Avenue is set to begin sometime next summer.
The bridge, which would connect to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, is intended to improve access for pedestrians and bicyclists near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
Once built, the bridge would begin on the trail and extend over Wiehle Avenue, replacing an existing at-grade crossing. The project — which is part of the Reston Metrorail Access Group‘s plan to improve pedestrian and bicyclist connectivity near the metro station – is expected to cost around $12 million.
So far, the county has secured land rights on four of seven properties affected by the project. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to hold a public hearing on Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. on the acquisition process.
In a memo, county staff said that the board may have to use eminent domain powers to seize some property.
“Negotiations are in progress with the affected property owners; however, because resolution of these acquisitions is not imminent, it may be necessary for the board to utilize quick-take eminent domain powers to commence construction of this project on schedule,” the memo states.
Minor roadway, sidewalk, and median tweaks are planned to make the bridge possible. The bridge would accommodate the gravel path and the asphalt trail, providing full access to and from Wiehle Avenue. In the future, Wiehle Avenue from Sunset Hills Road to the Reston Fire Station entrance and the entrance to Pupatella would also be widened.
Dominion Energy Virginia recently completed plans to relocate overhead electrical transmission lines. Utility work includes removing existing monopoles and installing new ones, as well as relocating overhead transmission lines.
Construction is expected to begin next summer and last for roughly a year.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to discuss the issue at an Oct. 19 meeting.
Photo via handout/Fairfax County Government
Wiehle-Reston East Outage Set for Next Week — A planned shutdown at the Wiehe-Reston East Metro station is on track, a spokesperson for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority tells Reston Now. The closure is intended to allow crews to connect the first and second phase of the Silver Line. [WMATA]
Reston Association Has Another Key Departure — Human resources director Melissa Kelley is leaving on Oct. 20 for another opportunity. “She will be greatly missed,” president of the board of directors, Caren Anton, said Wednesday. Other recent departures have included the association’s CEO and technology director. [Reston Association]
Reston-based Company Offers Flexible Workweek Policy — IT services firm Science Applications International Corp. is allowing its workers to take part in a flexible, four-day workweek. Employees can work a few extra hours each day to get an extra day off per week. [Technical.ly]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
A new cosmetics and personal services business is coming to the Town of Herndon.
Fancy Lashes and Beyond hopes to open a location in the Herndon Park Condominium office building, which is located at 299 Herndon Parkway.
The business would occupy just under 1,000 square feet of space in the multi-unit building. The building is mostly occupied by commercial offices.
The Town of Herndon’s Planning Commission is set to review the application at an Oct. 18 meeting. In order for the plan to move forward, owners Tommy Nguyen and his wife Phuong Le Tran need to secure a special exception to allow a cosmetic services business to open in the building, which is zoned for commercial office use.
“After I had recently made my trip to 777 Lynn Street and witnessed a very tight-knit community, it became an inspiration for both my wife, Phuong Le Tran, and I to become a part of this community in Herndon. As small business owners, we also would like to play our part inside the community and make future contributions to rebuilding this community during this challenging time,’ the owners wrote in an Aug. 17 letter to the town.
The owners said they discovered that the business was not zoned for personal and cosmetic services after they reached an agreement with the property owner on the price of the property.
Planned services include eyelash extensions, lashes lifts, brow lamination, waxing, facials, and makeup. The business currently operates out of Cascades Marketplace in Sterling.
Top Schools Ranking Released — Some elementary and middle schools from Northern Virginia have made it to U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the best schools in the country. Arlington Traditional School has the highest ranking in Virginia among elementary schools while Prince William County’s Mary G. Porter Traditional was ranked the best middle school in the state. [Reston Patch]
County Faces Invasion from Plant — You read that right. The county is facing an invasion from an aggressive plant with an otherwise unthreatening name. The plant wavyleaf basketgrass is spreading through natural areas across the county. The plant even sprouts a sticky substance that can bind itself to cloths, boots and animals, allowing the plant to continue to grow by spreading its seeds. [Fairfax County Government]
First Friends of Reston Fall 5K Set for This Weekend — The inaugural event takes place on Sunday at 8 a.m. at Brown’s Chapel Park. Online registration is open until tomorrow. [Reston Patch]
Some residents at Lake Anne are turning to the county for help sort out its homeowner association’s contentious and divisive elections.
In a Sept. 23 letter to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, more than 40 residents urged the county to not allow the property’s landlord to vote in condominium elections. Roughly seven percent of votes in the board election is assigned to the unit occupied by Reston Community Center Lake Anne.
The letter contends that removing the landlord from the process — who holds about seven percent of the entire property — would allow the owners a chance for a “free” election.
“The county allowing the vote to be used in a condo election creates an unequal balance of power and potential conflict of interest,” the letter states. “Using taxpayer money to do so is not in the best interest of our community and especially unfair to our minority commercial owners, burdened with significant assessments; and who will be disproportionately affected by further special assessments to address our infrastructure issues.”
Board politics and infighting — including deep disagreement over the outcome of elections for board president — have mired the board for more than a year. Alcorn has met several times with concerned property owners and the Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association to allay concerns about property management, lack of hot water, and other issues.
Alcorn told Reston Now that he deferred the proxy matter to RCC’s board for consideration.
“I have full confidence in that board — including the three members that were just re-elected by the community last month — to do the right thing,” he said.
RCC has no immediate plans to change participation in board elections. The center’s executive director Leila Gordon told Reston Now that RCC has had an excellent relationship with its landlord since 1999 when RCC Lake Anne first opened in the historic area.
Here’s more from Gordon on the issue:
The lease stipulates the proxy provision in the context of Section 7, “Leasehold Improvements,” and specifically notes that the Landlord’s proxy isn’t available when the matter is related to “voting on LARCA fees and assessments payable by Landlord.” RCC views the election of LARCA Board officers to be wholly unrelated to any issue of Tenant Improvements and entirely germane to issues of fees and assessments, and would therefore be the sole concern of the Landlord. We remain satisfied with the present arrangement.
Maintenance and infrastructure issues caught statewide attention when residents of the Quayside condominiums went without hot water for several months last winter.
An assessment by architecture firm Samaha Associates found that the property needs more than $37 million in repairs. At a mid-September meeting, Alcorn said the county may explore options to help revitalize the property. No formal plans have been proposed and discussions are ongoing.
Board President Jason Romano did not immediately return a request for comment from Reston Now.
LARCA’s board election for this year takes place on Oct. 27.
Reston Association to Host Budget Hearing — RA is holding a public hearing on its budget today at 7 p.m. The meeting is virtual. So far, the organization’s board is considering an increase in next year’s assessment. Tentatively, the draft budget also includes roughly $1.8 million for the renovation of Lake Thoreau pool. [RA]
Night of Lights Comes to Roer’s Zoofari — The LuminoCity festival brings an array of lights to the zoo from Friday through Jan. 2. This is the organization’s first annual event but this is the first time the show ic coming to a location outside of the New York area. [LuminoCity]
Reston Company Partners with Sports Teams and Leagues — Zoomph, a Reston-based company, is partnering with sports leagues and teams to analyze social media initiatives. The company has clients like NASCAR and the Team Liquid e0sports league. [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Reston Home Tour Returns This Weekend — The Reston Historic Trust & Museum is hosting its annual home tour on Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. [Reston Museum]
Free Halloween Lyft Rides for Halloween — Halloween Lyft rides will be offered to help reduce the likelihood of impaired driving. The program is offered through the Washington Regional Alcohol program. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 41 percent of all traffic fatalities during Halloween between 2015 and 2019 involved drunk drivers. [WRAP]
Frying Pan Farm Park to Celebrate 60th Anniversary — The farm, which is located in Herndon, is celebrating its 60th anniversary on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The last retail space at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station’s plaza has been officially leased.
Scissors and Scotch, a men’s grooming spa and cocktail bar, plans to open a 2,066-square-foot location at 1901 Reston Metro Plaza next year. The addition is part of Comstock’s Reston Station project, a sprawling mixed-use development directly at the metro station.
“At Scissors & Scotch our team of seasoned barbers, stylists and bartenders strive to make our customers look and feel great. We believe those who live and work in the Reston area will love the unique combination of grooming services and cocktails our locations are known for,” said Kai Christian, the company’s operations director, in a statement.
The business offers hair and grooming services for men in an upscale lounge with custom cocktails. Clients can take part in a membership program or drop by for walk-in services, according to the company’s website.
Founding in 2015 by three friends, Scissors & Scotch has locations in nine markets, including two locations in the District, Kansas City, Des Moines, Dallas, Nashville, and Oklahoma City.
In a statement, Timothy Steffan, Comstock’s executive vice president, said the addition of Scissors & Scotch is the “perfect complement to our existing best-in-class lifestyle and wellness brands.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Scissors and Scotch to our line-up of lifestyle and wellness offerings at Reston Station,” Steffan said.
Other retail tenants at Reston Station include Orange Theory, Pure Joe Pilates, and Nordine Day Spa. Reston Station is also home to Founding Farmer’s, Matchbox, and Big Buns.
Herndon Elementary School is slated for major renovations more than 30 years after the building was last renovated.
As part of a school bond referendum on the ballot this year, the elementary school could receive $4 million to fund the planning and design of the project. Contingent on the approval of the school bond referendum, planning, and design of the project would start in the spring of next year.
Construction is tentatively scheduled for 2024, pending the results of the bond referendum in 2023, according to a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Public School System.
Each bond cycle, the school system selects projects based on its Capital Improvement Program. The fiscal year 2022-2026 program focuses on capital projects, including new school construction, capacity enhancement, and renovations.
“The COVID-19 pandemic did not impact the already established and approved projects,” FCPS wrote in a statement to Reston Now.
Herndon ES first opened in 1961. Its capacity was boosted in 2007, but the school still has 10 modular classrooms and four temporary classrooms.
Fairfax County voters will vote on the bond request while voting for state governor, House of Delegates’ candidates and other statewide races.
This year, $360 million is requested for FCPS to renovate 14 schools and acquire a $13.5 million site for a new high school in the western part of the county. Other schools with funding allocated for planning and design include Dranesville ES, Centreville High School, and Armstrong ES.
Early voting began on Sept. 17 and the general election will take place on Nov. 2. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 12.
Strangulations Spike in Fairfax County — Even though the number of domestic violence cases has dipped in Fairfax County, the police department has reported an increase in the number of strangulations. It is possible that the number of domestic violence cases — which decreased by roughly 190 cases per year since 2019 — is underreported. [WTOP]
Man Arrested for Brandishing Firearm — A 45-year-old man from Fairfax was arrested after police believe he displayed a handgun and threatened someone near the 12000 block of Greywing Square on Oct. 4. The man was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, brandishing a firearm and removing a serial number of a firearm. No injuries were reported. [Fairfax County Police Department]
New Literacy Program within Communities of Color — The Fairfax County Health Department has launched a new initiative to improve literacy among local African American, African and Hispanic communities. The program is intended to improve health outcomes by helping individuals find, understand, and use health information. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Before we head off into another weekend with COVID-19 abound, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.
- UPDATE: Motorcyclist killed in Herndon crash
- Herndon teen John Gluck takes his star turn on NBC’s “Ordinary Joe”
- Two Reston Gateway skyscrapers reach ‘substantial completion’
- The Town of Herndon needs $5 million for delayed downtown Herndon project
- Plans for north section of Isaac Newton Square move forward
If you have ideas on stories we should cover, email us at [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your social distancing plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.
County Tries to Vaccinate Unhoused Residents — Fairfax county officials have launched an effort to encourage the county’s roughly 1,200 unhoused residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Public health workers have a mighty task ahead as the county is large and people experience homelessness in different capacities, including in shelters, deep in the woods and in encampments. [DCist]
Child-sized Mask Donations Needed — The county is in need of 10,000 masks for children. The largest need is small masks for toddlers and you-size masks for school-aged kids. County officials say they’ve received requests from nonprofit partners for masks but can’t fill them because they do not have enough masks. [Fairfax County Government]
Anti-theft bike racks available in Reston Town Center — Boston Properties recently worked with Bikeep, a San Fransisco-based micromobility enabler, to install several app-activated bike racks in Reston Town Center. The stations were installed at the end of the spring. [Bikeep]
LGBTQ+ Group Decries Efforts to Remove Books — A group that represents more than 425 LGBTQIA students told the Fairfax County School Board that it should reject an effort by some parents to remove two books from school libraries. [Reston Patch]
Volunteers Needed for New Fall 5K — Reston Association is looking for volunteers to help with the inaugural Friends of Reston Fall 5K fundraiser on Oct. 17 from 7-10 a.m. [RA]
Police to Host Community Information Session — The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston district station will host a community information forum tonight at 7 p.m. The session is online. [FCPD]
Blackstone Lends $350 Million for Refinancing — Comstock, a Reston-based developer, has landed a refinancing deal for three Reston Station office towers, which are 84 percent leased. [Bisnow]
With little fanfare, a trio of incumbents will resume their positions following an uncontested election for Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors.
Bill Bouie, who has served on the board since 2003, led the pack with 1,439 votes. He was followed by Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt, who has been on the board since 2012 and had 1,396 votes. Richard Stillson, who has been on the board since 2018, received 1,382.
They were selected through this year’s Preference Poll, which iso pen to all Small District 5 residents. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors then formally appoints the selected winners after the poll.
This year was the first uncontested election in several years. Each individual will serve three-year terms that begin on Nov. 1.
Here’s more directly from RCC on the winners:
William G. Bouie has served on the RCC Board of Governors since 2003. He is also chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. Mr. Bouie is a telecommunications executive who is a passionate advocate for Reston and Fairfax County youth and adult sports and recreation opportunities. He has also served on the boards of the Wolf Trap Foundation, Public Art Reston, Fairfax County YMCA Reston and Reston Youth Baseball.
Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt is a 46-year resident of Reston and an RCC Board of Governors member since 2012. A social worker, she is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and she seeks to use her professional and personal experience to contribute to the social, cultural and educational environments provided by RCC.
Richard Stillson has served on the RCC Board of Governors since 2018. He has lived in Reston for 49 years. Mr. Stillson has been involved in Reston organizations since the community’s early days, including Reston 2020 and the first Reston Comprehensive Plan Task Force.
The board is responsible for strategic planning, policy administration, and community relations, among other areas.
The Town of Herndon is seeking $5 million in county funds to develop downtown Herndon with its development partner Comstock. Construction of the mixed-use project, on the drawing board for years, has been delayed by nearly two years.
At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, the board indicated that the county will review the request. Specifically, the town is seeking an additional $5 million for the redevelopment of downtown Herndon through the county’s economic development support fund. The town previously received $1.2 million from the fund in 2018, but no funds have been spent yet.
If the request for additional funding is approved, the town will be pitching in roughly $17.9 million to make the project possible on what was once town-owned land.
Town officials and Comstock have offered few public statements explaining why the long-anticipated project has been delayed. When asked about the updated timeline and reasons for delays, a town spokesperson deferred to Comstock for comment on when construction is expected to begin. Comstock did not return multiple requests for comment from Reston Now.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust noted that key milestones for the project have been met so far.
In a board matter proposed at the Tuesday meeting, Foust and the board directed the county to review the funding request and asked that no additional investment from the county’s economic opportunity reserve fund be given to the project unless the board approves funds.
“Not surprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on the construction and delivery of this project,” Foust indicated. “There have been substantial increases in material costs and workforce restrictions which have led to project increases.”
Comstock Companies and the Town of Herndon closed on the property at the end of last year. An estimated date for groundbreaking was first set for late 2019, pushed to early 2020 and delayed again to the summer of 2020.
Once completed, the mixed-use project, which is next to the old town hall, will include 273 residential units, 17,300 square feet of retail and cafe space, a new arts center, public plazas and a 726-space parking garage. To date, no firm timeline on the beginning of the project has been released.
An amended comprehensive agreement was negotiated after months of deliberation. The previous agreement was signed by the town in 2017. Comstock will receive $2.5 million in tax breaks through an ordinance crafted to create a historic arts district in the area last year.
The economic opportunity reserve fund is intended to purchase real estate, fund capital development projects and provide programming support for economic development activities of “strategic importance,” according to the county.
Projects that have received funds from the reserve include $1 million in branding for the Tysons Partnership and $50,000 for a development study on the Town of Vienna.
Photo via Comstock
