Prior to the Democratic primary last month, a controversy over Comstock’s campaigning restrictions prompted local elected officials to push back against the developer’s longstanding policy at Reston Station Plaza.
But there has been little movement on the issue in recent days.
In a June 7 letter, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova threatened legal recourse against Comstock, which she said was unfairly restricting public access to the property and possibly infringing on First Amendment rights. The county’s Commonwealth Attorney and the local American Civil Liberties Union also stepped in.
Bulova’s chief of staff Clayton Medford told Reston Now that Bulova plans to meet with Chris Clemente, Comstock’s CEO, to discuss access issues.
“The county is committed to looking into public spaces issues countywide to ensure members of the public have equal access,” Medford said.
No meeting has been scheduled yet. Clemente did not return requests for comment from Reston Now.
The issue stemmed over access to Reston Station Plaza, which was built through a public-private partnership.
Two candidates running for the seat of Hunter Mill District Supervisor complained about Comstock’s policies.
The plaza is atop the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
Photo by Fairfax Connector
The Town of Herndon has appointed a new director of public works. Scott Robinson, a former director of facilities and real estate at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will begin his new position on July 22.
He replaces Dana Singer, who retired from her position last year.
Robinson, who reports directly to town manager Bill Ashton, will manage the town’s public works operations and initiatives, including maintaining the town’s infrastructure, serving as principal advisor on public works issues, and overseeing capital improvement projects.
The Town of Herndon wrote the following about Robinson’s experience:
Robinson brings to his new position decades of experience managing major construction projects and operations. Most recently, he served as director of Facilities and Real Estate for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a role in which he managed NASA’s 5,300 facilities at 14 major sites in 10 states, providing leadership to 600 engineering and real estate employees. He had oversight responsibility for capital planning as well as the establishment of national policy in facilities operations, design, construction, real estate acquisition, property management and more. Prior to his NASA tenure, he held positions of increasing responsibility at the Naval Sea Systems Command and at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He holds a Bachelor of Science, Engineering, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan and is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In a statement, Ashton said services provided by the town’s public works department are “almost universally cited as the number one reason people appreciate living in Herndon.”
“Under Scott’s leadership, and by tapping into his wealth of experience and expertise, these services will only flourish and grow,” Ashton said.
Photo via Town of Herndon
Drivers who hold a cellphone while passing through a Virginia road work zone could face a $250 fine.
The law — which bars drivers from holding cellphones in work zones — goes into effect today (Monday).
Gov. Ralph Northam signed the bill in April as part of a broad attempt to tackle distracted driving in the state. Currently, texting while driving is banned.
Northam is also cracking down on drivers who fail to slow down or move to the side of a road when police or firefighters pass by with flashing lights.
Additionally, children up to age eight must be secured in a child safety restraint that meets standards adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Children must remain in a rear-facing carseat until the age of two or until they reach the minimum weight requirement for a forward-facing child safety seat.
Failure to follow the new law, which also went into effect today, will be considered reckless driving.
Lawmakers also approved a move that would free up the ability to increase local housing stock.
The quick fix changes how jurisdictions in the state bargain with developers for proffers or development conditions.
File photo
The Herndon Town Council is looking to appoint a new deputy town attorney at a meeting next week.
The position was created during the fiscal year 2020 budget cycle in order to help manage the workload of the town attorney’s office.
“The Town Attorney’s Office is extremely busy, as the town has grown and embarked on projects requiring legal review and consultation,” Anne Curtis, the town’s chief communications officer, told Reston Now. “This new position reflects a need for additional inhouse legal resources.”
At a Tuesday, July 9 meeting, the council will consider a resolution to appoint Lauri Sigler to fill the new position.
The position is effective July 22 to “serve at the direction and under the supervision of the Town Attorney,” according to the resolution. The salary range is between $85,000 and $115,000.
The current town attorney is Lesa Yeatts, who was hired in 2015 to replace Richard Kaufman, the town’s legal attorney of more than 20 years.
Photo via Town of Herndon
A fire at a home in Great Falls caused nearly $1.3 million in damages on Saturday (June 29).
One firefighter suffered minor injuries and two residents were displaced after the fire broke out late Saturday night.
The incident happened on Clarks Branch Road in Great Falls. Firefighters were on the scene for several hours.
A spokesperson for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department told Reston Now that the cause of the fire is unknown.
More updates will likely be available today, according to the spokesperson.
UPDATE from house fire on Clarks Branch Road in Great Falls: fire is under control. Crews are still hitting hot spots. Firefighters will be on scene for several more hours. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/NN9S7Y9TG0
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) June 29, 2019
Photo via FCFRD/Twitter
Lane Closures on Sunset Hills Road — Closures are scheduled for eastbound Sunset Hills Road near the future Reston Town Center Metro station from today (Monday) through Wednesday. Crews are completing stormwater management work. [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]
Metro Adds More Service Options — The price of four passes — the seven-day unlimited, the seven-day short trip, the seven-day regional bus and the one-day unlimited pass — will be lowered. A new option for a three-day unlimited pass will also be available. The service and affordable pass product changes begin today (Monday). [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]
Lake Anne Paddle Set for Friday — Registration for the event is $7 for Reston Association members and $9 for all others. Attendees will get a chance to canoe or kayak on Lake Anne with a naturalist. [Reston Association]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 5:30 p.m. today (Thursday).
The National Weather Service encourages residents to take shelter as soon as possible.
Here’s more from the alert:
IMPACT…DAMAGING WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES TO FALL. THIS COULD INJURE THOSE OUTDOORS, AS WELL AS DAMAGE HOMES AND VEHICLES. ROADWAYS MAY BECOME BLOCKED BY DOWNED TREES. LOCALIZED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE. UNSECURED LIGHT OBJECTS MAY BECOME PROJECTILES.
The warning covers Reston, Herndon, Oakton, Chantilly, Wolf Trap and Great Falls.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Reston VA, Herndon VA, Chantilly VA until 5:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/QY2Jaq31bV
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) June 27, 2019
Small Change Consignment, a relic of Reston’s history and Bob Simon’s vision for the community, is closing its doors at historic Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday.
The children’s consignment shop — home to hundreds of items and the hearts of consigning families — has cemented its role in the community as a place to buy used clothing and a community gathering place. On a recent Wednesday evening, customers and friends came in to say goodbye to owner Susann Gerstein, 70, who has operated the shop for the last 37 years.
A group of teenagers lined up empty hangers in rainbow form — an organizational style Gerstein loves. She spent most of the night on Tuesday packing away clothes and coordinating donation drop-offs with local nonprofits.
Not much has changed since three young mothers and friends started the venture on Nov. 21, 1981 in the vacant offices of an optician across the lake. The friends embraced the dark interior — with its Marimekko wallpaper and lime green carpeting. Gerstein’s husband built wooden clothing stands. Gerstein stitched hand-sewn clothing tags.
The paint was still drying when the store first opened. From the first day, customers embraced the business as a place to buy used clothes, chat over the racks and build community. The store has averaged 1,200 consigning families annually.
Eighteen years later, the shop moved to its current location, giving it a bigger space to work with. Gerstein’s paper ledger and the same Rolodexes from its opening day sit on the counter.
“Friendships grow for me here and they’ve grown for me too,”Gerstein said. “That’s the hardest part of saying goodbye.” She said the store brought out the extroverted side of her otherwise introverted personality.
Rents, which had been steadily increasing over the years, skyrocketed this year, making it hard to make ends meet, Gerstein says.
“I tried and we just couldn’t make it work,” she said.
She describes herself as a Reston booster and a big believer in Simon’s vision. Her involvement with Cornerstones, a nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency; the Reston Historic Trust & Museum; and other organizations is clear in the store. She was the founding president of the Reston Museum and helped found the Reston Historic Trust for Community Revitalization.
A Cornerstones donation jar sits on the counter and Gerstein often donates clothing to local nonprofits and domestic violence victims through various community partnerships.
Politics entered her shop following the November 2016 presidential election. Gerstein put up a sign, “Stop Tearing Families Apart” in the window of her storefront. She began selling “Hate Has No Home Here” signs. A fabric banner of children holding balloons — which was made by the friend in the original space — hangs from the ceiling. On weeknights, she tries to ride with members of Herndon-Reston Indivisible to hold lighted letters at the White House several times a month.
“I wanted my store to be a safe space for everyone. Some people didn’t like it but everyone knows where I stand,” Gerstein said.
The Black Squirrel, a D.C beer bar that inked a deal to open near the Reston Town Center Metro Station two years ago, has backed away from plans to open in the area.
According to a spokesperson for JBG Smith, the developer behind RTC West, The Black Squirrel will no longer open at RTC West, which is anchored by Coopers Hawk Winery and Restaurant. The company did not indicate why this was the case.
Sense of Thai, a Thai restaurant, is expected to open in place of the beer bar by the first quarter of 2020. Infinity Spa and Nails is already open.
File photo
In recent years, Boston Properties has proffered to set aside a parcel of land in a recently approved mixed-use development for a new performing arts center. The circular center would be located on Block J as part of Reston Gateway, 4.8 million square feet of development near the future Reston Town Center Metro Station. It would contain up to 50,000 square feet and would sit near an office building with eights levels, including three levels of underground parking.
The proposed proffer has prompted Reston Community Center to explore Reston residents’ opinions on the center and whether or not RCC should play a role in pushing the initiative forward. These questions will be posed in a community survey that will be conducted this summer.
RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon told Reston Now that if the center determines it should construct such a venue, it would seek a bond referendum to fund the construction. Gordon said that RCC’s Board of Governors has no intent to raise the current tax rate.
If RCC takes part in the effort, it hopes to ensure the facility is large enough to host dance, choral and orchestral music, and theatrical musics with large casts. Its primary service audience would be community-based non-profit arts organizations and Fairfax County Public Schools’ arts programs.
Gordon also reiterated that RCC will not compete with the Wolf Trap or negatively impact its operations. RCC also hopes to ensure the center is accessible to all — with affordable rents for local art users and affordable ticket pricing.
Others have also discussed leveraging cash contributions from the county, nearby towns like Herndon and Vienna, and other entities.
“If those were to be realized, those contributors would potentially achieve calendar access to use of the new venue, and/or perhaps some role in its mission. This would be a complicated scenario to pursue, but it’s one worth exploring,” Gordon wrote.
Discussions are preliminary, as RCC has not yet discussed future possibilities with Boston Properties or the county’s land use staff.
Rendering via handout/Fairfax County Government
Retailers at VY at Reston Heights are working toward opening their doors this year on the ground-level of the 385-unit apartment community.
JBG Smith, the developer, unveiled a lineup of retailers last year. Recently, Willpower Functional Fitness backed out of the project. A JBG Smith spokesperson did not indicate why this was the case.
The mixed-use project is located at 11830 Sunrise Valley Drive.
While opening dates are estimates only, most of the retailers are expected to open toward the end of the year. Retailers include My Home Thai, Allure Nails, Super Chicken, Reston Barber, Reston Kabob and California-based chain BurgerIM.
My Home Thai — a carry-out restaurant — could be the first to open sometime in the third quarter of this year.
Other retailers are expected to open in the last quarter of the year.
JBG Smith did not provide specific opening dates or timeframes.
File photo
Parents Respond to Herndon High School Porn Case — Concerned parents gathered this week to discuss the case of a former Herndon High School drama teacher who is accused of possessing child pornography and unlawful filming. Police believe Raphael Schklowsky may have also set up two cameras at the school. [WUSA 9]
Fireworks Safety Demonstration Tomorrow — As the Fourth of July approaches, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is hosting a demonstration on how to safety use fireworks. The demonstration is set for 10 a.m. at the Fire and Rescue Training Academy. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
Free Yoga at Reston Station — Beloved Yoga will offer free yoga lessons today (Thursday) from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the plaza. [Reston Station]
Registration Deadline for Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta — The deadline to register a boat to participate in the event is on Monday, July 1. The event is set to take place at Lake Anne on Saturday, August 10. [Reston Historic Trust & Museum]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
With little fanfare and discussion yesterday (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved Tishman Speyer’s proposal to redevelop a Reston office park into seven mixed-use buildings next to the future Reston Town Center Metro Station.
The project, known as Reston Crossing, would replace two office buildings with 2 million square feet of development at the intersection the Dulles Toll Road and Reston Crossing. Plans were first pitched in January last year.
Details of Reston Crossing are below:
- Building 1: Up to 390,000 square feet of office and up to 15,000 square feet of retail
- Building 2: Up to 130,000 square feet with between 89 or 144 residential units
- Building 3: Up to 290,000 square feet in a residential-only building with between 144 to 322 units
- Building 4: Up to 510,000 square feet with office and retail use. The building could have up to 22 stories — the tallest of all the buildings
- Building 5: Up to 245,000 square feet with up to 261 residential units and some retail
- Building 6: Up to 230,000 square feet with up to 244 residential units and some retail
- Building 7: Up to 205,000 square feet with up to 222 units and 5,000 square feet of retail
The plan includes 890,000 square feet of office space, more than 1 million square feet of residential and up to 50,000 square feet of retail. More than 1,000 residential units are planned on the 14-acre site. Open light wells called “oculi” will allow pedestrians in open spaces to look down onto the parking level of the site.
The board also approved tweaks to Halley Rise, which will be anchored by Wegmans. One Reston Co. LLC and Two Reston Co. LLC sought to redistribute previously approved square footage to break up what the team called a “crowded block” on the project.
A plan to scale back the amount of office space at Reston Heights (11830 Sunrise Valley Drive) was also approved. The change reduced the amount of previously approved office space by 215,000 square feet.
Rendering via handout/Fairfax County Government
Frying Pan Farm Park will come to life with music from around the world this summer.
The series, “Hunter Mill Melodies,” kicks off tomorrow (Thursday) and runs through Aug. 22. It aims to celebrate the county’s commitment to diversity and community spirit.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic, blanket and chairs. So far, the schedule, which is subject to change, is below:
- June 27: Scythian (Irish Rock)
- July 11: The Reunion Jazz Orchestra (Big Band)
- July 18: Whiskey Wildfire (New Country)
- July 25: Bumper Jacksons (Americana, Country, Bluegrass)
- August 1: Incendio (Latin)
- August 8: Chopteeth (Afrofunk)
- August 15: Veronneau (World Jazz)
- August 22: The United States Navy ‘Cruisers’ (Pop Rock)
For last minute performance cancellations due to inclement weather, call 703-324-7469 one hour prior to the program start time.
Photo via Fairfax County Park Authority/Facebook
Reston Community Center‘s Jo Ann Rose Gallery will display “Finding Home,” a collaboration between two artists who explore what home means to them, next month.
The exhibit, which features former Reston resident and visual artist Morgan Johnson Norwood and Reston resident and poet Sally Toner, runs from July 30 to Aug. 24.
Both artists will also explore loss and women’s lives today in the exhibit. Norwood draws from her experience after a divorce forced her to relocate and Toner reflects on a breast cancer diagnosis that influenced her writing. Her first book, “Anansi and Friends,” will be released this summer.
Norwood and Toner, who were neighbors and are educators, look forward to sharing their work with the community. Norwood’s paintings feature circular forms, which symbolize “nurturing small spaces within seed pods,” she told RCC. Toner’s poetry features “flipping around”of romantic concepts inspired by William Blake’s “The Tyger” and “The Lamb.”
RCC interviewed the artists, who said the following about the exhibit:
“Much of my auditory sensibility with spoken language comes from my grandfather — his Georgia accent, smooth syntax, and the audacious storytelling to which I always had a front-row seat,” said Toner. “Finding Home transcends the man-made elements of both Reston and Arlington to find truth in nature and energy in the urban sphere.”
“Sally has gone through cancer and faced fear and reevaluated her priorities, and I have gone through divorce and loss and also faced fear and reevaluated mine,” Norwood said. “I see our conversation as a universal one of transformation and upheaval and then finding that sense of safety and love.”
A reception and special reading is set for Saturday, Aug. 3 from 12-2 p.m. at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery.
