Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a nearly 1.4 million square feet addition to RTC West, a mixed-use project bounded by the Washington & Old Dominion Trail to the north and Reston Town Center Parkway to the east. The vote on Tuesday (Sept. 25) brings yet another major neighborhood near the future Reston Town Center Metro Station.

JBG Smith will add up to 576 multifamily units, 700,000 square feet of office space, and some retail. The site is currently home to three six-story office buildings, two parking garages and retail tenants like Cooper’s Hawk Winery, honeygrow, and the recently opened BGR The Burger Joint.

Bailey Edelson, JBG Smith’s senior vice president of development, said a common green at the center of the property will offer a “convening location” for the public. The company also paid careful attention to balance the distinctiveness of each building whilst still creating a neighborhood-like appeal, Edelson said.

The expanded version of the project, which is adjacent to the Reston Gateway project, adds another mixed-use neighborhood near the Metro station. The site design incorporates the future Town Center Parkway underpass that would connect Sunset Hills Road to Sunrise Valley Drive through an underground tunnel across the Dulles Toll Road.

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins said the project offers a suitable mix of commercial, retail and residential that allows people to “observe and participant” among higher buildings planned and approved near the future Metro station. She also said the underpass will help alleviate traffic and congestion in the immediate area.

A new right-only entrance from southbound Town Center Parkway at the north of the property line will be added to the development. The site design also incorporates bicycle lanes that provide an improved connection to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.

The Planning Commission approved the project on Sept. 13. Edelson offered the following statement in response to a request from Reston Now: 

“The Master Plan for RTC West will enable JBG Smith to transform the existing predominantly suburban site into a more urban neighborhood, and enhance the connection between the new metro station and Town Center. The new retail has brought significant amenities and activity to the existing office buildings and we intend to build on that momentum as we bring the Master Plan online over time.”

The plan, which includes 3.4 acres of open space, is as follows:

• Buildings 1, 2, and 3: Existing six-story office building with retail on the ground floor will remain. 
• Building 4: A one-story freestanding restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk Winery, will remain.
• Building 5: A new eight-story office with 160,000 square feet, including 10,000 square feet of retail.
• Building 6: A new 22-story office building with 396,000 square feet, including 16,000 square feet of retail.
• Building 7: A 20-story residential building with 293 multi-family units.
• Building 8: A new 22-story residential building with 283 multi-family units. This building wraps the north facade of a second parking garage.
• Building 9: A new seven-story office building located on top of a current parking structure.
• Building 10: A one-story freestanding restaurant located on the common green.

The developer did not provide the timeline of the project or the anticipated cost, as that information has not yet been finalized.

Photos via handout/Fairfax County Government

Bridge Investment Group, a private real estate and property management firm, has purchased The Campus at Sunrise, a 255,000-square-foot office campus with three low rise buildings.

The company plans to renovate buildings on the 12-acre property, including updated lobby areas, a renovated tenant amenity center, office suites, and space for communal outdoor areas, special events and entertainment.

The office campus was 85 percent leased at the time of the sale. The company did not disclose the purchase price of the property. The buildings, located at 11130, 11190 and 11180 Sunrise Valley Drive, were previously owned by Grosvenor Americas, which purchased the property in 2011 for $63 million.

The asking price of the property was $61 million. BPG Properties, a private equity real estate company, owned the campus before Grosvenor.

Promotional material cites the buildings’ close proximity to Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station and Reston Station.

Photo via Cushman & Wakefield

If the person next door is always ready to lend a helping hand or make your day better, Town of Herndon officials want to hear from you.

The town is accepting nominations for its Good Neighbor Award. The deadline for submissions is Oct.15.

Only town residents can nominate a family member, friend or neighbor how “makes noteworthy contributions toward the quality of life” in local neighborhoods, according to the town. Recipients must be residents of the Town of Herndon and cannot have performed acts of good neighborliness for paid employment.

The town mayor and council will recognize Good Neighbor Award recipients at a future public meeting and all recipients will receive a commemorative gift.

Nominations can be submitted online and forms are also available at the Herndon Municipal Center and the Herndon Community Center.

The award is part of the town’s Cultivating Community initiative, which aims to encourage beautification and the enrichment of quality of life in the town’s neighborhoods.

Photo via Town of Herndon Government

Police continue to investigate a shoplifting incident at Target earlier this month that resulted in a multi-car police pursuit. Officers responded to Target on Sept. 17 at around 8 p.m. after an employee noticed a man was stealing merchandise. Police cars pursued the car, but the man was not found.

In a separate incident, police are investigating a home burglary on the 2200 block of Castle Rock Square. Sometime between Sept. 19 and Sept. 20, someone broke into the apartment and took electronic equipment, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

The Herndon Police Department also continues to search for a man who they believe robbed M&T Bank in Herndon on Sept. 14. Police issued photos from a security camera but have not found the suspect yet.

FCPD also reported the following incidents in recent days:

LARCENIES:

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cell phone from location

12900 block of Highland Crossing Drive, medication from residence

1900 block of Reston Metro Plaza, wallet from location 

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cell phone from vehicle

11900 block of Democracy Drive, cell phone from business

11800 block of Spectrum Center, merchandise from business

5900 block of Kingstowne Towne Center, luggage from business

12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, liquor from business

STOLEN VEHICLES: 

None reported

On Sept. 16 just before 7 a.m., Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded found a disabled car parked in the middle of the road on Waxpool Road in Ashburn. The driver and passenger were found attempting to get into another vehicle.

Maria Alevromagiros, 34, of Herndon, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, possession of narcotics and driving on a suspended driver’s license, according to LCSO.

File photo

Member listening sessions begin tomorrow — Reston Association’s Board of Directors invites RA members to take part in a few listening sessions that begin tomorrow. Other meetings are set for Oct. 3, Oct. 10, and Oct. 17. [Reston Today]

Missing Sterling teen found — Bryan Ortega-Henriquez, 15, went missing last week and was found yesterday, according to local law enforcement. He was believed to be in the Herndon area. [Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office]

Decision on RTC West expected today — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote on a major project to expand RTC West from an office park with some retail into a mixed-use project with up to 576 multifamily units. [Fairfax County Government]

Give blood today — INOVA’s bloodmobile will be in Reston Town Center today from 1-6 p.m. [Reston Town Center]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

A business on the 1000 block of Herndon Parkway was robbed on Sept. 14 (Friday) at around 5 p.m., according to the Herndon Police Department.

Police say the suspect presented a note demanding cash while displaying a black handgun. They issued the following description of the suspect: “6′ tall, slim, black male, wearing blue jeans, a long-sleeved, navy blue sweatshirt/jacket, black backpack, sunglasses, and a dark-colored du-rag under a dark colored baseball hat.”

The case is under investigation and no other information was immediately available.

Wheelock Communities, the owner of Hidden Creek Country Club, will discuss its future plans for Hidden Creek Country Club, one of two golf courses in Reston that could be slated for redevelopment.

After a series of focus group meetings with community stakeholders, the company, which has contemplated adding a residential component to the golf course since it purchased the property last year, plans to create a 100-acre “grand park” open to the public. The plan also includes a residential component, which could include a mix of housing types and housing for seniors and generate between $300,000 and $500,000 in yearly Reston Association dues.

The company has not submitted official development plans or a rezoning application to the county. Reston’s Master Plan states the golf course is designed for private recreational open space and an RA resolution commits to ensure Reston is a two-golf course community.

A zoning ordinance change would be required for the project to move forward, if proposed. At a focus group meeting last month, the company said it could build between 500 and 2,000 housing units on the property. Its partner company, Wheelock Street Capital, purchased Charter Oak Apartments, which is next to the golf course. 

A recreational village in the grand park would “accommodate people’s pursuit of physical betterment,” according to presentation materials submitted to RA. A representative of Wheelock will provide an update about development plans to Reston Association’s Board of Directors on Thursday (Sept. 27). The recreational village would serve as a “modern sports and fitness center of excellence.”

Between 2.5 and 3.5 miles of trails would be added to the grand park, as well as recreational amenities like indoor tennis, a garden of remembrance, a playground, a splash park, and a dog park. The company is also contemplating renovation of the Temporary Road Recreation Area and restoring between 3,000 and 5,000 feat of degraded streams. The park would connect with the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and other nearby destinations like Reston Town Center and Lake Anne Village Center.

Rescue Reston, a grassroots group that seeks to preserve Hidden Creek Country Club as a golf course, will offer its response to Wheelock’s presentation at the Thursday meeting. The group was created when Reston National Golf Course was threatened by development several years ago. The development plan was later abandoned in that case.

In previous meetings, members of RA’s board have expressed strong support for maintaining Hidden Creek Country Club as a golf course.

The meeting will be live-streamed on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on RA’s YouTube page.

Handout via RA

Update: The missing teen was found on Monday night.

Earlier:

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to help find a Sterling teen who left his school bus stop on Sept. 20.

Bryan Ortega-Henriquez, 15, was last seen around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. According to sheriff’s deputies, he did not go to school. He is described as a white male, 5’11” tall with a weight of 189 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.

Sheriff’s deputies believe he is likely in the Herndon area with his friends and recently moved to Sterling from Herndon. He was in contact with his family on Sept. 21 but has not returned home.

Anyone with any information should call Detective P. Roque at 703-777-1021.

Photo via LCSO

Comstock has submitted its site plan for the redevelopment of downtown Herndon following appeals filed by nearby residents and property owners.

The plan, which was submitted to the Town of Herndon, is under review by the Department of Public Works, the Department of Community Development and the Fairfax County Fire Marshall, according to a memo by William Ashton II, the town’s manager.

Town officials are expected to review the plan to ensure it meets engineering, stormwater management, and zoning regulations, professors and code requirements. Bond and escrow amounts will also be assessed.

Once the site plan is reviewed by staff, the plan will head to the Heritage Preservation Review Board to receive an approval for a Certificate of Appropriateness. Over the summer, Comstock’s plan hit a hurdle at this phase in the process when nearby residents and citizens filed appeals against the project. As a result, Comstock resubmitted its plan.

The appeals and resubmission do not affect last year’s agreement between the town of Comstock for the redevelopment project. The agreement calls on Comstock to provide a 339-space parking garage, basic infrastructure for a downtown arts center, and a $505,000 recreation proffer.

Meeting dates for the HRPB review have not yet been determined.

Photo via handout/Fairfax County Government

Lane and ramp closures this week — Phase two of the Silver Line project ushers in several lane, shoulder and road closures this week along the Dulles Toll Road, the Dulles International Airport Access Highway, Herndon Parkway, Sunset Hills Road and Sunrise Valley Drive. The complete list of closures is available online. [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]

Not denser than Manhattan — Canaan Merchant responds to an opinion piece published on Reston Now that asserts Reston is going to be denser than Manhattan. [Greater Greater Washington]

Bechtel brings it — The engineering giant moved its global headquarters from San Francisco to Sunset Hills Road in Reston this year. The company has become one of Washington’s biggest privately held players. [The Washington Business Journal]

Suspicious package cleared by Metro transit police — A package found on Friday at Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station was cleared by police. [Metro Transit Police]

Corn night moon gathering tonight — View this month’s full moon, which, according to American Indian folklore, is named the Corn Moon. It indicates the time of the year to harvest crops. View the moon through the park’s telescope and enjoy a corn-inspired treat over the fire. Registration is $8. [Fairfax County Government]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.

1. Planning Commission Approves RTC West Expansion
2. Police: Herndon Man Arrested After Exposing Himself to 10-year-old
3. Cleanup Underway After Trash Truck Fire on Dulles Toll Road
4. What’s Going On This Weekend in Reston?
5. Developing: Bullets Fired Inside Home On Kettering Drive

If you have ideas on stories we should cover, email us at [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip. We’re also looking for photos of Reston submitted by readers.

Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.

Photo via Handout/Fairfax County Government

The Bluegrass Barn concert series, which celebrates bluegrass music, will kick off next month at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon. Concerts are held on Sundays from 7-9 p.m.

Season passes for all eight shoes and reserved seating are available online.

The series is sponsored by the Friends of Frying Pan Park, Vienna Hardwoods and Eastman Guitar and Mandolins in cooperation with Fairfax County Park Authority. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door.

The program breakdown is below:

• October 21: The Plate Scrapers, a traditional bluegrass band from western Maryland
• November 4: Gina Clowes Project, featuring Gina, who was raised in Virginia and has taken a national role as the banjo player for Chris Jones and the Night Drivers
• November 11: Donna Ulisse, a veteran songwriter and singer who was named Songwriter of the Year in 2016 by the International Bluegrass Music Association
• January 27: Only Lonesome, a band nominated by the Washington Area Music Association as the Best Bluegrass Group from 2013-2016
• February 10: Laurie Lewis, a Grammy Award-winning musician and international renown singer and songwriter who has recorded nearly 20 albums since her debut in 1986
• February 24: Nothin’ Fancy, a band based in Virginia
• March 24: Highland Travelers, a new band formed after The Boxcar and Ramblers Choice combined

The series will close off with a final show by the Becky Buller Band on April 14. Buller was the first person to win in both the instrumental and vocal categories at the International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Photo via Frying Pan Farm Park

Forest Edge Cluster, one of the oldest clusters in Reston will celebrate its 50th anniversary tomorrow (September 22), bringing together anyone who has ever lived in the cluster.

The anniversary event will be held at Findley Hall in St. Thomas à Becket Church, the church next to the cluster. Previous celebrations have been held at Reston Community Center.

Over the last 50 years, the cluster has evolved from eleven houses known as flat tops due to their flat roofs, according to Belly Sullivan, who lives in the cluster. That style transitioned into a composite design for the 96 remaining homes on Forest Edge Drive and Greenmont Court. The cluster gets its name from the buffer of trees and creeks surrounding the neighborhood.

Two families live in the cluster from the first day: Jean Rich on Forest Ridge Drive and Bob and Lila Ensign on Greenmont Court. Other residents have stayed for more than 40 years, Sullivan said. Former residents include Emory Rucker, after whom Reston’s homeless shelter is named, and U.S. Sen. Angus King.

In past years, Robert Simon cut the cluster’s celebratory cake. After his passing, a cake donated by Edibles Incredible Desserts will be cut, ushering in another era that Sullivan hopes will “enhance the cluster’s community spirit”

Photos via Jill Silton