School Board Votes to Ban Guns — The Fairfax County School Board voted Tuesday to ban firearms on all school properties, including those leased by a school system. [WTOP]
Herndon Fire Caused by Electrical Event — A fire in a home on the 12100 block of Eddyspark Drive in Herndon was caused by an electrical event in the AC disconnect. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
Police Issue Warning About Scam — The police department is reminding residents about a common scam in which a caller claiming to represent the police department demands payment to resolve outstanding warrants. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
No injuries were reported in Herndon house fire that happened over the weekend.
According to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, crews from the Fairfax and Loudoun departments quickly extinguished the fire in a home on the 12100 block of Eddyspark Drive in Herndon.
The fire was visible at the time crews arrived on the scene. The cause of the fire was attributed to an electrical event in an AC disconnect box.
The county’s fire chief Brad Cohrane complimented firefighters in how they handled the scene.
The fire caused roughly $100,000 in damages.
https://twitter.com/ChiefBradC/status/1490367397445914632?s=20&t=-NZ2h14SNAVJWkMpFGmeeQ
WETA’s latest season of “If You Live Here” will feature the community’s story, art and people on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.. on WETA Metro and 9 p.m. on WETA PBS. Producers describe Reston as one of America’s most successful planned communities.
The show is a house-hunting series hosted by best friends Christine Louise and John Begeny. The hosts tour homes and communities with local realtors and explore neighborhoods in the DC Metro area.
Here’s more from WETA on the show.
This episode shares the history and vision of Robert E. Simon, the “R-E-S” in Reston, and how the water, paths and public art connect residents. Hosts John and Christine visit 3 different homes -with ponds, trails and penthouse views – guided by the show’s first mother-daughter/resident-realtor team, Boofie and Margaret O’Gorman (left).Â
Other areas on the show include Bowie, Capitol Hill, Del Ray Alexandria, Falls Church and Brookland.
Photo courtesy WETA
County Joins Hope Card Program — The county has joined more than five dozen jurisdictions in the state in offering the Hope Card program. The initiative is a way to enforce a civil protective order and offer additional support to victims of family abuse. [Fairfax County Government]
Herndon Town Council to Discuss Van Buren Street Project — The town council meets today to award a contract for improvements along Van Buren Street. Other items up for discussion include the allocation of a trust to Herndon students and the upcoming Herndon festival. [Town of Herndon]
Reston Association Discusses Effects of Salt Use — The association is reviewing the environmental effects of de-icing salt. Salt that seeps. Into the environment can raise sodium levels in drinking water, harm fish and plans, and corrode vehicles and parking lots. [Reston Today]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Tephra Presents New Series — Reston-based Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art will present a new exhibit by Virginia-based artist Travis Childers. The exhibition, titled Borrowed and Not Returned, will be on view at the Signature gallery from Feb. 10 through June 28. [Tysons Today]
Reston Artist Creates Jackets for Sports Stars — Reston-based artist Taylor Olson has become a go-to for hand-painted custom jackets in the sports world. Olson, 34, majored in graphic design at James Madison University. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Herndon Residents Lose Power — Roughly 1,800 Dominion Energy customers lost power due to a downed power line on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. [Herndon Patch]
Photo by Ray Copson
Amid another weekend with COVID-19 abound, here are the top stories on Reston Now this week.
- Design of circuitous crosswalk in Reston raises eyebrows
- Redevelopment of former Fannie Mae property in Reston up for vote
- Hunan East Restaurant in Fox Mill Shopping Center to close
- Herndon teen John Gluck takes his star turn on NBC’s “Ordinary Joe”
- JUST IN: Boston Properties fills vacant office space with eleven leases
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 plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.
After years of discussions, a formal plan to redevelop part of Vantage Hill Condominiums — an aging development built in the late 1960s — has been filed with the county.
CM Vantage LLC — a McLean-based developer – plans to build 28 townhouses on the southwestern portion of the property, which currently houses an abandoned swimming pool, parking, and a common area.
Discussions on the proposal have been underway for years.
The condominium association, which manages the 152-unit development, plans to use the money after selling the abandoned portion of the property to address a backlog of improvements. The building was developed as an apartment complex in 1967 and was redeveloped into a condominium building in 1984.
Stakeholders have gone back and forth on this project for years. Designs were tweaked in 2020 to include fewer townhouses and more trees. Craftmark Homes, a homebuilding company in Virginia, had originally planned 31 townhouses that were closer to the main road.
Rear-loaded garages from internal lanes are planned. Trees will be preserved to the south and east of the proposed townhouses and the residential units will face an open gathering space.
The developer plans a “small-scale infill development that is in harmony with the character of surrounding development,” according to a Jan. 26 application.
As part of the plan, 64 parking spaces that are currently used by residents will be relocated. A total of 305 parking spaces are planned overall.
The county’s Affordable Dwelling Unit ordinance does not apply to the proposed development because it is less than 50 dwelling units.
The condominium building is one of Reston’s first developments. Maintenance issues have gone unaddressed for years, according to some condo association members.
So far, the application has been submitted and will be formally accepted by the county. Dates for formal review by the county’s planning bodies have not yet been scheduled.
Image via handout/Fairfax County
Herndon Police Warn of Scam — After reports of a scam, the Herndon Police Department is reminding residents that town employees do not request access to homes in order to check water quality or for any other reason. Water meters are always checked outside and town employees always present proper identification. [HPD]
Local Businesses Make Best Workplaces List — County-based companies dominated Virginia Business magazine’s 12th annual list of 100 best places to work in Virginia. Reston-based Troika Solutions came in at number two. [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Spanish Captioning Available for Public Meetings — Beginning Feb. 8, Spanish closed captions will be available for all public meetings and live events on the county’s governmental channel. [Fairfax County Government]
Reston Man Charged with Assault for Punching Window — City of Fairfax police charged a Reston man with assault Tuesday afternoon in Old Town. The victim said the man walked up to a car, pushed the passenger side of the window and cursed at them. [Reston Patch]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
A pedestrian was seriously injured in a crash at Baron Cameron Avenue and North Village Road in Reston.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries. The driver remained on the scene.
Eastbound Baron Cameron Avenue is closed between Reston Parkway and North Village Drive.
FCPD encourages residents to avoid the area.
Reston Fire Results in $255,000 in Damages — A house fire in the 1200 block of Shaker Drive caused roughly $255,000 in damages. The fire started in the floor wiring, according to fire investigators. No injuries were reported. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
Talks End on Gupta Project — The Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association says that it is disappointed the Gupta Family Foundation has discontinued discussions over a $250,000 beautification project at Lake Anne plaza. [Reston Patch]
Outreach on Parking Changes in Herndon Begins — The Herndon Police Department has launched a campaign to promote changes to the town’s parking code. No parking is allowed within five feet to either side of a public or private driveway, recreational vehicles cannot park in one place for more than 72 hours, and commercial vehicles cannot be parked in residential areas. [Herndon Police Department]
Future of Great Falls Grange Hall Contemplated — The Fairfax County Park Authority is coordinating a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the future of the hall and Forestville Schoolhouse. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
All three open seats for Reston Association’s Board of Directors are uncontested races this year. The month-long election for the organization’s nine-member board will be held next month.
Despite the lack of competition in the races, RA requires a 10 percent quorum to validate election results.
Glenn Small is running for an at-large director position. Irwin Flashman is running for the Lake Anne/Tall Oaks district director while Laurie Dodd is running for the North Point district director. All three positions are for a three-year term.
Dodd, who has lived in Reston for 26 years, has served on a variety of boards and community organizations, including Reston Community Center and the Reston Swim Team Association. She also ran unsuccessfully for Hunter Mill District Supervisor in 2019. Professionally, she is a child advocate attorney.
Her top goals include fiscal responsibility, member engagement and environmental sustainability.
“I hope to use my commitment to the community, ability to work with a wide range of people, and optimism to bring Reston Association forward while upholding our quality of life,” Dodd wrote in a candidate statement submitted to RA.
Flashman moved to Reston after launching serving at an environmental law practice in Puerto Rico. He was recognized as volunteer of the year in the 55+ category by RA. He hopes to prioritize board transparency, increased community with members, environmental issues and fiscal responsibility.
“The board should be upfront with the membership. It is the members’ money,” Flashman wrote in a statement.
Small, a former journalist and current consulting executive, said he works with nonprofit universities and colleges to achieve transformational change. His goals include understanding RA’s fiscal challenges, promoting outreach for RA’s members and identifying ways to protect recreational and open space.
“If elected, I believe I would bring an experienced, common-sense approach, first seeking to understand more deeply how RA operates, and then identifying ways to be helpful while respecting others and looking for ways to involve and include the most perspectives to help drive us to better decisions and better plans that will serve all of us.” Small wrote in a statement.
An online ballot will be posted on RA’s website at 5 p.m. on March 1. Members can also submit mail-in ballots.
Metro Looks for Bus Drivers — Metro is offering up to $2,500 in bonuses as it begins a campaign to hire more bus drivers. The agency is looking to hire nearly 70 bus drivers. [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]
South Lakes Graduate Prepares for Winter Olympics — Maame Biney, a graduate of South Lakes High School and speed skater, is preparing for her second Olympics this month. She completed in 2018’s Winter Olympics in South Korea after winning the U.S. women’s championship in the 500-meter race. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
A Look at Local Jobs — The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority has worked with 146 businesses and added nearly 9,000 jobs to the local economy. At the top of the list is Peraton in Herndon, which added 1,200 jobs. [Fairfax County EDA]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The county has officially begun thinking about the long-term future of Lake Anne plaza.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved tweaking the current budget to fund a master planning and visioning study of the aging village center. The board approved $250,000 to help fund the study at a meeting last week.
The move comes after the county hired a structural engineering company to survey the village center and complete an assessment of its condominium buildings.
The county has noted that more funding is needed to master planning and to support the long-term sustainable development of Lake Anne.
The county’s Architectural Review Board is seeking a supplemental report to fill gaps of a cursory review of the plaza that flagged nearly $37 million in repairs for the aging area.
The review was conducted by the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and Samaha Associates, an architectural firm, but the ARB said it failed to account for Lake Anne’s status as a historic district, among other concerns.
Photo by vantaghill/Flickr
A new boba spot is coming soon to the Town of Herndon.
Tapioca Express, a franchise that sells bubble tea, coffee, juices and snacks, will open at Junction Square in the Town of Herndon.
The first Tapioca Express opened in San Gabriel Valley in 1999. Since then, the business has opened locations across the country.
Items on the menu include boba, coffee, flavored milk, crispy chicken, waffles, spring rolls and chi chi fries.
The business has another location in Centreville.
The company did not respond to a request for comment from Reston Now.
Junction Square, located at the central intersection of Elden and Monroe streets, is a community of 20 townhomes with ground-floor retail.
Other tenants include a gallery for painter Trisha Adams and an international grocery store. Deli Italiano is also expected to open up shop there soon.
Men Charged for Stealing Car — After a short police pursuit, two men in their 20s were charged with grand larceny in connection with the theft of a 2017 Honda Pilot that was reported stolen from a nearby jurisdiction. Both men are from Springfield. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Metro Seeks Feedback on Budget — Metro is seeking feedback on its upcoming budget. Three pubic hearings are slated for this month. Feedback is due by Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]
Test-to-stay Option Opens in Some Schools — The school system has launched test-to-stay programs at seven public schools, including at South Lakes High School. [WTOP]
Photo by Terry Baranski
