A $1 million project to restore 750 feet of Snakeden Branch at Lake Audubon is nearly complete.
In a recent Reston Association video, staff indicated that construction on the project — which is critical to prevent erosion and effectively channel stormwater — is expected to be completed sometime this week.
The restoration project, which was requested by RA members, will protect the area’s sanitary sewer system, improve water quality, and boost the wildlife habitat, according to Meghan Fellows, a project manager with the county’s stormwater planning division.
Major erosion caused the branch to become “white water rapids” in the event of rain, Fellows said.
The county, which already reforested part of the area in the spring, will provide more plantings in the fall. The restoration area is focused on the area between South Lakes Drive, Wakerbin Lane, Cedar Cove Court and Lake Audubon. Construction began in October 2019.
RA and county staff will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the stream restoration project in the coming months, according to William Peterson, RA’s watershed manager.
Fellows noted that the project is primarily intended to ensure the stream can handle stormwater and provide stability to the surrounding wildlife, given then nearly 48 percent of it is composed of impervious surface.
Prior to the project’s completion, eight sanitary lines were exposed.
Video via RA
Local police are investigating a possible reckless discharge or destruction of property incident in Reston.
Police found several bullet holes on the outside of a home on the 1700 block of Torrey Pines Court. The incident happened on August 3, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Information about the incident was released late Friday.
No injuries were reported. An investigation is underway.
File photo
Quadrangle Development Corp. is offering a look at its plans for a mixed-use development on nearly 28 acres at the intersection of Herndon Parkway and the Fairbrook Drive.
The company plans to build four buildings with 1.5 million square feet of development. Two high-rise office buildings are planned east of Herndon Parkway, north of the Dulles Toll Road and south of Fairbrook Drive. A third residential building abutting Herndon Parkway north of Fairbrook Drive will include ground-floor retail next to a public gateway plaza. The fourth building is also intended primarily for residential use. A parking structure will be incorporated into the building.
The Town of Herndon’s Planning Commission will consider the plan following a review by the Architectural Review Board. The plan then heads to the Herndon Town Council for consideration.
Staff noted that the project will be “a representative symbol or icon of Herndon to regional traffic” due to its high visibility from the Dulles Toll Road. In an Aug. 5 memo, staff encouraged the developer to consider changing up the materials and design motifs, the design of which currently is “monotonous.”
Quadrangle also plans to extend Fairbrook Drive from where it ends in order to connect with Spring Street. The company also plans to retain a natural resource protection area south of Fairbrook Drive. A trail network is planned with fitness and art installations.
The regional Summer Restaurant Week — an event organized by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington — returns August 17 through 30 with some modifications.
The week was extended to allow patrons more time to participate. Events DC and JBG Smith are also covering the costs for local eateries to take part in the regional event. Restaurants are also offering takeout deals in addition to dine-in specials.
Here’s a list of local restaurants joining:
- Founding Farmers (1904 Reston Metro Plaza Drive)
- McCormick & Schmick’s (11920 Democracy Drive)
- The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)
- Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market Street)
- PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive)
Currently, only Founding Farmers at Reston Station and Morton’s The Steakhouse are offering to-go meals for the restaurant week. Both restaurants and The Melting Pot are also including a paired wine or cocktail.
Fixed-price offerings include $22 for brunch or lunch and either $35 for $55 for dinner. Family-style to-go dinner meals are also being offered.
More restaurants may be added over the next several days.
File photo
A Halt on Evictions in Virginia — Gov. Ralph Northam has granted a temporary statewide eviction moratorium through Sept. 7. Northam requested this moratorium in a letter to Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Lemons on July 24. [Commonwealth of Virginia]
Goodbye to K-9 Jake — The K9 for the Herndon Police Department crossed the rainbow bridge last week. He served the residents of Herndon from 2010 until his retirement in 2016. [Herndon Police Department]
New Portal for Community Partners — “A new partner portal has been launched for local community leaders and organizations with shareable information about COVID-19 safety curated according to health messages. Users can grab-and-go with text and video content, visuals, flyers and other materials.”[Fairfax County Government]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Before we head off into another weekend with a stay-at-home order in effect, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.
- Fairfax County Seeks More Funding for Soapstone Connector
- Herndon Resident Opens Indian Fusion Dessert Business
- Artist Completes ‘Reston Wings’ Mural on Parking Garage
- Free COVID-19 Testing Coming to Southgate Community Center in Reston
- FCPS Superintendent Defends Rationale for Virtual Start to School
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.
Photo by Jay Westcott
Penzance, a DC-based real-estate firm, is offering a peek into its revitalization plans for Spring Park, an office park located at 455 and 475 Springpark Place.
The office park is located within a mile of the company’s planned major mixed-use neighborhood near the future Herndon Metro Station. The firm acquired 10 single-story buildings for $75 million nearly one year ago.
In an Aug. 5 presentation to the Town of Herndon’s Architectural Review Board, Penzance indicated it is looking into “revitalizing the whole site” and improving its connection to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
So far, Penzance has pitched exterior changes to four buildings: 450, 455, 465, 470, and 485. New exterior materials — like terraces with synthetic wood flooring and trimming, buffed cultured stone, and repainted entrances — are planned for several buildings. New signage and wayfinding are also planned, including a new monument sign at the main entrance.
The building that has the most visibility from Spring Street — building 450 — will have the most substantial changes, including a new terrace, metal cladding over parts of the building, a pergola, and new lights.
Building 485, which is located on the southeastern corner of the site, will also include a new terrace, metal awning, and other structural changes. Other modifications to the remaining buildings are minor, according to the application.
Penzance is also moving forward on its new mixed-use project at 555 Herndon Parkway. A suburban-style office building will be transformed into a high-rise office building with a residential tower. Retail space and a garage are also planned.
Photo via Town of Herndon
Volunteers Needed at Fellowship Square — The Reston and Lake Anne location need volunteers who can call seniors and deliver food to senior apartments. Sign up is available online. [Fellowship Square]
Hoskins Reflects on Year One — “Victor Hoskins took the helm of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) on August 5, 2019, after leading economic development in Arlington County for almost five years and winning the biggest economic-development competition in history: Amazon’s second headquarters, aka HQ2.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Sales Tax Holiday Returns — The three-day holiday starts today and ends on Sunday. Residents can buy qualifying supplies, clothing, footwear, emergency preparedness items and Energy Star products without paying sales tax. [Virginia State Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Prepare for more rain today (Friday).
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from noon today through late tonight, according to the National Weather Service.
Here’s more from the alert:
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED
More thunderstorms with heavy rain are expected today. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect again this afternoon and tonight for much of our area. pic.twitter.com/Fju53hs38d
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 7, 2020
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Big Contract for Reston Company — “The General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded Reston-based government technology company Octo Consulting Group an $11.8 million contract to provide framework and architecture services for the GSA’s System for Award Management (SAM).” [Virginia Business Monthly]
Public Art Reston to Host Virtual Talk Today — DeWitt Godfrey will discuss his latest work at Valley & Park, a new townhouse development in Reston. His sculpture is titled ‘Simon,’ and is expected to be installed this month. [Public Art Reston]
Collects for Kids Campaign –The Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools is collecting donations for school supplies. Donations can be made online. [FCPS Foundation]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
New public artwork is slated for completion later this month in Reston.
Artist DeWitt Godfrey has been working on ‘Simon,’ a new sculpture that will be installed at Valley & Park in late August.
A virtual talk on Godfrey’s inspiration, design and creative process is set for tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 p.m.
Godfrey will be interviewed by Public Art Reston board director and local artist Marco Rando. Registration is required online.
Valley and Park is a new townhouse community at Reston Heights. It includes 54 “open-concept” homes, according to its website.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDcRrdUlV27/?igshid=6ycim3s45ni9
Photo via Public Art Reston
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand says that the decision for a virtual start to school on Sept. 8 was largely motivated by the health risks associated with COVID-19.
In a letter sent to parents Tuesday, Brabrand said that while cases are relatively stable in Fairfax County, precautionary steps are necessary to ensure the safety of staff and students. FCPS initially planned a hybrid approach of in-person and virtual instruction — a decision that was reversed by Brabrand in late July. The Fairfax County School Board approved the change July 22.
“As educators, there is nothing we want more than to have all students back in school. This school year will be a challenge for us all, but we are doing everything possible to ensure a high-quality education through virtual learning to start the year,” Brabrand said.
Brabrand also said staffing challenges complicated the transition to in-person learning, including the limited availability of substitutes and more leave of absence requests by teachers and other staff.
FCPS staff are developing metrics to determine when and if schools can reopen. Factors under consideration include the trajectory of cases, access to testing, and impact on staff and operations. More details are expected in mid-August, he said.
The school system also plans to provide laptops to all students to use for online learning. Schools will provide information on laptop distribution if a student does not already have an FCPS laptop.
Brabrand said his staff is also exploring ways to boost technical support for families and students, including a help desk for parents. All athletic seasons are also delayed until December.
The entire letter, which includes more details on class schedules and a commitment to more communication, is posted online.
Image via Fairfax County Public Schools
A parking garage in Reston got a facelift after artist Kelsey Montague completed a mural at the request of American Real Estate Partners in late July.
Montague was commissioned to create a mural on the garage at Reston International Center (11800 Sunrise Valley Drive). The artwork features her signature #WhatLiftsYou wings design, which the company says celebrates “COVID-19 frontline heroes, wellness and visionary developer, Robert E. Simon’s founding principles for Reston.”
AREP hopes the artwork will “activate” the outdoor space and make the area more welcoming for tenants. The 25-by-25-foot-mural features two sets of wings and includes five stars that represent Reston’s five village centers. The number seven is included to recognize Reston’s seven founding principles.
“Reston Wings reflects our dedication to the community and fulfills our promise to create dynamic places that inspire and elevate experiences not just for our customers but also for neighboring residents,” said Paul Schulman, Principal and Chief Operating Officer of AREP. “We’re excited to challenge the preconceptions of large-format community art as an urban phenomenon and introduce this suburban opportunity for people to become a part of the canvas and be more fully engaged with their community.”
Montague is an international street artist who has street murals around the world, including in Istanbul, New York City, Cape Town and Buenos Aires.
Photo via AREP
Retail Rents Not Getting Paid — “Retail tenants have been hardest hit during the pandemic, across the board and for JBG Smith. The company collected 58% of rent due from those tenants in the second quarter, compared with nearly 99% for office and 98.5% for multifamily… JBG Smith is exploring the possibility of incorporating ghost kitchens, or food preparation facilities for delivery-only meals, to fill some of the void created by empty retail spaces as a temporary measure.” [Washington Business Journal]
Free COVID-19 Testing in Reston Today — The Fairfax County Health Department and Southgate Community Center are partnering to offer free testing ontoday from 5-8 p.m. at the community center, which is located at 12125 Pinecrest Road. [Virginia Department of Health]
Schools Take Part in Racial Truth and Reconciliation Week — “As part of Virginia’s declaration of August 2-8 as Virginia’s Racial Truth and Reconciliation Week, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will be participating in activities to help educate citizens about the impact of cultural, historical, and racial inequity.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Photo by Ray Copson
Reston Community Center has canceled this year’s Reston Multicultural Festival, which was originally scheduled to bring a celebration of diversity through song, dance and art to Lake Anne Plaza on September 26.
“It breaks our hearts to take this step. We know that this event is a cherished part of Reston’s calendar and has deep meaning for participants and festival-goers alike. We are hopeful that spring will bring greater safety and restoration of the public gatherings that mean so much to Reston,” said RCC Board Chair Bev Cosham.
In a statement released today (Tuesday), RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon said organizers realized that was no safe way to present the multicultural festival.
“The health and safety of our performers, vendors, staff, volunteers and community have to take precedence in these unprecedented times,” she said in a statement.
Gordon hopes the festival will return next year.
RCC plans to continue offering multicultural programming this summer and fall through smaller, socially distanced events. On Thursdays, RCC holds its Take a Break concert series at Lake Anne Plaza and Summerbration Fab Fridays at RestonStation. Other programming is also offering via RCC’s YouTube channel.
“Like our colleagues, we are trying to balance our desire to support artists, bring valued content to audiences and do so safely at all times,” said Arts and Events Director Paul Douglas Michnewicz. “It’s a constantly evolving environment, so we depend on flexibility and people staying alert to sudden changes in programming.”
Photo via RCC
