Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn is reaffirming his stance on the future of Reston National Golf Course in response to a another community call for his position on the golf course’s possible development.
In a Dec. 8 letter to Alcorn, elected representatives of nine clusters and condominium associations near the golf course called on Alcorn to release another formal statement on the golf course’s future. Alcorn made an Oct. 23 statement in which he opposed plans to redevelop Hidden Country Club.
He noted that there appears to be little to no support to redevelop the golf course. Wheelock Communities has been contemplating redeveloping the golf course into a 100-acre park with 1,000 residential units.
At a recent meeting with Alcorn, representatives from area clusters noted that a recent survey of 457 residents found that nearly 96 percent of respondents sought to preserve the land use designation of Reston National Golf Course as a public golf course.
The survey included only 54 percent of all units represented by the clusters and condominiums.
Alcorn said that his stance on the golf course has not changed. Here’s what Alcorn told Reston Now:
“Earlier this year representatives of Reston National contacted me about their plans for a series of community outreach events concerning the current status and future use of their golf course property. I reminded them that the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan clearly designates this property as a golf course, and my long-standing position that unless and until communities surrounding the golf course indicate their desire to initiate a change in the Comprehensive Plan I will oppose any such change. Community outreach by property owner representatives continues, and I look forward to hearing more from surrounding community members.”
Development at both golf courses requires a change to Reston’s comprehensive plan.
Weller Development Cos. And War Horse Cities purchased the property from RN Golf LLC, a partnership between Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance and Billy Casper Golf, in 2019.
Proposal to Beautify Plaza Awaits Approval — A group of Lake Anne owners has promised to pay $45,000 to cover a $250,000 beautification project. [Reston Patch]
Holiday Message from Reston Association — Acting CEO Larry Butler says that the new year will bring improvements to several recreational facilities and new capital projects. Butler also encourages members to vote in the upcoming board election in March. [RA]
Police Recruitment Fair This Week — The Fairfax County Police Department will have recruiters on sight at the Merrifield Sports Fitness Center from 5-8 p.m. tomorrow. [FCPD]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Local police are searching for a man who escaped after being handcuffed by police on Sunday.
The man — who is suspected of robbing a business on the 700 block of Grant Street — was able to escape police custody before he was transferred to the backseat of a police cruiser.
Police believe he left the area in a gold Honda Pilot that was reported stolen from Nicklaus Court on Nov. 11. The man reportedly left the scene as a passenger in the stolen car.
So far, police have not been able to locate the man. That is despite a helicopter-assisted search.
The stolen car has Virginia tags that read UBB-2337.
Photos via Herndon Police Department
Brx American Bistro Robbed — The restaurant, which is located at 1025 Seneca Road in Great Falls, was robbed. The incident happened on Dec. 6 at around 9:30 a.m. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Boosters Now Available for Teens — Teens between the ages of 16 and 17 can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Appoints in the county can be made online through the state’s vaccine administration management system. [Fairfax County Government]
Search for Schools Superintendent Underway — The school system has recruited GR Recruiting to help hire a new superintendent. Community engagement opportunities are planned for this month, including a school board work session today to discuss the process and timeline moving forward. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
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.
- Reston woman, 29, dies after vehicle crash Sunday
- Pet of the Week: Sensational Sage, a tiny Shiba Inu mix always on the go
- After lengthy search, arrest made in crash that killed Reston man
- BREAKING: Two in critical condition, others injured after Herndon apartment fire
- Herndon-based Juicy Brewing aims to open new taproom this month
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.
Reston Company Adds New Domains — Public Interest Registry is adding .giving, .charity, and .foundation to its network. The Reston-based company hopes to give more options for nonprofits, mission-driven organizations, and other entities. [Technical.ly]
Where to Find the Best Holiday Trees — There are many options to find the biggest and brightest trees in Northern Virginia. One local option is Reston Town Center, which is also hosting horse-drawn carriage rides and min train rides. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
County Issues Guidance on COVID-19 — The county is encouraging residents to maintain social distancing as the holidays draw near. Cases of COVID-19 are increasing. Northern Virginia has returned to a high transmission level this week, although the Omicron variant has not been identified locally. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
A software company has signed a lease for 85,000-square-feet of space at Reston Station — a big move that will bring 400 new jobs to Fairfax County.
In a release today, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Qualtrics will invest $15.9 million as it moves from former offices in Reston. Virginia courted the experience management software company from other competing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.
“Organizations everywhere are undergoing an experience transformation and Qualtrics has an incredible opportunity in front of us. With its strong talent pool, Virginia is a perfect place for Qualtrics to grow,” said Qualtrics CEO Zig Serafin. “The investments we’re making today will put us in an even stronger position to help our customers build their next great customer, employee, product, and brand experiences.”
The office will be located at 1906 Reston Metro Plaza, part of Comstock’s Reston Station development.
Here’s more from Northam’s office on the news:
The FCEDA worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $1.4 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Fairfax County with the project. The governor also approved $2 million in funds from the Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant. Support for job creation will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.
“Virginia offers access to the highest concentration of tech talent in the United States,” Northam said. “The Commonwealth’s diverse tech ecosystem is driven by our stable business climate, competitive operating costs, and a world-class workforce. We look forward to Qualtrics’ continued success in Fairfax County.”
Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of FCEDA said the news marks a second vote of confidence that the company places in Fairfax County.
“First was the purchase of Clarabridge, a homegrown tech success story, and now the expansion being announced today. We thank and congratulate Qualtrics for this tremendous growth and we stand ready to assist the company further as it expands its footprint here.”
Reston Station is already home to big companies like Google and ICF International.
Photo via Comstock
Reston Businessman Convicted of Bankruptcy Fraud — A Reston businessman was convicted on a series of fraud charges related to a bankruptcy case. Alan Russel Cook Sr., CEO of Metropolitan Aviation, discharged over is six million in personal debt when he file for bankruptcy. He reportedly transferred more than $350,000 to his former girlfriend and directed her to open accounts in her name and in the name of a fake company in anticipation of the filing. [U.S. Department of Justice]
NextStop Theatre Announces 2022 Schedule — The Herndon-based theatre has announced its line-up for the first half of 2022. Artistic director Evan Hoffman said the theatre company is excited to take programming to the next level after a gradual return to smaller productions this year. [Broadway World]
TransUnion Acquires Reston-based Company — TransUnion has acquired Neustar for $3.1 billion. The company’s CEO says he looks forward to the smooth integration of the businesses. Neustar is a network security company. [Cyber Wire]
Jingle on the Lake Returns — Hundreds of people attended the 50th anniversary of Jingle on the Lake at Lake Anne Plaza earlier this month. Santa arrived by a pontoon boat at the annual event. [The Connnection]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $5 million in funding for the delayed redevelopment of downtown Herndon.
The approval — which was requested by the town — brings the county’s contribution to $6.1 million of the $101 million public-private partnership between the town and developer Comstock.
Marred by delays and an oft-changing groundbreaking date, the revitalization project would bring transform 4.7 acres of land previously owned by the town into a mixed-use town center with 273 residential apartments, 17,000 square feet of retail space, an arts center, and a 726-space parking garage.
But the county’s financial commitment is conditional. Five payments of $1 million per year would go to the town. The first payment is conditioned on the approval of the certificate of occupancy for the first residential unit.
“The project provides an opportunity to partner with the Town of Herndon in its downtown redevelopment efforts and will produce new tax revenues for the county on a site that currently does not generate tax revenue,” according to a Dec. 7 staff memo.
In response to requests from Reston Now for information, town officials have provided few details on why the project has been pushed back. Comstock has also been tight-lipped about the project.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust lauded county staff for ironing out the conditions of the agreement.
“It’s just going to be absolutely awesome what they have going,” Foust said.
The project faced a $24.6 million funding gap as a result of the effects of the pandemic, changes in the construction market for materials and labor, and workforce restrictions. The town and Comstock agreed to split the funding gap equally as part of a new agreement that was negotiated roughly one year ago, including tax abatement efforts for Comstock.
The county already committed $1.2 million from its Economic Opportunity Reserve Fund in June 2018. The funds were committed but remain undistributed to the town.
If construction stops within six months of the first payment, the county would suspect future funding and restart payments at its discretion — if and when construction activity resumes.
The Herndon Town Council will review the updated MOU at its Dec. 13 meeting. The town is contributing nearly $18 million while Comstock will shoulder $85 million of the total cost. The county’s contribution amounts to six percent of the total cost estimate.
County funds would be pulled from the Economic Opportunity Reserve Fund, which aims to support capital development projects, real estate purchases, and programming support for economic development activities.
Meet Masey, a young tortoiseshell who is house-trained and has earned a reputation as a little love bug.
Here’s what the folks at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society had to say about her:
Masey is a little love bug whose happy place is sitting next to her human, getting all the head pets. She has the softest fur! She will give you kisses in return to show how much she appreciates you. Masey is very playful, especially for anything small that she can bat around.
Are you and Masey the perfect match?
Photos via Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society
A web development and marketing firm has moved into bigger offices in Reston.
Orpheus, a company that offers web design, web development and digital marketing services, has opened at Plaza America. The firm is also increasing its footprint by 50 percent.
Benjamin Portman, lead developer at the company, said that the new office space provides a “quality experience” for staff who are not working remotely.
“A building complex like Plaza America has convenient access to Dulles Toll Road Road for employers to easily get to work and an abundance of amenities that they can enjoy making this building an ideal location.”
The business was founded in 2014. It will be located 11710 Plaza America. Orpheus was previously located
Photo via Orpheus
New School Vaccine Clinics in Reston — The county and the school system have added new school-based clinics for COVID-19 vaccines in the area. A school-based vaccine clinic is scheduled for Dec. 11 and Jan. 6 at Hunters Woods Elementary School. [Fairfax County Government]
County Adopts New Redistricting Plan — The county has adopted a new redistricting plan. Seven precincts were shifted to new districts. The Virginia Attorney General will certify the new map. [Fairfax County Government]
A Reminder to Decorate Safely — With the holiday season quickly approaching, local fire and rescue personnel are reminding risks to decorate with safety in mind. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Planning is underway to begin the construction of a sidewalk along the south side of Sunrise Valley Drive and west of Reston Parkway.
The roughly half a-million-dollar project is expected to improve pedestrian connectivity near the future Reston Town Center Metro Station, which is expected to open sometime in the spring of next year.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is considering an agreement to fund the project at a meeting today. The project was recommended in the Reston Area Metrorail Station Access Group study, which endeavored to ensure ample pedestrian connectivity and walkability to and from Metro stations in the area.
The agreement would be made with the Metropolitan Washington Airports. Authority.
MWAA has already constructed a contractor for the sidewalk project. Last year, the county already completed the first phase of the project from Glade Drive to just east of the Reston Association entrance.
If the agreement is approved this week, MWAA expects the project to take roughly four months to complete.
“There are no anticipated delays to Phase 2 of the Silver Line with the inclusion of this work,” according to a Dec. 7 staff memo.
Double Stabbing Under Investigation — Officers obtained arrest warrants recently against a woman they believe stabbed two men last month near Hunters Woods Plaza. [Reston Patch]
Redistricting, Tax Relief Options On Board Agenda — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will meet today to discuss big items like a tax relief package and a redistricting proposal. [Reston Patch]
Local Vaccine-hesitant Mom Gets Answers — WUSA 9 connected a Reston mom with a local hospital doctor and the head of the FDA’s vaccine committee to get her questions answered about the COVID-19 vaccine. [WUSA 9]
Big Donation Effort for Park Avenue Victims — The Herndon Police Department is no longer accepting donations for victims of the Park Avenue fire. Gift cards, however, are still being accepted. [HPD]
Robbery Under Investigation on Centreville Road — Two men stole personal property from someone on th 2400 block of Centerville Road on Nov. 30 shortly before 8 p.m. No injuries were reported, although the suspects threatened the victim with a knife. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
After a lengthy search, a 24-year-old Vienna man has been arrested in connection with a Sept. 1 crash that killed a Reston resident.
Carlos Alexander Torres Jr. was arrested Friday. Police believe Torres was driving the SUV that reportedly ran a red light as it was traveling southbound on Fairfax County and struck a car that was making a left turn from northbound Fairfax County Parkway onto Walnut Branch Road.
The driver of that car, Andrew Willingham, 37, was killed in the crash. Police believe alcohol was a factor in the incident. Willingham was making a left turn on a green arrow.
The driver of the SUV reportedly fled on foot. Despite a helicopter-assisted search and the help of a K9 unit, the driver was not found. Detectives attempted to locate the driver by obtaining several search warrants. After a months-long search, Torres was finally tracked to a worksite in Montgomery County.
Police obtained warrants for felony hit and run, involuntary manslaughter, and driving with no operator’s license. They believe he was driving a family member’s Chevrolet SUV.
Anyone with more information about the crash is encouraged to contact FCPD by calling 703-280-0543. Residents can also submit tips using the instructions below:
Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411, and by web – Click HERE. Download our Mobile tip411 App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1000 dollars if their information leads to an arrest. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to contact you.
