How Leidos Chose DC United — A look at how Reston-based Leidos picked Major League Soccer’s DC United’s jerseys as a place to post its logo. [Washington Business Journal]
Aldrin Gets A Bank — Reston’s Buzz Aldrin Elementary will open a new student-run branch of Middleburg Bank on Wednesday, April 8. All students will have the opportunity to open a Cool Fox account with the bank. The goal of the new Aldrin branch is to promote financial literacy, offer leadership opportunities to students, and integrate math curriculum into the experience of banking. The branch will be staffed by sixth graders.
Keep Social Service Programs — Advocates for two of Fairfax County’s human service programs are asking the Board of Supervisors to spare them in the face of budget cuts. [Fairfax Times]
Runners ready for 2015 Runners Marathon of Reston/Credit: Brian Kent Photography
The Mercury Fountain at Reston Town Center was full of inflatable balls on Wednesday as part of the town center’s annual April Fool’s Day prank.
Meanwhile, over on Modern Reston, the site posted a very convincing news story — but alas, a photoshopped prank as well — about a state-of-the-art monorail approved for the revamped Lake Anne Plaza. While the area surrounding Lake Anne is slated for a massive overhaul, residents and visitors will not be shuttled via an elevated train “that will provide shade” since all the trees will be removed.
Also, Reston Now is on the short list of nominees for the new Pulitzer Prize category “Hyperlocal Websites.” Just kidding — April Fools! (and thanks for reading regardless)
Pulte Home Corp. has filed an application with Fairfax County to replace an office building at 1825 Michael Faraday Dr. in Reston with multi-family housing in walking distance to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
Pulte intends to build 42 stacked “two-over-two” townhome-style residences on the site, which is less than a quarter mile from Wiehle-Reston East.
The Michael Faraday location is surrounded by other office buildings, but is just past the office building at 1831 Wiehle Ave., where developer JBG is seeking to rezone an office building and construct 504 multifamily residential units and up to 61,000 square feet of retail.
Also nearby, the 540-unit BLVD Apartments are nearly completed, and Bozzuto is planning to build 421 apartments in the 11400 block of Sunset Hills Road, where a mini-storage facility now sits across the street from Wiehle-Reston East.
The Pulte project would need to rezone the 1.58-acre parcel from the I-4, Medium Intensity Industrial to R-30 residential district. As part of the rezoning, Pulte is asking to modify the minimum R-30 district size from three to 1.58 acres to allow the “infill” project.
Pulte is also asking for waivers on the minimum front and side yard sizes (from 20 to 10 feet) and the amount of open space (from 40 percent to 23 percent).
The existing 11,000-square foot, one-story building has been owned by the Hardwood, Plywood & Veneer Association since 1976. Pulte would have to own the property before rezoning, and likely has a contract to buy conditional on the rezoning, commercial real estate sources said.
“The proposed development will replace a single-story office building with attractive and high-quality facades, enhance the mix of uses desired near the Wiehle Avenue East Metro Station, and facilitate the planned grid of streets for the Transit Station Area,” states the Pulte’s rezoning document.
Pulte’s plan includes residences that will be “distributed in two rows oriented east-west to align with the future grid of streets, with a central private street to provide access to the rear of the units.”
The plan will take advantage of additional pedestrian and vehicular access on new streets planned for the surrounding area. It also calls for eight-foot wide sidewalks and a pocket park in the northeast corner of the site.
Pulte says that because the other new construction planned for Wiehle-Reston East is high-rise buildings, offering townhomes will serve a broader segment of housing needs.
Photo: 1825 Michael Faraday Dr. in Reston is currently an office building.
Here is Mowgli, a young pug who is this week’s Reston Pet of the Week. Here is what owner Melissa has to say about him:
Mowgli is a 2-year-old pug who still has his puppy vigor! He is the most social, happy dog you will ever meet. He enjoys going for walks by Lake Thoreau, chilling out with other canines at the Baron Cameron Dog Park, and meeting other pugs at the Reston and Northern Virginia Pug Meetups. Mowgli, alias “Bub,” is excited for the Pet Fiesta in May at the Town Center!
Sometimes Mowgli has cat-like qualities. He perches on the back of the couch to watch the people of Reston walk by on the trails outside while he drifts off to sleep. His pug snorts sometimes sound like kitten purrs.
Bub’s favorite treat is rawhides dipped in peanut butter. As soon as the peanut butter is gone, he’ll insist that you get him more. He appears to reach nirvana while chewing on sticks. He can’t wait for the warm weather to return so that he can bask in the sunshine again. If you see him out and about, feel free to give him a pet or a belly rub.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
Happy Birthday, Reston — you look good for 51. And founder Bob Simon seems to be the heartiest (almost) 101 year old around.
Come and celebrate both birthdays at the annual Reston Founders Day on April 11.
The free events, hosted by the Reston Historic Trust and Museum, run from noon to 3 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza.
State, local and national elected officials will participate in a game of “Random Reston,” which will be emceed by Chuck Veatch. There will also be musical entertainment, the dedication of the plaza’s newest commemorative bricks, as well as birthday cake.
Simon, who envisioned a “new town” with European-style village centers and high-density housing in what was then a Virginia pasture, turns 101 on April 10.
Founders Day raffle tickets are on sale now, offering an opportunity to support the Reston Historic Trust & Museum Endowment Fund. The RHT is raffling off a pair of “inside out” diamond hoop earrings valued at $2,500. The earrings, donated by Aspen Jewelry Designs, contain 50 diamonds weighing 1.01 carats.
Raffle tickets are $10 each, 3 for $25 or 7 for $50. They can be purchased at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne Plaza, online at restonmuseum.org or at the Wine Cabinet at North Point Village Center. The drawing will follow the celebration. You do not have to be present to win.
Photo: Reston founder Bob Simon at his 100th birthday at 2014 Founders Day.
Ryan McCarthy, the manager of PassionFish at Reston Town Center, has been nominated as Manager of the Year in the 2015 RAMMYs — the awards given by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.
The nominees were announced in an event at the Hamilton in D.C. on Monday.
The best restaurant manager nominees are a non-owner manager or general manager in the food service industry who displays the highest level of professionalism and leadership. “This person must be an inspiration and mentor to all his/her co-workers displaying outstanding service, an excellent work ethic and a positive image,” the RAMMYs website says.
McCarthy has been PassionFish’s General Manager since 2011. He previously worked at D.C. Coast and Acadiana in DC. All three of the restaurants are owned by D.C. Chef Jeff Tunks’ Passion Food Hospitality.
Other manager nominees include Neill Blackwood (Mintwood Place, DC); Rachel Bronson (Red Apron Butcher, Union Market); Joseph Cerione (Blue Duck Tavern, DC) and Atul Narain (Rasika, DC).
PassionFish opened at Reston Town Center in 2008 and consistently makes Washingtonian Magazine’s list of 100 Very Best Restaurants. There are plans to open a second PassionFish in Bethesda this year.
See the entire list of RAMMY nominees on this Washingtonian post.
PassionFish file photo
New Leader for Nonprofit — Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) has promoted Stephanie Berkowitz has been promoted to president and chief executive officer. Berkowitz is currently senior vice president of programs at NVFS. [NVFS]
Virginia Third Among AP Test Takers — Virginia third in the nation for the number of high school students taking Advanced Placement tests. Maryland leads the list . [WTOP]
Runners Marathon Results — Christopher Comson, 33 (2:50:55) and Kimberli O’Connell, 30 (3:28:55) were the men’s and women’s winners of the Runners Marathon of Reston on Sunday. Complete results and age group winners are now available on the race website. [Runners Marathon of Reston]
Fun On Easter Sunday — Restoration Church is hosting Easter Services and a free egg hunt for kids on Sunday at Forest Edge Elementary School, beginning at 10:15 a.m. [Reston Now]
The Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) is preparing to welcome artist Patrick Dougherty, who will begin a public art installation built from tree saplings at Reston Town Square Park.
IPAR says the project needs help — both from people and from saplings needed to construct the sculpture.
Volunteers are needed during the “harvesting” from April 7 to 9.
Ten volunteers are needed for each morning (8:00 am – 12:00 pm) and 10 volunteers are needed for each afternoon (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm), says IPAR. Volunteers will be cutting, bundling, tying, and carrying saplings to the truck and stripping leaves. Note: This is physical labor.
The project also needs construction and installation volunteers at the following times:
Friday, April 10 to Friday, April 17, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Monday, April 20 to Saturday, April 25, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Four or five volunteers are needed for each morning (8:00 am – 12:00 pm) and 4-5 volunteers are needed for each afternoon (1:00 pm – 5:00 pm).
Volunteers need to be comfortable working on scaffold and be at least 16 years old.
To register, visit Sign Up Genius.
The project also needs tree saplings. If you have the right kind of saplings (see below), contact IPAR Executive Anne Delaney at [email protected].
From IPAR:
The artist requires quite a lot of saplings and has a preference for red maple, gray dogwood, and sweet gum, and possibly ash and certain types of willow (excluding black willow). Other species might be possible depending on flexibility, but most invasive species are not usable.
Ideally, we are seeking a site that was cleared in the last few years, so that the growth of the saplings would be approximately 3 to 5 years. At this point, we are seeking only small saplings, finger-sized in width but long: approximately ½ to 1 inch in diameter at the base, and between 4-6 feet in length.
The saplings will need to be harvested during the period from April 7-9, 2015, so that the materials are fresh and flexible during the construction of the work.
Photo: Patrick Dougherty/Courtesy of IPAR
RTC West, the restaurant-and-retail complex that was just approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, has signed its first tenant.
Chicago-based Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant will be the anchor for 40,000 square feet of space at Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway, the JBG Companies announced on Tuesday.
The supervisors last week approved JBG’s plans to reconfigure three office buildings close to the site of the future Reston Town Center Metro station, slated to open in late 2018 or early 2019. The retail plan will convert 15,000 square feet of office space into street-level retail and add 25,000 square feet of new retail on nearly 14 acres.
“This is our first step in repositioning RTC West from a suburban office park into a walkable and active neighborhood served by the Reston Town Center Metro,” Greg Trimmer, a JBG principal, said in a statement. “Our vision is to create a community environment with a strong focus on dining and service retail that will change a 9-to-5 location into a vibrant and social destination. Cooper’s Hawk will be a catalyst for this transformation, and we are very pleased to have them.”
Cooper’s Hawk will take over approximately 9,700 square feet, with an additional area for outdoor dining, JBG says.
Cooper’s Hawk launched in 2005 and offers modern, casual dining and 60 wines exclusive to the restaurant. There are 19 locations in eight states in the Midwest and South.
“We are excited to be expanding in the Washington-area market at RTC West,” said Tim McEnery, founder and CEO of Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant. “A decade in, Cooper’s Hawk is a unique concept that has enjoyed tremendous success through the quality of our food and wine, as well as our distinctive and relaxing environments.”
Cooper’s Hawk locations also feature private event space and a Napa-style tasting room with gift shop.
JBG said it expects to begin work on the new retail component late this summer and anticipates opening in mid-2017.
Rendering of Cooper’s Hawk at RTC West/Courtesy JBG
The prisoner who escaped from authorities at Inova Fairfax Hospital early Tuesday, allegedly stole two cars in his getaway and led Fairfax County Police on a widespread chase has been captured in the District, Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler said.
Roessler said Wossen Assaye, 42, was arrested by federal authorities in Arlington last week for a series of bank robberies in Northern Virginia. He is a suspect in a dozen bank robberies in the area from October of 2013 to March 2015, FBI officials said.
Assaye was taken to the hospital from Alexandria City Jail over the weekend after he attempted to hang himself with a bedsheet at the jail.
“I want to thank our community, in Fairfax and in the entire region,” Roessler said at a press conference Tuesday. “An alert community member alerted us and led to arrest … a violent felon is no longer on the streets.”
Despite being in shackles, Assaye allegedly overpowered a female private security guard about 3 a.m. after the second guard left the room.
One shot was fired, but no one was injured, Roessler said. Assaye, carrying the guard’s gun, fled the hospital wearing only a hospital gown and no shoes, authorities said. Roessler said it was not known who fired the shot.
A manhunt ensued throughout the morning in Fairfax County, and Assaye was caught at Minnesota Avenue near 25th Street SE in DC after 11 a.m.
Roads around Fairfax Hospital were closed for part of the morning, and Roessler said police searched the hospital.
But Assaye had already run through nearby woods to a residential neighborhood near the hospital. He broke into the trunk of a resident’s car, a 2002 Toyota. When the car owner got into the car to commute to work, Assaye carjacked the woman. The woman was slightly injured and treated, police said.
Shortly after 7 a.m., Assaye allegedly carjacked another car, a Hyundai, at Backlick Road and Cindy Lane. As of noon Tuesday, police had not recovered the second car.
Assaye will appear on new charges in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Photo: Wossen Assaye/FCPD
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue officials are investigating the cause of a blaze Sunday night at 3219 West Ox Rd. in unincorporated Herndon.
Units were called to the scene at about 9 p.m. after someone reported smoke in the area. Firefighters encountered flames from the roof of the one-story home.
The fire caused about $150,000 in damages, county fire officials said.
All of the house’s occupants safely got out of the house and there were no injuries.
Fairfax County Fire Rescue/File photo
Willie Hudgins, the husband of Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, is recovering at Inova Fairfax Hospital after he was badly injured in a fall on Friday.
Hudgins suffered serious injuries in the incident at his gym, aides to Hudgins said.
The Hudgins family has been residents of Reston since 1969. Hudgins has been the Hunter Mill Supervisor since 1999.
A statement from Cathy Hudgins’ office:
On Friday, March 27, Supervisor Cathy Hudgins’ husband, Willie Hudgins, suffered serious injuries related to a fall. He was rushed to INOVA hospital where he was stabilized and is continuing to undergo treatment.
Supervisor Hudgins wishes to extend her thanks to Fairfax County first responders and hospital staff for their assistance in this difficult time.
Additionally, we want to thank the community for their outpouring of prayers and support for the Hudgins family.
The Hunter Mill District Office continues to conduct business as usual and will update the Hunter Mill District website and Facebook page as further information is available.
We appreciate your concern and cooperation in this very private family matter. Thank you for respecting the family’s privacy during this difficult period.
Cathy Hudgins/File photo
Crews are putting the finishing touches on Barcelona Wine Bar and Bartaco, two new restaurants that will take up part of the ground floor on The Avant apartments at 12025 Town Square St. at Reston Town Center.
The Connecticut-based company have been working on the space for more than year, and lighting, flooring and furniture are all in place.
A company spokesman said last week no opening date has been set, however.
The restaurants likely still have to complete staff training and pass final Fairfax County inspections.
Barcelona Wine Bar, which has a location on 14th Street in the District, is known for its selection of more than 400 wines, as well as Spanish-style tapas. Bartaco is its beach-shack cousin, with six locations nationwide.
Bartaco is a beach-inspired taco shack, with inexpensive tacos ($2.50 each) featuring traditional as well as unusual fillings such as sesame ribeye, duck or curry shrimp.
A Herndon man was arrested on Monday after he allegedly assaulted the driver of garbage truck at knife point, Fairfax County Police said.
Police said the truck was at Tewksbury Drive and Unicorn Court in the Fox Mill area about 9:45 a.m. on Monday.
The suspect displayed a knife to the employees and caused damage the truck, police said. The suspect fled on foot but was located by officers and taken into custody.
The suspect, Todd E. Jones, 40, was then charged with assault and destruction of property.
In other crime news reported over the weekend:
BURGLARY
A resident of the 2600 block of Iron Forge Road reported someone entered the residence and took property on Friday, March 27.
LARCENIES
11800 block of Baron Cameron Avenue, merchandise from business.
2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, beverage from business.
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, beverage from business.
Want Young Employees? Locate Near Metro — Even companies in suburbs are taking into account Metro access in order to attract car-free Millennials. As three major employers recently signed big leases in Reston, impact is here. [Washington Post]
Hanley Named to Election Board — Reston’s Kate Hanley has been named to the Fairfax County Election Board for a three-year term. Hanley is the former Chair of the County Board of Supervisors (1995-2003). [Fairfax County]
New Financing for Reston Hotel — JBG has received a $27 million loan from Mesa West Capital to refinance the Westin Reston Heights, Mesa West announced. The hotel, along with a 194-unit residential tower and 140,000-square foot office building anchors the first phase of JBG’s 35-acre Reston Heights mixed-used development.
Diverse Fairfax, But Not Local Officials — Fairfax County has significant Asian, Latino and African American population, but that is not reflected in leadership except for Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins [Washington Post]
