Pure Barre, the barre exercise studio franchise that was slated to open an at Reston Town Center in 2014, has chosen a new, nearby location.
According to the company’s website, the studio will open at 12975 Woodland Crossing Dr. in Herndon, but will still be called Pure Barre Reston.
A local franchisee had signed a lease for a space at 11990 Market Street (ground floor of Midtown Condos) in late 2013. The studio was supposed to open in 2014, but there were “unforeseen issues with permitting in our intended space for the Reston studio,” a studio spokesman said.
The Woodland Crossing studio is expected to open in the next few months, and they are currently hiring and training instructors, the website says.
Barre exercise — as in ballet barre — is a recent trend where participants do small muscle movements, similar to the workouts of ballet dancers, to create long, lean muscles. Fees are $25 for single 55-minute class, but packages are available.
There are nearby Pure Barre locations in Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Fairfax, Rockville and McLean.
Photo courtesy of Pure Barre
The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals will make its decision on the possible future of Reston National Golf Course on April 15, so open space advocacy group Rescue Reston is organizing for the decision — and whatever may come next.
About 50 group members met in front of Reston’s Northwestern Mutual Insurance offices on Sunrise Valley Drive on Sunday to spell out the word “no.” Northwestern Mutual is the parent company of Reston National Golf Management, which is appealing a 2012 county zoning decision that the course is open/recreational space and altering the planned use of the 166-acre golf course at Sunrise Valley and Colts Neck Roads would require a comprehensive plan amendment.
The BZA heard about seven hours of appeal testimony at a hearing on Jan. 21. The hearing included lots of details about zoning filings and Planned Residential Community (PRC) documents, including many details on how and when the original 1971 zoning documents were located since 2012.
RNGC attorney Frank McDermott maintained at the hearing the recently located documents are not official county records with official government stamps, so they are not valid.
Rescue Reston President Connie Hartke said at Sunday’s rally that if the BZA rules in favor of the Fairfax County Zoning Administrator, it will be “three strikes and [Northwestern mutual] should accept the word ‘NO,’ meaning no to residential development of the 166-acre recreational space across the street from where they stood. “
“It’s time they got the message,” said Hartke.
Local leaders at the rally included Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston) and Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins.
Rescue Reston leaders said in an email to group members last week that the losing side “has 30 days after the decision to petition for appeal to the Circuit Court.” That could tie the case up in for many more months, even more than a year.
“Rescue Reston needs to continue to be involved in the legal process to provide the voice of all who support the open space that makes Reston unique,” said Rescue Reston. “We have until April 1 to submit more documentation for the BZA to consider. [Attorney] Randy Greehan will be present on April 15 to represent us. Whichever side wins, we fully expect the process to continue through appeals.”
Rescue Reston spells out “NO” in front of Northwestern Mutual/Courtesy Rescue Reston
A Reston resident has filed a complaint with Reston Association after he said he requested a copy of the appraisal report for the Tetra building and was told he could not see it until RA had a conditional contract to purchase the building.
Reston Association CEO Cate Fulkerson told resident Irwin Flashman in an email that the board would discuss the conditional contract — the contract that is pending results of an April member referendum — at its meeting on Thursday, March 26.
Thursday’s meeting is also the final public hearing on the planned purchase. To review: Reston Association is seeking to purchase the 3.48-acre property adjacent to other RA properties such as Brown’s Chapel Park and Lake Newport Tennis.
The property, which contains a parking lot and a 3,128-square-foot-building, was Reston’s Visitors Center from 1983 to 2003 and is now office space for Tetra Commercial Real Estate. RA has sent a letter of intent to Tetra to purchase the building at 11450 Baron Cameron Drive for $2.65 million. Acquiring the building would give RA 98 contiguous acres of open space and prevent a developer from purchasing the property — and using the building for a commercial enterprise, which is allowed under the current Reston Master Plan designation. However, a recent Fairfax County tax assessment shows the value using that scale at $1.428 million. RA conducted its own appraisal, standard practice in a real estate transaction, to arrive at the $2.65 million purchase price, Fulkerson said at the first public hearing on the issue in late February.
RA land use attorney John McBride says an appraiser is looking at one property while an assessor is looking at a county full of properties — in this case, small offices, which will not be the “highest and best use” for the property.
McBride said an appraisal done in 2010 valued the property at $2.7 million — and the current owners originally wanted that price.
RA plans to borrow the entire $2.65 million. Fulkerson says $650,000 to be used to repurpose the building will come from a developer contribution. She has not yet said which developer, which Reston project and whether that deal is a final agreement or just an expectation. RA is also still seeking community feedback on the building’s purpose.
Some ideas that the association has proposed include after-camp care, community meeting space and event rentals. Uses such as event rentals would bring in income for RA, staff says.
RA says that there will be no impact on member assessments until 2019 and 2020, when increases of $3.64 and $3.68 are estimated. However, those estimates come with the current number of households in the association(21,618 households, including the new Harrison Apartments) and not the 600 new units that are expected to join the association in the next five years.
Flashman initially requested to see the appraisal on March 6. In more recent communication with RA, he calls the delay “unacceptable.”
“No opportunity for public comment after the March 26 date has been scheduled,” he wrote. “Comments made on March 26 therefore will not have had the benefit of information contained in the Tetra property appraisal, nor the draft conditional purchase and sales contract.”
“I believe the RA is obligated to provide the information requested in a timely fashion, which will allow members to make an informed decision on whether to vote for or against the proposed purchase,” Flashman wrote. “
The board will discuss Flashman’s request at Thursday’s meeting.
Photo: Tetra Building/Credit: Yelp
Big Donation to Cornerstones — Herndon’s Floris United Methodist Church presented Cornerstones with a check for $40,000 to support the Rapid Rehousing program. Every Christmas Eve, Floris UMC gives away the entire Christmas Eve offering to non-profit partners, causes and special needs in the community and the world. This year Floris decided that the local beneficiary would be Cornerstones.
NoVa Restaurant Week Begins Today — Tavern 64, Morton’s and Mon Ami Gabi are among more than a dozen eateries participating. Where are you going to eat? [Reston Now]
South Lakes District Meeting Tonight — The third in a series of four Reston Association District meetings will be held Monday at RA headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr. Topics include: current budget overview and Q-and-A session with RA staff; a strategic plan update; a member input activity; information on RA services; an an opportunity to cast your vote in the 2015 RA Board of Directors Election. [Reston Now]
Reston History: The Gulf Years — The Historic Trust & Reston Museum presents “The Gulf Years in Reston, 1967-78” Thursday at 7 p.m. at Reston Community Center Lake Anne. This panel presentation will feature a discussion and film clips that capture some of the stories of the era. The panel features people who were instrumental in Reston’s development during the Gulf Years: Jim Cleveland, Fran Steinbauer, Chuck Veatch and Kohann Williams.
Photo: South Lakes Girls Lacrosse, which defeated Fairfax 12-11 Thursday/Credit: David Woodward
Are your kids voracious readers? Are you a teacher or parent who wants to score some great books for for your collection?
Then stop by the Reston Regional Library this weekend for the Friends of the Reston Regional Library’s Spring Children/Teens Book Sale.
There will be hundreds of gently used books and teaching materials for children and educators and books for teens at the library, located at 11925 Bowman Green Dr.
Sale hours:
Friday, March 20 — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 22 — 1 to 3:30 pm
Payment is by cash or check. Sorry, no credit cards, scanners, or electronic devices.
All proceeds go to benefit the Reston Regional Library and the Fairfax County Public Library system. Book donations and volunteers are always welcome.
For more information, email [email protected] or call to leave a message at 703-829-5467 .
Searching for a new home? Start with these open houses. To see more open houses and other real estate information, visit Reston Now’s Real Estate Section.
1645 York Mills Lane *
4 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB SFH
$649,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
Listing agent: Carly Simonds, Weichert (703) 759-6300
1332 Murray Downs Way
5 BR, 3.5 BA SFH
$799,900
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
1401 Church Hill Place
1 BR, 1.5 BA Condo
$289,900
Open Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m.
11990 Market Street
1 BR, 2 BA Condo
$549,900
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
1518 Poplar Grove Drive
3 BR, 2.5 TH
$400,000
Open Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
11417 Great Meadow Drive
4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH
$790,000
Open Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m.
* – Denotes sponsored listing
Replacement of the Embry Rucker Community Shelter and several Reston-area fire stations are on Fairfax County’s list of projects to tackle in the five-year advertised Capital Improvement Program.
County Executive Ed Long recently released the CIP to show the county’s priorities during the next budget cycle and enable the county to plan for the future.
Long has proposed a $3.8 billion overall advertised budget, with $22.04 million from the general fund going to support capital improvements. Tens of millions more will come from bond referendums in the future.
Long says county staff is “currently working to prioritize all county projects to develop specific recommendations for the next two county referenda scheduled for fall 2016 (FY 2017) and fall 2018 (FY 2019). An amount between $200 and $250 million is included in the CIP for planning purposes.
Meanwhile, Long has also predicted a budget gap of more than $90 million as the county gets ready to plan for 2017. The real estate tax rate in the county will stay the same as in 2014 — $1.09 per $100 of assessed value.
“We have turned over every rock for cost-saving opportunities,” he wrote in the introduction to the CIP.
There will be public hearings on the budget in general on April 7 (4 p.m.), 8 and 9 (both 1 p.m.) at the Fairfax County Government Center. The budget markup will happen on April 21, and the Board of Supervisors will vote on it on April 28.
Meanwhile, here are the Reston-area projects mentioned in the Capital Improvement Program through 2020:
Reston Town Center North: This project currently includes $700,000 to develop an overall master plan that reconfigures and provides integrated redevelopment of various Fairfax County and Inova properties at Reston Town Center North (south of Baron Cameron Avenue between Town Center Parkway and Fountain Drive).
Three facilities impacted by the redevelopment are the Reston Library, the Embry Rucker Shelter, and the North County Human Services Center. Fairfax County plans to solicit an initial Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure (PPEA) for two County-owned parcels, known as Blocks 7 and 8, on which the library and shelter are currently located. The County will solicit a future PPEA for the remaining parcels, including the parcel containing the North County Human Services Center, after a Development Agreement is signed by Fairfax County and Inova.
The entire project is expected to cost $20 million.
South Lakes High School: $14,650,406 for capacity enhancements. Construction funds are unfunded.
Herndon High School: $102,139,918 for the renovation of this facility. Construction funds are unfunded.
Synthetic Turf Maintenance: Funding in the amount of $6,735,338 has been included for the countywide athletic field maintenance and sports program in FY 2016. This level of funding is supported by an increased General Fund transfer.
Reston Community Center Improvements: $647,000 is required for the replacement of the RCC backstage HVAC unit, replacement of the CenterStage theatre roof sections, replacement of the Hunters Woods front building area, and replacement of light fixtures. Read More
The new bell schedule for Fairfax County Public Schools in coming into focus for the 2015-16 school year.
After years of discussion, the school board approved a new bell schedule last October in order for high school students to get extra sleep time. Instead of starting at 7:20 a.m., high schools will begin between 8 and 8:10 a.m.
Most elementary schools will only be slightly adjusted, but middle schoolers will be seeing an earlier start.
The change will benefit more than 57,000 high school students representing more than 30 percent of FCPS’ student population, the school system said.
The school system says transportation teams are working on bus schedules and parents will receive information on bus schedules during the summer.
Here are the bell schedules for Reston schools in 2015-16:
Elementary Schools
- Aldrin 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.
- Armstrong 8:55 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
- Crossfield 9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Dogwood 8:50 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.
- Forest Edge 8:50 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.
- Fox Mill 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Hunters Woods 8:55 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
- Lake Anne 8:50 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.
- Sunrise Valley 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.
- Terraset 9:20 a.m. to 4:05 p.m.
Middle Schools
- Herndon 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Hughes 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
High Schools
- Herndon 8:10 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
- South Lakes 8:10 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.
- Thomas Jefferson 8:40 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Pipeline Work Continues in North Reston — Reston Association says pipeline work will continue off of Quail Ridge Court for another two to three weeks. [Reston Association]
Somewhere Between “Ugly Houses” and “Corporate Insanity” — Check out Reston’s location on this tongue-in-cheek map of Northern Virginia. [Judgmental Maps]
Transportation Thoughts — The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority is holding a public hearing on March 25 to discuss 44 highway and transit projects. Meeting begins at 6 p.m. at NVTA headquarters in Fairfax. [NVTA]
Photo: Signs of spring in Reston/Credit: Ken Plum
South Lakes High School’s Lina Wu was among 23 Fairfax County students honored with a Student Peace Award in a ceremony on Sunday.
For the last 10 years, Fairfax County has recognized juniors or seniors who devote time, energy and creativity to being peacemakers in local, national or international service.
Wu was honored for her concern about human rights violations and how to address them.
She is president of South Lakes’ Girls Learn International (GLI) chapter. GLI is a division of the Feminist Majority Foundation that educates and energizes U.S. students in the global movement for girls’ access to education.
She has briefed GLI members about events and actions that undermine equality and how they can be addressed. She led a panel discussion on sex trafficking and its impact on the world. She also organized several fundraisers for their partner school in Wai, India.
As vice president of the D.C. Student Advisory Board of GLI Chapters, Wu works with chapters in area schools to educate their students about current events and to teach them to create solutions to inequality both in their partner schools abroad and in their own schools and communities. Wu started an internship in February with the Feminist Majority Foundation, where she will work to expand GLI.
A poem that Wu wrote, A Real Girl, was chosen to be presented at the Girls Speak Out Summit at the United Nations in October. Her poem discusses rape and how it is often viewed by society.
Photo: Lina Wu/Credit: Ken Fredgren
Winter’s not over yet.
Spring officially begins on Friday, March 20. And while crocuses are popping up all over Reston, they may be covered with a bit of snow tomorrow.
Rain is expected to begin falling overnight, but with temperatures dipping below freezing, that may change to snow around daybreak Friday, forecasters say.
The Capital Weather Gang says areas south of D.C., including Fairfax County, will get a coating to an inch. Northern areas could see up to 3 inches.
By Saturday — the first full day of spring — spring will reappear. Temperatures should be 55-60, or enough to melt the traces of winter’s last gasp.
Photo: Crocuses in snow in March 2014
Atlantic Realty Companies (ARC) of Tysons Corner and Angelo, Gordon & Co. (AG) of New York City have teamed up to acquire four office buildings totaling 499,696 square feet in Reston.
The purchase of Reston Corner I, II and III and the nearby Parkridge V cost about $82 million, says an Atlantic Realty spokesman. The buildings are 50 percent leased, and Reston Association is a major tenant in one of them.
The buildings comprise an office park located at the corner of Sunrise Valley Drive and Reston Parkway. Parkridge V is one of six office buildings in the Parkridge office park, near the Dulles Toll Road on Sunrise Valley Drive.
“Atlantic Realty has deep roots in Reston, having developed such well-known destinations as Plaza America,” said Atlantic Realty President David Ross said in a statement. “In fact, in 1992-93, our newly formed company was located in Reston Corner III. We are pleased to join with Angelo, Gordon to expand our Reston portfolio at this exciting time.”
Nearly $5 million was invested recently in improvements to the buildings’ elevators, lighting systems, restrooms, and the mechanical, electrical, and fire/ life safety systems. The ARC-AG partnership plans to spend an additional $5 million to improve the buildings and outdoor common areas.
The buildings were sold by an affiliate of the Garrison Group, which acquired them in 2011 after previous owner Penzance Cos., which paid $202.5 million in 2007, defaulted on payments on its more than $100 million loan.
The buildings are out of walking distance to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station, however, they will be a short walk to the Reston Town Center station when the Silver Line is extended after 2018.
This sale is third major commercial real estate deal in Reston in recent months, perhaps proving its desirability as an office location now that it is Metro-accessible.
Federal contractor Noblis in January leased more than 160,000 square feet on Edmund Halley Drive near the Dulles Toll Road. Last week, Fannie Mae announced it would lease all 185,000 square feet of a building at 12000 Sunrise Valley Dr.
Bechtel, which has it global operations headquarters at 12011 Sunset Hills Rd., announced earlier this month it plans to lease another 175,000 square feet of office space as it relocates hundreds more employees to Reston.
Photo: Reston Corner II/Courtesy Atlantic Realty
Crime fell 2.44 percent in Fairfax County in 2014, Fairfax County Police said.
The FCPD’s Reston District reflects the overall decrease in crime, according to statistics released by the police department on Wednesday.
One category saw a rise -that was quite large. There were 21 prostitution offenses in 2013 compared with just three the previous year.
Here are the number of other major incidents reported to police in 2014 (2013 number is in parentheses):
Arson — 2 (5)
Burglary — 87 (108)
Vandalism — 601 (704)
Homicide — 0 (2)
Larceny/Theft — 1,119 (1,236)
Motor Vehicle Thefts — 59 (48)
Robbery — 23 (37)
Stolen Property — 5 (4)
Drug Offenses — 393 (413)
Weapons Violations — 33 (59)
Countywide, reported incidents were down in most major crime categories. There were, however, two more homicides in 2014 (10) than in 2013 (8).
To see more detailed crime stats for the overall county and the Reston District, visit the Fairfax County Police updated crime statistics page.
County Budget Shortfall — Fairfax County Executive Ed Long says there may be a budget gap of about $90 million for fiscal year 2017. [WTOP]
New Grading Metric For FCPS? — Fairfax County is considering new grading system that would eliminate zeros. [Washington Post]
Reston Gets A Mention On West Bank — Palestinian investor working hard to develop community on Israel’s West Bank says he was inspired by Reston, Va. [NPR]
Local Students’ Work On Display — A new art installation, Emerging Visions: Reconstruction opens Friday at Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE). There will be an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Schools featured include Herndon, Oakton and South Lakes. [GRACE]
Photo: Possible rare Mandarin Duck was spotted in Reston near Lake Audubon earlier this week/Courtesy Beth Burns
Tickets are now available for the April 30 Best of Reston Awards Gala at the Hyatt Regency Reston.
The Best of Reston, organized by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones, annually honors community individual and business leaders who have made an impact.
It is also the biggest fundraiser of the year for Cornerstones. The last two Best of Reston galas raised a combined $1,178,000. That money enabled Cornerstones to double its stock of affordable housing in our community.
Tickets for this year’s event begin at $200 (individual) and go up to $5,000 for a table.
Developers Boston Properties, Comstock, and The JBG Companies will serve as co-chairs of the event.
Here are the honorees for 2015:
Larry Butler — Individual Community Leader
Butler, Reston Association’s Senior Director of Parks and Recreation, has used his passion for the outdoors in volunteer work that includes the Reston Triathlon, the Reston Sprint Triathlon and the Reston Kids Triathlon. The latter event offers scholarships to 50 kids in need to get involved in the sport.
Fran Steinbauer — Individual Community Leader
Steinbauer is an original Restonian, serving as founder Bob Simon’s civil engineer in the planning of the community more than 50 years ago. He has served on the board of Reston Association, Cornerstones, Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and the former Reston Homeowners Association.
Leidos — Corporate Business Leader
New science and tech corporation Leidos opened its headquarters at Reston Town Center less than two years ago, but has quickly become immersed in the community, working with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life; the American Heart Association’s Run Your Heart Out, Reston; Habitat for Humanity; Greater Reston Arts Center and Initiative for Public Art Reston, among others.
Maximus — Corporate Business Leader
Maximus’ corporate headquarters is in Reston, where it supports Herndon-Reston FISH’s work to help those in need, FACETS, The Women’s Center and the Washington Redskins Foundation, among others.
Maid Bright — Small Business Leader
Maid Bright, a family-run house cleaning business, supported the community by providing dinners to the county hypothermia shelter; cleaning homes free of charge for cancer patients and families moving to transitional housing; participating in Cornerstones’ Help the Homeless Walk; and donating $20,000 for Syrian refugees.
His Hidden Treasures — Civic/Community Organization Leader
Lois and Troy Hughes founded this on profit ministry that helps people work their way out of homelessness and grow self-esteem in newly furnished homes. His Hidden Treasureshelps transform transitional housing into personalized homes, with restored and donated furniture, as well as brand-new beds for clients.
Casey Veatch — Vade Bolton-Anne Rodriguez Legacy Award
This native Restonian is a business leader with Veatch Commercial Real Estate who also gives back in a variety of capacities, helping Cornerstones, Leadership Fairfax, his church, and youth sports teams.
