The fall edition of Reston Association’s semi-annual community yard sale is scheduled for Saturday, 8:30 a.m to noon.

The event will take place at 1900 Campus Commons Drive, at the corner of Sunrise Valley Drive and Wiehle Avenue. According to information provided by Ashleigh Soloff, RA’s community events supervisor, “85 families will be selling a variety of items, so this is a great opportunity to find things for a new home or a college dorm.”

No early birds will be allowed prior to the 8:30 a.m. opening time. Vendor space is sold out, and Soloff said the event will be canceled in the event of rain.

Anyone seeking more information should contact Soloff at [email protected] or 703-435-6577.

The event will be held concurrently with RA’s annual Reston Expo, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the same address. Advertised as “a one-stop shopping event for home improvement and more,” that event will also include food, music, kids’ tent events and workshops. Questions about the Expo should be directed to [email protected] or 703-435-6530.

Photo courtesy Reston Association

A 4.675-acre site in downtown Herndon is expected to become a mixed-use project that includes residential and commercial structures, an arts center, and a parking garage.

The Town of Herndon and Comstock Partners announced this week that they have completed a proposed comprehensive agreement for the project. It will be discussed with the community during an informational town-hall meeting Oct. 12, and the Town Council will consider adoption of the plan following a public hearing Oct. 24.

According to information provided by the Town of Herndon:

The proposed agreement between the town and Comstock is reflective of Comstock’s proposal, submitted in response to the town’s Request for Proposals (RFP), for a redevelopment project comprised of approximately 281 residential apartments, approximately 17,600 square feet of retail space, an 18,000 square feet Arts Center and an approximately 761-space parking garage. As per the proposed agreement, Comstock anticipates beginning construction on the project early in 2019, with completion estimated in 2021.

The site on which the development would take place is north of Elden Street, east of Center Street, west of Station Street and south of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. The space in question includes municipal parking lots and the home of ArtSpace Herndon, as well as the former Stohlman Subaru building on Elden Street.

The Herndon Station building at the corner of Elden and Station streets is not included, nor is the Ice House Cafe & Oyster Bar building next door.

According to Herndon’s website, the town’s purchase price for the land was $5.8 million. The town will be selling the land to Comstock and contributing an additional $3.6 million in allowances, which include environmental remediation ($500,000), transitional public parking ($500,000), Arts Center relocation ($250,000) and culvert repair ($100,000).

In return, Comstock is to provide $12 million in assets, including 339 public parking spaces in the parking garage, to include 60 for the Arts Center and 59 for the retail space; the 18,000-square foot Arts Center; and $505,000 in proffer funds for town recreational services.

“This proposed comprehensive agreement comes after months of spirited negotiation between the town and Comstock,” said Bill Ashton, town manager, in the press release. “Ultimately, we came to agreement by working toward the same vision: a vibrant, energized downtown that is financially viable both to the developer and to the town. We are grateful to Comstock for their collaborative spirit throughout these negotiations and look forward to public comment and Town Council deliberations.”

Christopher Clemente, Comstock CEO, said the company is “excited to have an opportunity to participate in the reshaping of Herndon’s downtown.”

“Comstock is committed to creating a vibrant cultural arts district and community open spaces together with high quality residences, exciting retail spaces, and an accessible structured parking facility,” Clemente said in the release. “We take great pride in delivering quality developments that fit well in the community where they are located and we look forward to partnering with the Town of Herndon on this important project.”

The town-hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at Herndon Council Chambers (765 Lynn St.). The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. in the same space, and it is expected to be followed by the council’s vote.

More information about the project can be found at www.herndon-va.gov/downtown.

A Leesburg man has been charged in the shooting death of a Reston man 16 years ago.

Police in Prince George’s County, Maryland, say 36-year-old Antwan Green faces murder charges in connection with the case, which took place in October 2001 in the P.G. County neighborhood of Temple Hills. According to PGPD:

On October 9, 2001, at about 11:45 p.m., patrol officers were called to the 3400 block of Brinkley Road for the report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they located the victim, 24-year-old Taj Noble of Reston, in a field suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Based on information from a witness, detectives developed Green as the suspect and subsequently charged him in this case. Detectives believe the fatal shooting may have stemmed from a dispute over money. Green is charged with first- and second-degree murder.

Green, of the 400 block of Evans Ridge Terrace in Leesburg, is currently in custody in Fairfax County on unrelated charges. He is awaiting extradition to Prince George’s County.

Anyone with information on this case should call the Prince George’s County homicide unit at 301-772-4925; use Crime Solvers online or by calling Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477); or text “PGPD” plus the message to CRIMES (274637).

Mugshot courtesy Prince George’s County Police Department

The Fairfax County Police Department has made an arrest following an early-Monday morning robbery of a Herndon gas station.

According to FCPD, the incident took place at about 4:15 a.m. Monday when a man entered the Sunoco gas station at 13470 Coppermine Road demanding the gas pump be turned on but refusing to provide pre-payment. Police say the employee refused to comply, at which time the man claimed to be a U.S. Marshal. The man then “grabbed an undisclosed amount of money” from the cash register and left in a yellow Dodge Challenger.

While they were investigating the scene, officers received a report of a disorderly man in the lobby of the nearby Embassy Suites (13341 Woodland Park Road) whose description and vehicle matched those from the gas station robbery. Officers went to the man’s hotel room and attempted to talk to him, but they say he “disregarded commands from the officers and pushed them in an attempt to walk past them.”

The suspect, 37-year-old Ryan Charles Benson of New Hampshire, was arrested and charged with one count of robbery and two counts of assault on a police officer.

FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following crimes in the past week:

LARCENIES:

11300 block of Baron Cameron Avenue, purse from vehicle

12300 block of Brown Fox Way, property from vehicle

2400 block of Centreville Road, cellphone from residence

12000 block of Glade Drive, merchandise from business

12000 block of Greywing Square, property from residence

11700 block of Indian Ridge Road, wallet from residence

11600 block of Plaza America Drive, merchandise from business

1800 block of Presidents Street, wallet from residence

2700 block of Prince Harold Court, laptop computer from vehicle

11800 block of Sunset Hills Road, gun from vehicle

12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business

1600 block of Stowe Road, ring from residence

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

FCPD also reported an incident that took place in the 2400 block of Masons Ferry Drive, near Herndon, last Wednesday night. Police say that at about 9:30 p.m., a homeowner woke up to the sound of his bedroom door opening. When he looked, he saw a person standing at the door. The person fled through a bedroom window, and no items were taken.

Anyone with information about any of the crimes reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

No major incidents were listed in the Herndon Police Department’s weekly press report.

The 2017 Reston Multicultural Festival, presented by Reston Community Center and Reston Association, took place Saturday at Lake Anne Plaza.

The event, described as “a celebration that brings together the people of Reston to celebrate our rich medley of cultures,” featured arts and crafts, entertainment, art exhibits, food, and more activities. A naturalization ceremony was also part of the festival.

Photos courtesy Reston Community Center

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Cornerstones of Our Community: Best of Reston Awards, presented by Cornerstones and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Nomination forms are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3.

According to information provided by Cornerstones:

Awardees will be selected for working selflessly without consideration of recognition to improve communities served by Cornerstones and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Nomination applications can be found at www.cornerstonesva.org/BOR. Finalist selections and notifications will be completed by early January 2018.

In 2018, finalists will not be broken into categories, as they have been in previous years. Rather, they will be recognized collectively as “Best of Reston Finalists.” According to Cornerstones, this will enable them “to consider the merits and diversity of community service, volunteerism and/or philanthropy, whether demonstrating an immediate impact or sustained over a period of time, without the restrictions of being defined by a category.”

The 2017 awards event raised more than $515,000 for Cornerstones, in support of the organization’s strategies of starting individuals on a pathway to sustainable living-wage employment, and to identify and address other barriers to move from surviving to living prosperous, healthy lives. Highlights from last year’s event are available at Cornerstones’ website.

The awards have been given out each year since 1992.

The 2018 ceremony will be held Thursday, April 12 at the Hyatt Regency Reston (1800 Presidents St.).

Anyone with questions about the nomination or selection process can contact to Likitta Crawley at [email protected] or by calling 571-323-9570.

Image from 2017 Best of Reston Awards courtesy Chip McCrea Photography

This is an op/ed submitted by Terry Maynard, co-chair of the Reston 20/20 committee. It does not reflect the opinions of Reston Now.

Restonians once again face the threat of a massive change in one of its key zoning ordinances — the Reston PRC (Planned Residential Community) — on the basis of knowingly faulty arithmetic. You need to understand what that is.

The key change in the Reston PRC zoning ordinance calls for lifting the population “cap” on the number of persons per acre living in the zoning district from 13 to 16. With 6,245.8 acres in the Reston PRC (which excludes most of the station areas), that means lifting the PRC population “cap” from 81,195 to 99,933 people.

That seems to be just 18,738 added people. What could be wrong with that? Certainly we can manage the impact of about 9,000 more homes (“dwelling units” — DUs — in planning parlance), all in multi-family “elevator” apartments and condos with households averaging 2.1 people.

Let’s count the ways.

First, the County provided a clue to its funny counting in a footnote in its several presentations to the community (p. 14) on the proposed Reston PRC zoning change. With a small asterisk after the column on Reston’s current and approved DUs, it states that this total “(e)xcludes affordable housing bonus units per Z.O.” What? Bonus dwelling units for providing affordable housing may be as high as 20 percent for meeting the one-for-one bonus arrangement ranging from 12 percent to 20 percent. So add up to 20 percent to Reston’s population potential.

Second, an obscure passage in the PRC zoning ordinance discloses that the affordable housing itself does not count toward the population “cap” according to the PRC zoning ordinance (Article 6-308) and the County’s housing policy plan. The last paragraph on “maximum density” in the PRC ordinance ends with this: “(The preceding restrictions on density) shall not apply to affordable and market rate dwelling units which comprise the increased density pursuant to Part 8 of Article 2 (which sets standards for the Affordable Dwelling Unit Program) …” We welcome the housing diversity, but we think the people living in that 12.5 percent to 20 percent workforce housing should count and the infrastructure and amenities required for them should be in the County’s plans. That’s another potential 20 percent added to our total population.

Between not counting workforce dwelling units and the bonus density they allow, the nominal 99,933 population cap under the County’s proposed 16 persons per acre in the Reston PRC potentially becomes 139,906 souls in the Reston PRC district, a nearly 40,000-person increase over the nominal cap and nearly 80,000 more people than live in all Reston now.

And then, third, there is the elephant in the room: The County’s current discussion about the Reston PRC change has excluded any reference to the Reston Master Plan’s potential development of 44,000 DUs in Reston’s transit station areas (Figure 35, p. 103), most of which is outside the PRC-zoned area. Based on a County count of existing, approved and planned PRC development in RTC (13,772 DUs — not counting affordable and bonus units?) detailed in Reston Now two weeks ago, we can assume as many as 20,000 DUs may be built in the PRC portion of Town Center over the next 40 years. That leaves 24,000 DUs — about 50,000 people — to be added elsewhere in Reston’s station areas. So add another 50,000 people to Reston’s population — not counting the workforce housing and bonus development that goes with it.

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Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.

The following articles were the five most-clicked links on Reston Now this past week.

1. Police: Teen Jumped by Group on Glade Drive near Southgate Center; iPod Stolen
2. Reston Once Again Recognized by Money Magazine as a Top Place To Live in America
3. ‘Why is There No Shake Shack in Reston?’ and Other Burning Fast-Food Questions
4. Police: Pizza Delivery Driver Was Robbed in Reston Friday Night; Suspect Sought
5. Crime Roundup: Reston Homeowner Finds Intruder Standing in His Kitchen at 3 A.M.

Crime stories continue to garner a lot of attention, but there are other things going on as well. Just missing the Top 5 were the grassroots battle against a county zoning ordinance that would increase population density, the continued debate about “Hate Has No Home Here” signs, the Reston Association Board’s work to hash out the 2018 budget, and more.

Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally. Have a great weekend!

A Reston-based technology integrator has been awarded a $165 million contract to assist the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) with modernizing the state’s technology infrastructure.

According to a press release, SAIC’s contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia has a five-year base period of performance along with a pair of two-year options, giving it a potential value of $272 million if all options are exercised.

More from the release:

“Delivering a modern, responsive technology solution to VITA is our top priority. SAIC is proud to work with VITA to serve as its new MSI [multisourcing service integrator] provider to help the state implement a marketplace of consolidated IT services and solutions to ensure security and oversight of major IT projects, and the procurement of technology-related goods and services,” said Bob Genter, SAIC senior vice president of the Federal Civilian Customer Group. “We are committed to Virginia’s mission to successfully oversee the proper governance of taxpayer dollars while still offering a marketplace of choices, with responsive service delivery.”

VITA is the commonwealth’s consolidated technology services and solutions provider responsible for the operation of the state’s technology infrastructure, governance, security, oversight of major IT projects, and procurement of technology-related goods and services on behalf of state and local governments.

Under the contract, SAIC will coordinate and monitor multiple IT infrastructure services suppliers for state executive branch agencies. The MSI is the cornerstone of a strategy that will diversify the state’s portfolio of suppliers, improve service delivery quality, ensure cost-competitiveness, and provide transparency and accountability into the commonwealth’s service delivery platform.

Headquartered in Reston, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com.

This letter was submitted by Reston resident John Pinkman, a member of the Rescue Reston board of directors. It does not reflect the opinions of Reston Now. We publish article and opinion contributions of specific interest to the Reston community. Contributions may be edited for length or content.

On Monday, Oct. 2, Rescue Reston will hold its third annual golf fundraiser on the course that Northwestern Mutual would like to turn into thousands of housing units. All fundraisers are directed toward the legal defense. Will NWM stay in town and make a commitment to our community, as did Mobil? I don’t think so; if there were a door, you would hear NWM slam on their way out! See ya!

Through my work with Rescue Reston, I have criticized myself for the inability to create a sense of loss throughout the community that we would experience if we lost the open space the golf course provides. I was hard on myself — until I learned how few Restonians voted in the Reston Association Board elections. Way less than 10 percent, I’m told.

I understand apathy; I expect it. However, Reston was not built on apathy. Thousands of people have worked hard to create the community we thrive in today. It costs more to live here because of the discipline of the way we choose to live. As a result, we have succeeded. The manner in which we built this town has yielded consistent national recognition. It’s a special place.

When I was young, I lived in Houston. They exuded pride in having no zoning regulations. The out-of-control pace of development stretched the city’s boundaries in Texas-size growth. That is, until the housing bust plummeted values and the recent rains came. You could build a million dollar home and see a 7-Eleven store spring up on one side and an oil rig on the other. I don’t remember even a neighborhood in Houston, let alone a sense of community.

When I first saw Reston in the late ’60s, I instantly felt a sense of community. When I returned in 1978, I walked into the Reston Festival at Lake Anne and instantly decided — this is home. There is not a day I walk through the plaza without recalling that celebration of Reston in ’78.

We have lived here for 40 years, 25 in a home on the golf course. We have worked so hard to buy our home and invest in Reston as we raised our three kids and now seven grandkids. As have thousands of others, we have contributed to our neighborhood and community. The beat goes on; our children and their spouses are all teachers making an impact.

Let me be clear; our family is far from unusual. Other families also have a long legacy and have done much to make Reston what it is. Why do 90 percent of people who live here care so little about its future as to ignore their right to choose the leaders who guide that future? Are they too busy? Got to get the kids to soccer? “All I care about is driving on these nice roads, seeing the trees and kicking back. I’ll let someone else take care of the future.” Apathy.

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Reston’s multicultural heritage will be celebrated this weekend at Lake Anne Plaza.

The community’s annual Multicultural Festival, sponsored by Reston Community Center and Reston Association, is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. It will include “music, entertainment, dress, food, and cultural treasures from all over the world,” according to information provided by RCC.

The entertainment lineup includes more than a dozen performers on two stages — the World Stage and the Global Stage — as well as at RCC’s Lake Anne facility. The “Global Market” will feature jewelry, clothing and more from around the world.

For more information about the event, contact Kevin Danaher, RCC’s community events director, at 703-390-6166.

There is plenty else scheduled to take place this weekend in the area as well. Get out there and have some fun on this last full weekend of September!

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• Herndon High School (700 Bennett St.) will present its annual Showcase of Bands all day Saturday. South Lakes High School’s band will perform at 6:15 p.m., and Herndon’s band will play at 8:15.
• Café Montmarte (1625 Washington Plaza N.) will be the host of a comedy performance presented by Funny Friend Productions, beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday. Performers will include Robin Rex, Franqi French, Sumedha Ahuja Bahri, Kevin Skington, Wendy Wroblewski, Gil Segev, Leon Scott, Dan Kaufman and Steve Coltrain. Door charge will be $10.
• The grand-opening event for Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Ave.) will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. The fun will include train rides, moon bounces, the petting zoo, face painting and more.
• The JamBrew series continues tonight in Herndon. Aslin Beer Co. will be pouring frosty mugs, Weird Brothers Coffee will be offering tasty drinks, Nordic Knot Pretzels will provide tasty snacks, and there will be much more. Live music will be offered from DJ Barf Dog, Queens Over Kings and Sub-Radio. The free event is slated for 6-10 p.m. at the Herndon Town Green (777 Lynn St.).
• Lake Anne Brew House (11424 Washington Plaza W.) will host a performance by Grammy-nominated musician Cedric Watson from 3-5 p.m. Sunday.
• South Lakes High School’s undefeated varsity football team will play at home tonight at 7 p.m. against Centreville. A pre-game party at the stadium (11400 South Lakes Drive) is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m., featuring burgers, hot dogs, barbecue, ice cream and more.
• “Sue Wrbican: Well Past the Echo” will be on view at Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market St.) through Nov. 18.
• Pulitzer Prize-winner display “Disgraced,” exploring Muslim assimilation and identity in America, will be performed at NextStop Theatre Company (269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon) tonight at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m.; and at a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Tickets range in price from $17.50 to $55.
• Pediatric Specialists of Virginia will have their Stride Forward 5K and Family Health Fair on Saturday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Reston Town Center.
• The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Sunday, from 1:30-5 p.m. at Reston Town Center.
• Many restaurants and bars in Reston will have live music this weekend. These include Crafthouse (1888 Explorer St.) every Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and Tavern64 (1800 Presidents St.) every Friday from 6-10 p.m.
• Kalypso’s Sports Tavern (1617 Washington Plaza N.) will have live music from Lawn Dart Incident tonight from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and DJ Kram will play Top 40 hits during those hours Saturday night.

File photo from 2015 Reston Multicultural Festival

As work on Phase 2 of Metro’s Silver Line project continues, a pedestrian walkway was recently set over the bus loop at the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride facility.

The walkway, which will provide access to the Silver Line’s future Herndon Station from the south side of the Dulles Toll Road, will be integrated with existing and future infrastructure at the park and ride, according to information provided by the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

The pedestrian bridge from the north side of the Dulles Toll Road (westbound lanes) is scheduled to be installed this weekend.

Construction work on Phase 2 of the Silver Line, which will extend the Metrorail from Reston to Ashburn, was reported in July to be more than 60 percent done. The line is expected to be opened to the public in 2020.

Photos courtesy Dusty Smith/Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

A pizza delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint last week in South Reston, the Fairfax County Police Department says.

According to FCPD, the incident took place at about 9 p.m. Friday in the 11900 block of Travistock Court, which is part of the Deepwood HOA. Police say the deliveryman was robbed by a man who was waiting for him at his car. The suspect allegedly pointed a gun at the driver and demanded his wallet.

The suspect is described by FCPD as being white, around 6 feet tall and about 18 years old. He is said to have medium-length blonde hair. He was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark sweatpants and a dark backpack at the time of the robbery.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

The Tony Award-winning musical “Assassins” is coming to NextStop Theatre Company (269 Sunset Park Drive) next month.

The darkly comedic show, by Stephen Sondheim, will open Oct. 19 at the theater. It depicts presidential assassins throughout American history. According to information provided by NextStop, the show “has gained relevance of late” as “the show’s themes of anger over the unfulfilled promise of the American dream mirror a deeply divided country.”

“We started talking about producing this show before [President Donald] Trump was elected, but it was already clear that the political divisions in our country are very real and run very deep,” said Evan Hoffmann, producing artistic director, in a press release. “The show is even more relevant now that we see anger and resentment boiling over that was simmering beneath the surface.”

NextStop says audiences will get “a taste of several genres of music” along with the “non-traditional history lesson.” According to NextStop, it is part of their 2017-18 series to “build the bonds of community.” The theater is currently performing “Disgraced,” a play about Muslim assimilation and identity, through Oct. 1.

The cast of “Assassins” will include Andrew Adelsberger (as Charles Guiteau), Mikey Cafarelli (as John Hinckley Jr.), Brice Guerriere (as Giuseppe Zangara), Bobby Libby (as John Wilkes Booth), Katie McManus (as Sara Jane Moore), Mackenzie Newbury (as The Proprietor), John Sygar (as The Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald), Daniel Westbrook (as Leon Czolgosz), Jaclyn Young (as Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme) and Alex Zavistovich (as Samuel Byck). Megan Adrielle, Madeline Cuddihy, Jason Hentrich and Colton Needles are also members of the ensemble. The production is directed by D.C. artist Jay D. Brock.

The creative team also includes Bryan Lilley (music director), Christie Graham (assistant director), J.D. Madsen (set designer), Kristina Martin (costume designer), Catherine Girardi (lighting designer), Laura Moody, (stage manager), Jade Brooks-Bartlett (props coordinator/assistant stage manager), Marilyn Lopes (costume apprentice), Quoc Tran (assistant stage manager/sound mixer/fight choreographer) and Jonathan Abolins (master electrician).

Performances of “Assassins” will be Thursdays through Sundays, Oct. 19-Nov. 12. General admission tickets start at $20, and may increase to $60 depending on performance popularity. Tickets are available online at www.nextstoptheatre.org or by calling 866-811-4111.

“Assassins” is one of a pair of shows planned at NextStop about the office of the presidency. In January, “45 Plays for 45 Presidents” will open, and NextStop says it will “provide a lighthearted counterpoint” to “Assassins.”

Photos courtesy Lock & Company