Clark Construction has officially topped out on the construction of Skymark Reston Town Center, which the company describes as the tallest mixed-use residential tower in the D.C. region.
Located at the corner of Town Center Parkway and Inspiration Street, the 40-story building will have 464 units when completed. It’s built on a podium with ground-floor retail, 44 loft-style residential units and 80,000 square feet of office space spread over four stories.
“Clark thrives on delivering the largest and most complex projects that push the boundaries of engineering and construction,” Terry Simon, Clark Construction Group division president, said. “We look forward to the completion of another successful collaboration with long-time partner BXP to deliver this superstructure.”
The company has completed construction of 1950 and 2000 Opportunity Way — the first two office buildings in the expansion of Reston Town Center.
“BXP is thrilled with the progress of this iconic landmark project in Reston,” said David Miller, senior vice president of construction at BXP.” This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the talented men and women who have worked tirelessly to get us to where we are today.”
SCB is the project architect. Construction on the apartment building is expected to wrap up in 2025, according to Clark Construction’s website.
There will be a chill in the air tomorrow (Tuesday) morning — and it’s not just because Halloween will only be a week away.
A Frost Advisory is set to take effect for portions of Maryland and Virginia, including Fairfax County, from 2-10 a.m., the National Weather Service announced today.
“Temperatures as low as 33 will result in frost formation,” the NWS said, warning that the frost could be fatal to sensitive outdoor vegetation.
The agency advises covering plants or taking other steps to protect them from the cold.
For Fairfax County, the NWS is currently forecasting “patchy frost” for tomorrow, likely between 4 and 9 a.m. Temperatures could range from a low of 35 degrees to a high of 67.
However, a warming trend is anticipated later in the week, according to the NWS and the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang. The forecast shows temperatures climbing to a high of 78 degrees on Friday (Oct. 27).
Looking into the slightly more distant future, the NWS projects that the D.C. area will get another mild winter, though emerging El Niño weather patterns could bring the snowstorm that was absent last year, according to the Capital Weather Gang.
Photo via Ralph Katieb/Unsplash
Officer Who Shot Timothy Johnson Appears in Court — “A former Fairfax County, Virginia, police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man suspected of shoplifting from the Tysons Corner Center mall has made his first court appearance on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm.” [WTOP]
McLean Road Reopens After Water Main Break — “Kirby Rd has been repaired and is now open.” Often used by commuters in McLean, the road closed between Sugarstone Court and Claiborne Drive on Friday (Oct. 20) after a water main break resulted in flooding and extensive damage. [VDOT/Twitter]
Police Investigate Armed Carjacking — “Officers are investigating a carjacking in the 2400 blk of Midtown Ave, Huntington. 3 men displayed a firearm and stole a 2023 White Chevy Malibu. The victims were not injured and the suspects left the area.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Reston Community Center Adds Mobile Services — “The Reston Community Center has long been known as a hub for cultural and recreational activities in Reston. Now, it’s taking its programming on the road with the launch of a new department focused on offsite and collaboration initiatives.” [Fairfax County Government]
Fairfax County Developments Among Biggest in N. Va. — “Gigantic mixed-use projects around Metro — not least along the expanding Silver Line — continue to dominate Northern Virginia’s development scene.” The biggest ones in the works include The Boro in Tysons, Halley Rise in Reston, Reston Station and the planned Converge development at the West Falls Church Metro station. [Washington Business Journal]
Young Athletes Awarded by County — “Youth sports athletes, coaches and parents were honored on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 at the annual Stephen A. McLaughlin Champions of Character Awards at the Fairfax County Government Center. The annual awards…honor county youth, coaches and parents in each magisterial district for extraordinary service in pursuing victory with honor on and off the field of competition.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Funding Approved to Support Dulles Snow Removal — “Authority board members on Oct. 18 awarded Eastern Salt Co. the contract to provide sodium chloride — known to its close friends as salt — for use in future snow-and-ice-removal efforts on roadways at Washington Dulles International Airport and on the Dulles Toll Road.” [Gazette Leader]
New 5K Race Planned at Lake Accotink — “Lace up your running shoes and join the Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) for a wild, fun-filled adventure at the first-annual Beaver Boogie 5K Fun Run/Walk! This fantastic event is set to take place on Sunday, Nov. 26, at scenic Lake Accotink Park. The race will begin at 10 a.m.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 63 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at 8 to 13 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 40 degrees. A 6 mph north wind will calm as the evening progresses. [Weather.gov]
The Herndon Town Council wants to move forward with creating a new advisory committee focused on the small business community.
The committee would focus on developing recommendations from the town’s recent business survey, which highlighted the business community’s desire for more support from the town.
Councilmember Kevin LeBlanc introduced the recommendation at a council work session on Tuesday (Oct. 17) in response to the findings.
Respondents to the survey, conducted by Priority Metrics Group (PMG), said they would like to see the town have more business-focused events, such as networking, promotional, or informational sessions. LeBlanc said that would be the focal point of the committee.
“I feel like it’s really important that we do something that’s kind of immediate to show that we’re acting on the results,” LeBlanc said.
According to a town staff memo, the committee will have six to eight representatives of small businesses based in Herndon, and it will be in place for six months or until the recommendations are provided. The group’s job will be to “provide prioritized recommendations with details and analysis of cost/approach specific to events the town can provide or support in collaboration with other groups,” the document states.
Councilmember Donielle Scherff supported the idea of the committee, saying it would benefit the council in multiple ways, even if she feels it doesn’t go far enough.
“We get the benefit of the experience and the background of those who are serving on each individual subcommittee or committee,” she said. “And then they get our immediate attention so that there is no lapse and we are responsive.”
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila also voiced support for the idea, noting that there were “a lot of actionable items” in the survey.
“I think we pick one or two and put resources to it — let’s show that we are committed,” Aguila said.
The next steps include identifying a town council member to serve on the committee and selecting other people to be on the committee. However, the timeline is unclear, as the council said it would need legal advice on how to put the committee together.
Photo via Google Maps
Halfway through Virginia’s review of whether millions of Medicaid enrollees are still eligible for coverage after the pandemic, nearly 160,000 Virginians have lost coverage — roughly 15% of the over 1 million members whose cases have been reviewed so far.
For the past three years, anyone who was enrolled in Medicaid was allowed to keep their coverage regardless of whether or not they still met eligibility requirements like income level. Now that the COVID-19 federal public health emergency is over, the Department of Medical Assistance Services is carrying out a redetermination — or “unwinding” — process to decide which members no longer qualify.
DMAS Director Cheryl Roberts and Deputy of Administration Sarah Hatton told the House Appropriations Committee this week that there are three main reasons why enrollees are losing coverage: They have gotten access to insurance or higher income through a new job, they have transitioned to coverage through the federal marketplace or they have encountered procedural problems like not responding or submitting renewal packets to the state on time.
DMAS’ eligibility redetermination tracker indicates that 32% of people who have lost coverage in Virginia as of October lost it for procedural reasons rather than ineligibility.
Even though DMAS and the Department of Social Services have been planning for Medicaid redetermination since 2020, Roberts admitted Monday the process has been a learning curve, especially when coupled with the state’s Medicaid expansion in 2019.
“Most members had never went through a redetermination, and also because we had turnover at the localities, most workers had never done a redetermination,” Roberts said.
Hatton told the Mercury DMAS is working to reduce the amount of procedural terminations by coordinating with the health plans that call, text, email and send letters to enrollees two months before their renewal is due. Health plans also try to touch base with enrollees during a 90-day grace period following their coverage termination.
DMAS Public Relations Coordinator Mary Olivia Rentner told the Mercury enrollees can fill out the renewal packet on their CommonHelp account online.
Additionally, Hatton said enrollees can call Cover VA to complete their renewal over the phone and check its status. Enrollees can also check their status by calling their local Department of Social Services. The department launched outreach campaigns a year before redetermination started to remind members to update their address and contact information, she noted.
“Across the country that’s one of the biggest concerns, is that we don’t know where folks are anymore,” Hatton said.
Hatton admitted there have been cases of mail delays where enrollees didn’t receive their renewal packets on time to submit them before their coverage ended. She also said she has heard of instances in which enrollees found out they no longer had coverage at a doctor’s appointment.
“For those individuals that are encountering that, call Cover VA,” Hatton said. “We can put them back, and we can even do coverage retroactive three months.”
The retroactive coverage — permitted in Virginia through a federal waiver — only applies to those who are still eligible for Medicaid.
There is also an escalation route to get quick assistance to people who need critical care like chemotherapy but weren’t aware their coverage ended, Hatton said.
Hatton said enrollees looking to check their redetermination date can call Cover VA or their provider. Enrollees are currently unable to check the date on their CommonHelp account online, as Hatton said the system is undergoing upgrades to make it more user friendly.
“It is the best practice for enrollees to call Cover VA to check their redetermination date,” Rentner said. “The state partnered with Medicaid providers to give them access to the redetermination date should a member ask for that information.”
Roberts emphasized that any member who has questions or needs assistance should call Cover VA.
Cover VA’s website is https://coverva.dmas.virginia.gov/ and phone number is 1-855-242-8282 (TTY: 1-888-221-1590) and language assistance services are available free of charge.
Photo via Online Marketing/Unsplash. This article was reported and written by the Virginia Mercury, and has been reprinted with permission.
United Airlines is in line for a major expansion of its facilities at Dulles International Airport.
Construction on a new concourse for the airport’s largest carrier could break ground within the next month, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and CEO Jack Potter told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a Tuesday (Oct. 17) transportation committee meeting.
Dubbed Tier-2 Concourse East, the $580 million project will add 400,000 square feet on top of the existing C and D concourse, replacing Concourse A gates built in the 1990s that require passengers to use outdoor, covered walkways to get to their planes.
Expected to become operational in 2026, the new concourse will have 14 gates, seven of them capable of accommodating larger planes for international flights. It will also directly connect to the airport’s underground Aerotrain system, which is currently only accessible from the C/D concourse by a pedestrian walkway that “people find that very inconvenient,” Potter said.
“I think it’s going to significantly improve the customer experience,” Potter said, noting that the C/D concourse has undersized rooms and lacks sufficient space for concessions. “That’s the two things we’re trying to drive on: we want capacity, but we also want to really make sure that we improve the customer experience.”
Work on the concourse project is kicking into gear as Dulles Airport and Reagan National Airport fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, combining for 4.6 million passengers in August to surpass 2019 levels, according to Potter’s presentation to the transportation committee.
While that demand was initially driven by National Airport in Arlington, a resurgence of international travel has now pushed Dulles ahead of its more constrained counterpart in terms of growth, Potter said.
Dulles is serving more passengers from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe than it was before the pandemic, and domestic travel has returned to 97% of 2019 levels, according to MWAA. The only region significantly lagging is Asia, which Potter attributed to “the geopolitical situation” in China.
Metro’s extension of the Silver Line through Dulles Airport has been a “win-win” for MWAA and Fairfax County, Potter said, as the accompanying influx of development and businesses along the Dulles corridor feeds traffic at both of the D.C. area’s major airports.
In addition to giving fliers a new travel option, the station has expanded MWAA’s reach when it comes to recruiting employees, who get incentives for using transit, Potter told the committee. The Dulles station hit 1 million passengers on Oct. 4 — accounting for a third of the over 3 million people who have used the six new Silver Line stations since they opened last Nov. 15.
“We are selling very, very strongly to international destinations and travelers that they can come into Dulles Airport and take transit to downtown [D.C.] and any other destination served by the Metro,” Potter said. “It is a very, very good selling point.”
A Maryland man arrested in Tysons last week may be behind multiple burglaries in the Tysons and Reston areas, police say.
Officers encountered the man on Oct. 13 inside a building in the 8200 block of Greensboro Drive in Tysons after they were called there for a commercial burglary around 6:30 p.m., the Fairfax County Police Department reported yesterday (Thursday).
“[The man] was found in possession of burglarious tools, including screwdrivers, and a collection of stolen property,” police said.
The FCPD didn’t detail what kind of property had been stolen or the business that was targeted. Located northeast of The Boro, the 8200 block of Greensboro Drive is filled with office buildings.
Detectives have found “physical and video evidence” connecting the man to “a series of burglaries spanning across the Reston and McLean” police districts, according to the FCPD.
“Detectives are reaching out to the community, urging residents to come forward if they can identify [the man] or recall seeing him inside any other businesses,” the police department said.
The FCPD advises anyone with information to contact its detectives with the McLean station at 703-893-0886 or the Reston station at 703-478-0904. The department also accepts anonymous tips through Crime Solvers, which can be reached by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477) or online.
Court records indicate that the man is facing charges for the Oct. 13 incident as well as offenses on May 19 and Oct. 3. The charges include misdemeanor petit larcenies, along with possession of burglary tools and breaking and entering to commit burglary, which are felonies.
The man has been released from custody on a $1,000 bond, according to police. He’s scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 16, per Fairfax County General District Court records.
Homebuilder Arrested for Defrauding N. Va. Families — “Fairfax County Police confirmed to WUSA9, Craig Tadlock with T&S Homebuilders was arrested Thursday morning after several Northern Virginia families came forward alleging the homebuilder took their money and failed to successfully build their new homes, claims which the builder denies.” [WUSA9]
School Board Member Harassed While Campaigning — “Fairfax County School Board member Ricardy Anderson (Mason) says she was verbally assaulted while campaigning for re-election…Anderson had just pulled into a townhouse community on Meeting House Road in Lincolnia with plans to canvass voters when a large man approached her on the sidewalk and started screaming at her.” [Annandale Today]
Inova Adds Health Clinics in Mount Vernon — The Inova Cares Clinic for Families (ICCF) and Inova Juniper Program (IJP) celebrated their grand openings Wednesday (Oct. 18) at the Mount Vernon Professional Center. ICCF offers primary care to Medicaid recipients, people who are uninsured and other underserved patients, while IJP is “Northern Virginia’s largest provider of HIV/AIDS care.” [On the MoVe]
Daily Mexico City Flights Coming to Dulles — “Mexico’s return to the highest Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety level is likely to aid the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s efforts to lure additional traffic to and from the U.S.’s neighbor to its south…Aeromexico has announced plans to bring daily service from Mexico City to Washington Dulles International Airport starting next year.” [Gazette Leader]
Man Robbed in Dunn Loring After Visiting Casino — “An adult man was followed home from a Maryland casino when he was approached at gunpoint and robbed in Fairfax County. Police responded to the area of 8100 block of Timber Valley Court for the report of an armed robbery 10:30 p.m. According to police, the suspect assaulted the victim and then stole his money.” [FOX5]
Longtime Reston Dancer to Retire — “Gin Dance Company (GDC)…stands at a bittersweet crossroads as it announces the forthcoming retirement of its Artistic Director, Shu-Chen Cuff, from the stage. After an illustrious career spanning 27 years as a professional dancer, Shu-Chen Cuff will gracefully take her final bow in GDC’s mesmerizing production ‘Insight’ on November 11, 2023, at Capital One Hall.” [DC Theater Arts]
Fire Department Promotes New Deputy Chief — “Fire Chief John Butler is pleased to announce the promotion of Battalion Chief Brian Edmonston to Deputy Chief with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, effective November 4, 2023. He will be assigned to the Fire and Rescue Training Academy.” [FCFRD]
N. Va. General Assembly Elections to Watch — “With so many districts falling into either solidly-blue Democratic or reliably-red Republican territory, there are only a handful of tossup seats…that could end up deciding which party controls the General Assembly. In Northern Virginia, analysts and observers are closely watching districts in outlying Loudoun and Prince Williams counties, as well as Stafford County.” [WTOP]
It’s Friday — Expect showers later in the afternoon, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 69. For Friday night, there is a possibility of showers and thunderstorms, a mostly cloudy sky, and a low around 51. The chance of precipitation is 50%. [Weather.gov]
Wires plugged into a computer server (via Jordan Harrison/Unsplash)
Fairfax County’s efforts to establish more regulations for data centers are heating up.
With the industry continuing to grow in Northern Virginia, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) presented guidelines on issues like noise, water and air quality, energy demand and aesthetics to the Board of Supervisors’ land use policy committee on Tuesday (Oct. 17).
Currently, the county allows data centers by right — meaning they only need administrative approvals instead of going through a public hearing process — in industrial districts, along with medium or high-intensity office districts and some special planned districts.
The zoning code that got re-adopted in May prohibited data centers in residential districts and added size, cooling, ventilating and equipment enclosures requirements.
Deputy Zoning Administrator Carmen Bishop said the county could consider establishing a maximum size that “would be allowed by right.” Larger sizes could be allowed with special exception approval.
“Now, of course, another option could be to require special exception approval for all data centers regardless of size,” Bishop said. “Other locational considerations could include setbacks, screening, additional screening requirements and other performance criteria.”
Data centers require generators, which can be noisy, according to county staff. To mitigate the noise impacts, Bishop said the county could consider requiring noise modeling, expanding existing equipment enclosure requirements and establishing standards for emergency generator usage and testing.
To protect water quality standards, the county could require monitoring before discharging to the wastewater system.
“If the monitoring indicates a need for pretreatment, then that could be required to be provided on-site,” Bishop said.
The DPD also proposed adding safety features for diesel handling and spill containment.
As for aesthetics, county staff suggested adding standards for facade differentiation, defined entrance features and screening.
Katie Hermann, the DPD’s environmental policy branch chief, said there could be added guidelines dictating LEED certification for data centers.
She said the county could also consider a salt management plan for exteriors spaces, maximizing tree preservation, and where applicable, establishing conservation easements or dedications to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Loudoun County is the leading place in the country for data centers, with more than 100 projects, according to county staff. Fairfax County currently has at least 12 data centers, with five more in the pipeline and a controversial project in Chantilly nearing approval.
Research found that the demand for data centers is expected to double from 2022 to 2030.
Next Thursday (Oct. 26), the DPD will meet with the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s land use process Review Committee. Then, the department will put together a final report to submit to the board by December.
“We envision the board potentially directing staff to prepare proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan and or the zoning ordinance and those amendments would go through their own process, including public hearings before the Planning Commission and the board,” Hermann said.
Photo via Jordan Harrison/Unsplash
(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) Police have made an arrest in a fatal shooting and stabbing incident that occurred in the Frying Pan area nearly eight months ago.
The Fairfax County Police Department announced today (Thursday) that 23-year-old Reston resident Juliana Peres Magalhaes has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting Joseph Ryan, a 39-year-old Springfield man who was killed at a house in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way on Feb. 24.
The house belonged to the family of 37-year-old Christine Banfield, who was found that day in an upstairs bedroom with stab wounds to her upper body. She later died at a hospital.
The FCPD says officers were greeted by “an appalling scene” when they responded to the house shortly after 8 a.m.
Magalhaes, who worked for the Banfield family as an au pair, and Christine Banfield’s husband had jointly called 911, according to police.
“A 911 call was received where a woman stated her friend was hurt,” the FCPD said in a news release from Feb. 25. “A man then got on the line and stated he shot an unknown man who entered his home and stabbed a woman.”
Contrary to what Banfield’s husband allegedly stated in the 911 call, detectives now believe Magalhaes was responsible for shooting Ryan based on “forensic evidence and multiple interviews,” police said.
Banfield’s stabbing remains under investigation.
An initial tweet alerting the community to the incident indicated that the man who got shot — later identified as Ryan — was the suspect in the stabbing, but the police department now says it’s still working to figure out exactly what happened.
Erin Weeks with the FCPD’s violent crimes division confirmed at a brief press conference today that everyone involved in the case has been identified. Police don’t think Magalhaes knew who Ryan was when she shot him, but he and Banfield were known to each other.
“Detectives continue to conduct interviews and review digital and forensic evidence to determine the circumstances that led up to the fatal stabbing of Christine Banfield,” the FCPD now says.
Magalhaes is in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond, police said.
County VolunteerFest Returns This Saturday — “Hundreds of area residents will be out and about ‘doing good’ on Saturday, October 21, 2023, as part of VolunteerFest, a county-wide day of service. VolunteerFest is held every year in the fall and encourages anyone interested in volunteerism to get out and make a connection with a local organization.” [Volunteer Fairfax]
D.C. Area Economy Stagnating, GMU Researcher Says — “Issues that have been haunting the Washington region for years — slower economic growth, a high cost of living and regional outmigration — are solidifying into a concerning new normal. That’s the conclusion of Terry Clower, director of George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis,” who pointed to a declining federal workforce as one factor. [Washington Business Journal]
House of Kabobs Opens in Annandale — “Moby Dick House of Kabob opened Oct. 15 at 7042 Little River Turnpike…The Annandale location is the first Moby Dick with a mini market, says manager Maria Hernandez. It’s stocked with take-home items, such as bottles of a homemade yogurt drink called doogh, nuts, dates, toasted sunflower seeds, bottles of tahini dressing, and saffron ice cream.” [Annandale Today]
Winter Lantern Festival Coming Back to Tysons — “The Winter Lantern Festival is heading again to Tysons, Virginia, this season….The luminescent fixtures will light up Lerner Town Square in Tysons from November 24 through February 18, 2024, with tickets available to purchase starting October 25.” [Washingtonian]
Local Urban Legend Featured in New TV Series — “Those who have grown up around parts of Fairfax County have heard some version of the Bunny Man story, stemming from reported sightings around Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland. The urban legend is revisited in an episode of horror legend John Carpenter’s new ‘Suburban Screams’ series.” [Patch]
County Awards Buildings for “Exceptional Design” — “This year’s James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards recipients are being recognized for their commitment to design excellence that enhances the experience for people visiting each site.” The 2023 honorees are private residences in Lake Barcroft and the Dranesville area, Capital One Hall in Tysons and The Residence at Colvin Run, a senior living facility in Great Falls. [Fairfax County Government]
Mount Vernon Police Station Sends Community Alerts — “The Mount Vernon District Police Station has begun making updates available to community members through the Fairfax Alerts system…The alert program would be piloted by Mount Vernon Police District and, if successful, potentially be expanded throughout the entire department.” [On the MoVe]
Painted Benches to be Auctioned Off in Vienna — “The Vienna Arts Society (VAS) will cap its ‘Take a Seat Vienna Returns’ fund-raising initiative with a celebration and auction of painted benches Nov. 11 at the Vienna Community Center…VAS invites local residents to attend the celebration whether or not they plan to bid on benches.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Thursday — Expect partly sunny skies with highs around 69 degrees and south winds ranging from 6 to 11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. At night, it will be cloudy with lows near 55 degrees accompanied by south winds blowing at 7 to 9 mph. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County is ramping up its efforts to help homeowners’ associations and other resident groups bring electric vehicle chargers to their communities.
The county’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination is now accepting applications for the second phase of its Charge Up Fairfax pilot program, which provides technical and financial assistance to organizations looking to add charging stations in common areas.
“County staff and consultants will work with a new cohort of five common-interest (e.g. HOA) communities,” OEEC acting director John Morrill said in an Oct. 11 memo to the Board of Supervisors. “This second phase of the pilot will build upon initial participant feedback and lessons learned to bring more informed assistance to additional communities.”
The application window will be open through Nov. 12. In the memo, which was delivered to the board’s transportation committee yesterday (Tuesday), Morrill said his office hopes to launch the program at full scale next spring.
As the county pushes to expand Charge Up Fairfax, the HOAs selected for the pilot’s first phase in March are still working to get EV chargers into the ground.
Chosen out of nine applicants, including one that later withdrew from the process, the five communities were:
- Penderbrook Community Association
- Hidden Creek Homeowners Association near Burke
- Three Reston neighborhoods — Harpers Square Cluster Association, Nantucket at Reston and the Inlet Cluster Association
Prior to the pilot’s launch, Reston Association had anticipated starting installations as early as July, but as of September, none of the five participating groups have selected a contractor yet, Morrill said in the memo. Four are now discussing quotes from contractors with their boards.
“There are no further updates beyond what is documented in the memo,” OEEC spokesperson John Silcox said when asked if any progress has been made in the past month.
Though Charge Up Fairfax hasn’t resulted in any new EV chargers yet, the pilot has helped the county and HOAs learn more about the process and obstacles that residential neighborhoods face when trying to add that infrastructure.
The two top challenges that the HOAs have encountered so far are the cost of installing chargers and the limited availability of guest parking, since the stations have to be accessible to all residents and guests, Silcox told FFXnow.
Townhouse communities will soon be required to provide visitor parking in common areas after the Board of Supervisors approved new parking regulations last month that will take effect on Jan. 1.
The county is paying up to $10,000 for engineering site visits and feasibility assessments by its consultant, Vybe Energy, for each of the communities, which can also get grants to cover up to one-third, or $5,000, of their installation-related costs reimbursed. HOAs in highly vulnerable areas can get up to $10,000 reimbursed.
However, one of the HOAs has been “reexamining whether to move forward with community charging stations” or have residents install stations individually in their assigned spaces, the OEEC said. Another group is still determining how many stations it will install, and a third has put its project on hold after it had to shift funding to address “more pressing repair needs.”
In addition, two communities are working with county staff to potentially create more parking spaces that could be used for their EV chargers, according to the memo.
Despite those challenges, the OEEC says interest in Charge Up Fairfax has been strong, with 63 participants joining a Sept. 14 webinar and “dozens of individuals” signing up to receive updates.
When fully launched, the program is expected to support 15 communities annually. The county allocated $625,000 in its current fiscal year 2024 budget that will fund approximately two years of Charge Up Fairfax.
“Participants have also indicated that the program materials and the feasibility memo have been helpful with their decision-making and next steps,” Silcox said. “OEEC will continue to work closely with the pilot communities to learn what adjustments should be made to the program before it is launched more broadly in spring 2024.”
Herndon Corporate Center could become the latest local office park to give way to a new housing development.
Reston-based developer Stanley Martin Homes is looking to replace three of the four office buildings at 1145-1175 Herndon Parkway with condominiums and townhouses, according to an application set for a Herndon Board of Architectural Review public hearing tonight (Wednesday).
Located directly behind Elden Street Marketplace, the shopping center anchored by H Mart, Herndon Corporate Center was built in 1986 and consists of one-story, brick office buildings that total 135,756 square feet of rentable space, per its website.
If its plan is approved, Stanley Martin would demolish all of the existing office buildings except for the one at 1165 Herndon Parkway, whose current tenants include the Score Foundation and a National Guaranty Purchase Center run by the Small Business Administration.
“This fourth office building will remain for an undetermined period of time,” Tamsin Himes, a lead planner for the Town of Herndon, said in a staff report, noting that the untouched building is under different ownership than the rest of the office park.
According to submitted project renderings, the developer plans to construct 56 two-over-two condo units on the eastern side of the property adjacent to Elden Street Marketplace. The rest of the site will be filled with 55 three-floor townhomes.
Proposed open space amenities include a plaza with outdoor seating by the development’s entrance on Herndon Parkway, an asphalt trail with exercise stations along the northwestern perimeter, a tot lot near the condos, and two smaller seating areas.
A site plan for the development was approved on June 23, according to Stanley Martin’s presentation.
In her report, Himes said staff “is supportive” of the project but hasn’t made a recommendation yet, because it’s seeking clarification on a few items, such as which of the several submitted color schemes and elevations will actually be pursued.
“Staff believes that a valuable conversation can be had with the applicant regarding the design items mentioned above,” Himes wrote.
Tonight’s public hearing will likely be continued to Nov. 15 “given the need for additional materials and additional time for review,” town staff said in a memo.
Dubbed “Park Place,” this would be Stanley Martin’s third development in the Herndon area. The company also built the Liberty Park neighborhood in McNair, and construction began this spring on the Overlook at Dulles Tech condos near the Innovation Center Metro station.
Rabid Animal Incidents Alarm Health Department — “After identifying a rabid raccoon and skunk within a mile of each other over the last 25 days, the Fairfax County Health Department is asking residents in the Centreville/Bull Run area to steer clear of wild animals and to report any animal attacks right away…To date, 22 animals have been diagnosed with rabies in the Fairfax Health District in 2023.” [FCHD]
Reston Man Charged With Sex Crimes Against Teen — “A 21-year-old Reston man is facing charges after a sex crimes investigation involving victims under the age of 18. The charges stem from ‘criminal incidents that occurred in 2020,’ Arlington County police said. ACPD says they’re now seeking other potential victims of the suspect.” [ARLnow]
Falls Church Lowers Neighborhood Speed Limits — “Later this fall, many residential streets in the City of Falls Church will get new speed limit signs, lowering the limit to 20 miles per hour from 25 miles per hour. The City’s education campaign, 20 is Plenty, includes yard signs, social media outreach, and more.” [Falls Church City]
Reston Resident Starts Petition Against Casino — “Suzanne Zurn, whose home backs to the Hidden Creek Golf Course, has been an active resident of Reston for 18 years. When she heard about Comstock Holdings’ plan to build a casino at or near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, she was understandably concerned…Many of Zurn’s neighbors appear to agree.” [Patch]
Virginia Sales Tax Holiday Returns This Weekend — “The state’s sales tax holiday is from Friday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 22. Lawmakers forgot to renew the sales tax holiday during budget negotiations back in March and the legislation expired, so it could not be offered in August as in previous years when people are usually shopping for back-to-school items.” [WTOP]
Annandale Urban Park Ready for Grand Opening — “The community is invited to the grand opening of the Eileen Garnett Civic Space on Saturday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The new park, at 7200 Columbia Pike in Annandale, is located between the ACCA Child Development Center and the Annandale Fire Station.” [Annandale Today]
County’s Sexual Violence Services Director to Advise State — “Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Division Director Toni Zollicoffer to the Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence. This committee…promotes appropriate and effective responses, services, and prevention for sexual assault and domestic violence across the Commonwealth.” [Department of Family Services]
Grant Funds New Mural for Hybla Valley Garden — “The community garden at the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (WISH) — located at the Hybla Valley Community Center — will be getting some artwork in coming months thanks to funding from a local nonprofit and the talents of a local artist.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Wednesday — The forecast includes mostly sunny conditions and a high temperature near 65 degrees, accompanied by a gentle northwest wind at 3 to 5 mph. At night, expect partly cloudy skies and a low around 49 degrees, along with a south wind of 3 to 5 mph. [Weather.gov]
A local taqueria will expand its services next month with the introduction of a new empanadas shop.
Señor Ramon Taqueria hopes to launch Ramona Empanadas by Nov. 15, founder Damian Dajcz says. The carry-out shop will start at Señor Ramon’s flagship Leesburg restaurant before rolling out to its other locations in Sterling, Reston, Great Falls and Chantilly.
The shop will also be available at the company’s main kitchen in Sterling (506 Shaw Road, Suite 324), which is expanding with a butcher shop and “a small Latin grocery store” as well, Dajcz told FFXnow.
“Customers can order empanadas in advance online or come to one of the five locations where they will find a large Ramona Empanadas digital ordering kiosk,” the restaurant said in an announcement of the launch.
According to Señor Ramon’s website, the empanadas are freshly made and then flash-frozen for pickups, deliveries and wholesale orders. Online orders are already being accepted through the website.
The stuffed pastries will come in a variety of flavors, including regular or spicy beef and chicken, beer-braised brisket, caprese, ham and cheese, spinach, sweet corn, onion and cheese, pulled pork carnitas, pepperoni and cheese, and bacon, egg and cheese.
Dajcz and his team opened the first Señor Ramon Taqueria in Leesburg in 2016 with the goal of bringing authentic Mexican street food to Northern Virginia, according to the website.
A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dajcz considered studying medicine and hotel management in college before taking cooking classes and getting the opportunity learn from renowned chef Gato Dumas, who founded Latin America’s largest culinary school, according to a 2019 profile by Loudouner magazine.
After working in one of Dumas’s restaurants, Dajcz moved to the U.S. to finish his culinary studies at Ohio University and Le Cordon Bleu’s Scottsdale, Arizona, campus.
Señor Ramon expanded into Fairfax County for the first time in 2018 with its Chantilly location (4500 Daly Drive). Reston followed suit a year later with an opening in the Home Depot shopping center at 11790 Baron Cameron Avenue, Unit A, and the Great Falls restaurant (9900 Georgetown Pike) got a grand opening in June 2021.
In addition to Señor Ramon and now Ramona Empanadas, Dajcz’s company is behind Bites Grilled Cheese & Cheesesteaks and Daybreak Kitchen and Biscuit Company, which can both be found at 22455 Davis Drive in Sterling.
According to the announcement, the Ramona Empanadas team is already “in talks to expand” to other locations in the D.C. area.
