Brown Bag, a restaurant that sells salads, sandwiches and bowls, has officially closed its doors at Plaza America in Reston.
The business closed earlier this month. The company did not return a request for comment to clarify the exact date of closure by press time.
Brown Bag originally opened its Reston store in 2016. The restaurant still has physical locations in D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland, and it delivers catering to offices in Northern Virginia, including in Fairfax, Tysons and Reston, according to its website.
Taïm Mediterranean Kitchen, a fast-casual Meditteranean restaurant, will take over the vacated 2,000-square-foot location at 11692 Plaza America Drive.
A company spokesperson told FFXnow that the restaurant will now open in late fall — a slightly more precise estimate than previously reported.
Taim kicked off in 2005 in New York City and has since expanded to 13 locations, including planned restaurants in Vienna. A location in Pimmitt Hills opened last week.
At Taim, customers build a meal with a pita or bowl base, a choice of items like falafel, meatballs, shawarma, and kabobs.
Hat tip to Adam Rubinstein. Image via Google Maps
An affordable housing community could take over a nearly temporary athletic field on Dulles Green Drive.
At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on July 25, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust asked the county to begin the initial steps to transfer the board-owned site at 13500 Dulles Greene Drive to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCHRA) to develop an affordable housing project.
Foust said that inclusionary affordable housing near Herndon’s “amenity-rich area” supports the county’s equity goals.
“The property presents an opportunity for the creation of an affordable housing community as a Transit Oriented Development within 1/3 mile of the Silver Line’s Innovation Metro Station and nearby recreational and commercial amenities,” Foust said.
The site is currently serving as a cricket field and will remain an athletic field until development begins. If FCHRA opts not seek to pursue the project, the property would be conveyed back to the board.
The project would support the county’s goal of providing a minimum of 10,000 new affordable housing units by 2034, Foust said.
Image via Google Maps
Saturday Storm Causes Power, Trees — “Wind damage — mainly downed trees — occurred all over the region, including northern Virginia, the District and Maryland. Some trees fell onto homes and cars. In many instances, roads were blocked. But the winds also toppled portable toilets and street signs and tore shingles off roofs.” [The Washington Post]
Police Launch Final Week of Road Safety Campaign — “We start our fourth and final wave of the successful ‘Road Shark’ campaign on Monday, July 31 through Sunday, August 6. During this high-visibility and coordinated enforcement, FCPD continues to deter aggressive driving, reduce crashes, and change driving behavior.” [FCPD]
Northern Virginia Evictions Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels — “Roughly 2,500 eviction suits were filed in Arlington County between July 2022 and June 2023, about a 10% increase above pre-pandemic levels. Fairfax County, the state’s most populous, saw 7,500 filings — with filings in the first quarter of 2023 surpassing those in the first quarter of 2020 by close to 3%.” [DCist]
People Rescued After Boat Capsizes During Storm — “Great rescue by our Marine Patrol boat [Saturday]! A boat capsized in Belmont Bay today during the storms. Our officers came to the rescue, pulling five people safely from the water. Their swift action and dedication undoubtedly saved lives!” [FCPD/Facebook]
Water Main Replacement Coming Near Fairfax HS — “As part of Fairfax Water’s program to continually improve its water service, selected water mains on and around Cornell Road will be replaced in early August…After the new water mains are installed, the water supply may be interrupted for short periods to make necessary connections to the existing water system.” [City of Fairfax]
McLean Softball Players Win State Tournament — “Led by strong pitching and sound defense, the McLean Little League age 9-11 girls all-stars softball team won recent District 4 and state tournament championships with a combined 5-0 record and allowing a limited number of runs in the process.” [Gazette Leader]
Lorton Nonprofit Gets Food Pantry Donation — “Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) announced July 27 that it received a $2,700 donation from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Food Lion…LCAC…plans to use the grant for purchasing meat, produce and other high-demand food items for its pantry.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Monday — There is a 20% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with partly sunny skies and a high near 84°F. The night will be mostly clear, with a low of 65°F. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 3:05 p.m.) Autumnwood pool in Reston is temporarily offline due to electrical issues.
According to Reston Association, the pool’s electrical system failed again despite repairs to the electrical system that powers the filter pump earlier this month.
“Last week, the system failed again, and is unable to be repaired by RA staff, or a contracted vendor. Staff are working to find replacement parts as soon as possible,” RA wrote in a statement.
Because of the issue, RA has extended the hours of operation at North Hills (1325 N Village Road) through Aug. 6.
The pool will be open on weekdays and weekends from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with lap and swim fitness on Tuesday between noon and 9 p.m. The pool will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursday.
This week brought other pool service interruptions that have since been resolved.
The Lake Audubon bath house resumed regular hours this week after a “plumbing emergency” at the facility’s bath house.
“We understand that pool service interruption is frustrating, and we are working diligently to return each pool to operating status,” RA wrote in as statement.
The exact timeline for repairs is unclear, but RA Chief Operating Officer Peter Lusk told FFXnow that a contractor visited the site this afternoon (Friday).
“Once the contractor has completed their assessment, we will act as soon as possible to repair the electrical failures at the pool,” Lusk said.
The Autumnwood pool is located at 11950 N Walnut Branch Road. It’s typically open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Photo via Google Maps
It’s another stifling day in Fairfax County with no immediate relief in sight.
As of 11 a.m., temperatures at Fort Belvoir had reached 90 degrees, but thanks to 65% humidity, it likely feels closer to 103 degrees outside, according to the National Weather Service.
An Excessive Heat Warning will remain in place until 8 p.m. today — only for another alert to take effect from noon to 8 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday). The NWS warns that “dangerously hot conditions” can be expected on both days, with the heat index potentially climbing up to 111 degrees.
To help community members, particularly those who are unhoused, Fairfax County has activated its Heat Plan for both today and tomorrow, establishing public facilities like libraries and recreation and community centers as designated cooling centers.
“When Fairfax County’s heat plan is activated, cooling centers around the county will be available during normal operating hours for individuals needing relief from the heat,” the county said. “These cooling centers will also have supplies available including bottled water, sunscreen, insect repellant, and body wipes.”
.@NWS_BaltWash has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for today, July 28, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can expect dangerously hot conditions with heat index values around 110 degrees.
In response, we've activated our heat plan, which includes cooling centers and supplies. pic.twitter.com/BtVB7qOC7i
— Fairfax County Government
(@fairfaxcounty) July 28, 2023
The county is also distributing supplies through partners who work with unsheltered residents and at homeless shelters, drop-in centers and meal distribution sites.
In addition, overflow capacity is being allowed at the county’s three emergency shelters for adults: the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter in Fairfax (12970 Katherine Hanley Court), the Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston (11975 Bowman Towne Drive) and the Patrick Henry Family Shelter in Seven Corners (3080 Patrick Henry Drive).
Here’s more from the county on how to handle the high temperatures that have lingered since Thursday:
Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
- Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside.
- When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
- Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible.
- To reduce risk during outdoor work, schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.
Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9- 1 -1.
If the air temperature hits 100 degrees, it would be the first time that the D.C. area has seen that level of heat since 2016, according to the Capital Weather Gang. Temperatures appeared to be slightly below the pace needed to hit that mark.
The combination of heat and humidity could lead to some storms later today and tomorrow night, the NWS forecast says. Fortunately, an approaching cold front could finally break the heat wave on Sunday (July 30).
Extreme #heat is forecast once again today. It's already 91 degrees at 11am! Be sure to:
Drink plenty of fluids
Take frequent breaks
Find shade, use sunscreen#LookBeforeYouLockKnow the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke: https://t.co/J0cPVdWlch pic.twitter.com/r4guyfWGD3
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) July 28, 2023
88 at 10a in DC. Feels like 98 (heat index). https://t.co/VTD1kqxxiy
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) July 28, 2023
(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Local police have made an arrest in connection with the robbery of a 66-year-old woman in the vicinity of the North Shore pool.
Police arrested and charged the 38-year-old Reston resident with robbery on Wednesday (July 26).
The incident happened at 8:20 p.m. on Monday (July 24) near a Metro bus in the 11000 block of North Shore Drive.
“The victim was on a Metro bus near the Hunter Woods shopping center,” police said.
The victim reportedly left the bus, where she was conversing with the female suspect, and sat down on a bench.
Police believe the suspect sat down next to her and took her wallet.
“A physical struggle occurred between the victim and a suspect, at which time the suspect ran from the scene and was not located,” the Fairfax County Police Department said.
No injuries were reported.
The suspect is being held on no bond.
Correction: This story previously said the robbery occurred near the Hunters Woods Village Center. The police news release suggests that the victim was riding the bus near that shopping center, but the actual incident took place roughly three miles away on North Shore Drive.
Excessive Heat Warning Issued for Today — The alert will take effect in the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. With “dangerously hot conditions with heat index values around 110 expected,” the “potential for heat related illnesses” is increased, especially “for those working or participating in outdoor activities.” [NWS]
Proposed Apartments Could Displace Annandale Retailers — “The Eastgate mixed-use development proposed for John Marr Drive in Annandale will have 280 apartments, ground-floor retail, and an above-ground garage…The six-story apartment building will displace The Block, the Pelicana chicken restaurant, Kimen Ramen & Izakaya, and B-Thrifty,” though the food hall could move to the new building’s ground floor. [Annandale Today]
No Changes for Trans Student Athletes Planned — “Virginia High School League’s executive director, John ‘Billy’ Haun, told school leaders Monday he recommended the league’s existing policies, which allow transgender athletes to participate on teams that match their gender identity under certain conditions, not be changed,” despite the state’s new “model” policies. [Associated Press/WTOP]
Metro to Add Fare Boxes at Rear Bus Doors — “Metro this fall will begin to allow passengers to enter from both doors to speed up the boarding process and decrease wait times and delays, transit officials said Thursday, a major milestone in the agency’s years-long plan to transform bus operations.” [The Washington Post]
Applications Open for Historic Mount Gilead Curator — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications from resident curators for the rehabilitation and long-term maintenance of the historic Mount Gilead house at 5634 Mount Gilead Road in Centreville. All applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, to be considered.” [FCPA]
County Promotes Resources to Address Drug Abuse — “In 2022, more than 90% of fatal overdoses in the Fairfax County Health District involved fentanyl. ‘It’s something that’s really a community-wide problem,’ said Ellen Volo, the Opioid and Substance Abuse Task Force Coordinator…This is why Fairfax County is counting on everyone to help prevent it.” [ABC7]
Safeway May Sell Closed Hybla Valley Store — “The Fresh World international market chain hopes to replace Safeway at a Fairfax County retail center, though its ability to do so hinges on Safeway’s willingness to relinquish its space there.” Despite closing its store in 2017, Safeway has the Mount Vernon Square space leased through April 30, 2026 and is looking at “several potential new tenants” for a sale or sublease. [Washington Business Journal]
Fairfax Station Community Center Nears 50 Years — “Community members are invited to join Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw and staff of the David R. Pinn Community Center for a celebration and cake marking the center’s 50th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.” The site’s legacy goes back to its origins in the early 1900s as a church with classes for Black children and community events. [Neighborhood and Community Services]
It’s Friday — There is a 40% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms with mostly sunny and hot conditions, reaching a high of 98°F and a heat index of 109. At night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, with partly cloudy skies and a low of around 76°F. [Weather.gov]
A decision on Comstock’s proposed changes to the Reston Row neighborhood has been delayed.
At a meeting on Tuesday (July 25), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to defer a decision on the application.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said the deferral was the result of an “affidavit issue.” The board is now expected to vote on changes to the neighborhood on Sept. 12.
At a Fairfax County Planning Commission meeting in June, the project was criticized for shifting public park space into a private dining space for Ebbitt House, an upcoming restaurant that will mark a comeback for Clyde’s of Reston to the area.
Comstock also wants to reallocate 280,000 square feet of unbuilt but previously approved office space from Reston Station — the neighborhood near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station — to Reston Row.
Notably, the company wants to increase a residential building from a height of 180 to 350 feet and from 250 to 350 residential units.
Staff recommended approval of the application, even though the project doesn’t fully satisfy the county’s urban parks standards for the area. The total density between the two projects — Reston Row and Reston Station — remains unchanged.
Several deferred proposals to change land uses in Reston are coming to light once again.
At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (July 25), Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn proposed that the county begin considering a set of 10 Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) proposals that were deferred earlier this year due to ongoing work to update Reston’s Comprehensive Plan.
Alcorn asked the county to begin work on the applications, which are part of a countywide set of nominations submitted through its Site-Specific Plan Amendment process.
The move formally seeks to move the applications from tier three of the work program — the lowest priority — to tier one of the program. The work program includes authorized current and future planned studies and amendments to the county’s comprehensive plan.
Tier one applications are focused on areas of development or support a priority explicitly identified by the county, such as affordable housing. Those applications receive the highest priority for staff resources and timing, according to the county’s website.
“While the ultimate outcome of each of these SSPA nominations is still to be determined, there are common themes across the nominations in Reston that would greatly benefit from staff research and analysis that has not yet started,” the board matter states.
The timeline for the approval of the overhaul of the Reston Comprehensive Plan was delayed to Sept. 12 due to recent changes in state codes affecting public hearings. If the change had not been instituted, the plan would’ve been up for consideration at the board’s meeting on Tuesday.
Generally, Reston’s SSPAs favor more housing opportunities and less office development. Areas targeted by the developer proposals include Reston Town Center North, Michael Faraday Court, Commerce Metro Center, Lake Fairfax Business Park and more.
All of those applications will now be moved up and combined into a broad study of Reston’s Transit Station Areas.
Local officials are in the midst of developing a data-driven way to prioritize and implement spot transportation improvements throughout Fairfax County.
The spot improvement screening program, which was discussed at a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ transportation committee meeting on July 18, lets the county identify priority locations for new transportation improvements, especially along intersections.
The program also intends to prioritize safety as a metric to evaluate transportation.
So far, the county has identified 287 projects as high priority out of a total of 3,966 reviewed locations. Roughly 46% of the spots already have a planned project nearby, according to the county.
The Dranesville District had the most spots, but the majority of them were categorized as “low priority.” The Franconia and Mason districts led the way in terms of high-priority spots.
Underway since 2021, the county’s methodology prioritizes safety while also considering equity and the multimodal nature of the area, Fairfax County Department of Transportation staff said.
The county is in the midst of finalizing locations for each district. Evaluation and implementation is contingent on approval by the Board of Supervisors.
FCDOT staff recommend focusing on high priority locations and working with the Virginia Department of Transportation to strategize funding for projects. Staff also suggested further narrowing spots where there are no programmed safety-related projects.
If approved, the spot improvement program could get renewed every three to five years.
While the full list of possible spot improvements was not released at the meeting, Vanessa Holt from FCDOT’s traffic engineering section said that public input will be solicited on projects.
“Our program recommendations include focusing on the high priority spot locations,” Holt said.
At the meeting, supervisors asked staff to consider other elements in their evaluations. Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn suggested incorporating near-misses, camera data from VDOT, and other data points into the prioritization process.
“I really like the process, the drivers being data-driven,” Alcorn said.
The program, which is not yet funded, is different from the county’s active transportation program, which sets aside $100 million for improvements for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized travelers.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay also emphasized that not all traffic fatalities are linked to road safety issues.
“Unfortunately, we do have fatalities in some corridors of the county. It’s not a road design issue at all,” McKay said.
He also added that the proximity of other projects to prioritized spot improvement locations shouldn’t automatically downgrade a project from the list. Instead, the location may be a strategic area to kill two birds with the same stone.
Others like Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity noted that funding for these projects may not be available for several years, resulting in the need to manage public expectations about implementation.
Holt acknowledged that the public’s feedback is critical as the process moves forward.
“We recognize that data analysis is not perfect when we have that human element in transportation safety,” Holt said.
D.C. Area Braces for Heat Wave — “The heat could challenge several calendar day records for both afternoon highs and warm nighttime lows. And there’s a chance Washington could see the air temperature touch the century mark for the first time since Aug. 15, 2016. Significant relief…is not anticipated until Sunday.” [Capital Weather Gang]
Heat Cancels Pickleball in Herndon — “Attention pickleball players! Due to the high heat index and moving summer camps inside, drop-in pickleball for Thursday, July 27, is canceled. Your safety is our top concern, and we apologize for any inconvenience. Stay hydrated and cool, and we’ll resume soon!” [Herndon Parks & Recreation/Twitter]
Electrical Issues Close Reston Pool — The electrical system that powers Autumnwood pool’s filter pump is beyond repair, according to Reston Association. While staff pursue replacement parts, the pool has been closed, and hours have been extended through Aug. 6 at the North Hills swimming pool. [RA]
Oakton Family Grapples With Invasive Worms — “The Ambrose family clears dead hammerhead worms from their driveway in Oakton every morning. It’s been a ritual for the past two months, when they first spotted a 14-inch hammerhead worm slithering in front of their home.” [DC News Now]
Chicken Restaurant Coming to Seven Corners — “Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers will take over the former Dogfish Head Alehouse building at 6220 Leesburg Pike in the Seven Corners Shopping Center. The restaurant will open in the middle or end of 2024, a company spokesperson says.” [Annandale Today]
McLean Community Center Fills Vacated Board Seat — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 25 tapped Matt Colsia to a recently vacated seat on the McLean Community Center Governing Board. Colsia succeeds Shivani Saboo, who resigned from the body earlier in the month due to a job transition.” [Gazette Leader]
FCPS Sees Strong Turnout for Job Fair — “Despite the well-known challenges associated with being a teacher, a job fair for prospective teachers drew large crowds Wednesday at Luther Jackson Middle School.” Fairfax County Public Schools “was seeking more employees for positions, such as teachers, counselors, instructional assistants and substitute teachers.” [WTOP]
Metro GM’s Tenure Off to Promising Start — “When Randy Clarke was hired as Metro’s General Manager a year ago, some people wondered if a guy who ran just one commuter rail line and less than 100 bus routes in Austin, Texas could cut it at Metro, the struggling second-largest transit agency in the country. But after a year at the helm, Clarke is so popular, he’s getting asked for selfies in the checkout line at Trader Joe’s.” [DCist]
It’s Thursday — There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm today, with sunny and hot conditions and a high near 98°F, feeling like 105°F. Tonight, expect a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly between 8pm and 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 75°F. [Weather.gov]
Hunt Club Cluster residents in Reston are pushing back against a potential redevelopment of a 9-acre property just north of Lake Fairfax Park that encompasses a possible slave cemetery and a 1790s-era log cabin.
SEM Fairfax Land Associates has been working to secure approval from Fairfax County to build Fairfax Hunt Estates, a community of eight single-family homes, at 1321 Lake Fairfax Drive and preserve the log cabin known as Fairfax Hunt Club, according to the application submitted on Nov. 22, 2022.
Tonight (Wednesday), the Fairfax County Planning Commission will decide whether to green-light the developer’s ambitious construction plans at a public hearing.
Hunt Club resident and former Associated Press reporter Heather Greenfield has been following the story since she and her next-door neighbor discovered several gravestones in the greenscape behind their townhome complex in 2013.
Greenfield says she and her next-door neighbor worked with the Fairfax Cemetery Preservation Association from 2013-2015 in hopes of preserving the site as the Johnson cemetery, named after its 1860 owner Mildred Johnson. While researching the land’s historic 19th-century roots, she learned that Johnson was a Union abolitionist and mother to 11 who played a large role in “protecting African Americans” by housing at least one freedman named Courtney Honesty.
“Reston was founded on this principle of diversity…so I found it fascinating that [the Johnson family was] sort of living the principles of Reston before Reston was even created,” Greenfield said.
Though the county still refers to the area as unnamed cemetery #FX242, Greenfield feels strongly that the area is a burial site for individuals enslaved by the Johnson family and their descendants. The site includes an engraved marker for Mildred’s husband, Thornton Johnson, and gravestones that Greenfield believes belong to several African American individuals.
“We think the rest of the two acre cemetery were African American graves because even though the [Johnson] family all had headstones, African Americans likely did not,” Greenfield said. “And [what we found] were mostly headstones and footstones that were more crude stones arranged in kind of wheel patterns around some of the cedar trees.”
The developer began scouting out the site in May of last year, sending contractors to landscape the area “in order to facilitate locating the graves during their archaeological survey,” according to a statement from Fairfax County Park Authority Public Information Officer Benjamin Boxer.
Even over a year later, Greenfield vividly recalls the day developers came in “bulldozers blazing and chainsaws going.”
“I woke up at 6:30 in the morning to chainsaws, and they continued for 12 hours that day and then they came back and did the same thing the next day,” Greenfield said.
Though Greenfield suspected that contractors were not authorized to cut down trees in the area, the county says permits from Land Development Services for vegetation removal are only required when the land disturbance exceeds 2,500 square feet.
“It appears vegetation was removed in May 2022 in order to complete the archeological delineation of the cemetery,” a county urban forester wrote. “Urban Forestry’s Forest Conservation Branch was not aware of the vegetation removal at this time and would not have reviewed it.” Read More
(Updated at 2:05 p.m.) A Heat Advisory will take effect tomorrow (Thursday) for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, with temperatures expected to near 100 degrees.
Released by the National Weather Service this morning, the alert is slated to be in place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.
While currently forecasting a high temperature of 97 for Fairfax County, the NWS warns that the day could feel more like 105 degrees based on the heat index, which factors in humidity. An Excessive Heat Watch has also been issued, predicting “dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 110 possible.”
A Heat Advisory has been issued for Thursday. Maximum heat indices in the advisory area are expected to be 105-109 degrees. Outside of the advisory, it will still be hot. Heat and humidity will increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those outdoors. pic.twitter.com/kgggr7V88z
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 26, 2023
“Heat and humidity will increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or
participating in outdoor activities,” the alert said.
The NWS is urging community members to take some precautions if they have to spend time outside:
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
The Fairfax County government shared a reminder of the symptoms of heat exhaustion or stroke, which can include fainting, dizziness, muscle cramps, headaches, nausea and either excessive or no sweating.
“During hot and humid weather, your body’s ability to cool itself is challenged in ways you may not expect,” the county said.
During hot and humid weather, your body’s ability to cool itself is challenged in ways you may not expect.
Stay #WeatherReady by learning the symptom of heat-related illnesses: https://t.co/DiDPYHsJm1 pic.twitter.com/72uTMvAT2t
— Fairfax County Government
If the advisory unfolds as scheduled, the county will activate its extreme heat response, opening up a number of public facilities as cooling centers and providing supplies like water and sunscreen at those locations and homeless shelters.
The county has also recently bolstered its response to extreme heat events by improving its process for alerting unsheltered residents and offering free Fairfax Connector bus passes to cooling centers.
In addition to heat, tomorrow’s forecast holds a 30-40% chance of thunderstorms after 2 p.m.
Over the next year, a major redevelopment project involving the Crescent Apartments at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston may be on the horizon.
The Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development will work with county partners for the next year to develop a process for the redevelopment of the Crescent property, according to Tom Fleetwood, the department’s director.
The news comes as work on a visioning study to determine the future of Lake Anne continues. Consultant Street Sense is formalizing a vision for the village center area after working with residents and other stakeholders.
“The redevelopment is anticipated to reflect the guidance from the economic visioning study and comport to the board’s intent when it purchased the property in 2006: to preserve and expand the affordable housing opportunities on this site, and to contribute to the economic vitality of historic Lake Anne Village,” Fleetwood wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
Both pieces — the economic visioning study and the development plan — will work in tandem to explore ways to reshape the area.
“The goal is to merge the local market’s pulse with the aspirations of the Lake Anne community and shape a prosperous future for everyone,” said Elizabeth Hagg, director of the community revitalization section in the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development.
At a June 8 meeting on the economic visioning study, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn emphasized that he wants to ensure the vision for Lake Anne aligns with the redevelopment of the Crescent site.
“I wanted to make sure if at all possible what happens with the Crescent is consistent with what else is happening at Lake Anne,” Alcorn said at the meeting.
Yesterday, Alcorn requested an additional $200,000 from the county for the third phase of the economic visioning project.
The current land use plan for the site was approved in March 2015.
But that December, a long-awaited, 1.7-million-square-foot revitalization plan for the area was pulled. The application covered land unit D of the village center, which includes the Crescent parcel and the gas station. It called for 935 new development units, 15,800 square feet of retail, and 30,000 square feet of office space.
Per the county’s comprehensive plan, there are two options for the site: a redevelopment option and a full consolidation option.
The redevelopment option limits the area to 902,000 square feet of development, with a cap on residential uses of up to 750 apartment units and a non-residential component of up to 2,000 square feet, not including the gas station.
Under the option of full consolidation of the area, the number of residential units is capped at 1.1 million square feet or 935 units and up to 48,000 square feet of non-residential space. The gas station would be consolidated and redeveloped.
The county is currently reviewing an update of its comprehensive plan for Reston, but since the economic visioning study is still underway, the language related to Lake Anne is largely unchanged from the existing plan.
In 2015, the county’s private partner — Lake Anne Development Partners (LADP) — said the development plan was not feasible at the time. LADP had originally intended to break ground later that same year.
New Dunkin’ Donuts Coming to Woodlawn — “The next-generation Dunkin’ under construction at Woodlawn Shopping Center is tentatively slated to open toward the end of third quarter 2023, according to the public relations firm for the ownership group. The store originally had hoped to be open for business early this year.” [On the MoVe]
Taller Metro Fare Gate Installations Begin — “After more than half a year of testing, Metro has finalized a taller faregate design that will roll out across the entire rail system in the coming year. The goal is to reduce fare evasion, which costs the agency about $40 million a year.” Vienna will be the first Fairfax County station to get the new gates, likely in early fall. [DCist]
County Board Recognizes Pride Month Organizers — The “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized and thanked on Tuesday the many companies, organizations, and individuals who contributed to the celebration of Pride Month across the county in June…Bri Morgan of Reston Pride accepted the board’s proclamation on behalf of all the organizations” [Patch]
Reston Community Center Seeks Board Candidates — “Reston Community Center (RCC) is seeking interested candidates to run for seats on its Board of Governors…Candidates must complete a Candidacy Statement to have their names placed on the Preference Poll ballot. Candidacy Statements will be available at RCC facilities or online…beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 1.” [RCC]
Farmers Market Launches in Tysons Tomorrow — “New @The PARC! Potomac Farm Market and Celebrate Fairfax are working in partnership to bring the farm to you every Thursday through October 19th from 12pm-7pm…In celebration of National Ice Cream Month, this grand opening will also feature FREE ICE CREAM while supplies last from Tysons Creamery.” [Celebrate Fairfax/Facebook]
McLean HS Students Celebrated for Quiz Show Win — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 25 honored the McLean High School ‘It’s Academic’ squad of the 2022-23 school year. The team became the first in Fairfax County Public Schools’ history to win back-to-back annual championships.” [Gazette Leader]
Annandale Church Dedicates Renovated Sanctuary — “Hundreds of church members celebrated the completion of the new sanctuary at St. Ambrose Catholic Church on Woodburn Road in Annandale last week at a dedication ceremony and special Mass. The old church building had become too small for the growing parish and needed extensive repairs.” [Annandale Today]
Frying Pan Farm Park Awaits Return of 4-H Fair — “Celebrate Fairfax County’s agricultural traditions and enjoy some old-fashioned fun as the Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival returns to historic Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, Va., Aug. 3-6, 2023…The 4-H Fair kicks off with the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, at 10 a.m.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
It’s Wednesday — The forecast for Wednesday is sunny and warm, with a high near 90 degrees and a calm wind that will pick up to 5-7 mph from the south in the afternoon. The night will be mostly clear, with a low around 75 degrees. [Weather.gov]
