(Updated at 5 p.m.) The final phase of the economic visioning of the Lake Anne area is nearing.
At a meeting today (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors opened up a request for an additional $200,000 for the third phase of the project.
Consultant Street Sense is wrapping up the first phase of the Economic Visioning Study for the Lake Anne Commercial Revitalization Area. The study intended to build community consensus on a path forward for the area.
(Correction: This story previously said the study’s first phase wrapped up this spring, as indicated by a project timeline, but the Hunter Mill District office says it’s just now finishing.)
“We sought an economic vision that was aspirational, grounded in market realities, and able to strengthen the economic viability and sustainability of the area,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn wrote in his board matter. “There was extensive participation by the Lake Anne community to shape the economic vision through a combination of focus groups, an online survey, and several in-person workshops and meetings.”
So far, the plan suggests a concentration of new apartment units on the Crescent property at 1527 Cameron Crescent Drive, added cultural attractions, a parking structure, a centralized green space, connections from the Crescent site to Lake Anne Plaza via a new park, and the restoration of a tunnel to the east side of the area.
Street Sense kicked off the visioning study in mid-February with focus group sessions, followed by several community meetings and workshops. The study came at the request of Alcorn, who sought to build consensus on the economic vision for the area.
In the second phase of the project, Streetsense will work with individual property owners and determine their willingness to take part in implementing the economic vision.
During the final phase, Streetsense and sub-consultants will investigate options for implementation in a more comprehensive manner.
“This information will provide landowners and the county with a clear understanding of options and allow all stakeholders to construct an actionable plan for realizing the economic vision,” the board matter states.
The final phase is expected to kick off in the first quarter of next year. The funds could be allocated this fall via a carryover adjustment from the fiscal year 2023 budget.
Handling 911 calls has never been a regular 9-to-5 job, but a national staffing shortage has increased the hours and pressure felt by call takers and dispatchers across the country.
Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications wasn’t spared from the workforce challenges that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping from close to 180 staffers before 2020 to about 160 people right now.
The gap is sizable enough that workers are required to take about two overtime shifts every four months, but it’s not as drastic as the vacancy levels reported at other sites, even though the DPSC is the biggest 911 center in Virginia and one of the largest in the U.S., Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Officer Paul Ballerini says.
For instance, Richmond’s 911 agency, the state’s second largest center, reported earlier this year that it was 30 operators short, while D.C. had 39 call taker and dispatcher vacancies.
“Two additional mandatory shifts per person for a third of the year is not bad, especially hearing [about] other centers, reading online how some other similar-sized agencies are just doing tons of overtime,” Ballerini told FFXnow.
Initially, the pandemic didn’t have much of an impact on the 911 center. With people generally staying home and minimizing interactions with others, the volume of calls declined, according to Ballerini.
However, after a while, DPSC started seeing some of the same turnover that has hit other professions, from the police to trash collectors and restaurants.
“Like most other professions, people just started jumping jobs,” Ballerini said. “Not in a bad way, just people spent more time on themselves and learned about themselves and moved to other professions. So, we were hit the same as everybody else…so we started ramping up hiring and training.”
About 3,952 911 workers across 774 centers in the U.S. left the profession in 2022, often citing the stress of the job and options for better hours, pay and opportunities as their reasons for leaving, according to a study released earlier this year by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch and National Association of State 911 Administrators.
While 27% saw no change in staffing levels over the past four years, nearly one-third of the study’s respondents reported vacancy rates of 30% or higher, including 13 that said at least 70% of their positions were unfilled.
Ballerini says Fairfax County’s current 911 staffing levels are slightly above its minimum standard after hitting maximum levels before the pandemic.
Every 12-hour shift must have at least four police dispatchers and four fire dispatchers on each of its four squads, which manage two district stations each. There are also ideally 20 call takers per day, though there can be as few as 13 people on the phones depending on the workload.
“Some people get through parts of training and realize it’s not for them and end up dropping out, but we work hard to try to stay consistent levels, not just for the public, but for morale inside the center,” Ballerini said. “I feel we’ve been pretty decent about doing that.”
Relief from mandatory overtime may be in sight for the county’s call takers, who handle incoming calls from the public, and dispatchers, who communicate information to first responders.
DPSC recently welcomed its latest class of trainees, adding six new call takers. As of July 13, all but one of them had completed their on-the-job training, which takes eight to 10 weeks, according to Ballerini.
Another cohort of nine recruits is undergoing 10 weeks of classroom training at the Public Safety Communications Training Academy, which accepts up to 10 people per class. After those recruits finish their on-the-job training this fall, Ballerini says DPSC anticipates that it’ll be able to reduce the amount of overtime required.
Recruiting for this fall’s academy is now underway, with a job posting open through Friday (July 28).
The 911 center is also hiring in preparation for the Lorton District Police Station’s impending opening in September. The new facility will help lighten the load for the Franconia and Mount Vernon stations, which are DSPC’s busiest.
“They’ve been…figuring out how to balance them out, so the quantity of calls or time spent on calls is supposed to be a lot more consistent across all stations,” Ballerini said. “That’s a hope for the future. It’s a police department initiative, but it’s going to benefit us as well.”
(Updated at 1:40 p.m.) A German food truck is officially opening its doors in Herndon.
What The Schnitzel — described as the first and only food truck in the Northern Virginia area that sells German fusion cuisine — is celebrating its soft opening on Saturday (July 29) at Arts Herndon. It will be on site from noon to 5 p.m. at the building (750 Center Street).
Melanie Glover founded the business after growing up in the restaurant industry in Germany.
Working as a personal chef under the business name Coburger Bistro, Glover says she wanted to apply her passion for cooking and sharing food after living the U.S. for 17 years. She runs the truck with her son Devin, who both live in Reston and share a passion for cooking.
They chose Arts Herndon for the launch of What the Schnitzel because of its prime location, according to Glover.
“Arts Herndon is great local spot that has lots to offer, and is also a great friend to us and a business partner as well,” she said.
Glover says she chose to launch a food truck over a brick and mortar location because of flexibility in operations and the ability to reach different customers.
Items on the menu include apple strudel and schnitzel sandwiches from around the world.
Devin came up with the name — WTS for short — in an effort to come up with something funny and catchy.
“The main idea is a schnitzel going around the world, so we felt What the Schnitzel was a perfect name to capture that vision and as well as being something people can easily remember,” Glover said.
(Correction: This story initially misspelled Melanie Glover’s name as “Grover.” We apologize for the error and thank commenter Steve Dyas for pointing it out.)
(Updated at 9:05 a.m. on 7/26/2023) Fairfax County is currently the second largest suburban office market in the nation, with an inventory of 120 million square feet.
However, the current office vacancy rate sits at 16.7% — topping the county’s previous 10-year high, according to Stephen Tarditi, director of market intelligence at the Fairfax County Economic Development.
He called the office market “a lagging economic indicator” when presenting the data last Tuesday (July 18) to the Board of Supervisors economic advisory committee.
Despite the county’s vacancy rate, Tarditi said the demand for office leasing is increasing.
“Last year, we had 6.6 million-square-feet of office space leased, so we’re 37% below our pre-pandemic average,” he said. “And comparing that to 2021, we were about 4.5 million square feet.”
Almost half of the county’s office inventory was built before 1990, and Tarditi said the county is seeing a bifurcation in its office market, where older buildings are not being leased at the same rate as newer buildings.
Almost 5.9 million square feet of office space is slated to be demolished or converted into another use, most of it built before 1990, according to the presentation.
“The class B, class C inventory — that’s not seeing your net new tenant demand. It’s your trophy office buildings. In fact, the trophy office vacancy rate for Fairfax County is right around 10%, which is very healthy,” Tarditi said.
According to the data, coworking space is another strong sector in the office market, with demand increasing among more small businesses.
“I think more and more building operators — if there is vacant space and newer buildings — they’re looking to incorporate coworking space and have them graduate in that space,” Tarditi said.
National economic indicators that could have a potential effect on the county’s office market include mass layoffs and interest rates. Although the county is seeing a high vacancy rate, Tarditi highlighted some statistics that could indicate growth in office demand in the future.
Fairfax County now has 42,000 employee establishments (companies with employees and payroll) — a record number for the county, according to Victor Hoskins, CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.
“That shows that there would be future office demand as a new company is established,” Tarditi said.
County on the Lookout for Spotted Lanternfly — “Fairfax County Forest Pest Management unit…is asking County residents to help slow the spread of this invasive pest by being vigilant about not moving spotted lanternfly life stages when traveling through known infested areas and to vacuum nymphs and adults with a shop vac and scrape egg masses into a container of soapy water, as well as report sightings.” [DPWES]
Longtime Seven Corners Clothing Store to Move — “After outfitting local healthcare workers for 20 years, Gallo Clothing in the Seven Corners Shopping Center is closing for good. The store’s last day is Thursday, July 27. Meanwhile, just about everything in the store is marked down 25 to 75 percent…The landlord is raising the rent, so Gallo Clothing is relocating, says manager Doris Zelaya.” [Annandale Today]
McLean Playground Fundraiser Hits Halfway Mark — The campaign to raise $400,000 for a new playground at McLean Central Park is halfway to its goal. Upcoming events to support the fundraiser include a sold-out “Barbie” movie watch party tonight (Tuesday), a fitness class on July 29 and a family festival at Shipgarten in Tysons in August. [Patch]
Update on Braddock Road Project Coming — The Virginia Department of Transportation will give an update on its Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements Project tomorrow (Wednesday) at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Planned changes include shared-use paths on both sides of the road and “intersection improvements…at Rolling Road, Wakefield Chapel Road/Danbury Forest Drive, and Burke Lake Road.” [Annandale Today]
Fairfax City Adds New Mural — “With the help of Murals at Mason, artist Lecsi Pillar designed a radiant art installation outside of Big Buns D#*! Good Burgers. Her mural is not only a part of the city’s ever growing partnership with George Mason but also art flourishing and contributing to the city’s attraction.” [Fairfax City Economic Development Authority/Facebook]
Parking Overhaul Will Help Tysons, Local Transit Advocate Says — “If the idea is to take Tysons from a scarred wasteland primarily defined by two 10- to 12-lane roads knifing through its center, the county will need to consider more serious reforms that reduce car dependency. To that end, it has released the details of Parking Reimagined, a plan to significantly lower parking minimums” [Greater Greater Washington]
AT&T Donates to Richmond Highway Nonprofits — The telecommunications company has contributed almost $50,000 to “help boost the digital literacy and learning skills of children and adults along the Route 1 Corridor.” The beneficiaries are Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, which got $24,000 to support technology training for low-income individuals aged 16-24, and United Community, which got $25,000 to support an online learning program for students. [AT&T Connects]
International Travel Is Back at Dulles — “Latin America and Africa are leading the way as overseas travel to and from Washington Dulles International Airport rebounds, with only Asia lagging in the post-COVID world…Many aircraft plying international routes from Dulles are going out mostly full.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Tuesday — There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm today, with patchy fog before 9am. Expect mostly sunny conditions, with a high near 89°F. Tuesday night brings a 30% chance of evening showers and thunderstorms, with a low around 67°F. [Weather.gov]
Photo by Fazli Erdem/Twitter
A staple of Reston’s sports scene is embarking on a post-pandemic return.
The Reston Triathlon returns for its 37th year on Sept. 10 after a three-year pause.
The Olympic distance sporting event — known by some as the Reston Triathlon World Championship — was put on pause after the previous nonprofit that managed the event announced that it was no longer able to sustain the event financially and logistically.
Following the 2021 announcement, the CORE Foundation took over the event, which first started in 1984. The event opens with a 1,500-meter, open water swim in Lake Audubon, followed by a 25-mile bicycle ride and a 10K run on area paths.
“We are absolutely thrilled to see the return of the Reston Triathlon and are grateful for the outpouring of support from the athletes and partners to restore this community tradition,” CORE Foundation CEO Taralyn Tharp Kohler said.
Registration is now open online.
CORE Foundation is a nonprofit organization that will use funds from the triathlon for fundraising efforts. The organization aims to support charitable projects that address societal needs, build community and enable positive change, according to a press release.
The overhaul of the Reston Comprehensive Plan is barreling towards approval this fall.
At a July 19 meeting, the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously approved a new version of the plan, which sets a comprehensive vision for the planned community and culminates more than two years of work by residents, officials and county staff.
The approval came after the commission deferred a decision to July 19 after a public hearings on June 28. The date was pushed back due to changes in public notice and hearing requirements.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will consider the plan at a Sept. 12 meeting.
The commission lauded the updated plan for its comprehensiveness and ambitious nature, overcoming what Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said were “doubts” that the plan would obtain the commission’s approval.
Hunter Mill District Commissioner Carter added three amendments that were approved by the commission. He later noted that parsing the language of the plan to achieve perfection was likely not “the best use” of the plan.
“We live in the house of reason is what I’m trying to say,” Carter said.
Specifically, he deleted a street connection from American Dream Way to North Shore Drive in response to significant pushback from residents about safety and security for pedestrians and vehicles. The street was also retained as a local street, Carter said.
He also added a reference that calls on planners to consider heritage resources guidelines related to Association Drive — a historic area that is slated for some redevelopment and repurposing.
Carter also removed a sentence that encourages multifamily units within a half-mile of Reston’s Metro stations, noting that multiple attempts to reframe the sentence further obfuscated its clarity.
“This bullet has been edited several times,” Carter said. “The more we edit it, the worse it gets in terms of clarity.”
Underway since 2020, the Reston Comprehensive Plan update lays out the county’s vision for the 6,750-acre area’s development, touching on everything from transportation to density recommendations for the transit station areas and village centers.
The proposed draft was shaped by county staff and a community task force convened by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn in 2020.
Providence District Commissioner Phil Niedzielski-Eichner lauded Carter and his staff for their work on the plan.
“I think the Reston community knows how much you have invested in getting to this point,” he said.
Other commissioners also praised county staff and Alcorn for pushing the update to the plan through — a significant planning effort that Niedzielski-Eichner compared to community planning for the City of Alexandria, an area comparable in size to Reston.
In follow-on motions, Carter encouraged the county to explore how Site Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) applications for Reston would fit in with the new plan — once it’s approved by the board.
Reston’s SSPAs were temporarily set aside earlier this year due to the ongoing discussion of the comprehensive plan.
Carter also called on the county to improve pedestrian, bicyclist and vehicular connection to Reston’s Metro stations in a comprehensive manner. Suggested areas of study include appropriate bicycle lanes, signal timing, design standards and guidelines, new crosswalk refuge areas, and on-street parking.
Carter said priority areas include Wiehle Avenue, Reston Station Blvd, Town Center Parkway, Sunset Hill Road, Sunset Valley Drive and adjacent local streets. He suggested continuous cooperation between stakeholders like county and state transportation officials, the Fairfax County Park Authority, Dominion Energy and area land owners.
Cortina also praised Restonians for their input on the plan.
Niedzielski-Eichner said that while some chapters were removed from the task force’s version of the plan, that work was not in vain. It will “resonate” in the county’s broader effort to update its overall comprehensive plan.
Tysons Contractor Will Settle Fraud Lawsuit — “Defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton has agreed to pay $377 million to settle a long-standing Justice Department lawsuit alleging that the Northern Virginia-based company overcharged the U.S. government to help cover losses in other areas of its business, federal authorities announced Friday.” [The Washington Post]
Burke Residents Call for Traffic Light After Fatal Crash — “A petition garners over 1,100 signatures for Fairfax County to install a stoplight at the site of Tuesday’s fatal crash along Burke Centre Parkway. Police said that speeding was likely a factor, as man driving a car, collided with four teens. The driver, Rebekah Zarco, 17, was killed immediately.” [DC News Now]
Cyclist Injured in Fairfax Station Area Crash — “A cyclist has life-threatening injuries after a crash in Fairfax County Saturday afternoon. Fairfax County Police responded to the serious crash at Route 123 and Canterberry Road in Fairfax Station” [ABC7]
Land for New Sewer Pipe Needed in Merrifield — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 25 is slated to set a public hearing for Sept. 12 discuss the use of eminent-domain powers to acquire land rights needed for construction of about 563 linear feet new gravity-sewer pipe…The project aims to alleviate the risk and add capacity to accommodate the growing population upstream of the pipes in Merrifield, officials said.” [Gazette Leader]
Feral Cat Colony Reported to Vienna Police — “A resident reported she has been trying to “Trap-Neuter-Return,” the feral cat colony in her neighborhood. TNR, is a program where feral cats are humanely trapped, sterilized, vaccinated, and given necessary veterinary care, then returned to their outdoor homes. The resident reported her neighbors are feeding the cats, making it difficult for her to trap them.” [Vienna Police]
Osprey Rescued at Lorton Park — “Grateful to Animal Protection Police officers, @ffxfirerescue and @FairfaxCountyPD for their work to safely rescue an osprey stuck in a tree at Laurel Hill Park. After an attempted first flight, the bird could not fly and is being treated by a nearby veterinarian.” [Fairfax County Park Authority/Twitter]
Fairfax County Public Library Catalog Down for Today — “FCPL’s catalog system will be undergoing maintenance Monday, July 24. Because of this maintenance, the public catalog including Libby and Overdrive will be unavailable to the public from 8 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m.” [FCPL/Twitter]
Nearby: Dulles Greenway Fare Hike Proposed — “For drivers who stick with the Greenway, a smooth commute through the heart of one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties could soon cost more: The road’s owner is seeking the approval of state regulators to increase rates up to 40 percent. The request has angered drivers, county leaders and some state lawmakers” [The Washington Post]
It’s Monday — There is a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with patchy fog clearing by 10am. Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of around 84°F, with low will around 69°F at night. [Weather.gov]
A proposal to add long-distance flights at Reagan National Airport has officially failed, to the relief of area representatives who feared it would undermine Dulles International Airport.
The House of Representatives rejected the proposal — which was included in a package of changes to the Federal Aviation Administration’s policies that passed overall — by a 229-205 vote on Wednesday (July 19).
Pitched by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), the proposal, which would have increased the number of flights that travel beyond 1,250 miles from National Airport, attracted significant pushback from local and regional officials.
In late May, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors said the move would increase flight delays and have a detrimental impact on the local economy, arguing that the Arlington airport lacks the capacity of Dulles Airport just over the Loudoun County border.
The legislation pushed by the Capital Access Alliance, a coalition of business groups, continues a long-running battle over slot and perimeter rules originally enacted in the 1960s.
Rep. Don Beyer (D) called the defeat of the proposal a win for the region.
“This strong bipartisan vote of opposition should make it clear, as the Senate takes up their own FAA authorization, that proposals to weaken DCA’s slot and perimeter rules do not have majority support in the Congress,” Beyer wrote in a statement.
Fairfax County Board Chairman Jeff McKay lauded the county’s congressional delegation for defeating the proposal.
“It’s clear that this would have been an intrusive and unwelcome addition to DCA and appreciate the bipartisan approach to supporting residents of Fairfax County,” McKay said.
The Board of Supervisors had argued that the proposed changes would disrupt the balance between the region’s two major airports.
Sen. Mark Warner said he was happy to see “sanity win” in the House.
“I’ll continue fighting these changes — which would exacerbate delays and ruin folks’ travel plans — as we consider this legislation in the Senate soon, too,” Warner tweeted.
Glad to see sanity win in the House last night as they defeated chaotic changes to slot rules at DCA! I’ll continue fighting these changes – which would exacerbate delays and ruin folks’ travel plans – as we consider this legislation in the Senate soon, too.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) July 20, 2023
(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) A gas leak has closed Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) at Beulah Road and Forestville Drive in the Wolf Trap area.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units are currently at the scene and expect to be there for “an extended period of time,” the department said at 11:39 a.m.
“Leesburg Pike is closed in both directions. Please seek alternative routes,” the FCFRD said.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the closure may last “several days” as crews make repairs.
A Washington Gas representative says “a third party” hit one of the company’s 6-inch main lines. The location of the line required the intersection to close for repairs.
The “large volume” gas line was hit during construction work on the roadway, according to the FCPD public affairs bureau.
“Due to the scope of the repair ahead, it is estimated that the repair will take several days,” Sgt. Jacob Pearce told FFXnow.
Construction to widen Route 7 from Reston Avenue to Jarrett Valley Drive just north of Tysons has been underway since 2019.
#FCFRD units are on scene of an outside gas leak at the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Forestville Drive in the Great Falls area. Crews will be on scene for an extended period of time. Leesburg Pike is closed in both directions. Please seek alternative routes. pic.twitter.com/fAP7Dj6nac
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 21, 2023
The road is expected to be closed for several days while the repairs are completed. Please use an alternate route. #FCPD https://t.co/TLmPpuwkKi
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 21, 2023
Growth in Fairfax County is focused in Tysons, the Dulles Suburban Center and other mixed-use areas.
In addition, growth in multifamily housing units outpaced growth in single-family housing between 2010 and 2023, and office space continues to lead the way in non-residential development potential, county staff said in a presentation at the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s policy plan committee meeting on July 13.
Development in mixed-use “activity centers” like Tysons, the Dulles Suburban Center, the Reston Transit Station Areas and the Richmond Highway Corridor lines up with the concept for future development outlined in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.
“The plan has a lot of flexibility built in now and plenty of options for new residential development to occur,” Andrea Dorlester, the county’s principal planner, said in the presentation.
The presentation served as a preview of a “State of the Plan” report that will provide a progress update on the county’s planning efforts between January 2011 and December 2022. Building off a similar evaluation from 2012, the report is slated for release at the end of the summer.
The county can support residential growth through at least 2045, according to the comprehensive plan and a forecast from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Overall, the comprehensive plan notes potential for 182,000 additional dwelling units, with 91% of those units being multifamily housing. The MWCOG forecast projects an 80,000-unit increase by 2045, per the presentation.
At the meeting, Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina noted that addressing affordability in housing is challenging.
“We know we have a housing problem, we say we have growth, but what is being built is not necessarily addressing affordability,” Cortina said.
Between January 2011 and December 2022, the majority of amendments to the comprehensive plan added to planned new housing.
“Several site-specific plan amendments serve to provide for affordable housing, affordable housing for seniors [and] assisted living,” Dorlester said. “And there were some notable conversions from commercial to planned residential with new planned townhouse neighborhoods replacing portions of old strip shopping centers.”
Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder asked whether permitting a “missing middle” approach like the one adopted by neighboring Arlington — where the county would allow some smaller multifamily units in areas that now only allow single-family housing — could provide an opportunity for additional residential growth.
That would require a policy change, but in the context of the State of the Plan, Fairfax County planner Clara Johnson said that with plan amendments, the county is seeing redevelopment of shopping centers and along major transportation corridors.
Adopted changes to the plan also reflect a transit-oriented approach, according to the presentation.
“In areas where transit is not available or planned, such as the downtown McLean Community Business Center, plan changes focused on improving walkability, creating new public spaces, implementing good urban design and creating bonus height or density incentives to promote revitalization and placemaking measures, such as provision of urban park spaces,” Dorlester said.
Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar opens in Reston Town Center on Monday (July 24), the company has confirmed.
The Peruvian restaurant takes over space at 1871 Explorer Street that was vacated by Vapiano in 2019. It has two locations in Florida and one in D.C.
According to its website, the restaurant will be open from 11 a.m to 10 p.m on Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight on Friday, and 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, according to its website.
While the location has not yet released its menu, the D.C. location serves ceviche, tostones, and papas a la Huancaina.
Official representatives for the company and Boston Properties, which owns Reston Town Center, did not immediately return a request for comment from FFXnow.
County Breaks Ground on Housing Project Near Arrowhead Park — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Michaels Development, members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and other partners celebrated the groundbreaking of The Lodge at Autumn Willow on July 20th, new affordable housing for older adults” at 13090 Autumn Willow Drive. It will have 150 independent living units, outdoor amenities and walkways. [FCRHA]
Six People Displaced by Annandale Apartment Fire — Firefighters were dispatched around 11 a.m. on Tuesday (July 18) to a fire at a three-story building in the Fairmont Gardens Apartments. There were 11 people in the building at the time of the fire, but no one was home in the unit where the fire was started by “an electrical event involving an extension cord,” resulting in an estimated $93,750 in property damages. [FCFRD]
Cheesesteak Restaurant Opens in Belle Haven — “A new cheesesteak and wings restaurant has opened for business at the Kings Crossing shopping center. Charleys Cheesesteaks signed a lease with Rosenthal Properties for the space at 6307-F Richmond Highway last fall and on July 19 held its grand opening.” [On the MoVe]
Man Embezzeled $100k From Fairfax Doctor, Police Say — “On July 18, 2023 City of Fairfax Police arrested a subject in connection with an embezzlement that occurred at the office of Dr. Michael J. Bermel, OD, located at 10640 Main Street Suite #100. On March 2, 2023 it was reported that an employee embezzled over $100,000 belonging to the business.” [Fairfax City Police]
Grocery Store Affiliate Buys Hybla Valley Shopping Center — “An affiliate of Fresh World co-founder Kenneth Kim appears to have acquired the Mount Vernon Square retail center off Richmond Highway…raising the prospect of a new grocer stepping in to replace a Safeway that closed there more than six years ago.” [Washington Business Journal]
Construction on Horizon for Dulles Airport Solar Farm — “Construction is slated to start in October on a major solar farm spread across 800-plus acres at Washington Dulles International, with the effort being up and running sometime in 2025…When fully in operation, the facility is expected to generate the equivalent of the power needed for 25,000 homes.” [Gazette Leader]
Athletes Visit Reopened Local Dick’s Sporting Goods — “Dick’s Sporting Goods reopens in its newly renovated store in Bailey’s Crossroads on Wednesday, July 19, at 9 a.m. The store, at 5417 Columbia Pike in the Crossroads Center, is hosting athlete appearances on Friday and Saturday during its Grand Opening Weekend.” [Annandale Today]
Spanish-Speaking Volunteers Wanted to Help Children — “Volunteer and Partner Services is currently recruiting bilingual volunteers to support our Body Safety Program and our BeFriend-A-Child Mentoring Program. If you can speak Spanish and English, you are a great candidate to help us make a difference in our community!” [Fairfax County Department of Family Services]
It’s Friday — Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. West wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. The night will be mostly clear, with a low around 68. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph. [Weather.gov]
Local police have arrested a 20-year-old Woodbridge man in connection with a Father’s Day shooting in in the McNair neighborhood.
Zaire Davis was arrested on June 29 for a robbery that happened in Annandale on June 25 — a process during which a detective noticed a “striking resemblance” to a sketch released to the community related to the June 18 shooting.
“Based on the investigation and evidence recovered, detectives determined Davis was involved in the shooting that occurred on Cornelia Road,” the Fairfax County Police Department announced today.
Detectives then secured a search warrant and found a handgun, revolver, ammunition and electronic devices.
Davis was charged yesterday (Wednesday) with malicious wounding and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the shooting. He is being held without bond.
For the Annandale robbery, he faces charges of robbery, malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and conspiracy to commit robbery.
According to police, a man was found in the 2500 block of Cornelia Road on Father’s Day morning with a gunshot wound to the upper body. His injuries were initially described as life-threatening, but his condition later stabilized while he was in the hospital.
The FCPD says detectives are still looking for a second suspect in the shooting, which they believe started when the men attempted to break into the victim’s vehicle. The other suspect is described as being in his early 20s with brown hair.
A new gift shop that sells clothing, accessories and collectibles is gearing up for its grand opening in Herndon this weekend.
Add 2 Cart is set for a grand opening on Saturday (July 22) at 1 p.m. at 795 Center Suite in Suite 5B.
Owners Tiffany Yalung and her husband said their business grew out of a love for reselling items online and finding unique, functional and vintage items.
“Often times, especially when we are traveling to different countries, we see these products and think, ‘Why don’t we have this here in the U.S.?’” Yalung told FFXnow. “We thought that the quirkiness, innovation and overall distinction of these products, in addition to our vintage collection that we continuously procure, deserve to be showcased.”
The couple launched the brick-and-mortar store with the hope of sharing unique items with the public.
The business is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, according to its website. The business is closed on Sundays.
