Fairfax County is restarting and opting into a statewide program that helps commercial properties with financing for energy efficiency and resiliency improvements.
Last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the amending and re-adoption of the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACE) program, which aims to assist commercial building owners with energy and water-saving improvements for little to no upfront costs.
The county first established its own program in 2019, the first in the state to include resiliency projects that address high wind, extreme temperature and flood risks. But in the four years since, no contracts have been executed, and no projects have been completed under the program.
C-PACE is intended as a financial tool designed to “provide long-term private funding to [commercial] building owners for energy-saving and water-saving projects,” according to the county website.
A C-PACE loan is intended to be easier for the property owner to pay off, acting director of the county’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) John Morrill told FFXnow in an email.
“The intent of the energy improvements financed through a C-PACE loan is to reduce the operating costs of a property, thereby putting the property owner in a better financial position to pay off all loans,” Morrill said.
He said C-PACE “has struggled to gain traction” because of a confusing process, lack of understanding of the financial product, and the “reluctance” of first-lien debt holders to give up being first to be paid back.
At the meeting, several supervisors expressed their disappointment in the county program so far, voting unanimously to instead opt into a statewide program created in late 2021.
“It’s obviously disappointing that…we adopted a program that has not been used,” Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said. “I think the step that you are taking us on, with aligning us with the state program, is a very positive change that could help make it more popular.”
Opting into Virginia’s version of C-PACE provides the county with two main benefits, the staff report notes. One, it relieves individual localities from procuring, administrating, and managing contracts.
“Under the statewide program, [the Virginia Department of Energy] is solely responsible for the solicitation of bids, selection of a program administrator, and contract administration,” the report says.
Secondly, it standardizes the program across jurisdictions and provides more support for messaging, engagement, and public awareness. It will also expand the types of projects eligible for loans to include stormwater management and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Morrill said the county hopes partnering with the state will help solve the challenges that the program has faced.
By standardizing application documents in the state program, attorney fees and other transaction costs for completing loans will be less expensive through the state program and result in less friction for getting deals completed. In addition, Fairfax County will work with the state energy office and C-PACE program administrator to promote the availability of C-PACE financing in order to help the market better understand this financial product. As for concern about losing first lien status, we hope consistent marketing and promotion of the program with some success stories will help give lenders confidence that C-PACE can be successful in Virginia, just as it has been in several other states.
But the county had similarly high hopes when it launched C-PACE years ago.
Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross recalled a luncheon in 2018 where the county introduced the program to local business owners. The room was full of excitement that appeared to have nothing to do with the free lunch, she said. But when the program was enacted and the application period opened, the excitement seemingly dissipated.
“I thought we’d sit back and watch the applications roll in, and nothing happened,” Gross said. “It was a great disappointment for those who worked on C-PACE.”
The county hopes local commercial business owners will now become aware of the program and its ability to provide financial help to make climate-friendly changes.
“Now there appears there is a pathway to actually make C-PACE work,” Gross said. “I’m glad the Commonwealth has determined that [the program] really needs the state to come in and assist with this.”
(Updated at 3 p.m.) A new Islamic and private elementary school may open this fall in Reston.
County permits suggest Noble Garden Academy plans to move in to 1914 Association Drive. In the permit application, the academy noted that the school is simply “moving into a new place” and “not making any changes.”
In a statement to FFXnow, a spokesperson for the school said a lease hasn’t been officially signed, so the exact location hasn’t been confirmed yet. However, they expect to open by the beginning of September.
The academy’s website indicates the school will serve elementary school students and will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
The school aims to raise Muslim youth who are marked by academic excellence, noble character and mastery of Islamic knowledge and practice, according to its website.
Image via Google Maps
Reston Barnes and Noble Opening Delayed — The bookstore’s grand opening at The Spectrum has been postponed to tomorrow (Thursday). Barnes and Noble didn’t return multiple requests for comment from FFXnow. [Barnes & Noble Reston/Instagram]
D.C. Area Is Currently in a Drought — “According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the D.C. region is currently in a moderate drought — the least severe of four drought levels. May 2023 was the driest May on record in D.C. since 1999, with 2.4 inches less rain than in an average year.” If the Potomac River drops low enough, “residents could be asked to conserve water.” [DCist]
Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Closes Pet Hospital — “The Hybla Valley Veterinary Hospital, a longtime family-owned business along the Richmond Highway corridor, has notified customers it will be permanently closing at the end of June. The reason, according to the owners, is because ‘Fairfax County is taking the property via eminent domain.’” [On the MoVe]
Mental Health Facility for First Responders Opens Near Fair Oaks — “First responders and 911 call takers facing the stress and challenges of the job in Fairfax County, Virginia, will now have a new place to connect with mental health professionals. The Fairfax County Public Safety Wellness Center held its grand opening on Monday.” [WTOP, FCPD]
Slow Down for County Waste Collectors — For Waste and Recycling Workers Week from June 12-18, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services urges “extra caution when driving around collection trucks to avoid striking sanitation workers.” In North America, 46 solid waste and recycling collectors were killed at work last year, with vehicle strikes as the top third cause. [DPWES]
Herndon Police Cite Hundreds for Using Phone While Driving — “Distracted driving is a leading cause of traffic accidents. So far this year, #HerndonPD has issued over 250 citations to people for holding a phone while operating a vehicle. Put the phone down. The text can wait.” [Herndon Police/Twitter]
South Lakes HS Leads High School Theater Awards — “South Lakes High School’s production of ‘Bright Star’ shone brightly on the Kennedy Center stage Monday night at the Cappies gala. The show was named the best musical and took home a total of 10 awards…The night’s other big winner was Lake Braddock Secondary School, which won Best Play for ‘Dracula’ and three other awards.” [Patch]
Long Term, Crime Is Trending Down in Virginia — “You may have heard candidates on the campaign trail talking about rising crime. But FBI stats actually tell a very different story. In the last 30 years, the violent crime rate in Virginia has fallen 44%. And the property crime rate has fallen 66%.” [WVTF]
A Look at Inova’s Training for Paramedics — “As a Level 1 trauma center, the ambulance bay for the emergency room at Inova Fairfax Hospital is always busy.” The hospital’s Advanced Surgical Technology Education Center recently provided “a first-of-its-kind training to teach paramedics how to treat trauma patients in the field.” [ABC7]
It’s Wednesday — A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 8 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. [Weather.gov]
In response to rising grocery and transportation costs, local organizations are partnering for a summer hunger relief food distribution in Reston this month.
The food distribution event is slated for Thursday, June 22 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The distribution will take place in the parking lot of St. John Neumann Catholic Community Church (11900 Lawyers Road).
“The Summer Hunger Relief Food Distribution event seeks to shed light on the daunting challenges faced by Northern Virginia families and individuals affected by food insecurity,” said Margaret Anne Lara, a spokesperson for Cornerstones, one of the community partners. “By emphasizing the value of community partnership and collaboration, this event aims to raise awareness and rally support to make a lasting impact in the fight against hunger.”
StarKist and Feed the Children are also leading the project.
The event kicks off with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Speakers include Kerrie Wilson, the CEO of Cornerstones, Chae-Ung UM, president and CEO of StarKist and Julie Laird Davis, Feed the Children’s senior vice president of strategic partnership and individual giving.
Elected congressional, state and local officials will also be in attendance. The ceremony is open to the public.
Although Fairfax County’s food insecurity rate has been declining since 2011, the county has the highest number of food insecure individuals in Virginia, according to state data.
For 9th, 10th and 12th grade students, the incidence of hunger due to lack of food in the home varied by ethnicity, ranging from 3.5% of white students to 13.8% of Hispanic students, according to data from the county’s health department.
Several groups are working together to embark on a one-of-a-kind urban mussel restoration project for the Snakeden and Glade stream valleys in Reston.
The project is part of a partnership with Virginia Tech, the U.S Geological Survey and other institutions. The team will work to install mussel beds into restored streams and evaluate their ability to remove nutrient and sediment pollution.
“Freshwater mussels have the ability to filter stream water at a prodigious rate, improving water quality, and thereby potentially keeping local streams, rivers, and receiving estuaries cleaner,” the Resource Protection Group, a nonprofit funding the effort, said on the project page. “Within urbanized settings such as Reston, the possibility of utilizing mussels to improve both local water quality and that of larger receiving systems is quite intriguing.”
According to the organization, Virginia Commonwealth University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a study last year on whether freshwater mussels could survive in the streams before the current, larger-scale project to reintroduce the animals launched.
Other initiatives are also planned at both stream valleys.
A team of researchers from William and Mary and George Mason University will investigate the best ways to reduce the colonialization of stream restoration by grass and other invasive and non-native vegetation.
“We are excited to do our part to contribute to the science of stream management in our region by hosting these projects,” Reston Association said in an announcement on Friday (June 9).
Scientists are also working on studying water quality and vegetation management at both areas, which are part of the Northern Virginia Stream Restoration Bank Initiative.
RA COO Larry Butler noted that it’s not clear when the work related to invasive species will be completed, but it could take three to three-and-a-half years. The stream monitoring and mussel programs are expected to cost $2 million.
“The stream monitoring and mussel programs are five years with approximately four years remaining, with the work split between Snakeden Branch and the Glade watersheds,” Butler wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
Photo via Resource Protection Group
The unexpectedly long-running saga of Fairfax County Public Schools’ delayed National Merit Scholarship commendation notices has added a new page.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has petitioned the Fairfax County Circuit Court to require FCPS to turn over the full report it commissioned from an outside law firm in January, killing any hopes school officials had that releasing a summary of the review’s findings would resolve the state investigation.
Filing an objection in court yesterday (Monday), FCPS says the report by Sands Anderson is confidential, and the attorney general’s subpoena request — which also seeks witness interview notes and transcripts — would violate its attorney-client privileges.
“Various FCPS teachers and staff were interviewed as part of this independent investigation. We owe it to them to do everything we can to protect their privacy and personal security,” FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a statement. “As the Attorney General knows, multiple FCPS staff members have been harassed and threatened over this issue.”
Miyares launched an investigation into FCPS in January after Coalition for TJ co-founder Asra Nomani published a story alleging that Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology officials had deliberately delayed notifying students “commended” by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
Nomani claimed the notices were withheld in a “war on merit,” preventing students from citing the honor in early college applications. Experts say the preliminary SAT scores used by the NMSC aren’t heavily considered in admissions decisions.
Initially focusing on TJ before expanding the investigation to all of FCPS, Miyares said the delayed notices could constitute discrimination violating the Virginia Human Rights Act, referencing the lawsuit over changes to TJ’s admissions policy.
Hired to conduct a review for FCPS in response, Sands Anderson found communication gaps, staff absences and other logistical errors, but there was no evidence that schools intentionally withheld the “commended” notices from students, FCPS reported in March.
In a statement, Miyares’s office called FCPS’ objection to sharing the full report evidence that the school system “believes it is immune from Virginia’s anti-discrimination laws.”
“FCPS now confirms it will only comply with the law when politically convenient,” Miyares spokeswoman Victoria LaCivita said. “No school system is above the law. If the report shows no wrongdoing, then FCPS should release it. Attorney General Miyares’s investigation into this matter will continue.”
Noting that it has standardized how schools notify students about NMSC recognitions, FCPS says sharing the requested materials would violate the privacy and, potentially, the safety of teachers and administrators interviewed by Sands Anderson.
The school system didn’t detail specific incidents but said it has alerted the attorney general “to this concern and…the severity of the threats.”
“Turning over these privileged materials to the Attorney General would set a troubling precedent and could undermine the willingness of others to cooperate with similar inquiries in the future,” Reid said.
LaCivita said that Miyares “values the safety of Virginians above all else, and expects that FCPS reported any credible threats to the proper authorities.”
In a court filing, attorneys representing FCPS also argue that Miyares hasn’t shown “good cause” for why a subpoena is needed, per Virginia law:
In particular, the Attorney General has not shown why it cannot conduct a full investigation with the facts already within its possession, or why it must have access to a law firm’s privileged report of the firm’s separate analysis of the same information. Nor has the Attorney General explained why it waited months after learning of the Sands Anderson report to subpoena this information.
“As we have already shared thousands of documents related to this issue, the Attorney General’s office has all the facts it needs to complete its investigation,” Reid said.
The attorney general has been engaged in a similar court battle with Loudoun County Public Schools, which was recently ordered to share a report with prosecutors on its handling of two sexual assaults.
Retail Theft on the Rise, Police Say — “Organized retail theft is way up in Fairfax County, says MPO Howard Mergler of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Tysons Urban Team…During the past year, many millions of dollars worth of merchandise were stolen from the [Tysons] malls. That compares to just $4 million in the previous 10 years.” [Annandale Today]
Penn Daw Fire Station and Housing Concepts Shared — “Nearly 100 community members reviewed plans June 8 for a combination emergency shelter, affordable housing and firehouse being planned for the corner of Beacon Hill Road and Richmond Highway.” County staff presented three designs: one with a courtyard facing Beacon Hill, one with more open space in back and one with the building at the center of the site. [On the MoVe]
Community Group Partners With FCPS to Feed Students — “The group ‘Be the Good’ is partnering with Fairfax County Public Schools to ensure that food-insecure students have emergency access to food…The organization’s partnership with FCPS means that all Title I and Title I-eligible schools may receive a Free Little Food Pantry.” [DC News Now]
The Origin Stories for Two Local Roads — Temporary Road between Reston Parkway and North Shore Drive originally got its name as a placeholder, but no one ever got around to submitting the paperwork for a name change. Meanwhile, Attendee Road in Springfield owes its name to the telecommunications company AT&T. [The Washington Post]
Annual Poll Highlights N. Va. Restaurants and Retail — “No matter the kind of food, drinks, entertainment, shopping, beauty, or fitness services you need, you’ll find a wide array of options here in Northern Virginia. These are the results of our annual readers’ choice poll — and a few editors’ picks, too.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Career Fair for Military Servicemembers Tomorrow — “The Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce is presenting a career and resource fair for service members, veterans and their spouses on Wednesday, June 14. The event, at Embassy Suites, 8100 Loisdale Road in Springfield, will run from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.” [Inside NoVA]
Virginia Housing Protections Could Go Federal — “The realities of the housing market haven’t kept up with the letter of the law. The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2023 — a bill introduced in April by Sen. Kaine and California Reps. Scott Peters and Adam Schiff — could help hinder ongoing discrimination by enshrining protections for veterans and voucher holders at the federal level.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Broadway Coming to Wolf Trap This Week — “Wolf Trap is hosting its third annual ‘Broadway in the Park’ concert this Friday, June 16, at 8 p.m. Lea Salonga, the singing voice of Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’ and Mulan in ‘Mulan,’ will join Tony nominee Megan Hilty of ‘Wicked’ and ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ and local actors from Signature Theatre” [WTOP]
It’s Tuesday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 7 mph. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 3:10 p.m. A man who died by suicide in Richmond today (Monday) was responsible for a shooting, stabbing and carjacking in Reston yesterday, Fairfax County police say.
Officers were dispatched to a home in the 12000 block of Thunder Chase Drive at 1:58 a.m. yesterday, where they found one person inside with “multiple gunshot wounds,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“Officers immediately rendered medical aid and the victim was taken to the hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” police said.
A second person was found in a nearby car “suffering from a stab wound to the arm and trauma to the face,” police said. That person was also taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
According to the FCPD, the person who got stabbed had been assaulted and abducted in Henrico County by 45-year-old Dana Paul Roman, a Richmond resident. The woman told police that Roman drove her to Reston at gunpoint and tied her to the car seat by a belt, according to scanner traffic.
“When Roman and the victim arrived at the Thunder Chase Drive address, Roman got out of the car and began shooting,” hitting the person later found inside the home multiple times before fleeing, police said.
The FCPD searched the area with help from a K9 unit, helicopter and Virginia State Police to no avail.
According to police, Roman apparently carjacked and abducted a third individual in Reston and forced them to drive to Henrico County.
Henrico County Police reported at 10:24 a.m. that its officers had located Roman and “pursued him into the City of Richmond, where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound” at North 35th Street and East Marshall Avenue.
The FCPD says the shooting and stabbing victims were known to Roman. Before his death, detectives had obtained warrants charging him with abduction by force, carjacking, two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, malicious wounding, and assault.
Henrico police had also gotten warrants for malicious wounding and robbery.
“Detectives continue to actively investigate the circumstances that led up to the violent encounters,” the FCPD said.
Henrico Police were able to locate Roman and pursued him into the City of Richmond where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Richmond and Henrico Police forensics units are on site at 35th Street and E. Marshall Ave processing the scene.
More details to come shortly.
— Henrico Police (@HenricoPolice) June 12, 2023
After sleepy population growth over the last decade, Herndon planners expect the town will see significant population growth in the coming 10 to 15 years.
In a June memo to the Town of Herndon’s planning commission, head of long-range planning Ahmad Zaki said the changes must inform the town’s planning decisions.
Although the town’s decennial census showed a growth of 1,263 people between 2010 and 2020, that trend is expected to “change significantly in the coming 10-15 years,” Zaki wrote.
“By 2030 about 9,000 people will be added to the town’s population,” the memo states.
Housing stock in the Town of Herndon has increased by 206 units overall, according to the memo.
However, the town’s population estimates diverge from the ones calculated by Fairfax County, which said in its 2022 demographic report that the town shrank by 926 individuals and added 247 housing units between 2010 and 2020.
“The discrepancies could be due to household size and vacancy rate factors used in these estimates,” Zaki suggested in his memo.
The American Community Survey — an annual survey conducted by the Census Bureau — estimates suggest that the town’s population will grow from 25,935 individuals in 2025 to 39,430 individuals in 2040.
“The 2025 and onward population and housing projections are estimated using the new development projects with residential components that are within the review pipeline, and future land use growth data gleaned from the Town’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan and the various small area plans recently approved,” the memo states.
Town planners note that there are an “unprecedented” number of new housing developments expected in the town over the next 25 years, particularly between 2025 and 2030. That means there would be roughly two new housing units per day, according to the town.
“This magnitude of development, if realized and not prepared for, can put significant pressure on the town’s road network, utility infrastructure, and community services in a relatively short time,” the memo states.
The racial composition of the town has remained relatively consistent over the last 10 years, according to to the town. The 2020 census indicated that the median age for individuals in Herndon is age 35 — roughly three years younger than the median age in Virginia.
Between 2010 and 2015, the number of Spanish-speaking individuals increased by 10%, while the number of people speaking only English has declined by 9% over the same time period.
The town is expected to discuss population trends at a meeting before the commission tonight (Monday).
Metro Adds More Shuttles During Station Closures — “We recognize the crowding concerns with the Orange & Silver Line shuttle service and continue to adapt our plan. To help with crowding,” Metro has added Express shuttles running seven days a week between Rosslyn and McLean, and starting today (Monday), all routes will have more buses. [WMATA/Twitter]
Two Dead Bodies Found on Saturday — “At 9:21 a.m., officers with the City of Fairfax Police Department responded to the 9700 block of Fairfax Blvd” and found the body of an unidentified adult. At 9:55 a.m., Fairfax County police reported that another body was discovered in the 6200 block of Little River Turnpike. Both departments said there didn’t appear be a threat to the community. [FOX5]
“Heavy” Fire Put Out Near Reston — “Units [were] on scene of a structure fire near the intersection of Hunter Mill Road and Crowell Road in the Reston area. Arriving crews saw heavy smoke and fire coming from a seemingly abandoned structure. The fire is under control.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
N. Va. Home Sales Expected to Drop This Year — “The number of overall sales across Northern Virginia in 2023 is expected to decline 10 to 15 percent, compared with 2022…Fairfax County’s single-family home market will effectively see flat prices in 2023, with total sales down 10 percent and inventory (the number of active properties on the market) dropping 13 percent.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
McLean HS Beats Madison for Softball Championship — “Sore arm or not, [Hailey] Simpson wouldn’t be denied the opportunity to pitch for a state championship. For the third time in just over 24 hours, she took to the pitching circle for the Highlanders in their most important game of the season and spun a complete game, allowing just four hits to lift McLean to the summit, 2-1, in Aldie.” [The Washington Post]
Banking Company Moves From McLean to Tysons — “Primis Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: FRST) recently relocated its corporate headquarters from a low-slung brick building on Old Dominion Drive in McLean to the ninth floor of a recently renovated, Class A tower in the heart of Tysons.” The company says the move to 1676 International Drive could help it compete for “customers and talent.” [Washington Business Journal]
Pride Month Art Added at the Mosaic District — “Image360 Fairfax, a locally-owned and operated graphics design company, recently finished a project to help The Mosaic District celebrate Pride Month…In support of the LGBTQ+ community, Image360 installed an art display featuring a rainbow of flowers and empowering phrases at the atrium facing the Strawberry Lane public space.” [Patch]
Graduating Springfield Students Open Time Capsule — “As Lynbrook Elementary School students in Springfield boarded buses to head home, a handful of soon-to-be graduating seniors from nearby John Lewis High School returned to where they learned their ABCs to step back in time.” [ABC7]
It’s Monday — A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. High near 78. South wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. [Weather.gov]
Lake Anne’s plaza will once again spring to life this summer with concerts.
Lake Anne Live! — an event series that kicked off last year — brings Thursday evening concerts to the plaza from June 15 through July 27.
The free concerts will feature music and dance from local musicians and dance instructors. Attendees will also have the chance to dance along the instructors, according to a release by the Lake Anne and Washington Plaza Merchant Association (LAWPA).
In a statement to FFXnow, the LAWPA team said they decided to continue the series this year due to popular demand.
“Because of the great response, especially to our dance nights, and because of repeated requests from our community and neighbors, we decided to have them again this year,” LAWPA said. “Our aim is to bring our community together for dancing, music, and laughter through the Summer.”
The line-up includes the following:
- June 15 (6-9 p.m.): Salsa Instruction and Dance with David Norton
- June 22, (6-9 p.m.): Swing Instruction and Dance with Gottaswing; pet adoptions by Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
- June 29 (7-9 p.m.): Bruce Corsino concert
- July 6 (6-9 p.m.): Bachata Instruction and Dance with David Norton
- July 13 (7-9 p.m.): To be announced on Lake Anne Plaza’s social media pages
- July 20 (7-9 p.m.): Concert with the Reston Community Orchestra
- July 27 (6-9 p.m.): Salsa and Bachata Instruction and Dance with David Norton
The plaza is located at 1609 Washington Plaza North. All concerts are free.
In an effort to reduce heat islands in vulnerable communities, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services has applied for millions of dollars in grant funding to establish a street tree planting program.
The county will use its Vulnerability Index to identify communities in need of the program, according to county staff.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the department’s request on Tuesday (June 6) to apply for a $11.5 million Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
“The grant period is five years from the award date which is anticipated to be October 2023,” the board meeting package said.
Department of Public Works and Environmental Services spokesperson (DPWES) Sharon North told FFXnow the department is proposing to plant 1,000 trees over a five-year period. Although the county is looking at vulnerable communities, she said “no decision on the grant recipients will be made until October.”
The Forest Service announced the funding opportunity back in April. The UCF program received $1.5 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act to support urban tree planting and forest planning and management in at-risk communities.
“The Resilient Fairfax Plan notes that 91 percent of vulnerable households are in areas identified as having a significantly high urban heat island effect and that vulnerable populations are more likely to be impacted by extreme heat,” the package said.
Factors considered by the county’s vulnerability index include household income, education, English proficiency, health insurance and the percentage of the population that owns a home or vehicle.
If the county is awarded the funds, the program will also promote tree planting through partnerships with the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax County Public Schools, and nonprofit organizations.
The county also identifies specific activities that will receive the funding:
- identifying areas in the county that are heat vulnerable low tree canopy and/or areas where green infrastructure would provide additional community and resilience benefits
- planting and maintaining up to 5,000 native and/or climate-resilient street trees over five years in neighborhoods and within the right-of-way and on public property
- educating and engaging the public on the benefits of green spaces and trees
- expansion of a green workforce to maintain existing and new street trees.
The county launched a pilot program in 2021 that provides free trees to residents of areas with minimal tree canopy coverage. The program initially focused on the Richmond Highway corridor but was expected to shift to Bailey’s Crossroads this year.
A new neighborhood park is officially online at Reston Station just in time for the summer — although recent air quality advisories may deter some park-goers.
Developer EYA will host a grand opening ceremony tomorrow (Saturday) for the latest neighborhood playground and park at Reston Station.
The grand opening ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. with remarks at 10 a.m. Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn and Robbin Martz, a resident of the townhomes, are expected to speak at the park, which is bounded by Reston Station Blvd, Faraday Park Drive and Midline Avenue.
Music and activities for children of all ages are also planned.
The Townhomes at Reston Station development turned an office park into a mixed-use neighborhood near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. Other amenities in the area include plaza for seating, a bocce ball court, and a dog park.
McLean Quinn, president and CEO of EYA, told FFXnow that the project represents everything that the company seeks in redevelopment opportunities.
“By combining access to transit, a new grid of streets and plenty of green space like the newly opened park, we were able to design a neighborhood that brings homeowners closer to all the livable and walkable elements that fulfill our brand promise of life within walking distance,” Quinn said.
There are 113 units in the townhome community, along with a 229-unit apartment building with ground-floor retail that was sold to Elm Street Development. The townhomes — which are roughly 1,690-square-feet each — start from $850,000.
D.C. Area Briefly Had World’s Worst Air Quality — “‘Very unhealthy’ and ‘hazardous’ air quality put the health of people across the Washington, D.C., area at risk Thursday as smoke from wildfires in Canada brings some of the most polluted air ever recorded in the region.” Conditions improved to a Code Red into the evening, “but for a time Thursday, the D.C. area had the worst air quality in the world.” [NBC4]
Rep. Connolly Hosts Gun Violence Prevention Talk — In the wake of this week’s mass shooting at a Richmond high school graduation, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, and State Senator Jennifer Boysko will discuss gun violence prevention measures with local advocates. The panel will be streamed live at 10 a.m. today (Friday) on Channel 16. [Jeff McKay’s office]
Commuters Face Long Lines for Free Metro Shuttles — “While a shutdown affecting some Orange Line stations and an Orange and Silver transfer station started, commuters have shared frustrations about long waits for shuttles between closed stations. Metro is promising to address wait times with more buses and strategies to get shuttles through traffic congestion.” [Patch]
Springfield Appears Favored by FBI in HQ Search — “As Maryland and Virginia continue to battle to be the new home of the FBI’s headquarters, a document is being circulated that indicates the bureau itself prefers to move to Virginia.” The agency sees proximity to its training academy in Quantico as a priority, suggesting Springfield may have an edge over the two proposed Maryland sites. [WUSA9, Baltimore Banner]
Reston Contractor Opens Health Clinic — “QTC Medical Services Inc., a subsidiary of Reston government contractor Leidos Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LDOS), has opened a new flagship health clinic in Fairfax…The 7,800-square-foot space at 8505 Arlington Blvd. replaces a smaller facility in Alexandria that closed last month.” The clinic will mostly serve active and former military personnel, but it’s also expected to assist civilian federal government workers. [Washington Business Journal]
Candidates Sought for Reston Association Board — “Following the recent resignation of former Board of Directors President Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza, the Reston Association is seeking candidates interested in filling the remainder of her term.” The filing deadline is noon on Thursday, June 15, and the new at-large member will be appointed June 22. [Patch]
Students Showcase Auto Mechanical Skills in Burke — Lake Braddock Secondary School recently showed off work by students in its auto technology program. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority “donated 20 abandoned vehicles for the students to work on, and was on hand to meet with graduates about possible employment opportunities.” [WTOP]
Reston VC Firm Raises Millions — “Venture capital firm PROOF said it has raised $135 million in its third fund, ending a prolonged period of fundraising marked by both historic highs in 2021 and a more conservative environment of late…PROOF has yet to officially close its third fund but has already made 12 investments with that $135 million, [managing partner John] Backus said.” [DC Inno]
It’s Friday — Widespread haze. Patchy smoke. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. [Weather.gov]
Arrowbrook Centre, an anchoring mixed-use neighborhood near the Innovation Center Metro station, is moving one step forward to completion.
Several pieces of the 54-acre development, which is bounded by the Dulles Airport Access Road to the north and Centreville Road to the east, were approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a Tuesday (June 6) meeting.
Specifically, the proposal swaps a 435-unit residential building called Aura from the eastern corner of the property with an office building directly east to it. Aura will be constructed by Trinsic Residential Group.
The swap pushes a hotel planned at the site further east, leaving space for two office buildings at the corner of the site.
To maintain the terms of the charitable trust that governs the development, the developer is planning a partnership with the Virginia Tech Foundation and Virginia Cooperative Extension, a venture that focuses heavily on sustainable agriculture, culinary arts and urban farming programs.
So far, the development includes Ovation at Arrowbrook, a 274-unit development for lease to tenants earning between 30 and 60% of the area median income (AMI).
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay called Arrowbrook a “huge asset” for the county.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust applauded the applicant for installing Arrowbrook Park and the affordable housing component of the project.
“I think you’ve really created something special out there and you keep making it better,” Foust said.
Roughly 75% of 36,000 square feet of retail space is already leased to tenants like grocer Hello2India, Ornery Beer Company Public House and Paris Baguette. Chef Peter Chang has also leased 3,500 square feet at the development for a Mama Chang restaurant.
Overall, roughly 32% of the property is dedicated as open space.
The application is one of several in the county that was affected by the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling that temporarily voided Fairfax County’s newly modernized zoning ordinance. The board re-adopted the zoning code on May 9.
