(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) Developer Foulger-Pratt‘s unsolicited proposal to redevelop Bowman Towne Court in Reston has been scrapped, Fairfax County announced today.
In a termination letter, the developer cited “significantly higher construction costs and recent interest rate hikes” as the primary reason for ending the agreement. The team also stated that a 24% increase in the project’s overall costs — which would have delayed the completion of the site.
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority had approved an interim agreement with the developer in October to build up to 350 affordable apartments and a 40,000-square-foot Reston Regional Library on FCRHA-owned property at the intersection of Bowman Towne Drive and Town Center Parkway.
That leaves the county’s existing affordable housing at Bowman Towne Court in limbo. The construction of a new Reston Regional Library will also be delayed by several years, according to the county. Both facilities are at the end of their useful life.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said the withdrawal offers the public sector a chance to lead the redevelopment process in the future.
“The withdrawal of the unsolicited proposal under PPEA provides an opportunity for the public sector to better define the redevelopment approach for this site — instead of reacting to a developer’s ideas for highest and best use,” Alcorn wrote in a statement. “Our pressing public needs have not changed — starting with a new regional library, a new shelter, updated and more affordable housing.”
Until a future redevelopment plan is identified, the county’s housing authority will maintain its units on the site. Fairfax County Public Library is also evaluating how to meet the immediate challenges of its aging building.
“It is anticipated that a new library would be built through a public-private partnership in order to leverage a $10 million bond that voters approved in 2012. The existing library is at the end of its useful life, and a new building is urgently needed,” the county says.
Fougler-Pratt was the first to offer up the proposal to the county — a process that was publicly questioned by developer Norton Scott, which hoped to submit a competing proposal for consideration.
County housing officials anticipate that the location’s redevelopment is “inevitable,” given its proximity to the Reston Town Center Metro Station.
FCHRA will now prepare to seek redevelopment proposals for the project.
This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.
In times of stress, a positive attitude can help you stay healthy and happy. Multiple studies have indicated that positive thinking can benefit everything from your immune system to your heart health, and even your longevity.
Evidence of this is supported in the groundbreaking Age Well Study from Mather Institute. The Institute is the research arm of Mather, the parent organization to The Mather, a Life Plan Community coming to Tysons. The Age Well Study’s findings include evidence that older adults living in Life Plan Communities who scored high in optimism reported better levels of health and less stress than others.
What if you’re not a natural “glass half full” optimist? The good news is that you can teach yourself the skills to build positive thinking into a habit — and thus, approach even unpleasant situations in a more positive and productive way.
Follow these research-based tips to practice positive thinking. If you can stick with them, you can transform your outlook:
- Take 5 for Gratitude — Set aside time every day to reflect on what you’re thankful for. Write down — or mentally list — three things from the day that make you grateful.
- Flip the Script — Be aware of your “self-talk”, or your constant stream of automatic thoughts. This is where most of us reinforce negative or positive thinking about ourselves and the world around us. Evaluate your self-talk periodically and correct negativity. Practice positive self-talk.
- Put on a Happy Face — Even if you don’t feel like smiling, doing so can physically ease your stress. Acting happy can lead to actual happiness.
- Try a Fresh Perspective — Feeling sad or angry? Concentrate on looking for a positive side to the situation. Rather than stressing about being stuck at home, appreciate your surroundings and spend some time savoring your favorite music.
- Keep Moving — Physical activity boosts your mood, reduces stress, and makes it easier to focus on the positive. Ideally, exercise for 30 minutes a day — either all at once or in 10-minute increments.
If you’re not a natural positive thinker, you won’t change overnight. However, by practicing habits like the ones above, you can reduce negativity and enhance your health as well as your ability to cope with stress constructively.
The Mather in Tysons, VA, for those 62 and better, is a forward-thinking Life Plan Community that defies expectations of what senior living is supposed to be. It opens in 2024.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Nova Wild — formerly known as Roer’s Zoofari and, before that, Reston Zoo — will partially reopen this weekend with a new self-drive safari.
Customers will get the chance to experience different animals like bison, llamas, and emus from their vehicles. Tours begin Saturday, Feb. 11 and will continue every Friday through Sunday thereafter at the zoo, which is located at 1228 Hunter Mill Road. Each tour is 30 minutes.
The rebranded zoo isn’t expected to fully open until early March, Josh Reid, a spokesperson for the zoo told FFXnow. Reid said an official opening date is not yet available.
Tickets are $10 per person. Kids 3 and under are free. A cup of animal feed is available for purchase for $5.
The nonprofit is also working with Lumagica, a company that specializes in light shows, to bring a light show with more than 50,000 LED lights representing migration patterns to the zoo from Feb. 17 through April 19 to celebrate the zoo’s grand opening.
Tickets for the “Great Migration” light show are available online.
The zoo changed ownership late last year, FFXnow previously reported. Founder Tara Campbell Lussier — a real estate agent and a mom of three — says she looks forward to reinventing the zoo that she used to visit as she grew up in Reston.
“I’m excited to give local families the chance to experience wildlife firsthand, and we’re modernizing the property to create an optimal experience, both for our visitors and the animals that live here,” Campbell Lussier said.
The owners of the zoo stress the prioritization of animal welfare, education and conservation. It’s formed as a nonprofit organization with accreditation by the Zoological Association of America and American Humane.
Before the ownership changed, patrons of the zoo were offered a tram-assisted tour that brought its animals near the vehicle.
Hybla Valley Murder Case Dismissed — Fairfax County General District Court Judge Vanessa Jordan dismissed a second-degree murder case yesterday (Tuesday). Court records don’t explain the dismissal, but the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office says it plans to ask a grand jury to indict Francisco Joel Juares, who was arrested in August for the fatal shooting of D’Mari Norris. [The Washington Post]
Six New Markers Recognizing Black History Planned — “Six Historical Markers were chosen from a field of 53 submissions to honor the Black/African American Experience in the county…The next step in the process will be working with staff and members of the History Commission to refine the language of the markers, work with a vendor to create the marker and plan installations” [Fairfax County]
Vienna Man Charged for Disrupting Tobacco Store — “A Vienna man is facing multiple charges, including one for carrying a concealed weapon, after refusing to leave a business on Fairfax Boulevard last Thursday afternoon, according to the weekly crime report. Officers responded around 12:03 p.m., to the Tobacco King at 9607 Fairfax Blvd. for the report of a man…disrupting the business.” [Patch]
General Assembly Session Reaches Midpoint — “Lawmakers in the House of Delegates have reached bipartisan consensus on one major issue, gun safety: a bill to provide a tax credit for buying a gun safe…Other topics such as abortion, criminal justice and education have also produced little cooperation during a politically charged year when all 140 seats in the legislature are on the November ballot.” [The Washington Post]
County Businesses Added Over 12,000 Jobs Last Year — “Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) continued to successfully support businesses from start-ups to global companies growing in and relocating to Fairfax County. FCEDA worked with 148 businesses that announced the addition of 12,767 jobs to the Fairfax County economy in 2022.” [FCEDA]
Fridge Delays Slow Local Restaurant Openings — “Before the pandemic, it took a brisk four weeks to get [a refrigerator]. Now the wait can stretch to six months.” Affected businesses include Ellie Bird, a cafe that hoped to open in Falls Church last November but now has its fingers crossed for this month. [Washingtonian]
McLean Medical Startup Lands New Funding — “McLean’s ShiftMed LLC has raised a colossal $200 million in new funding to continue a massive expansion of its staffing platform, which connects health care provider organizations with clinical workers, to meet unrelenting demand for its services amid an industrywide labor crisis.” [Washington Business Journal]
Vienna Economic Development Director Honored — “Economic Development Director Natalie Monkou is among those named [Tuesday] as one of Northern Virginia’s 40 Under 40 honorees. The annual recognition is presented by the Leadership Center for Excellence and Leadership Fairfax, and it recognizes young professionals who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in their profession.” [Town of Vienna]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 57 and low of 44. Sunrise at 7:09 am and sunset at 5:39 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 11:20 a.m. on 2/8/2023) When March arrives, the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be an officially declared emergency in Fairfax County.
After honoring individuals and organizations in the community who helped the county respond to the pandemic this weekend, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today (Tuesday) to terminate the local state of emergency declaration that has been in place since March 17, 2020.
The declaration, which activated the county’s Emergency Operations Plan and allowed increased flexibility and resources to address the public health crisis, will end on March 1.
“This is a milestone,” Chairman Jeff McKay said. “We would not be here without the work of so many people in our county. We recognized our nonprofits, our county staff, really the vigilance of our community during some really difficult times, and so, it’s great that we’re able to do this.”
Fairfax County is possibly the last locality in Northern Virginia to end its emergency declaration. Loudoun County, Prince William, Alexandria, and Arlington all took that step last year.
Keeping the declaration in place gave the county “a lot of flexibility in collecting federal funds and other strategic advantages,” McKay said.
As fears of a surge in Covid cases akin to last winter’s omicron wave have dissipated, the county says that the time is right to end the declaration.
“The Declaration of Local Emergency has been an extremely valuable tool for us throughout the pandemic,” County Executive Bryan Hill said in a statement. “It gave us greater flexibility and authority to purchase supplies, find resources, move to virtual operations and meetings, support the business community, and protect the health and safety of our community. I commend our employees who have done an impressive job of reinventing how we deliver services to Fairfax County residents.”
At this point, the move won’t affect the daily lives of most community members. Since the county’s mass vaccine clinics shut down in December, there will be “no direct impact” on the health department’s approach to Covid.
The Health Department will continue to share important updates and resources concerning COVID-19 on its webpage and social media channels…Vaccines continue to be widely available throughout our community and at Health Department District Offices by appointment. Residents who are unable to access vaccines or boosters may call the Health Department Call Center at 703-267-3511 for assistance.
The end of the declaration is most notable for starting the clock on the county’s relaxed regulations for outdoor dining and other activities, such as the use of speakers during outdoor religious services, to use an example cited by Department of Planning and Development Director Tracy Strunk.
Any businesses with an emergency waiver will be allowed to continue using it until March 1, 2024 — 12 months after the declaration ends.
Strunk said county staff will present options for allowing outdoor dining in parking lots to continue on a universal basis this spring, as requested by the board at a land use policy committee meeting in October.
“I know there are a number of locations in my district where we see more outdoor dining that didn’t have it before — not necessarily right now, but certainly when the weather’s just a little bit warmer,” Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross said. “We need to make sure they all understand what happens and how some of those things will go forward.”
The county’s Covid community level is low, as of Thursday (Feb. 2). The Fairfax Health District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, is currently averaging 119 cases and 4.6 deaths per day for the past week, according to county health department data.
There have been 265,428 Covid cases, 5,307 hospitalizations and 1,775 deaths in the district.
Loyal Companion is letting out one final howl before permanently shuttering all of its stores in Fairfax County.
Independent Pet Partners, the pet wellness chain’s parent company, announced yesterday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to close all its stores outside of Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
That includes Loyal Companion’s stores in Vienna, Tysons, Herndon, Merrifield’s Mosaic District, and Pender shopping mall in the Fair Oaks area. The closure announcement was first reported by Patch.
All stores will close after Feb. 28, according to a message on the company’s website.
To our Loyal Companion community,
With a heavy heart, we want to inform you that we’ve made the tough decision to close our Loyal Companion stores. We have loved serving the community and supporting you on your pet wellness journey.
Our stores will be open through the end of February. We will be offering liquidation discounts and we encourage you to take advantage of these great offers to get all the supplies you need.
While it’s hard to say goodbye, it’s easy to say thank you. Thank you for being part of our family. Thank you for caring about pet wellness. And thank you for supporting your local community.
We’ve enjoyed all the hugs and belly rubs along the way.
~ Your Loyal Companion Team
All products are now 10 to 30% off at the closing stores. Furniture and equipment is also for sale, per signs posted at the Mosaic District location.
Loyal Companion launched in 2019 with a massive, coordinated opening of 52 new stores. The business prides itself on a focus on nutrition and the availability of holistic services, including food, grooming, veterinarian care, training and pet day care.
“We are confident we can use the chapter 11 process to emerge as a stronger, more focused business, and better able to serve our customers,” Independent Pet Partners said in a press release. “For those stores that are closing, and for markets we will no longer serve, we will do everything possible to try to find buyers for these locations so our pet parents can continue to be served.”
Loyal Companion says it’s no longer accepting returns, but refunds will be offered until the stores officially close.
Herndon’s Arrowbrook Centre (2340 Silver Way) is rapidly building out its 28-acre mixed use community.
South Asian grocery store Hello2India has signed a lease at mixed-use project, which is located off the Dulles Toll Road.
According to a report by Northern Virginia Magazine, roughly 50% of retail space has been leased.
The grocery store will take up roughly 13,000 square feet of space at the development.
The residential component of the project includes 274 affordable apartments, along with a dog park, soccer field, tennis courts, playground and picnic pavilion.
Additional development is also planned at the campus.
Ornery Beer Company Public House has also signed a lease at the site. It’s expected to open in the third or fourth quarter of the year.
The grocery and developer did not return requests for comment from FFXnow.
By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
I was taking part in a non-work related meeting recently where acronyms and new terms were flying around at a dizzying pace. No matter what industry you work in, it’s often easy to forget the words you use as part of your everyday vernacular mean little to others and can cause confusion and, ultimately, frustration.
It got me thinking about how that translates to the home remodeling world. There is no one-approach-fits-all when it comes time to update your home. It can be bewildering trying to figure out exactly what type of contractor or home remodeler you need for the project you are thinking about. So, this month, we’re here to explain one of the ways to remodel by taking a deeper dive into the world of ‘design-build’.
First things first, what does design-build mean? In its simplest form, it means a company ‘designs everything it builds and builds everything it designs’. It’s a one-stop-shop experience so you contract with one company as opposed to hiring an interior designer (and/or architect, if needed) for designs and then having to find a separate construction company (and, in many cases, a project manager who can bridge the two).
The biggest advantage of a design-build approach is the company does all the heavy lifting and brings a team of people to the table to work on your home.
Most design-build home remodeling companies like Synergy Design & Construction have an in-house team of experts who partner with you from the design of your dream space all the way through to the end of construction — usually all professionally project managed along the way. In most cases, design-build companies have Interior Designers, Carpenters and Project Managers as full time employees. Others may even have in-house mechanical, electrical, plumbing and paint/drywall experts on their team. However, most (Synergy included) outsource speciality work to preferred and trusted trade partners as they are only needed at certain points in the overall project.
The other advantage in having one company who is responsible for your project from start to finish is that you have a much more realistic idea of cost/budget and timeline earlier in the process because the designers/architects and construction teams work hand-in-hand. Having a fantastic project designed on paper by an architect or interior designer with all the bells and whistles is no use to you if the construction company comes back with a quote that is triple your budget.
Lastly, working with one company means you have one point of accountability, but it also lets you get to know your team. Here’s one of our in-house carpenters at a recent home remodel in Reston. All of our carpenters are highly skilled, passionate about the work they do and develop relationships with the family they are working with. They take great pride in their work and clients have actually told us they miss having the crew around once the project is done!
We assign a Lead Carpenter to every project we work on who knows all the ins and outs and details of your project. They focus on top notch work and deadline driven projects. Carpenters and construction crews will be in your life for a while during a home remodel, so we think it’s important to know who’s in your home — find out why here.
Find out more about our team here.
That all sounds great, but what are the downsides? Well, the scope for most design-build firms tends to be larger, complex, design-thoughtful remodels. To give you an example, at Synergy, we do not work on powder room or pantry remodels as a standalone service, but we do include these as part of larger projects such as remodeling all of the bathrooms in a home, or a kitchen plus pantry remodel. In the same way you don’t need an accountant to balance your checkbook, you don’t need a design-build firm for a simple bathroom update. Thinking of a smaller remodel or refresh that doesn’t need a design-build approach but don’t know where to start? Then read this.
The other factor is you may pay more (but not always) for the all-inclusive service. In our experience, however, although design-build may sound more expensive at the outset, the time saved (not to mention the stress relief) of not having to find different experts and companies to work with and knowing your chosen company understands your scope and budget at the outset is money well spent (and dollars saved in the long run).
Ready to take the next step on your home remodeling project? Get in touch! We’re always happy to help homeowners in the area figure out if we’re the right fit for their needs.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The topic of pay for the Herndon Town Council is on the legislative body’s docket again.
After instituting the first pay increase in nearly 15 years for the 2023-2024 term, the council is considering the possibility of reducing pay to previous levels.
The move, pitched by Vice Mayor Clark Hedrick, is in response to fiscal constraints and the current economic climate. The discussion is in the early phases of the legislative process.
“The Town of Herndon is facing continued challenges in maintaining its labor force, which could, in part be addressed through retention bonuses, incentives for prospective employees, higher cost-of-living adjustments, and base pay increases,” meeting materials said.
The memo also flags “significant revenue uncertainty” rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic to the town’s tax revenue streams. Specifically, the proposal cites rising energy costs, record-high inflation and the increase of tax bills across the town.
The proposal would put council pay at $4,000 for council members and $6,000 for the mayor through Jan. 1, 2025. After that, pay would return to $15,000 per year for the mayor and $10,000 per year for council members, according to the proposal.
Hedrick argues that the proposal would not significantly impact the quality of candidates that run for open seats.
“The Council is made of up public servants and recent Town elections have seen no shortage of qualified candidates seeking the office of either mayor or council member,” the memo says.
Before pay increases went into effect this year, the council was among the lowest paid bodies across local jurisdictions — even those that are somewhat smaller than the town’s population of roughly 24,300 people.
Before the salary increases approved last year, council members were paid $4,000 per year — a little over $6,000 below the average of jurisdictions in Virginia. The mayor received $6,000 per year — also $6,000 less than the state average.
In comparison, the City of Fairfax — which has a comparable population of 24,000 — pays $12,000 a year to council members and $13,000 for the mayoral position, according to town materials.
Legislators in the City of Manassas have the highest pay — $15,579 for council members and $20,000 for mayor — although the city’s population stands at more than 41,000.
Hedricks did not return a request for comment from FFXnow. The council is expected to discuss the matter at a meeting tonight (Tuesday).
Mayor Sheila Olem cast the lone dissenting vote against last year’s proposal to increase council pay, calling the plan too big of a raise.
Local Task Force Deployed to Turkey — “Members of Virginia Task Force 1 in Fairfax County are making plans to head to Turkey and Syria after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit parts of the countries, killing thousands of people and leaving thousands of others missing among the rubble. The task force team will consist of 79 people and six dogs, the task force said in a tweet Monday afternoon.” [Patch]
County Honors Partners in Covid Response — “On Saturday, Feb. 4, more than 1,000 community members and organizations gathered at the Fairfax County Government Center for an official recognition ceremony hosted by the Health Department and the Board of Supervisors.” [Fairfax County]
Fairfax Connector Launches New Route — Fairfax Connector held a ribbon-cutting yesterday for its newest route: Route 660, “a new, limited-stop, weekday express service that operates from Centreville to the Tysons Metrorail Station, via the Fairfax County Government Center and Vienna Metrorail Station. Route 660 operates in the I-66 Express Lanes every ten minutes in both directions.” [Fairfax Connector]
Virginia May Ease Emissions Rules for Data Centers — “Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality says it may loosen emissions rules so those server farms can get more power from emergency generators this spring instead of the grid amid energy supply worries.” The department is “concerned” about “severe, localized constraints in electricity transmission” in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Fort Belvoir Gets New Cafe — “A new café featuring a mix of Vietnamese, Mediterranean and Mexican foods opened in December at the Fort Belvoir Community Center. HarpaZo, operated by Ngoc Pham, offers a variety of fresh house-made sandwiches, tacos, bowls, sides and beverages, as well as a breakfast sandwich served on toasted Vietnamese baguette.” [On the MoVe]
Local Newspaper “Effectively” Shutters — “The Sun Gazette newspaper has not published new articles on its website since Friday and may have printed its last edition.” Key staff from the outlet, which covered Arlington and parts of Fairfax County, have been hired for a new paper called Gazette Leader that will launch later this week. [ARLnow]
Local Teen Is Aces at Pickleball — “At just 18 years old, Fairfax County’s Alix Truong is one of the top pickleball players in the country…A multi-sport high school athlete, Truong took up pickleball with her dad during the pandemic, realized she was a natural, and is now winning tournaments on the APP pro tour.” [ABC7]
Learn About Spring Street Widening Construction — The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a meeting Monday, Feb. 13 at the Herndon Community Center “on the work underway in the area of Spring Street and Herndon Parkway to improve safety and operations for drivers and safety, accessibility and connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians.” [VDOT]
It’s Tuesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 54 and low of 31. Sunrise at 7:10 am and sunset at 5:38 pm. [Weather.gov]
Cinnamon roll lovers can soon get their fix, as a new gourmet shop opens in Herndon.
Cinnaholic plans to open at the Village Centre at Dulles (2451 Centreville Road) this summer or autumn, according to owner Jessica Papa.
Papa says the 600-square-foot location will serve cinnamon rolls, cookie cakes, and other dairy-free and egg-free options.
“I’m hoping Cinnaholic visitors find joy and excitement while mixing and matching amongst the dozens of different icings and toppings,” Papa said.
Cinnaholic has over 70 locations across the U.S. and Canada. The Herndon location is expected to be Virginia’s first. Another location is planned Stafford.
“I’m bringing compassionate dessert options to my hometown,” Papa said, adding that most items on the menu are free of common allergens.
County permits show that alterations to the tenant space are underway.
Reston Association has announced a full slate of candidates for the upcoming Board of Directors’ election.
Voting begins at 5 p.m. on March 1, with many available seats contested this year. A 10% quorum is required for uncontested races.
Five seats are open for the month-long election: three at-large director seats, Hunters Woods/Dogwood District director, and apartment owners’ representative.
The apartment owners’ representative seat is elected by apartment owners, so that is not a seat that the general membership votes for, according to RA spokesperson Mike Leone.
The following is a breakdown for the race:
At-Large Director (3-year term):
John Farrell
Margaret Perry
Robert (Jeff) Spurrier
Gene ZapfelAt-Large Director (2-year term):
Trevor Grywatch
Jalal MaparAt-Large Director (1-year term):
Michael Brandland
Robert PetrineHunters Woods/Dogwood District Director (3-year term):
Travis JohnsonApartment Owner’s Representative (3-year term):
Michael Collins
Members can also submit mailed ballots. The nine-member board oversees the association’s goals and policy matters, along with the passage of RA’s biennial budget.
Johnson was recently selected by the board to fill a seat that was vacated this past fall.
Daring Deer Dashes Across I-66 — Fairfax County police officers “were called to the Monument Drive ramp of I-66 just after 12:15 p.m. on Jan. 28. When officers arrived, they found a deer that appeared to be stuck on the scaffolding…Animal Protection Police attempted to catch the deer but the animal eluded officers before taking off across the roadway. Thankfully, the deer was not hurt and a serious crash was avoided.” [WUSA9]
No Jail Time for Driver After Fatal Herndon Crash — “A Northern Virginia family wants laws changed after a distracted driver caused an accident that killed an 86-year-old grandfather and war veteran. The driver walked away from court with just a small fine and not a single day of jail time.” [WUSA9]
Northrop Grumman Selling Former Tysons Office — “Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) is selling an office campus near the McLean Metro station, billing it as a potential multifamily conversion opportunity in the Tysons submarket. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., a subsidiary of the aerospace giant, owns the roughly 12-acre property at 7555 Colshire Drive, currently home to a 602,000-square-foot, two-building office complex built in 2001” [Washington Business Journal]
Asian Food Truck Opens Cafe in Vienna — “The Mixx Delight, an Asian fusion eatery serving sweet and savory options, is now open in Vienna. The Town of Vienna and Vienna Business Association hosted a ribbon cutting Thursday for the new business at 448 Maple Ave. E. The Mixx Delight replaces Madeleine Proust, a bakery that suddenly closed in 2022.” [Patch]
Frontier Plaza Eyed for Redevelopment — “Grosvenor wants Fairfax County to clear the regulatory way so it might redevelop a Springfield shopping center as residential mixed-use, indicating a vote of confidence for an area with a lot of growth potential that hasn’t quite yet taken off.” The proposed plan amendment “would raze and replace 106,000 square feet of 1990s-era buildings with four new buildings, altogether comprising 626,000 [square feet] of residential and 117,000 of retail uses.” [WBJ]
Redesign Planned for Frying Pan Animal Pens — “Big News! The Turkey, Peacock and Ducks pens at Frying Pan Park in Herndon are being completely rebuilt and redesigned. New sheds, fencing and pond will be a wonderful functional upgrade for the birds and for the staff who care for them. Visit often to see the progress.” [Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park/Facebook]
Mount Vernon HS Hires New Football Coach — “Isaiah Taylor, former head coach of Wicomico High (“Wi-Hi”) School’s football team in Salisbury, Maryland, has been selected as the new head football coach for the Mount Vernon Majors…Taylor replaced former head football coach Monty Fritts who stepped down in November.” [On the MoVe]
Therapy Dogs Help Out at Springfield School — “When Kris Campesi heads to the Key Center School in Fairfax County, Virginia, she brings a wide range of objects designed to appeal to students. But it’s her partner who gets the kids excited. Micah, a Golden Retriever, is trained to work with students at the school who range from 5 to 22 years old and who have a range of special needs and intellectual disabilities.” [WTOP]
It’s Monday — Clear throughout the day. High of 47 and low of 39. Sunrise at 7:11 am and sunset at 5:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
A CBD boutique is coming soon to Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza.
OmBaked is expected to open in the spring. It’s founded Radhika Murari, a Restonian who moved to the community in 1991.
Murari says she wanted to open the company’s first retail location to be surrounded by like-minded business owners who support the local community.
“Lake Anne Plaza is the heart of Reston and embodies the principles of Live, Work, Play upon which Reston was founded,” Murari wrote in a statement.
Here’s more from the company on what they plan to offer:
OmBaked will sell CBD products that help us Move Better, Focus Better, Relax Better, Sleep Better, and Eat Better. We will also sell CBD products for furbabies. The products will cover the whole range; from bath bombs, body lotion, soft gels, and beverages.
Murari is also behind the concept OmMade peanut butter, a venture that recently received a state and local grant. The business features gluten-free peanut butter that uses local state peanuts to create flavors.
OmBaked is a storefront for the OmMade brand.
The Reston location is an extension of Murari’s effort to invest in the economy and health of her local community, according to the company.
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
Are you an inspired foodie like me?
If so, I am sure you are ready to experience some of the newest restaurants in Fairfax County. The list has something for everyone!
Roots Natural Kitchen (Fairfax) — Fast casual dining serving natural foods. Pick a signature grain bowl or salad, or customize your own.
Kusshi Ko (Vienna) — Specializes in modern Japanese cuisine. Don’t forget to check out the area’s largest selection of sake and whisky!
Davio’s (Reston) — The white tablecloths of their spacious, relaxed dining room serve as the perfect stage for Davio’s signature Northern Italian steaks, veal chops, and handmade pasta creations.
Kirby Club (Mosaic) — Kirby Club tells the Middle Eastern-American story through food. It’s a place where everyone belongs exactly as they are. All they ask is that you bring your full, vibrant self… ready for a good time.
Milk & Honey Café (Fairfax) — Milk & Honey Café is a New Orleans-themed Southern Brunch that features award-winning shrimp & grits, chicken & waffles, Rum Chata French toast. They specialize in other slow-cooked, mouth-watering favorites.
Circa at The Boro (Tysons) — Whether dropping in for brunch, lunch, or dinner — every meal is accompanied by an extensive wine list and a seasonal cocktail list.
AmThai By Kanjana (Burke) — Traditional Thai with a twist. It’s delicious!
Harvey’s (Falls Church) — “Home to Good Food and Friends” is their tagline for a reason. You have to check out this gem in the Little City of Falls Church.
Èl BEBE at The Boro (Tysons) — The website sums it up perfectly. “ÈL BEBE is a tribute to those who work hard and deserve all the tacos and tequila they can handle. This is a judgment-free taco zone and we applaud the grind as well as the unwind.”
Explore Fairfax with Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
