In their quest to boost the region’s limited housing supply, Northern Virginia leaders have explored a variety of potential solutions.
Arlington and Alexandria in particular garnered plenty of headlines — and legal scrutiny, in the county’s case — when officials voted separately last year to allow more dense housing in areas previously reserved for single-family detached homes, among other zoning reforms.
Fairfax County, however, has no plans at the moment to follow in its neighbors’ footsteps by eliminating single-family-only zoning, according to Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.
Instead, the county hopes to increase and diversify its housing stock with more targeted policies, such as looser rules for accessory living units (ALUs) and workforce housing requirements, that can accommodate the different character and needs of different neighborhoods.
“Every county and city is different, and so, I’m not in a position to critique what Arlington and Alexandria have done,” McKay told FFXnow. “But we’ve been careful in Fairfax County to make sure that we can grow our affordable housing base and, at the same time, protect the integrity of our single-family neighborhoods…They’re in a different place [in their development schedule], and so, they have reached the point where they believe the only way they can address the ‘Missing Middle’ is to eliminate single-family [only] development. We are nowhere close to that point in Fairfax County.”
Size matters
The D.C. metropolitan area ranks 10th in the U.S. for “pent-up housing demand” due to a lack of supply and elevated mortgage rates, according to the National Association of Realtors. The tight supply fuels high prices that are expected to keep rising in 2024, peaking in June at a median of $935,930 for a single-family house, per a Northern Virginia Association of Realtors and George Mason University forecast.
Faced with limited space for new development, proponents of Arlington’s “Missing Middle” zoning changes and Alexandria’s “Zoning for Housing” initiative argued that opening up single-family-exclusive lots to different types of housing, such as duplexes and townhouses, will allow more units to be built, easing market pressures that have sent median single-family sales prices soaring over $1 million in both localities.
Though those measures didn’t exactly pass with ease, eliminating single-family-only zones in a place of Fairfax County’s size would be “a little bit more challenging,” says Jill Norcross, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA).
“There’s just a lot more people, a lot more housing units and communities,” she said.
Of the 426,412 housing units in the county as of 2022, 46.1% are single-family detached houses, while 29.6% are multi-family residences and 24.2% are single-family detached homes, per the county’s most recent demographic report. In comparison, Arlington and Alexandria, respectively, are about 70 to 75% multi-family housing.
Parts of Fairfax County are dominated by single-family houses, which range from the mansions of McLean and Great Falls — the kind that Arlington leaders have said they’re trying to avoid — to older, smaller ranch-style or split-level homes like those found in Annandale or Groveton. Then, there are areas like Reston, where more than 80% of homes are townhouses, apartments or condominiums, according to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.
That variety means “a one-size-fits-all answer here is no good,” McKay says. Read More
A new future is brewing for Elden Street Tea Shop, as the local business sheds its address of more than six years and moves from Herndon to Reston.
The business expected to open at Lake Anne Plaza in the spring.
Rachel Eisenfeld, co-owner of the business, said the tea shop outgrew its current location, especially for tea party events, with more local tea enthusiasts visiting more regularly after the pandemic.
“We would have liked to stay in our current location and opened a second location,” Eisenfeld said by email. “However, we were not able to come to a resolution on our new lease terms with the landlord. We are excited to bring a little bit of Historic Herndon to Historic Reston!”
The Herndon location at 714 Pine Street is expected to close on Saturday, Jan. 27.
The shop will reopen in Reston by March or April of this year, according to Eisenfeld. During the interim, the tea shop will offer online purchases and pickups at Lake Anne and tea parties in Tysons in February.
The tea parties in Tysons will be hosted at The Tower Club in Towers Crescent (8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 1700), but access is by ticket or appointment only.
The Reston location will feature full tea service options and more themed tea events, such as yoga and tea meditation, paddle board tea time, open mic night and literary tea hours.
“We are excited to have a space to continue new and unique tea events in and provide the cozy communitea we are known for,” Eisenfeld said.
The tea shop is expected to celebrate its big move at the Northern Virginia Tea Festival on May 4 and 5.
FCPS Delays Classes After Snow — “All Fairfax County public schools and school offices will open two hours late tomorrow. Central Office employees may report two hours later than their regular scheduled time, but no later than 10 a.m…Central offices will open to the public at 10 a.m.” [FCPS]
Man Arrested for Impersonating Police Officer — “A 31-year-old Georgia man is facing charges after City of Fairfax police said he impersonated a law enforcement officer and deceived four people into paying him money. Officials said they were made aware of multiple cases of fraud in June 2023.” [WJLA]
County Recognizes National Day of Racial Healing — The Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), Board of Supervisors and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) leaders proclaimed Jan. 16 a National Day of Racial Healing. “The event recognized the partnership between NCS and NOVA to promote racial healing and upward mobility that will secure a more equitable, just and inclusive community.” [NCS]
More Capital Bikeshare Stations Proposed — “The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host a virtual meeting on expanding the Capital Bikeshare network in the Mount Vernon District at a virtual meeting on Thursday, Jan. 18″ at 7 p.m. Twelve new stations are proposed around the Huntington Metro Station, Fort Hunt Park and Mount Vernon Trail. [FCDOT]
Vote on Reston AC Service Planned — The Reston Association Board of Directors approved a referendum starting Feb. 16 on whether to repeal a deed provision requiring Lake Anne customers to obtain air-conditioning services from RELAC. “There will be two public hearings held on Feb. 5 and 12 for RELAC customers to provide feedback and learn more about what the referendum entails.” [Patch]
State Lawmakers Debate Raising Minimum Wage — “Among the first bills to draw such partisan debate was legislation that would raise the minimum wage in Virginia, which currently sits at $12 per hour. Under the bill, the minimum wage would increase to $13.50 per hour in 2025, and then rise again to $15 in 2026. The bill passed through the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor Monday by a 9-6 vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed.” [WTOP]
Blood Drive Coming to McLean — “January is National Blood Donor Month and the McLean Volunteer Fire Department encourages local residents to participate in its blood drive on Friday, Jan. 26. The fire department, in partnership with Inova Blood Donor Services, will hold the event from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at its station, located at 1455 Laughlin Ave.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies with a high near 29 and a west wind ranging from 7 to 13 mph. As the night progresses, there will be increasing cloud coverage and a low temperature around 19. Winds will shift to the southwest, blowing at 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
A local family is seeking financial support after a late December pedestrian crash critically injured a mother and her son on Elden Street in Herndon.
“We were simply walked home after grocery shopping when a driver ran off the road and hit my five year old son, my wife and me,” Armando Verduo in a message for a GoFundMe campaign.
As of today (Tuesday), the campaign has raised nearly $17,500 of a $50,000 goal. The funds will be used to pay for medical bills and other expenses, Verduo said.
A driver hit the family on Herndon Parkway near the Elden Street intersection on Dec. 28. The boy was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, and the woman was taken to Reston Hospital. The driver remained at the scene.
Verduo, who suffered minor injuries, said public safety personnel extricated his wife from underneath a car that was pinned on top of her.
“Neither of us can work and the medical bills and expenses are adding to the catastrophe we are now living,” he wrote in the campaign.
The Herndon Police Department has not publicly released any additional information related to the crash.
“The case is still under investigation,” HPD spokesperson Lisa Herndon said.
Taim Mediterranean Kitchen has officially opened its doors at Plaza America.
The restaurant opened at 11692 Plaza America Drive in Reston on Dec. 6. To celebrate, Taim offered a feast on the house that was attended by over 800 people, according to a company representative.
“We’ve received many requests to bring authentic Mediterranean food to the area and are excited to bring taim to the Reston community so they can experience the many great flavors and dishes from the Mediterranean,” said Phil Petrilli, the D.C.-based founder of Untamed Brands, which owns Taim.
The opening in Reston was first reported by The Burn.
Known for its falafels, Taim kicked off in New York City’s West Village in 2005 and has since expanded to several locations in New Jersey, Maryland and D.C., including Pimmit Hills and Fairfax.
The chain is in line to take over Vienna’s former Cold Stone Creamery, but the company representative said they had no updates on when that location is expected to open.
Customers can build a bowl, pita and salad. Sides include hummus and seasoned pita, baklava and tzatziki.
Health officials are cautioning the public about a possible measles exposure in Northern Virginia.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, someone who traveled through Northern Virginia from abroad was confirmed to have measles.
“Out of an abundance of caution, VDH is informing people who were at various locations, including Dulles International Airport on January 3, 2024, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 4, 2024, that they may have been exposed,” the department said in a news release on Saturday (Jan. 13).
The health department will identify people who may have been exposed — including by contacting potentially exposed passengers on specific flights.
The exposure window at Dulles Airport was in the international arrivals area of the main terminal between 4 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3, and at National Airport in terminal A between 2:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Measles is a highly contagious illness that is spread through coughing, sneezing and contact with droplets from the noise, mouth and throat of an infected individual.
VDH says anyone who has two doses of a vaccine against measles is protected. Those who have one dose of the vaccine are likely protected, but the department suggests contacting a health care provider to schedule a second dose to ensure full protection.
Anyone who is not vaccinated against measles or has contracted the disease should contact the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-246-2411 or a health care provider.
In the first stage of the illness, people have a fever of more than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough. The second stage begins around the third to seventh day with the appearance of a rash on the face that could spread over the entire body.
Here’s more from VDH on what to do if you may have been impacted by an exposure:
If you have never received a measles containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who was exposed and is at risk of developing measles should watch for symptoms until January 25, 2024. If you notice the symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home and away from others. Contact your healthcare provider right away. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the health department. This will help protect other patients and staff.
If you have received two doses of a measles containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
If you have an immuno-compromising condition, please consult with your healthcare provider if you have questions or develop symptoms.
If you have received only one dose of a measles containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve complete immunity, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.
D.C. Area’s Snow Drought Is Over — “It’s official! Over 1” of snow so far in DC & Baltimore, first time in approx. two years we’ve had this much snow! Through 7 PM,” Dulles International Airport had recorded 1.8 inches of snow, surpassing 1 inch for the first time in 673 days, while the same amount at National Airport broke a 728-day drought. [National Weather Service/Twitter]
Vienna Cancels Morning Classes for Snow — “Due to inclement weather, Vienna Parks and Rec. classes and programs scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 16 are cancelled until 1 p.m. at the Community Center and Bowman House. Essential Town employees must report as scheduled. Liberal leave is in effect for all other Town employees.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
Teen Fatally Stabbed in Annandale — “A 17-year-old boy is dead and two others are wounded following a stabbing in Annandale, Virginia, on Saturday. The killing marks what police say is Fairfax County’s first homicide of the year. It happened at around 11:30 p.m. in the 4200 block of Wadsworth Court, according to Fairfax County police.” A 14-year-old and an 18-year-old were hospitalized. [WTOP]
Stuff the Bus Food Drive Underway — “Beginning Jan. 13, 2024, and continuing every Saturday through Feb. 17, 2024, a Fairfax County Fastran bus will visit local grocery stores to collect donated food and household items. Since launching in 2011, the campaign has collected more than 281,500 pounds of food to benefit local non-profit food pantries, resulting in 200,000 meals for those in need.” [Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services]
County Staff Propose Data Center Regulations — “Fairfax County planning staff issued a report on data centers that recommends additional requirements to address the potential negative impacts on the environment and nearby residential communities.” Recommendations include requiring that all facilities get special exception approval, which involves public hearings by the planning commission and Board of Supervisors. [Annandale Today]
Man Arrested for Stabbing Dog in Falls Church — A 25-year-old from Broadlands was arrested by Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) police in a traffic stop near Dulles Airport at 11 a.m. yesterday (Monday). He will “face charges by the City of Falls Church for stabbing a dog that resulted in the animal being euthanized” on Sunday (Jan. 14). [City of Falls Church]
Report Highlights Impact of Arts on County’s Economy — “ArtsFairfax officials announced Jan. 10 that Fairfax County’s nonprofit arts-and-culture industry generated $260.3 million in economic activity in fiscal year 2022, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6), a study conducted by Americans for the Arts.” [Gazette Leader]
Lorton Church Celebrates 250th Anniversary — “Known as the home church of George Washington and George Mason, Pohick Episcopal Church in Lorton is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its Georgian-style building and location in 2024. According to the church’s rector, Rev. Lynn Ronaldi, a series of anniversary events have been scheduled throughout the year, starting…with the Jan. 14 bell ringing ceremony.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Tuesday — Expect snow until 1 pm, followed by cloudy skies and a high of 33 degrees. The northeast wind of 5-15 mph will shift to the northwest in the afternoon, with possible gusts reaching 22 mph. There is a 50% chance of precipitation. For Tuesday night, the weather will be mostly clear and feature a low of 16 degrees. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County Public Schools is using up its first snow day of the year, canceling all classes and other activities on school grounds tomorrow (Tuesday) as flurries continue to blanket the D.C. area.
Affected activities include extracurricular programs, sports practices, field trips, outside recreation classes, adult education classes and the School Age Child Care (SACC) centers.
FCPS has 11 snow days built into its calendar, and unlike in the past couple of years, students don’t need to fear a shift to virtual classes after the first five days.
A Winter Weather Advisory is currently in effect for the county through 7 a.m. tomorrow. The National Weather Service projects that this storm could result in two to three inches of snow accumulation, along with possible freezing rain and drizzle, according to the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management.
“Snow intensity will increase this evening before tapering off overnight,” the NWS said, warning that the “hazardous” road conditions could still affect tomorrow’s morning commute.
In anticipation of the roadways becoming a challenge, Fairfax Connector will reduce service starting at 8 p.m. today (Monday). The bus system will continue running several routes on a holiday weekday service, but some will end at or around 8 p.m.
Fairfax Connector will operate reduced service tonight beginning at 8 p.m (1/15) and will operate Saturday service tomorrow (1/16). Our call center is also open 5AM-10PM, M-F. Stay safe! More details: https://t.co/z6kTBDOUeK pic.twitter.com/0VUqOCluVD
— Fairfax Connector (@ffxconnector) January 15, 2024
Tomorrow, the Connector will implement a Saturday service schedule. A list of the specific routes that will be provided can be found on the Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s website, and minute-by-minute status updates will be available through BusTracker.
The George Washington Memorial Parkway has been temporarily closed in the McLean area. Due to ongoing construction, the National Park Service previously announced that the section from I-495 to Spout Run in Arlington would close if two or more inches of snow are forecast.
Here’s the full message from the NPS:
The George Washington Memorial Parkway, from 495 to Spout Run, is closed due to the forecasted severe winter weather in the area. This closure is necessary to ensure the proper treatment of the roadway and to restore the parkway to safe travel conditions. Crews will work diligently to treat the road for safe passage of drivers. Drivers should anticipate delays in reopening the northern section of the parkway as crews are required to use smaller equipment than usual to accommodate the lane widths and configurations. Please plan to use alternate routes.
A follow-up alert will be distributed once the parkway has reopened. Thank you in advance for your patience.
In an effort to amplify its voice on land use issues, Reston Association’s Board of Directors voted earlier this month to create a land use committee that will advise it on planning and zoning issues.
The board formalized the creation of the committee on Jan. 4 after tweaking its scope and overall purpose. The committee will create draft positions on relevant issues and provide recommendations to the board.
A majority of the board touted the proposal as a way to elevate the voice of RA and its membership on development and land use decisions, which have become a top focus of the community following Fairfax County’s adoption of an updated Reston Comprehensive Plan last year and anxiety about the possibility of a casino.
Board president John Farrell noted that members would be able to provide their recommendations directly to the land use committee.
Board director Jennifer Jushchuk said the committee addresses a concern about the effectiveness of RA’s advocacy on land use issues that she often hears in the community. Board member Jalal Mapar agreed that the committee allows RA to project its power.
“The number one thing that stands out for me is that RA needs to be forward-leaning and RA needs to be involved 1,000 percent,” he said. “The game has changed. It’s 2024. We’ve learned our lessons from the developments that were done where RA did not really have a strong voice.”
In the past, Larry Butler, RA’s longtime chief operating officer who retired last year, attended many land use committee meetings and was the point-man on relevant issues.
“Larry’s gone and so, things have changed,” Laurie Dodd, the board’s North Point district representative, said. “It’s time for [us to] formalize the voice of RA, and this is a way to do with a group that is responsive to the board and to the association.”
But the move was met by some consternation from three board members who voted against the proposal.
Board member Robert Petrine, RA’s treasurer, said he was concerned about the amount of time and resources that would go into maintaining the committee.
At-large board director Trevor Grywatch said he was unsure if an advisory committee constituted “the voice of our membership.”
Margaret Perry, the board’s apartment owners representative, also noted that RA needed more time to hash out the specifics of the committee.
“I don’t think we are there,” she said.
The committee will be composed of up to seven voting members with three-year terms. They’ll be supported by a land use planner and subject matter expert — a position funded in RA’s recently adopted budget.
RA CEO Mac Cummins, who supported the overall effort, said the board should ensure the committee’s work is not simply rehashed when issues are discussed by the board.
“If you’re gonna have a committee do all this work and you’re gonna re-litigate it all again till 2 a.m., you haven’t necessarily gained,” Cummins said.
The board of directors is now seeking candidates for the new land use committee, asking anyone who’s interested to contact Board Liaison Brittney Copeland at [email protected].
(Updated at 12:05 p.m.) Colds are in the air this winter, as a new COVID-19 variant has joined forces with the flu and RSV to produce a particularly challenging respiratory illness season.
Covid-related hospitalization levels remain low in Fairfax County, where 145 patients were admitted in the week that ended on Dec. 30 — a 46% increase from the previous week. But hospital visits and deaths are on the rise in Virginia and nationally, with the U.S. death toll exceeding 1.1 million people since the first case in 2020.
As of Tuesday (Jan. 9), 1,758 people have died from Covid in the Fairfax Health District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, according to the latest Virginia Department of Health data.
The district has had 23 COVID-19 deaths in the past 13 weeks — an increase from previous months, but overall, 2023 saw fewer deaths each month than previous years, according to the Fairfax County Health Department.
“The average age of the individuals who have passed due to COVID in the past 13 weeks is 80 years old and a third of these were associated with a long-term care or skilled nursing facility,” an FCHD spokesperson said. “Although COVID deaths are down from previous years, it does remain a threat in our communities and particularly for older populations with comorbidities.”
Now the most prevalent variant in the country, JN.1 appears to spread more efficiently than other forms of the coronavirus, but the vaccines updated last fall are still effective, though only 17.4% of residents have gotten those shots, the county health department said in an update yesterday.
According to the FCHD, Northern Virginia is experiencing a “very high intensity level” of influenza-like illnesses, which make up 6.7% of all emergency department and urgent care visits, led by young kids 4 and under. Inova reinstated a face mask requirement on Jan. 4 in response to the prevalence of respiratory illness.
The county health department says RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection) activity is decreasing in the Fairfax Health District, but it’s still elevated elsewhere in the country, especially among young kids and older adults.
“If you are at high risk for severe illness from RSV, you should continue to take steps to protect yourself, especially if you are traveling or hosting a visitor,” the FCHD said.
The department is encouraging residents to get vaccinated against Covid and the flu and to take other steps to prevent spreading illness, including wearing a high-quality mask, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick.
Instead of jail-time, a restaurant job could be waiting for some individuals facing non-violent criminal charges in Fairfax County if they finish a newly launched job training program.
The Pathfinder Kitchen initiative unveiled Monday (Jan. 8) by the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney builds on the office’s nascent Taking Root diversion program, which offers case management, mental health and substance use assessments, affordable housing and other services to people accused of non-violent crimes in lieu of incarceration.
Starting this spring, participants will get an opportunity to learn culinary skills at Mackenzie’s Tunes and Tonics, which opened in Fairfax City last June, and earn the certification needed to work in the food service industry.
Like the county’s other diversion programs, Taking Root and its new culinary training option are designed to address the underlying causes of crime — in this case, poverty and barriers to employment — so individuals who’ve entered the criminal justice system are less likely to return.
“Pathfinder Kitchen is actually the next generation of that, actually getting people into restaurant training with certificates so they can get a job and build a career,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said. “That’s really, really important for public safety. It’s also the right thing to do.”
Launched in April 2022 by the prosecutors’ office and the nonprofit Opportunities, Alternatives & Resources (OAR), Taking Root focuses on people charged with a non-violent offense who are experiencing an “underlying issue,” such as poverty or drug addiction, that could be eased with treatment or social services.
Descano says his office doesn’t have “hard and fast” eligibility rules for determining who to recommend for the program, but most participants are on their first or second time in the court system, and their diversion plan must be approved by a judge.
So far, 100 people have been referred to Taking Root, and 20 of them have graduated — a milestone that the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, OAR and other supporters, including Sen. Tim Kaine, celebrated at Mackenzie’s (3950 University Drive, Suite 210) on Monday.
According to Descano, the idea for Pathfinder Kitchen was developed with Mackenzie’s owner Josh Alexander, who also chairs the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA) board of directors.
“He was telling us about the need to get more people into the restaurant business, into the industry, and we just started to…have this dialogue and said, ‘Hey, we have a crop of people who [could help], if you’re willing to give people second chances’…and they were very receptive,” Descano recalled.
Also supported by the nonprofit Britepaths, which provides supportive services, the pilot program is funded by a Fairfax City grant, and graduates who get their ServSafe certification will be placed in jobs with participating restaurants, all of which are currently in the city.
Reflecting on Taking Root’s first full year of operations, OAR Diversion Program Manager Lula Kelly said the ability to work with each participant based on their specific needs is key to the program’s success.
“There is no cookie cutter set to this. You have to work with where people are, who they are and…the circumstances that they hold,” she said, noting that clients have ranged from individuals with no income to people making $150,000 a year.
One person came into Taking Root with no work experience, issues with his immigration status and substance use struggles. He graduated from the program after nine months and now has a job and an apartment, and his immigration issues have been resolved.
“He’s living a life,” Kelly said. “He’s no longer on drugs, he’s no longer stealing because these are things that build. If you work at things one step at a time, it will come, but you have to instill that hope and that freedom in people that is there.”
Support for diversion from both inside and outside the public safety community has also been critical, Descano says.
In addition to the Britepaths and Fairfax City partnerships, Taking Root was started with $700,000 in federal funds that Kaine secured from Congress in 2022. Local judges and the Fairfax County Police Department have also gotten on board with the program.
With most police encounters involving non-violent people who’ve committed “lower level” offenses, Police Chief Kevin Davis expressed hope that diversion programs like Taking Root could “put the phrase ‘repeat offender’ out of business” by giving individuals a second chance.
“The vast majority of folks who come into contact with our justice system are going to return to our communities, so preparing them for a meaningful return is something we’re all committed to,” he said.
