The long-awaited 1.7-million-square-foot revitalization plan for Lake Anne is off the books for now.
Residents of Crescent Apartments received a letter from Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins on Thursday advising them that Lake Anne Development Partners (LADP) has informed them the project “may not be feasible.”
Crescent’s 181 units were slated to be rebuilt as part of the mixed-use development of 1,037 residential units (including replacement of the 181 affordable units at Crescent); 60,000 square feet of retail; a 15,800-square-foot grocery store;and 78,000 square feet of office space.
The plan, which would have taken about 12 years to complete, also sought to re-route Village Road, build an outdoor amphitheater, add a parking garage and a grand boulevard of shops leading to the historic part of Lake Anne Plaza.
“Regrettably, Fairfax County has recently been advised by the Lake Anne revitalization project’s primary developer, Lake Anne Development Partners (LADP), that their public-private partnership with the County to redevelop the Crescent Apartments and the Lake Anne Village Center may not be feasible,” the letter reads.
“While such situations are not uncommon in large, complex developments, the County and LADP are deeply disappointed by this turn of events and shares the frustration that we know the community must be feeling.”
After years of discussions with the community about the best uses for Lake Anne, LADP was chosen in 2013 to take on the revitalization of Crescent, the county-owned, aging, affordable housing complex, and the surrounding areas.
The project received final approval from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in early 2015. LADP had said it hoped to break ground this year.
But that never happened. Sources said there were a “collection of reasons” why, but mainly due to financing of the giant project, which sought to add major density to Lake Anne.
“Lake Anne Development Partners has actively pursued the redevelopment of Lake Anne Village Center since 2012,” LADP said in a statement Friday. “Unfortunately, LADP has not been able to satisfactorily assemble all of the required land parcels needed for a viable development plan. It is with true regret and disappointment that LADP’s planned redevelopment of Lake Anne will not be moving forward.”
LADP’s website was disabled as of this morning.
Hudgins said the county will begin deliberations about the longterm implications for the future of Crescent.
“At this time, the County is not prepared to predict when or how we will proceed with redevelopment of the project,” wrote Hudgins.
Hudgins told residents of Crescent:
That you can continue to live at the Crescent and that we will remain committed to keeping the Crescent a vibrant, attractive place to call home. We will have high standards for the appearance of the property, and will maintain it with great care.
That we will maintain and grow our very strong partnerships in the community, including with Cornerstones and the local schools; and
That we will communicate with you and keep you carefully informed as to next steps.
However, Hudgins said Crescent has a high number of vacancies due to the planned redevelopment but it will start leasing again in coming months. Read More
Reston Association says the dredging project at Lake Anne is running ahead of schedule and should be completed in two or three weeks.
Work has been completed in the coves and plaza areas, RA says. Dredging contractor Lake Services said a large section near the fountain is all that remains to be dredged.
Reston Association received a state permit last month to dredge Lake Anne. Areas to be dredged include the plaza area, the canal area, and coves near Inlet Court, Waters Edge, Waterview Cluster, South Shore, and the south boat ramp. See a map on RA’s website.
RA says residents’ boats no longer have to be moved for the remaining work to be finished.
RA is dredging the coves to clear accumulated sediment and leaf debris to improve boat and shoreline access. The project will also provide additional water storage areas and deeper areas for fish. Removing sediment at the coves where the major drainage ways enter the lake helps to prevent the lake from filling in with accumulated sediments, RA says.
Photo: Recent dredging near Lake Anne Plaza/Credit: Chesapeake Chocolates
Machinery is out on Lake Anne as dredging is taking place there for the next several weeks.
Contractor Lake Services says the dredging should be completed by early December.
Reston Association says it is dredging the coves to clear accumulated sediment and leaf debris to improve boat and shoreline access as well as provide additional water storage areas and deeper areas for fish.
It’s summer’s last stand this weekend. If you are sticking around, there are a couple of big events to put on your calendar.
The Lake Anne Jazz and Blues Festival takes place Saturday from 1 to 9:30 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza. See this previous Reston Now story for the full lineup of performers at the free event.
Virginia-based pianist, composer and singer Adrian Duke is the festival headliner. His set begins at 7 p.m.
On Monday, the Herndon Labor Day Festival is happening on the Herndon Town Green (777 Lynn Street) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The festival will include Virginia wine tastings, craft beers, live music, a craft show, sponsor gallery, and delicious food vendors.
The festival features Dancing Dream, an ABBA tribute band, on the green at 3:30 p.m.
Admission
Wine, Craft Brew Tastings and Entertainment – $20
(ID required to purchase tastings)
Concert only or designated driver – $5
Extra beer tastings – $2 per ticket
- Cash only at gate; Children 12 and under free
- Sorry, no pets allowed
- Wine and craft beer tasting and selling of open containers ends at 4 p.m.
2015 Participating Virginia Wineries
- Cardamon Family Vineyards
- Chateau O’Brien
- Desert Rose Ranch and Winery
- Horton Vineyards
- Mattaponi Winery
- Mountain Cove Vineyards
- Rebec Vineyards
- Rogers Ford Farm Winery
- Thistle Gate Vineyard
- Two Twisted Posts Winery
Featured Craft Beers
- Forge Brew Works, Belgian Blonde
- Mad Fox Brewery, Kӧlsch
- South Street Brewery, Satan’s Pony – Amber Ale
- O’Conner Brewing Co., El Guapo – IPA
- Brothers Craft Brewing, Great Outdoors- Pale Ale
- Devils Backbone Brewing Co., Vienna Lager
Food Vendors
- International Grill
- Island Smoothies and Coffee
- JR’s Italian Ice
- Rito Loco
- Sherri’s Crab Cakes
- Tender Rib
Photo: Adrian Duke at previous Lake Anne Jazz and Blues Festival/file photo
After a successful first season offering Standup Paddleboarding (SUP) classes at Lake Anne, Surf Reston is seeking to expand its operation to Reston’s other lakes.
Surf Reston has asked Reston Association for permission to offer occasional classes and outings on Lake Audubon, Newport and Thoreau, according to RA documents.
“In 2015, it is proposed that sessions better utilize all four Reston lakes,” Surf Reston operator Steve Gurney wrote to the RA Board. “Many of the RA members enjoyed seeing Lake Anne from a new perspective and inquired about paddling on the other lakes. Expanding beyond Lake Anne can lighten the footprint of the offering on any one lake in additional to providing options for RA members to explore the water in our community.”
There had been controversy using Lake Audubon when SUP lessons were first proposed for Reston in 2013. At that time, the previous owner of Surf Reston wanted to base operations at Lake Audubon. That proposal received much pushback from Lake Audubon-area residents, who did not want a commercial operation on the all-residential lake.
In 2014, there were two successful paddleboard events at Lake Audubon, said Gurney.
“The majority of sessions are five students and one instructor, ” he said. “Surf Reston would request the potential to have sessions that would not exceed 15 paddlers. For example, Reston Community Center has requested organizing a ‘trip’ for 12 paddlers. These requests would be limited in quantity and during specific day and times to minimize impact.”
Surf Reston is also working with Reston Association to try and offer SUP as part of Teen Camp and Day Camp, as well as several fitness/yoga/paddleboarding combo classes.
The 2015 schedule proposes most SUP classes at Lake Anne, but also classes and tours at Lake Audubon on alternating Wednesday evenings and monthly events at Lake Newport and Lake Thoreau on Sundays.
The RA Board will vote on the summer 2015 schedule at its Feb. 26 meeting.
Photo: Paddleboarding on Lake Anne/Credit: Jim Kirby
The RELAC air-conditioning system will stay in place for 343 Lake Anne-area homes after a resident referendum to remove the deed ordering it failed to pass.
The referendum needed a two-thirds majority of voters to remove the Reston deed item mandating the lake water-cooled system in the homes.
The final tally was 156 votes for no revocation and 118 votes to remove the deed item, Reston Association Board President Ken Knueven said at a special board meeting on Monday. Nearly 80 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot, he added.
A similar referendum also failed in 2008.
The homeowners in Coleson, Waterview, Wainwright, Washington Plaza, Hickory and Governour’s Square clusters are bound by the Reston deed to use the system. RELAC was touted as revolutionary in the mid-1960s, but has been met with frustration at its inefficiency by many users in recent years.
Some users have complained it is expensive, mold producing and cannot cool the top floors of some of the townhomes. Several homeowners have used a medical exemption to allowed to install, at their own expense, an additional air conditioning system.
Last summer, more than 100 homeowners signed a petition asking RA for the referendum.
John Hunter, who lives in Washington Plaza Cluster, was one of the leaders in the quest to get the referendum.
“We are not giving up,” he told the board on Monday. He also asked for information on how each cluster voted.
“This could be helpful to RELAC,” he said of the company that operates the system, adding the company is sometimes unaware of the issues.
Robert Gerstein of Wainwright Cluster resident said he does not like the concept of revisiting the RELAC issue.
“The folks were very, very diligent about getting the referendum done,” he said. “What [Hunter] seemed to imply was they were going to again canvas each of the clusters an try to have another referendum. I hope you folks consider this is an intrusion on all of us. Let’s get this over with.”
The board heard repeatedly from both sides at meetings over the last several months. Some in favor of RELAC called it an “aesthetic catastrophe” to change the system. They also praised RELAC for being very quiet and were also concerned that rates would rise among remaining customers.
Rising rates were also a concern of RELAC opponents, who said their rates had skyrocketed in recent years. Opponents also said they wanted a choice, and also pointed out that new HVAC units were much quieter than they were in the mid-1960s, when RELAC was first developed.
Homeowners who have been granted the medical exemption have said they have spent $4,000-6,000 on new HVAC systems — which must be disconnected when they sell the home.
Fairfax County Planning Commission on Thursday recommended the plan for major redevelopment at Crescent Apartments and the area surrounding Lake Anne Plaza move forward to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
The Supervisors will give a final vote on the project on Tuesday.
“The actions we take tonight are a step forward in a long (process) of redevelopment of Reston’s first village at Lake Anne Center,” said Frank de la Fe, the Hunter Mill representative.
The planning commission held a public hearing on the project on Dec. 8. The main issue that caused the two-week deferral in the planning commission decision was a discrepancy in how much money Lake Lake Anne Development Partners should proffer to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
LADP wanted to give $100,000 to the parks department. The standard county rubric for fair share contributions to the Park Authority is $893 per resident. That means LADP should make a contribution of about $1.4 million, the county’s staff report said.
LADP reps agreed on Thursday to give $500,000 to the park authority.
The planning commission also agreed to waive some conditions set forth by the planning staff concerning residential street length, transitional barriers and underground storage facilities.
Some larger issues raised in the staff report, including the realignment of Village Road, will be worked out before construction begins, said de la Fe.
LADP was chosen by the county in 2013 to redevelop the aging Crescent Apartments, which was purchased by the county in 2006 for affordable housing.
LADP’s plans for the area include 1,037 residential units, including replacement of the 181 affordable units at Crescent; 60,000 square feet of retail; a 15,800-square-foot grocery store; and 78,000 square feet of office space. The project will also have a 1.1-acre central park, an outdoor amphitheater, a bike share station and 12 public art works, according to the staff report.
See the entire staff report on the project on Fairfax County’s website.
Photo: Rendering of plans for Crescent Apartments site/Credit: LADP
The Fairfax County Planning Commission is set to make a decision Thursday that will move forward the massive redevelopment plan at Crescent Apartment and the surrounding area.
Lake Anne Development Partners had a planning commission public hearing on Jan. 8. but the planning commission deferred decision due to several areas of concern.
Among them:
- How much money LADP should contribute to the Fairfax County Park Authority. The developer says $100,000. The planning commission says $893 per new resident, which totals about $1.4 million.
- How Village Road will be vacated during the time it is realigned to provide better exposure and sight lines through to Lake Anne.
- Square footage requirements for Land Units A and D. The county is concerned it will not reach its true mixed use goal.
- The planned grocery store. LADP wants to market it for one year; the county thinks it should be a three-year project.
- The county wants an $265,000 elevated walkway from the parking garage to the grocery store. LADP says it would provide minimum return on investment.
- LEED certification for the grocery store building. Strobel said it would be difficult to get certification for the grocery store, but if a grocery store ends up not being built they are willing to comply.
Once the planning commission recommends the plan for approval, it moves on to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for final approval. It is slated to be on the Supervisors’ Jan. 27 agenda.
LADP, a division of Republic Land Development, was chosen by the county in the summer of 2013 to redevelop the county’s 16-acre Crescent Apartments site as well as areas adjacent to Lake Anne Plaza’s Historic District.
LADP’s plans for the area include 1,037 residential units, including replacement of the 181 affordable units at Crescent; 60,000 square feet of retail; a 15,800-square-foot grocery store; and 78,000 square feet of office space.
The project will also have a 1.1-acre central park, an outdoor amphitheater, a bike share station and 12 public art works, according to the staff report.
At the Jan. 8 hearing, a county rep said $100,000 is just 7 percent of what LADP should be offering for recreational amenities.
“It is the staff’s opinion that what LADP is providing enhances the quality [of the area], but does not provide active amenities such as basketball courts or athletic fields,” a county representative said.
Lynne Strobel, the attorney representing LADP at the Jan. 8 hearing, said the developer’s application “is providing significant and costly improvements to Washington Plaza. Those are not unlike parks; they are public areas that serve the community.”
Strobel said the improvements to Washington Plaza total $1.2 million, so an alternative formula for LADP’s contribution should be used. The developers also said new residents would be Reston Association members, so their added yearly assessments would be boosting coffers for recreational amenities in Reston.
See the entire county staff report on Fairfax County’s website.
This is an Op-Ed by Waterview Cluster resident Dick Kennedy. Something on your mind? Write to us at [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit submissions.
If Covenant 15 is revoked RELAC costs will go up and soon RELAC will end. Then…
1. Where do you put your new outside AC unit? Where will your neighbors put their unit ? Our communities were not architecturally designed to have outside AC units. We have no good options.
2. Despite advances all AC units make noise that is compounded when they are all running.
3. Be ready to spend about $5,000 to $10,000 or more to buy and install an outside unit.
4. The new [RELAC] owners have already improved service, many users say. They have a plan to reduce rates.
Why not give them a chance?
The RELAC referendum has been brought to us legitimately by the “Free from 15” group. Much has been said about real issues on whether to keep the covenant requirement. There are pros and cons on most issues, some argued fairly and many exaggerated out of context.
RELAC costs are high but the system is quiet. A few owners say they don’t get good service but most say they are happy and service is improving. There are questions about how to maintain the individual systems and whether it has been done. There are claims about RELAC infrastructure failing. But the same happens to water, sewer and gas infrastructure. Repairs must be made from time to time.
The term “monopoly” is used with a derogatory slant. But we have monopolies for electricity and gas and RELAC. All are supervised by the State Corporation Commission [SCC] which regulates public utilities, balancing the needs of users and the utility.
Some argue RELAC adversely affects home sales, but most units sell very quickly and prices are going up to pre-recession levels. So there is much to carefully consider. Clearly, owners’ financial interest is at stake on both sides — including those who are already off the system and don’t want to return the RELAC system when they sell.
Freedom has been much celebrated by those who want to be free to get off RELAC. But please remember you will not be free to use RELAC for long if the covenant is removed.
Please VOTE.
This is an Op-Ed by Hickory Cluster resident Blake Travis. Something on your mind? Share your thoughts by sending a letter to [email protected]. Reston Now reserves the right to edit submissions.
In the next few days, 343 homeowners in Reston will receive a ballot to vote on whether to revoke Covenant 15 (Section VI.2(b)(15)) of the Reston Association Deed, which states that:
In any residential Cluster in which central air-conditioning service is available to the Lot line, no individual air-conditioning units of any type shall be permitted. This covenant may only be amended or revoked by at least a two-thirds vote of the Category A Members of all residential Clusters on the service.
This covenant prevents homeowners in several Reston clusters from installing an individual air conditioning unit (unless they have a medical exemption) to cool their home. Instead, they are bound to the nearly 50-year old air-conditioning system operated by Reston RELAC (Reston Lake Anne Air Conditioning Corporation).
This system has had many well-publicized problems over the years and regularly increased rates, leading to growing base of dissatisfied customers who would prefer to have other options for cooling their homes.
There are a number of arguments that have been presented for why Covenant 15 should remain in the RA Deed. Two of the leading arguments I’ve heard are that Reston RELAC will have to raise rates if they lose customers (something RELAC claimed in a recent letter to customers) and that individual air conditioning units are loud and unsightly and will detract from our community. I do not believe these arguments carry much weight, for a number of reasons.
This is an Op-Ed by Connie Hartke of the Reston Citizens Association. Something on your mind that you want to share with the community? Email Reston Now at [email protected]. Reston Now reserves the right to edit submissions.
As we turn the calendar to a new year, some of our Reston neighbors will be facing an important vote in January that affects their summertime comfort.
Covenant 15 of the Reston Association Deed requires 343 households to use the 50+ year old Reston Lake Anne Air-Conditioning Corporation cooling system (RELAC), unless they receive an annual medical exemption — a nightmare when the unit goes up for resale.
These 343 households will have the opportunity to revoke (or not) Covenant 15 by a referendum vote. A yes vote will allow choice without ending RELAC. This system works adequately for many, but not all.
The Reston Citizens Association (RCA) supports revoking Covenant 15 (commonly called RELAC). Sridhar Ganesan, President of RCA stated: “While clearly many people around Lake Anne still like and want RELAC because it seems to serve their purposes, it is also clear that a number of people have not been happy with the system, the costs and other burdens that they feel it imposes on them. RELAC is a system as old as the Lake Anne community. Not only would the investment in that system have been fully paid for, today’s technologies have surely far surpassed RELAC’s. Many of us on the RCA Board as well as members sympathize and feel that after all these decades of using and paying for the operation of that system, those that would like to opt out of RELAC and pursue other alternatives should have the Choice to do so.”
None of us on the current RCA board live where RELAC is mandated, but we listen to Restonians who do and who live on the sunny side of Lake Anne. Read More
Fairfax County Police have charged Yanira Arias-Melendez, 18, of no fixed address in the Sunday morning stabbing in Reston that left one man hospitalized.
The victim, who police have not identified, was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries to his lower body after he was stabbed following an argument near the Lake Anne Market at 1645 Washington Plaza about 12:23 a.m., police said.
The call to 911 was made by employees of the market, who told police they saw the suspect and victim arguing in the parking lot, said Fairfax County Fire Rescue Capt. Randy Bittinger.
Photo: Yanira Arias-Melendez/Credit: Fairfax County Police
A stabbing early Sunday morning in Reston left one man hospitalized, said Fairfax County Fire Rescue officials.
The man was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries after he was stabbed following an argument near the Lake Anne Market at 1645 Washington Plaza about 12:23 a.m.
The call to 911 was made by employees of the market, who told police they saw the suspect and victim arguing in the parking lot, said Fairfax County Fire Rescue Capt. Randy Bittinger.
The stabbing suspect, a woman, was arrested at the scene, Bittinger said.
Reston Now will add more details to this post when they are available.
Reston Association has changed the way the January’s referendum for RELAC users will work.
The RA Board voted last week to authorize a referendum for the 343 users of the RELAC air-conditioning system. It the referendum passes, it would give homeowners a choice in how they want to cool their homes.
The Lake Anne-area homeowners on RELAC are bound by the Reston deed to use the lakewater-cooled system, which was touted as revolutionary and quiet in the mid-1960s, but has been met with frustration by some users at its inefficiency in recent years.
RA said at first that two-thirds of the homeowners would need to vote in favor of referendum — which would release the owners from the deed, giving them the option to add, at their own expense, a different air conditioning system.
But upon further review, RA said on Tuesday that the referendum will pass with two-thirds of voters, not homeowners.
From RA:
The quorum for this referendum is at least 10 percent of the 343 members (in the Lake Anne area) eligible to vote. This is in compliance with Article VI, Section VI.2 (b) (15) as viewed in the light of Article I, Section I.2 (a) of the Reston Deed.
It was previously reported that two-thirds of all 343 members was required for the referendum to pass. However, after consulting with legal counsel, the association has determined that under the current Reston Deed, as amended, the required number of votes for the referendum to pass is two-thirds of only those members who cast ballots in the referendum. Votes must be received by 5 p.m. on Jan. 30.
Currently, the Reston Deed states that “In any residential cluster in which central air conditioning service is available to the lot line, no individual air-conditioning units of any type shall be permitted.” The recently board-approved ballot question will ask members whether that section of the deed should be revoked.
Last summer, 110 homeowners signed a petition asking RA for the referendum. RA last held a RELAC referendum in 2008. It was defeated 130-100.
The Reston Association Board voted on Thursday to authorize a referendum for the 343 users of the RELAC air-conditioning system.
The 343 Lake Anne-area homeowners are bound by the Reston deed to use the lakewater-cooled system which was touted as revolutionary in the mid-1960s, but has been met with frustration at its inefficiency in recent years.
Some users have complained it is expensive, mold producing and cannot cool the top floors of some of the townhomes. Several homeowners have used a medical exemption to allowed to install, at their own expense, an additional air conditioning system.
Last summer, 110 homeowners signed a petition asking RA for the referendum.
The RA board approved the referendum for January. The question to be asked:
Air-Conditioning Units. In any residential Cluster in which central air-conditioning service is available to the Lot line, no individual air-conditioning units of any type shall be permitted. This covenant may only be amended or revoked by at least a two-thirds vote of the Category A Members of all residential Clusters on the service.
At the public hearing portion of Thursday’s regular board meeting, several RELAC users spoke in favor of keeping the system, one calling it an “aesthetic catastrophe” to change the system. Others asked that the referendum be delayed until summer, so users would have more time to see how it is running under new management.
Vernon Wiley, who also lives on Wainwright said RELAC provides excellent cooling for his home.
“As far as I am concerned, there is nothing wrong with system and I would like to stick to the status quo. Allowing homeowners to get off RELAC may raise rates. In the worst case, RELAC may no longer be possible, and collapse. If this happens, it will force other homeowners to seek other systems, which may cost thousands of dollars.”
Blake Travis of Maple Ridge disagrees.
“Those of us in favor of referendum are not trying to kill RELAC, but we want a choice,” he said. “It is a faulty system.”
Travis said he does not think the only alternative is a “loud air conditioning unit.”
“Units today are extremely quiet,” he said. “Street traffic is louder than what you will hear from an air conditioner.”
RA last held a RELAC referendum in 2008. It was defeated 130-100.
In other RA Board news:
The Board voted that the 2015 assessment rate will be $642. It also established a reduced rate of 50 percent for property owners qualifying for Fairfax County real estate tax relief.
The Board authorized $30,000 to hire an urban planning consultant as Reston and $30,000 to conduct a parks and recreation survey that will be useful for the next budget planning round for 2016-17. The money is available in the budget, RA directors said.
Photo: Townhomes on Wainwright are on the RELAC system
