Suspect Involved in 10-Hour Weekend Barricade Receives Psychiatric Treatment – Anthony Moaf, 21, was released from the hospital after a suspected opioid overdose earlier this week. Police said he barricaded himself inside his home after threatening to kill family members and shoot at police officers. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Greater Reston Arts Center Issues Call for Submissions – Submit a proposal for new artwork in response to the prompt, “If you could do anything, what would it be?” Judges will select five artists to participate in the invitational. Entries are due by February 16. [Greater Reston Arts Center]

Man Robbed After Leaving Bus on Monday – Two suspects took personal belongings from a man after he got off a bus on Glade Drive near Millrace Lane between 7:45 and 8 p.m. The suspects then ran from the area, police said. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Board Governance Committee Meets Tonight – The committee, which is charged with planning, committee structure and board knowledge, will meet today from 6-8 p.m. at Reston Association Headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive). [Reston Association]

Photo by Fatimah Waseem

Thirteen Restonians are vying for four seats on Reston Association’s Board of Directors in this year’s election.

The nine-member board is up for a major shake-up this year. Eleven candidates are running for three at-large board seats and two candidates are running for the South lakes District seat for a three-year term.

All races are contested. A breakdown of the candidates, who were certified earlier this week, is below. Seven candidates are running for two at-large seats with three-year terms:

• Aaron Webb
• Colin Meade
• Derrick Watkins
• John Pinkman
• Sridhar Ganesan (appointed as treasurer due to board vacancy)
• Travis G. Johnson
• Ven Iyer

Four candidates are running for another at-large seat for a one-year term:

• Andy Sigle
• David Ballard
• John Bowman (current at-large director)
• Ray Wedell

Tammi Petrine is challenging Julie Bitzer for the South Lakes District seat.

Voting opens on March 5. Results will be announced on April 10.

The nine-member board consists of eight directors, who are elected for three-year, staggered terms by members, and one director elected by apartment owners. Four of the eight directors are district-level representatives while others are elected by the membership at-large.

Reston Now will publish candidate profiles in the coming weeks. Submitted candidate statements are available on RA’s website. Candidates are listed in alphabetized form.

For more information, email the elections committee at [email protected] or call 703-435-6530. Information is also available on RA’s website, including an elections calendar.

Reston Association is considering a request to add two new developments to its membership.

Proposed additions include Valley & Park, a 54-unit townhouse project on 11720 Sunrise Valley Drive and The Lofts at Reston Station, which will include 32-unit, four-level condominiums and 12 stacked townhouse condominiums at 1825 Michael Faraday Drive.

Both developments will have its own on-site maintenance through a cluster or condominium association.

The developers have committed to pitch in a per unit capital contribution to offset the impact of new members to existing RA infrastructure, according to Larry Butler, RA’s senior director of land use planning. Staff did not disclose the contribution amount in a meeting late last week as negotiations continue.

Valley & Park by Toll Brothers is in the early phases of preparation for construction after a six-story building built in 1985 was razed in June. Located just east of JBG’s Reston Heights development, the 69,000-square-foot building was bought by Rooney Properties in 2013.

The Lofts at Reston Station by Pulte are designed to create “a new urban neighborhood” on 1.5 acres – just a third of a mile from Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. Redevelopment projects are planned around the site. The project, which is currently under construction, replaces a one-story industrial building and surface parking.

RA’s Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the proposed additions on Feb. 22.

With its membership in RA, the developments will be subject to various terms, including:

• The entire property will be subject to the Reston Deed
• The establishment of a cluster association — Sunrise Square
• Full payment, per unit of the RA annual assessment
• A lump sum payment or other initiation fee

Photos via Fairfax County Government

A year-long study of Reston Association’s $2.65 million purchase of the Tetra property raises blistering concerns about the process that drove the controversial decision and cost overruns linked to the building’s renovation.

The critique, led by two Reston Association members, uses a trove of documents, interviews and an electronic paper trail to chronicle decisions that led to the purchase in 2015 after months of community debate. The purchase price was nearly double the most recent tax assessment and renovations to transform it into The Lake House have cost three times more than expected.

Members Moira Callaghan and Jill Gallagher found that RA’s Board of Directors, Chief Financial Officer and members were not privy to major decisions involving the purchase. The general contractor hired for renovations was a former employee of the project manager Cresa – raising a potential conflict of interest. The Tetra project was the contractor’s first job and Cresa did not initiate a formal request for bids, according to the review.

External players like the property’s owner and contracted staff, who often seemed to drive decision-making more than staff and the board, led discussions “with very little oversight.” In some cases, the members found very few documents – or none at all – supporting decisions made, the review found.

Gallagher, a management consultant and former budget analyst, was part of a Mediaworld Ventures LLC, which offered a proposal to complete StoneTurn Group’s work for a $1 fee. The proposal was abandoned after finger pointing.

They said their intention was not to assign blame. Their review, which they acknowledged reached conclusions limited by the information available or disclosed, was instead intended to offer a case study for lessons learned.

“Our goal is to provide the RA Board and community with our observations about the purchase, patterns of activities, and recommendations that we hope will spur further improvements in how RA manages itself and our assessment dollars,” Gallagher said.

The review also indicated several high-ranking individuals like the CFO and general counsel at the time flagged concerns about the high purchase price. In December 2014, the CFO at the time wrote the property seller would be “hard pressed” to find a buyer willing to pay $2.65 million. After reviewing monthly operating costs, the CFO also projected a potential deficit if RA proceeded with the purchase.

Even the property seller expressed concerns that the appraisal would not meet the asking price, according to the review.In some cases, critical decisions seemed to happen without the board’s input or knowledge. For example, the board was not made aware of discussions between the property seller and RA staff regarding negotiations until January 2015.

Other highlights include the following:

• Information provided to RA members before the purchase went for a referendum vote was not clear. For example, a fact sheet said zoning allow for office space and expansion. Many members believed the property would be developed into a large restaurant and that development was imminent. Information also contained an image of a restaurant on the site – a plan that was removed from the site plan in the 1980s. Members found no county record of the proposed restaurant.
• Paving repairs paid for by RA as part of the escrow agreement never occurred.
• Some contractors began working before contracts were signed. Cresa, for example, began working before it submitted a proposal on in October 2015. The contract was not signed until mid-November of that year.
• Information provided to the board was inaccurate at times. For example, a land use attorney told the board in February 2015 that the property is not at its “highest and best use,” even though the appraisal stated the highest and best use of the property was continuing building improvements as “an office use.”
• An spreadsheet mapping stakeholders’ involvement at each juncture of the project indicated RA members and RA’s fiscal committee had limited input in the overall process.

RA’s board of directors heard the findings Thursday night. President Hebert said she was “blown away” and needed time to digest the work.

“We cannot pretend as though we did not hear this,” said board member John Mooney.

A video of the presentation before the board is online.

Red Cross Blood Drive at Reston Regional Library Today — The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at the library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. [Fairfax County Government]

Creative Response Set for Thursday — At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Artist Zoë Charlton will present a creative response to the Paulina Peavy exhibit, which is on view in the gallery of the Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market Street). The event, called a creative response, allows presenters to comment on work through an innovative presentation. [Greater Reston Arts Center via Facebook]

Reston Association Board of Directors Meets Thursday — The board will meet tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. to consider several motions, including the addition of two residential projects to Reston Association’s deed and covenants. Two community members will also present their analysis of the Lake House purchase, a year-long undertaking. [Reston Association]

Reston Town Center Broker Joins Joins Transwestern — Joe Ritchey, a broker who leased the office space at RTC, is joining Transwestern after representing Boston Properties for nearly three decades. Ritchey “achieved rents up to $20/SF higher than nearby properties. It has famously been 100% occupied for years.” [Bisnow]

Photo via Flickr pool @vantagehill

From a performance on multiculturalism to a seminar on brain health, there’s a lot to do in Reston this weekend.

• Children can let their imaginations go wild at Box-A-Rama on Saturday. At the event from 9 a.m. through noon at Reston Association headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive), children can play with boxes of all sizes. All children must be accompanied by parents and caregivers. Tickets are $10 for RA members and $15 for all others.
• An open house is set for The Lake House (11450 Baron Cameron Avenue) on Saturday from 2 – 4 p.m. Enjoy light refreshments and talk to staff about the multipurpose uses of the space.
• At Reston Regional Library on Saturday, enjoy the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy,” from 2 – 4 p.m. as part of the library’s series on movies that began as books. The event is open to teenagers and adults.
• The American Association of Retired Persons is hosting a brain health seminar at Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road) on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. To register call 703-390-6157 or email karen.brutsche@fairfaxcounty.gov.
• Join the Greater Reston Arts Center and Reston Community Center on Saturday at 5 p.m. for an exploratory weaving workshop. Students will leave with a completed wall hanging. Tickets are $45 for Reston residents and $55 for all others. Register online.
• In a concert about friendship and multiculturalism, Mohammed Bilal and Josh “Boac” Goldstein use their friendship to actively challenge the American notions of black and white, Jew and Muslim, and urban and suburban. The performance, “The Color Orange,” will take place at CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road) on Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 for Reston residents and $20 for all others.
• On Sunday, watch 20 local figure skaters perform at the Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion (1818 Discovery Street). The National Skating Month Exhibition will take place from 7:15-8:45 p.m.
• The Capitol Steps, a popular Washington-based music and satire troupe, will perform at the Hyatt Regency Reston (1800 Presidents Street) on Sunday at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Proceeds will go to Cornerstone. Purchase tickets online.
• Reston artist Rudy Guernica’s exhibit, “Lost in the Woods,” will be in the Jo Ann Rose Gallery at Reston Community Center Lake Anne from Jan. 9 through Feb. 4.
• In this exhibit, Paulina Peavy’s work will be on display through Feb. 17 at Greater Reston Arts Center. Peavy gave up control of her brush to an alien entity named Lacamo after attending a seance in 1932. Her work includes paintings, films and texts that she used to better channel Lacamo’s energy. A talk by GRACE’s executive director Lily Siegel is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. at the center.

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

Photo via Reston Community Center

Winter Sky Stargazing on Friday — Join the Walker Nature Center  from 7-8:30 p.m. to learn more about the stars and folklore associated with celestial objects. Individuals, families and couples are welcome. Children must accompanied by a registered adult.  [Reston Association]

Central Services Facility Renovations Continue — In a recent Reston Today video, Garrett Skinner, Reston Association’s director of capital improvement planning and projects, provides an update about renovations to the facility on 12250 Sunset Hills Road. The warehouse facility will be completed by late July. [Reston Today via YouTube]

Reston-based Company Pays $1.7 Million to Settle Overcharged Government Contract — Accenture, which is located in Reston, alerted the government that overcharges were caused by unauthorized purchases of copy toner “surreptitiously” made by a subcontractor on the contract, according to a statement. [U.S. Dept. of Justice]

Flickr pool photo via vantagehill

Registration for Reston Youth Triathlon Begins Today — Individuals interested in participating in the race on May 13 can register online at 7:30 p.m. today. Last year’s event included swimming in the heated Ridge Heights pool, biking near South Lakes High School and running on Reston Association paths. [Reston Youth Triathlon]

Clique Expands to Australia — A Dulles-based entrepreneur is expanding his technology company, Clique, to Australia. The company, which has offices in Reston, offers high-definition voice quality where consumers and businesses want it. [Loudoun Times-Mirror]

Open House at The Lake House Today — Operating under extended hours, the facility (11450 Baron Cameron Avenue) will be open for community drop-in time from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Light refreshment will also be available. [Reston Association]

Photo by Fatimah Waseem

Grand Opening of Nordine Salon Set for Feb. 1 – Nordine Salon & Day Spa opened late last year at 11389 Reston Station Boulevard after moving from Reston Town Center in 2016. The full-service salon’s grand opening will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the owner, Nordine Elbassi, at 703-707-6444. [Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce]

Box-A-Rama at Reston Association — Children will have the chance to construct anything they can imagine out of boxes of all sizes on Saturday at RA headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive) from 9 a.m. to noon. Tickets are $10 for Reston residents and $15 for all others. [Reston Association]

Technology Company in Reston Investigates Rape — Parabon Nanolabs is helping investigators develop a description of a suspect in the rape of a woman last August. The tool, Snapshot, uses phenotyping to determine the suspect’s features through crime scene DNA. [WNPV]

Reston Association has officially paid off its million loan for the purchase of The Lake House. The board of directors elected to pay off nearly $2.42 million of the remaining balance.

Formerly Tetra, The Lake House has been hit with financial difficulties since it was purchased for $2.6 million — about twice its assessed value — in 2015. RA showed a cost overrun of $430,000 last spring, due in part to a six-figure expected rent back from former owner/tenant Tetra that did not happen. Renovations on the property to transform it into a community building have cost three times more than expected. An independent audit was requested.

RA is looking into new ways to make the facility a reliable source of income — a concern that was raised in previous RA meetings where some board members expressed dismay that RA was losing money on the project.

This year, the facility is expected to produce $224,000 in rental income. According to an RA statement, paying off the loan early will allow each member to save $8.66 on their assessment. If the facility produces target rental incomes, members can receive another $6.17 in savings, according to RA.

Enjoy Les Misérables at National Theater tomorrow as Reston Association organizes a trip to see the timeless musical about love, courage and hope.

The Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption.

Registration costs $102 for Reston Association members and $112 for all others. Buses will be ready to pick-up registered individuals at Hunters Woods Shopping Center at 5:45 p.m. and in the Lake Anne Plaza parking lot at 6 p.m.

Seats are in the Mezzanine center and left.

All sales are final. Email [email protected] for more information.

Reston Association will no longer fund Fit Kids Enrichment Clubs amid concerns that the program was conducted under the name and location of a different after school program at The Lake House.

The nine-member Board of Directors voted to defund the program for next year and pushed for the need to reel in more revenue from rentals of The Lake House while maintaining programs and services that meet the needs and desires of RA members. RA purchased the property after a controversial referendum two years ago.

The Fit Kids Enrichment Club is a pay-to-play program created last year that includes gardening and fishing clubs that typically run between 4:30 and 6 p.m, according to Laura Kowalski, RA’s deputy director for recreation. The clubs serve roughly 100 students annually.

Board members said it was not appropriate for a homeowners’ association like RA to become a daycare provider by funding the program.

“We should not enter a market that does not need our entry… it was a market we should have never gotten into,” said at-large director Eric Carr.

Others worried that RA’s ongoing effort to court more rentals and reel in more revenue from The Lake House could clash with the need for using the facility in a way that benefits RA’s membership — especially with programs like the enrichment clubs that are expected to bring in a little over $4,000 in revenue next year.

“It has saddened me that since we’ve purchased the property that we haven’t used it to the members’ benefit… I’m fearful that right now we’re veering off to only rentals and not being able to take care of members with things they wish to do,” said Julie Bitzer, South Lakes district director.

Board members said it was integral to provide direction to RA staff on how to drive rentals at The Lake House in a manner that is in concert with guidelines that ensure programs are of benefit to the community, including the possibility of extending hours to expand opportunities for additional revenue.

The board plans to reconsider if it will fund enrichment clubs in 2019.

Nominations Open for Volunteer Service Awards — Reston Association is seeking nominations for its annual Volunteer Reston Service Awards which recognize individuals, groups, families and businesses that are contributing to the community through volunteer service. Award winners will be announced at a ceremony at The Lake House on April 19. Nominations are due by Feb. 9. [Reston Association]

Artwork Available for Purchase from Monster Drawing Rally — Greater Reston Arts Center is selling remaining artwork from its live monster drawing valley event and fundraiser. During the program, more than 50 artists created artwork on site.  Pieces are available online. To purchase, email [email protected] or stop by the gallery. All proceeds benefit the center. [Greater Reston Arts Center]

Election Information Session Set for Jan. 3 — Individuals interested in running for an open seat on RA’s board of directors can attend the information session, which will provide an overview of the elections process and candidates’ roles and responsibilities. The session will take place at RA headquarter (12002 Sunrise Valley Drive) from 7 – 8 p.m. [Reston Association]

At their monthly meeting, the Reston Association Board of Directors will consider whether or not to carry over nearly $2.3 million in unspent, allocated dollars for capital projects from this year to next year.

A majority of the projects were put on hold for a major part of the year and last year, including the renovation of the Central Services Facility, the renovation of the Pony Barn Recreation Area, the replacement of a dock at Lake Anne, pathway lighting at Hunters Woods and the upgrades to the Lake Anne Dam.

The board will also set the schedule for capital projects that will begin in the first quarter of next year, including the $161,000 resurfacing project of clay courts at North Hills and nearly $163,000 in audio visual equipment upgrades to RA’s conference center.

The board will also discuss Reston Association’s Fit Kids Enrichment Club in response to concerns that the Lake House after school care program was being conducted under a different name and location.

The agenda for Thursday night’s meeting of the RA Board of Directors also includes:

• The reappointment of Brian Berga to the the Fiscal Meeting for a term lasting through December 2020
• A land use update by Larry Butler, Senior Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Resources
• An executive session on the CEO’s performance evaluation

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m.. in RA headquarters tomorrow. For those unable to attend, the meeting will be livestreamed on Reston Association’s YouTube channel.