Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

High-rise apartment building approved for office complex near Spring Hill Metro

Published August 1, 2023 at 1:30PM

The proposed City House residential high-rise from across Spring Hill Road in Tysons (via DCS Design/Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has agreed to let a planned office building near the Spring Hill Metro station become an apartment high-rise instead.

At a public hearing on July 25, the board unanimously approved American Real Estate Partners’ City House proposal, a move that both the county and developer hope will catalyze change in a largely dormant part of Tysons.

Around Town

Latin American wine bar Grand Cata is now open at the Mosaic District

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 1, 2023 at 10:15AM

Latin wine bar Grand Cata has opened in the Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Grand Cata recently made a grand entrance at the Mosaic District.

The D.C.-based Latin American wine bar and store opened the doors of its first Virginia location on July 18, according to an Instagram post.

Countywide

Fairfax County dethrones Seattle area in ranking of the country’s most tech-savvy county governments

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 1, 2023 at 9:30AM

A close-up of a computer chip (via Adi Goldstein/Unsplash)

Fairfax County’s government is the place to beat when it comes to utilizing digital technology, according to a recent survey of the top digital counties in the U.S.

Fairfax County was ranked no. 1 among counties with populations of 1 million or more people by the Center for Digital Government for its 2023 Digital Counties Survey, knocking off King County in Washington after the original home of Amazon nabbed the top spot two years in a row.

News

New entrance for McLean Metro station on track to finish this year

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 31, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated August 22, 2024 at 4:34PM

The McLean Metro station's existing south entrance (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 5 p.m.) By the end of this year, Capital One Center might have a more convenient entrance to the McLean Metro station.

Construction on a north entrance for the station is underway and on track for completion by the end of the year, according to a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority spokesperson.

News

Future Route 7 lanes officially set aside for Tysons bus rapid transit

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 31, 2023 at 10:15AM

The proposed route and stations for the Route 7 bus rapid transit system in Tysons (via FCDOT)

Whenever Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) gets widened, the new lanes from International Drive in Tysons down to the West Falls Church Metro station area will be reserved exclusively for a future bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive plan amendment last Tuesday (July 25) incorporating the BRT into the county’s vision for Route 7 and International Drive, a move that enables county staff to pursue funding.

Countywide

GW Parkway still partially closed as storm cleanup continues

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 31, 2023 at 9:45AM | Updated July 31, 2023 at 1:37PM

Most of the GW Parkway's northern section is closed as crews continue to remove trees knocked down by Saturday's storm (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 1:35 p.m.) The ear-splitting thunder that accompanied Saturday’s rainstorm has faded, but efforts to clean up the resulting damage continue.

All southbound lanes on the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean and Arlington remained closed during rush hour this morning (Monday), as crews worked to remove fallen trees.

Around Town

Chinese lantern festival gears up for possible return to Tysons this winter

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 28, 2023 at 1:30PM

A "crocodile passage" lantern is among the displays planned for the next Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons (courtesy Kaleido Arts & Entertainment Group)

Though it may be hard to believe on a 100-degree day, winter will come to Fairfax County again, and when it does, Kaleido Entertainment and Arts Group will be ready.

The company hopes to bring its Winter Lantern Festival back to Tysons after a buzzy and evidently successful inaugural run from Dec. 16, 2022 to Feb. 12 of this year.

Countywide

County activates cooling centers with Excessive Heat Warning in effect

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 28, 2023 at 12:00PM

The county has activated its libraries, human services offices and community and recreation centers as cooling centers (via Fairfax County)

It’s another stifling day in Fairfax County with no immediate relief in sight.

As of 11 a.m., temperatures at Fort Belvoir had reached 90 degrees, but thanks to 65% humidity, it likely feels closer to 103 degrees outside, according to the National Weather Service.

News

Virginia Tech’s ‘otherworldly’ West Falls Church development approved despite height concerns

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 28, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated November 16, 2023 at 11:17AM

The planned Converge West Falls office building will be topped by a solar array (via Gensler/Fairfax County)

The final piece needed to fully redevelop the West Falls Church Transit Station Area has fallen into place.

After a public hearing on Tuesday (July 25), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved developer Rushmark Properties and HITT Contracting’s proposal to transform Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center in Idylwood into a mixed-use hub designed to promote sustainability.

News

FCPD: Man shoots mother and self in Seven Corners, hospitalizing both

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 28, 2023 at 9:30AM

The Woodlake Towers condominium complex in Seven Corners (via Google Maps)

A man shot his mother and himself in Seven Corners yesterday (Thursday), sending both of them to the hospital, Fairfax County police say.

Officers were dispatched to the Woodlake Towers condominiums at 6001 Arlington Blvd around 4:34 p.m. for the apparent domestic violence incident, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.