Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

New senior living developer needed for city’s West Falls project, delaying construction

Published June 20, 2023 at 10:15AM

A rendering of the West Falls development (via City of Falls Church)

The senior living component of Falls Church City’s mixed-use West Falls development has hit a snag, even as construction continues on other pieces of the future gateway to the city.

WF Developer, the development team led by Hoffman & Associates, informed city leaders in April that Trammel Crow had withdrawn from its contract to build the project’s 217-unit senior housing facility, according to a staff report.

News

JUST IN: Man sentenced to life in prison for 2016 killings of Springfield couple

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 16, 2023 at 3:45PM

Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Life in prison awaits the man responsible for the 2016 killings of 22-year-old Springfield residents Kedest Simeneh and Henok Yohannes.

Alexandria resident Yohannes Nessibu, 29, was sentenced to life in prison today (Friday) after being convicted of first-degree murder and manslaughter for shooting the couple during a drug deal, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced.

News

Vienna Police called after man grabs boy for interrupting baseball game

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 16, 2023 at 1:30PM

A late afternoon baseball game at Waters Field in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Assault charges could be on deck for a Vienna man who allegedly chased and grabbed a boy during a youth baseball game earlier this week.

Vienna police officers were called to 133 Maple Avenue East at 8 p.m. on Wednesday (June 14) after getting a report of a man grabbing a juvenile at Waters Field (300 Cherry Street), according to the police department’s crime round-up for the week of June 9-15.

News

Plans for a skating rink at the Mosaic District put on hold indefinitely

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 16, 2023 at 11:00AM

The Mosaic District's roller rink in summer 2022 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Mosaic District is hanging up its roller and ice skating plans — at least for now.

The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) agreed Wednesday (June 14) to indefinitely defer Rink Management Services Corporation’s request for a special permit that would allow it to operate a skating rink in the Merrifield neighborhood on a seasonal basis.

Countywide

County will officially rename Lee and Lee-Jackson Memorial highways next month

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 15, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated November 16, 2023 at 4:31PM

A Lee Highway road sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County can officially retire Lee Highway and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway as its names for routes 29 and 50.

The highways will be renamed after their route numbers effective July 5, the county announced today (Thursday).

News

Anti-LGBTQ incidents reported at Falls Church, West Potomac high schools

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 15, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated June 16, 2023 at 12:44PM

Falls Church High School entrance (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 12:45 p.m. on 6/16/2023) As Pride Month got underway, a pair of hate incidents targeting the LGBTQ community shook up Falls Church and West Potomac high schools.

At Falls Church High School (7521 Jaguar Trail) in West Falls Church, a student admitted to stealing a rainbow Pride flag from the school and burning it, principal Ben Nowak said in a message to the school community on June 6.

News

County recommends survey of family cemetery at Pan Am Shopping Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 15, 2023 at 11:00AM

The Thompson Family Cemetery is adjacent to the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield (photo by Amy Woolsey)

Before the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield gets redeveloped, Fairfax County staff say the adjacent, centuries-old cemetery should probably get examined.

The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development released a staff report last week recommending that mixed-use development be allowed at the shopping center, opening the door for property owner Federal Realty to build 585 residential units and expand its retail.

Around Town

New summer concert series coming to the Mosaic District

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 14, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated June 23, 2023 at 12:19PM

Strawberry Lane will get blocked off Saturday nights this summer for a new Mosaic Live concert series (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Updated at 12:20 p.m. on 6/23/2023 — The Mosaic Live kick-off event on Saturday has been canceled due to forecasted inclement weather, according to Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik. The series will instead begin on July 1 with the Munit Mesfin Band.

Earlier: Live music will take over Strawberry Lane at Mosaic District this summer.

News

Police: Man tried to abduct child near Franconia school

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 14, 2023 at 11:45AM

Island Creek Elementary School on Morning View Lane (via Google Maps)

The Fairfax County Police Department has bolstered its presence in Franconia today (Wednesday) after a man reportedly tried to abduct a child near Island Creek Elementary School yesterday.

The encounter occurred at 4:15 p.m. when a 10-year-old was walking on Morning View Lane to get to a playground, police said:

News

Bond revoked for alleged driver in Tysons theft, police pursuit case

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 14, 2023 at 10:15AM

Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A Fairfax County judge has revoked the bond for one of the four people who allegedly stole from Nordstrom Rack and led police on a vehicle chase in Tysons last week.

The man allegedly behind the wheel during the pursuit, which involved collisions with multiple police cruisers, was initially granted a $5,000 personal recognizance bond by the Fairfax County General District Court on Thursday (June 8).