Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Proposed Pan Am redevelopment in Merrifield drops townhouses, going all in on apartments

Published April 3, 2023 at 10:30AM

Micro Center and Michaels will need to be relocated if the Pan Am Shopping Center is redeveloped (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The plan to redevelop Merrifield’s Pan Am Shopping Center has evolved since property owner Federal Realty submitted an initial proposal to Fairfax County last spring.

Perhaps the biggest change is the removal of up to 34 four-story townhomes previously shown on the southwest corner of the 25-acre strip mall at 3089 Nutley Street SW. The attached houses had accompanied three apartment buildings totaling 516 units.

Countywide

High Wind Warning issued for Fairfax County ahead of Saturday storm

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 31, 2023 at 3:45PM

U.S., Virginia and Fairfax County flags blow in wind (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The time to get any patio furniture and other loose, outdoor objects inside is now.

At 2:29 p.m. today (Friday), the National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, in anticipation of an encroaching storm.

News

New tax rates approved to pay off Fairfax County’s Silver Line debts

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 31, 2023 at 2:15PM

An existing Silver Line train at the McLean Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The final touches on the first phase of the Silver Line project that brought Metro into Tysons are falling into place, almost a decade after the five new rail stations in Fairfax County opened.

Construction on the shoulder of the Dulles Connector Road — which links the Dulles Toll Road in Tysons to the I-66 interchange in Idylwood — has been completed, according to a presentation that the Fairfax County Department of Transportation gave to the Board of Supervisors’ Phase 1 Dulles Rail Transportation Improvement District Commission on Tuesday (March 28).

News

Police: Woman on sidewalk killed in Richmond Highway crash by possibly speeding driver

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 31, 2023 at 1:20PM

Clayborne Avenue facing Richmond Highway in Groveton (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 1:25 p.m.) A 36-year-old Alexandria woman was killed last night (Thursday) after a driver who may have been speeding down Richmond Highway (Route 1) careened into her.

Samantha Jennings-Jones was walking on the sidewalk when a 2007 Mercedes C230 sedan hit her at 9:22 p.m. near the Clayborne Avenue intersection in Groveton, Fairfax County police said in a news release published today (Friday).

Around Town

Prolific chef Peter Chang is cooking up a new restaurant in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 31, 2023 at 10:15AM

Chef Peter Chang's team is seeking permits to take over the former House of Fortune at 6715 Lowell Avenue in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The growing restaurant empire forged by Chinese chef Peter Chang may soon expand to McLean.

Chang’s team has applied for a building permit from Fairfax County to take over the former House of Fortune space at 6715 Lowell Avenue, as the Washington Business Journal first reported on Tuesday (March 28).

News

NASA astronaut returns to Robinson Secondary School with Sen. Kaine to inspire students

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 31, 2023 at 9:30AM

Robinson Secondary School graduate and astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren takes photos of Earth from the International Space Station in 2015 (courtesy NASA/Flickr)

More than two decades after he graduated, astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren has been drawn back into Robinson Secondary School’s orbit.

The Fairfax school will welcome its Class of 1991 alum back this afternoon (Friday) for a student assembly, where Lindgren will be joined on stage by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.

News

JUST IN: Carjacked vehicle found in Tysons, hits cars and police cruisers during pursuit

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 30, 2023 at 5:10PM

Fairfax County police car lights flashing (file photo)

(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) Three people have been arrested for carjacking after a short vehicle pursuit in Tysons that saw collisions with multiple other vehicles, including police cruisers.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, one of its new automated license plate readers sent an alert to officers for an Audi Q5 that had been reported stolen from Maryland, yesterday (Wednesday).

News

Police chief lauds effort to resolve 34-hour barricade on Richmond Highway

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 30, 2023 at 4:20PM

Fairfax County police barricaded part of Richmond Highway to negotiate with an armed woman experiencing a mental health crisis (via FCPD/Twitter)

An armed woman who police say was experiencing a mental health crisis is now being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

The woman, who has been identified as 29-year-old Maryland resident Brittney Copelin, was taken into custody shortly after midnight today (Thursday), ending a shutdown of Richmond Highway in the Hybla Valley area that lasted about 34 hours.

Around Town

NEW: D.C. favorite Call Your Mother to open ‘Lil Deli’ truck in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 30, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated April 3, 2023 at 5:23PM

Call Your Mother's Lil Deli is opening a mobile shop at the Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean (courtesy Tim Casey/Call Your Mother)

(Updated at 5:25 p.m. on 4/3/2023) The popular D.C. deli Call Your Mother is expanding into Virginia for the first time.

Known for its bagels, the self-described “Jew-ish” deli is bringing a mobile version of its shop called Lil Deli to the Chesterbrook Shopping Center (6216 Old Dominion Drive) in McLean. The shop was announced today on Instagram.

Around Town

NEW: Wings and burgers ‘factory’ to move into industrial corner of Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 30, 2023 at 10:30AM

The fast-food restaurant WNB Factory specializes in burgers and chicken wings (courtesy WNB Factory)

The fast-food chain WNB Factory is gearing up to enter a part of Tysons that has retained a more industrial look, a choice that seems appropriate given the restaurant’s name.

Specializing in wings and burgers, the business has applied for permits from Fairfax County to renovate a vacated suite at 8453A Tyco Road.