Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Vienna hires consultant to help plan future of former Faith Baptist Church

Published November 17, 2022 at 11:45AM

The cross has been removed from Vienna's former Faith Baptist Church building (file photo)

The Town of Vienna is seeking a little guidance to determine what to do with the former Faith Baptist Church property on Center Street.

The town council approved an allocation of $92,500 on Monday (Nov. 14) to launch a study of potential long-term uses for the site, now known as the Vienna Annex.

Around Town

Nintendo gaming pop-up coming to Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 16, 2022 at 2:15PM

Tysons Corner Center at night (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Rainbow Road will pass through Tysons Corner Center this winter holiday season.

The D.C. area’s biggest mall is one of 15 locations across the country that will host a “Wishlist Wonderland” pop-up from Nintendo, the video game company behind the Mario and Animal Crossing franchises announced last week.

News

Mount Vernon man pleads guilty to transporting teen for sex

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 16, 2022 at 11:45AM

The Justice Department logo (via DOJ)

A 29-year-old man from Mount Vernon could face life in prison after pleading guilty to transporting a teen for sexual purposes, the Department of Justice announced yesterday.

Apipat Vutipawat pleaded guilty last Thursday (Nov. 10) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to charges that, from May 29, 2020 through June 2, 2020, he transported an unidentified minor from Virginia to Pennsylvania “with the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

News

Vienna Courts development shrinks, as town council trades green energy pledge for more open space

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 16, 2022 at 11:00AM

A rendering of the duplexes proposed to replace the Vienna Courts condos (via Town of Vienna)

A plan to turn the Vienna Courts offices into duplexes has been downsized again, as the developer and town leaders try to make the complex fit in without sacrificing its viability as an alternative multifamily housing option.

After initially proposing 15 two-floor buildings with one unit on each floor in September, BFR Construction President Steve Bukont agreed on Monday (Nov. 14) to drop a building and some guest parking so the development will occupy a little less of the 1.66-acre lot at 127-133 Park Street.

News

BREAKING: Teen pedestrian killed in crash on Columbia Pike

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 16, 2022 at 10:05AM | Updated November 16, 2022 at 3:38PM

Police are investigating a crash on Columbia Pike in Bailey's Crossroads that killed a teen pedestrian (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) A local high school student has died after a driver crashed into her in a crosswalk on Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads, Fairfax County police say.

Officers are currently at the scene of the crash at the intersection with Tyler Street and Barcroft View Terrace. Southbound Columbia Pike has been shut down at Lacy Blvd, and the northbound side of the street is down to one lane of traffic.

Countywide

Covid cases stay down, but other respiratory illnesses are surging, N. Va. health leaders say

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 15, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated November 15, 2022 at 4:16PM

Teddy bear with a face mask and stethoscope (via Myriam Zilles on Unsplash)

(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) While the wave of COVID-19 cases seen over the past two winters hasn’t yet materialized this year, increased reports of other respiratory illnesses have local hospitals and health officials bracing for a particularly tough cold season.

Fairfax County and other Northern Virginia public health leaders are urging community members “to maintain their vigilance” and help prevent the spread of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which are both surging earlier than usual.

News

Four-story Dunn Loring Elementary School gets edge over shorter design option

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 15, 2022 at 2:15PM

An aerial view of a proposed four-story design for the future Dunn Loring Elementary School (via Samaha Associates/FCPS)

Community members who attended a public meeting on the future elementary school in Dunn Loring last week appeared to favor replacing the existing administrative center at 2334 Gallows Road with a four-story building.

Samaha Associates, an engineering firm contracted by Fairfax County Public Schools, presented two primary design options for the planned school, which is expected to be 118,000 square feet in size with the goal of addressing crowding in the Tysons area.

News

Redevelopment of former Sheraton Tysons Hotel could bring new public gathering spaces

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 15, 2022 at 10:15AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 2:42PM

An urban plaza is proposed by the entrance of the converted Sheraton hotel (via Fairfax County)

The developer planning to convert the former Sheraton hotel (8661 Leesburg Pike) in Tysons into multifamily housing has proposed enhancing the property with nearly 3.5 acres of park space.

A portion of the now-vacant hotel’s existing parking lot would be replaced by pocket parks, larger recreational parks, and an urban plaza to serve both future residents and the general public, according to an application filed with Fairfax County on Friday (Nov. 11).

Around Town

Long-standing Persian restaurant in Vienna, Rose Kabob, closes for good

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 14, 2022 at 2:15PM

Rose Kabob in Vienna closed permanently on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Another family-owned restaurant that felt like a mainstay of Vienna’s culinary scene is gone.

Rose Kabob had its final day of business yesterday after serving platters of chicken, lamb and kubideh (ground beef) at 126 Maple Avenue West for 16 years.

News

Centreville man arrested for shooting and killing neighbor’s dog, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 14, 2022 at 11:00AM

A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

A man from Centreville is facing firearm and animal cruelty charges after allegedly shooting his neighbor’s dog multiple times, resulting in the animal’s death.

According to Fairfax County police, 33-year-old Roman Vyacheslavov Gorelov shot a 2-year-old yellow Labrador and beagle mix after an argument with the dog’s owner at the Stonegate Faircrest Condominiums Friday morning (Nov. 11):