An information technology services company is expanding its presence in Reston.
Dev Technology Group plans to invest $366,000 in its current offices at 11440 Commerce Park Drive, embarking on a 10,000-square-foot expansion that is expected to create 90 new jobs. The news was announced yesterday (Monday).
“As a federal contractor, Dev Technology has selected to continue its growth in Fairfax County due to the proximity of clients and access to highly skilled employees, including veterans,” Dev Technology CEO Kendall Holbrook said. “In addition, Northern Virginia is a diverse and inclusive community that allows us to attract and retain people of all backgrounds, which ultimately makes our company stronger and more resilient.”
The company was founded in 1998 to deliver IT services and solutions, including artificial intelligence, to further government missions. Its clients include the Department of Homeland Security, Army National Guard, Army Corps of Engineers and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) president and CEO Victor Hoskins congratulated the company on its expansion in the county.
“We applaud Dev Technology for their investment and plan of hiring 90 new information technology and software employees,” Hoskins said.
FCEDA worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) to secure the project for the county.
“Dev Technology Group is a Virginia success story that bolsters our booming IT industry while providing critical services for the government and 21st-century jobs for civilians and veterans,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said. “We are proud to see a longstanding corporate partner benefit from the Commonwealthâs diverse, world-class technology talent that catalyzes growth.”
đ˘ BIG NEWS: @devtechnology, an information technology services company, will expand in Fairfax County. The company is investing in 10k sq. ft of new office space to accommodate additional IT + software personnel. The project will create 90 new jobs.
đ: https://t.co/OOqXyv7cW6 pic.twitter.com/nQnJpVfVwF
— Fairfax County EDA (@FairfaxEDA) May 8, 2023
Image via Google Maps
Offices may no longer accompany an existing 10-story office building at Fair Lakes Circle.
Developer Grubb Properties Inc. wants Fairfax County’s permission to build a 400-unit apartment building at 12701 Fair Lakes Circle, currently the site of an office building known as Argon Plaza. The proposal replaces plans calling for a second office building on the parking lot that date back to 2005, according to the Washington Business Journal.
A shared parking garage with 580 spaces is also planned. The site was previously approved for two new office buildings, each up to 10 stories in height.
If the change is approved, the developer plans to break ground in 2025 and complete the project in 2026.
“Office space in the post-pandemic time period has been severely challenged, and this approved but unbuilt square footage is likely to remain unbuilt for some time,” the application says. “By converting approved but unbuilt office square footage to residential, this application adds new market-affordable and workforce housing to Fairfax County’s housing inventory and helps address the region and the Countyâs challenging housing shortage.”
The application also argues that the development would support restaurants and retailers in the vicinity.
Although the development would be exempt from the county’s Affordable Dwelling Units program, at least 30 units will be designated as Workforce Dwelling Units for individuals and families within 60 to 80% of the area median income.
The application was recently flagged for some deficiencies and is in the early stages of the review process.
The driver of a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue engine who struck and killed a woman on Glade Drive in Reston did not see the woman lying in the roadway, police say.
Preliminarily, investigators believe that speed was not a factor in the crash, which happened shortly after 2:18 am yesterday (Monday), the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release.
According to the FCPD, the police and fire departments received a call that a woman who appeared to be intoxicated was lying on the ground west of Laurel Glade Court. The officer who arrived first at the scene did not see the woman lying in the roadway, passing her to talk to the person who made the 911 call.
The driver of the fire engine followed the officer. The captain saw the woman and “immediately” called on the engine to stop and turn, but the driver was unable to avoid the crash, police said.
“Fire and rescue personnel immediately began to provide advanced medical care,” the FCPD said.
The woman was identified as Ashley Boardman, 23, of Middleburg. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Police say they are still investigating “if drugs or alcohol were factors for Boardman,” who had reportedly been found unconscious by the caller, according to the initial police dispatch.
Boardman is now the fourth pedestrian to be killed on Fairfax County roads this year. At this time in 2022, there had been six fatal pedestrian crashes, per the FCPD.
As @FairfaxCountyPD releases more information about this morning fatal pedestrian event, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Boardman. https://t.co/x7A38IAmc5 pic.twitter.com/mxLSZmD2Pf
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) May 8, 2023
A Fairfax-based developer is hoping to build a 4,000-seat concert hall and a 163-room hotel in Old Town Fairfax.
The application — first reported by Washington Business Journal — is Ox Hill Companies’ second crack at building an arts and entertainment venue in the City of Fairfax.
Fairfax Cityâs Planning Commission will discuss the pre-application for the project at a meeting today (Monday) at 7 p.m. Called The Ox, the project would be located at 4020 University Drive, 4029 Chain Bridge Road, 4031 Chain Bridge Road and 4057 Chain Bridge Road.
“The performing arts center, which will be managed by an internationally-known arts and entertainment operator, will attract musical acts and other performing artists to the city,” Walsh Colucci land use agent Robert Brant wrote in the April 20 application. “It will inject activity into the downtowns and transform Old Town Fairfax into an entertainment destination.”
In its first proposal, the company wanted to build a mixed-use project on nearly two acres of Main Street. But the project shifted to a mixed-use residential condominium building due to the pandemic and size constraints, WBJ reported.
With the new concept, nearly 19,000 square feet of ground-floor retail or restaurant uses are also proposed on the nearly 4-acre site. A four-level garage with 454 parking spaces is also proposed.
The applicant also plants to construct an east-west public street, with an extension of South Street from Chain Bridge Road to University Drive.
Most of the buildings on the site would be demolished, except for a two-story bank at 4029 Chain Bridge Road.
“The applicant is eager to work with the city and the community on this exciting proposal, which presents an opportunity to implement several key objectives of the comprehensive plan,” the application states.
Fairfax University of America, an accredited higher education institution, is looking for a new campus in Herndon.
The institution — which offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in business administration, management information system, computer sciences and other fields — is seeking the Town of Herndon’s permission to take over three office buildings on Grove Street.
The application, which is set to go before the Town of Herndonâs Planning Commission tonight (Monday), proposes that the college would operate at 500, 555 and 585 Grove Street, accommodating roughly 295 students.
Roughly 71,000 square feet of existing office space would be repurposed to serve as classrooms, teacher offices and related amenity space, according to the application.
The property would have to be rezoned from commercial services uses to business uses.
“The applicant believes that the office climate has been evolving over the past few years and this evolution has resulted in large amounts of vacancy,” the application says.
Existing businesses in the buildings would remain.
So far, town staff said they generally support using the site as a post-secondary education campus because of the layout of the buildings and their central location in the town.
“Staff has been working with the applicant to address site concerns through updates to the [Generalized Development Plan],” staff said in a report. “Staff issued a comment letter expressing concerns with accessibility and circulation.”
Fairfax University’s campus is currently located at 4401 Village Drive in Fairfax.
Image via Google Maps
(Updated at 8 p.m.) A white bus with a blue strip attempted to pick up children at a bus stop in the Southington Lane area of Reston earlier this morning (Thursday).
Local police are investigating the incident, which happened around 7:44 a.m.
The driver reportedly drove off after a community member tried to speak with the driver. The driver, who is described as a white male with facial hair, shut the door and drove off.
A second incident happened about 10 minutes later involving a different bus. An unmarked yellow school bus with black stripes tried to pick up elementary school students at a bus stop in the area of Chynoweth Street and Telegraph Road in Lorton, Fairfax County police said.
That driver also drove away when confronted by a community member. He was described as a man with long curly brown hair who wore a surgical mask and dark clothing.
Police said later that the Lorton driver was identified.
“The bus was there for another pick up and no criminal activity suspected,” the Fairfax County Police Department said.
The FCPD urged anyone with additional information to use the following means to contact investigators:
If you have any information about this incident, please call 703-691-2131. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone â 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and online [at] www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org. You may also download the âP3 Tipsâ App âFairfax Co Crime Solversâ. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for someone to follow up with you.
A French and Asian fusion bakery is coming soon to Annandale.
TOUS les JOURS, a South Korean bakery, plans to open a new location in Annandale. It will be located in the same strip as The Block food hall at 4243 John Marr Drive, according to county permits.
The business did not immediately reply to requests for comment, but county permits indicate that an application for its fire alarms system was processed last month.
The franchise — which means everyday in French — launched in 2004 and has since expanded to 70 stores in the United States and more than 1,650 stores around the world.
Items on the menu include breads, pastries, cakes and light meals, according to its website.
The Annandale location will be Virginia’s first. The nearest location is in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Photo via TOUS les JOURS/Facebook
Through a new youth-focused program, Reston Community Players will grace the stage of Capital One Hall in Tysons next month as part of its new apprentice program.
RCP, which typically performs at Reston Community Center’s CenterStage, will present a youth-centered production of “Newsies” from July 8-17. The program, which launched in the fall, enables students between the ages of 13 and 18 to get exposure to the process of building a theatrical production.
Capital One Hall opened in October and offers “steeply discounted” rates for small nonprofit organizations, according to RCP President Kate Keifer.
Keifer told FFXnow that RCP has been working with Capital One for the past three years as one of the first community partners to take advantage of the program, which is overseen by the local arts agency ArtsFairfax. The organization was selected to perform in The Vault, a 225-seat black box theater.
Here’s more from RCP on the production of “Newsies”:
Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by the true story of the Newsboy Strike of 1899, Newsies tells the story of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy who dreams of a better life. After publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies a ragged band of newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right.
RCP’s production of Newsies is directed and choreographed by Alisa Claire and Brian Collier, visiting teaching artists from NYC’s The LMproject, located in New York City.  The production team also includes Merissa Driscoll (musical director), Dan Widerski (technical director) Mary Jo Ford (company manager), Franklin Coleman (lighting designer), Richard Bird (sound designer), and Lori Crockett (costume designer).
“Newsies” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are available online.
However, RCP will still call RCC home.
“While our full mainstage season will still perform at Reston Community Center, and that will remain RCP’s performance home, we have developed our Apprentice Program as a brand new offering of our organization to provide young students with a pre-professional theatrical experience that matches the tone of this fantastic new venue,” Keifer wrote.
Keifer hopes the program will marry the group’s longstanding tradition of producing high-quality theatrical productions with an emphasis on student education.
The ultimate goal is to reach new audiences and develop “a new generation of performing and technical artists.”
Good news for George Mason University students and anyone else looking for a late-night snack: Insomnia Cookies is adding a location in Fairfax County.
The business plans to open up shop soon in University Mall at 10669 Braddock Road, according to its website. The plaza is anchored by Giant and includes other businesses like Domino’s, United Bank and Gathering Grounds Cafe.
The company did not immediately indicate when it plans to open, but its website anticipates that it will open “soon.”
Founded by a University of Pennsylvania student in 2003, Insomnia Cookies sells fresh cookies and ice cream. Popular cookie flavors include chocolate chunk, snickerdoodle, and s’mores deluxe. Delivery options will also be available at the new store.
Insomnia Cookies already has several shops in Virginia, including Richmond, Blacksburg, and Charlottesville, but this will be its first in Fairfax County. Another location is also planned in Williamsburg, according to the company’s website.
Photo via Insomnia Cookies/Facebook
After a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, the Town of Herndon is looking ahead to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, activities and entertainment.
The town’s July 4 celebration, which is set for 6:30-10 p.m. that Monday, will feature live entertainment by Hipshack, a band that will perform party songs and modern hits. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m.
A tentative rain date for the fireworks is set for the next day at 9:30 p.m.
Town staff note that traffic will be rerouted at the event, which is located at 814 Ferndale Avenue around the Herndon Community Center and Bready Park Softball Field.
Admission is free.
Motorists should expect significant detours and changes to traffic routes in the area until the fireworks display is finished. Individuals parked at the community center won’t be able to exit until given the all clear by the fire marshal and Herndon Police Department.
Ferndale Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Vine Street to Barton Oaks once parking lots are filled. The lots will remain closed until the show is completed, with the exemption of access for ADA-friendly parking.
Here’s more from the town on planned traffic adjustments:
Herndon Parkway will be reduced to one lane approaching Ferndale Avenue;
No turns from Herndon Parkway onto Ferndale Avenue will be permitted;
Elden Street southbound into town at Monroe Street will be closed during this period and all traffic must turn right onto Monroe Street;
Elden Street traffic northbound at Alabama Drive will be re-routed;
Herndon Middle School traffic exiting from 5th Street must turn left (west) on Locust Street and may only then turn left (south) onto Elden Street;
Locust Street access will be restricted on School, Spruce and Grace  Streets;
St Joseph’s Church parking lot will exit onto Peachtree Street and may turn left only onto Elden Street;
Bready Park softball and Herndon Centennial Golf Course parking lots will exit onto Ferndale Avenue towards Herndon Parkway only
Ferndale Avenue traffic will turn right only onto Park Avenue or Herndon  Parkway;
Sterling Road (Route 606) southbound from Herndon Parkway, is restricted to local access only;
Crestview Drive – no access to Sterling Road from Bayshire Lane;
Vine Street will be closed from Ferndale Avenue to Grace Street;
Main Drive will be closed.
Town staff encourage residents to leave their pets at home and bring a blanket or lawn chair. Coolers and bags are subject to searches and alcohol, glass containers and personal fireworks are not allowed.
For fireworks viewing only, it’s best to nab a spot at the Station Street municipal parking lot and watch from the town green. Food is not allowed on the turf field.
