Melanie Pincus

County board allows residential development on former Fair Lakes office site

Published September 16, 2024 at 11:00AM

A rendering of the residential building proposed to replace the Parkway Woods office in Fair Lakes (via TPC Hornbaker/Fairfax County)

A multi-family housing development proposed in Fair Lakes took another step toward existence last week.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a comprehensive plan amendment on Tuesday, Sept. 10 that supports residential development and increased development intensity at a site that previously housed the Parkway Woods office building (12801 Fair Lakes Parkway).

News

Annandale special education school seeks to add greenhouse, kitchen

By Melanie Pincus

Published September 5, 2024 at 11:00AM

Phillips School of Annandale (via Google Map

A private school that provides special education for students in first through 12th grade is looking to expand in Annandale (7010 Braddock Road).

The school is part of Phillips Programs, a nonprofit that provides education, family support services and advocacy for students with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs.

News

Woods at Fairfax Station church added to national forest network

By Melanie Pincus

Published August 13, 2024 at 1:30PM

The Sanctuary Forest around St. Peter's in the Woods Episcopal Church in Fairfax Station has been designated as an official Community Forest by the Old Growth Forest Network (via Google Maps)

A forest in Fairfax Station is set to receive some laurels.

The five-acre St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church Sanctuary Forest (5911 Fairview Woods Drive) will be designated as a community forest by the Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN) on Sept. 14.

Countywide

Fairfax County staff recommend boost to accessible parking requirements

By Melanie Pincus

Published July 25, 2024 at 11:30AM

A sign reserves a parking space at Fair Lakes Promenade for people with accessibility needs (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is considering tweaking its zoning ordinance to ensure that last year’s parking requirements overhaul doesn’t lead to a decrease in accessible spaces.

Because developers build accessible parking in proportion to total parking, the number of accessible spots could go down if overall parking is reduced.

Countywide

Fairfax County expands workforce housing program, lowers income ceiling

By Melanie Pincus

Published July 19, 2024 at 9:30AM

Housing under construction in the Westfields area of Chantilly in 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County has revised its workforce housing program in the hopes of making for-sale units viable in more locations.

The Board of Supervisors voted 9-0 on Tuesday (July 16) to change its workforce dwelling units (WDU) policy, which aims to incentivize affordable housing in mixed-use centers such as Tysons by awarding additional density to developers who participate.

News

Herndon to usher in Summer Olympics with touring torch sculpture

By Melanie Pincus

Published June 25, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated June 25, 2024 at 2:48PM

The final touches are being put on a new "Herndon Torch" sculpture (courtesy Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation Department)

Fairfax County hardly needs fire to keep warm this summer, but Herndon hopes to bring people together over a symbolic flame nonetheless.

An 8-foot-tall metal sculpture dubbed the “Herndon Torch” will travel through the town this July and August to mark the Summer Olympics and forge community connections.

News

County seeks more feedback on proposed Route 29 changes

By Melanie Pincus

Published June 12, 2024 at 1:30PM

Aerial view of Route 29 corridor study area (via Fairfax County)

The march toward improvements to the walking, cycling and driving experience along about 2.9 miles of Route 29 continued at a virtual public meeting last Wednesday (June 5).

County staff is looking to boost pedestrian comfort at intersections, reduce the level of traffic stress for bikers and shorten wait times for cars on the roadway between Buckleys Gate Drive and Jermantown Road in the Fairfax Center area.

News

Developer pitches turning near-empty Annandale office building into housing

By Melanie Pincus

Published June 4, 2024 at 10:30AM

The office building with a Wells Fargo bank at 7620 Little River Turnpike in Annandale (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A six-floor office building in Annandale could grow two stories taller and add about 50 housing units under a new development plan.

Located at 7620 Little River Turnpike, the office building eyed for residential conversion by Alexandria-based Nicholas Development was built in 1971 and is now “largely vacant and out-of-date,” according to rezoning application materials dated May 28. The building is apparently just 8% occupied.

Around Town

Original ‘Hairspray’ actors to put on show at McLean’s Alden Theatre

By Melanie Pincus

Published May 29, 2024 at 2:30PM

Original Broadway cast members Marissa Jaret Winokur, Kerry Butler and Laura Bell Bundy will perform at the Alden Theatre in a show celebrating the anniversary of "Hairspray" (courtesy McLean Community Center)

Three Tony Award honorees are coming to the Alden Theatre (1234 Ingleside Avenue) in McLean next Saturday (June 8).

At the 7 p.m. event, three members of the original cast of the musical “Hairspray” will mark more than 20 years since the musical debuted on Broadway in the summer of 2002.

Around Town

Summer concerts and movies unveiled by Fairfax County Park Authority

By Melanie Pincus

Published May 16, 2024 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County's annual Summer Entertainment Series will kick off on June 1 (via Fairfax County Park Authority/Twitter)

The Fairfax County Park Authority has composed a slate of summer shows, including Grammy honorees, drive-in movies and a range of dancers.

Nearly 200 live events will take place across more than a dozen locations between June 1 and Aug. 31.