Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

News

Fairfax City Council rejects proposal to redevelop shopping center near Old Town

By Scott McCaffrey
Rendering of apartments proposed for Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center (via Combined Properties/City of Fairfax)

Plans to redevelop a portion of the Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center near Old Town Fairfax into housing were rejected by Fairfax City Council members late last month, leaving the aging site’s future in limbo once again.

The 4-2 vote on Oct. 28 came three months after council members opted on July 22 to delay a final decision in hopes a revamped proposal by developer Combined Properties would address concerns raised by critics throughout the development process.

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Countywide

State legislators propose $400M more in annual Northern Va. transit funding

By Scott McCaffrey
A Fairfax Connector bus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A state legislative panel set up to identify potential new funding for Northern Virginia transit completed its work this week by delivering a firm starting number: $400 million annually.

But the panel opted against prioritizing which funding streams would work best as it readied its report for consideration during the 2026 General Assembly session.

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News

As Fairfax home sellers trim prices, prospective buyers dip into the market

By Scott McCaffrey
A new house under construction in Vienna is up for sale (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Just under 10% of Fairfax home-sellers cut their asking prices last week, but more prospective buyers were on the hunt for homes in the county, according to new data.

Countywide, listing prices were reduced for a total of 9.9% of active listings during the week that ended last Sunday (Nov. 2), according to figures reported by Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.

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Countywide

Apartment rental rates rising in most of Fairfax, with exception of Tysons

By Scott McCaffrey
The Bolden and Rise apartment buildings at The Boro in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County in October saw rising year-over-year apartment rents in most corridors except Tysons, which saw a decline but remains the priciest area countywide.

Six of seven areas across Fairfax posted median rent increases ranging from less than 1% to 7%, according to figures reported Oct. 30 by Apartment List.

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News

County board OKs eminent domain to acquire land along Route 1 BRT project

By Scott McCaffrey
Richmond Highway street sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 28) took steps to acquire private property needed for construction of the Richmond Highway bus rapid transit (BRT) project.

With three members absent and one seat vacant, the Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 to authorize county staff to move forward with filing paperwork in court allowing for the condemnation and acquisition of property needed for utility relocation as the nearly billion-dollar project begins to move from planning to construction.

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Countywide

Fairfax County might increase fee for towed vehicles up to 40%

By Scott McCaffrey
A-1 Towing truck in Rose Hill (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Owners of vehicles towed for improper parking on private property across Fairfax County could soon see an increase of up to 40% in the fee to retrieve them.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 28) set a public hearing for Tuesday, Dec. 9 to consider adjustments to towing fees most recently raised four years ago.

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Countywide

Task force recommends increasing Metro funding, starting at $460M

By Scott McCaffrey
An Orange Line Metro train stops at Foggy Bottom en route to Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Virginia’s state and local governments would be required to come up with $136 million annually in additional funding for Metro rail and bus service starting in mid-2027, if recommendations from a key regional task force make it through a still-uncertain future.

The DMV Moves task force approved a nonbinding framework yesterday (Wednesday) for increased, dedicated capital spending in support of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It recommends $460 million in additional funding split between Virginia, Maryland and D.C., starting in fiscal year 2028 and rising after that at a rate of 3% per year.

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News

Distillery building in Reston among Fairfax’s most endangered historic structures

By Scott McCaffrey
The historic Bowman distillery building, also known as Wiehle Town Hall, in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey

The historic A. Smith Bowman Distillery building in Reston remains one of the county’s most endangered properties, the Fairfax County History Commission warned leaders in its annual report.

The building, which dates to the 1880s, is among four properties the advisory panel sees as most imperiled, commission chair Gretchen Bulova told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 28).

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Countywide

Fairfax County accepts $150K grant to help federal workers, contractors launch new careers

By Scott McCaffrey
Virginia Career Works Northern Region table at a University of Virginia job fair in August 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County leaders on Tuesday (Oct. 28) added another tool to address the economic impacts of the recent federal worker layoffs under the Trump administration.

The Board of Supervisors approved $150,000 in grant funding from the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement (Virginia Works) in support of a new initiative known as Talent Up Northern Virginia.

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Countywide

FCPS students report improved mental health in new county youth survey

By Scott McCaffrey
Students walk down a school hallway (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County school leaders see signs of improving mental health, but also some ongoing red flags, in the county’s most recent youth survey.

“This is always a bittersweet report to read,” at-large Fairfax County School Board member Kyle McDaniel said after Superintendent Michelle Reid detailed the report’s findings at the board meeting last Thursday (Oct. 23).

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