The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) took a procedural step forward last week in the controversial effort to redevelop the Franconia Governmental Center for affordable housing.
Authority members voted nearly unanimously on Thursday (Oct. 17) to approve an interim agreement with a consortium that is seeking to redevelop the 3.26-acre parcel at 6121 Franconia Road.
What to Expect This Winter in N. Va. — “According to NOAA’s latest Winter Outlook, Virginia residents should prepare for some interesting weather patterns this upcoming winter season. The forecast, which covers December 2024 through February 2025, shows that La Nina conditions will play a major role in shaping our winter weather.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
Reston Woman Charged with Child Abuse — “A 9-year-old boy told police he was locked in a room, forced to urinate in a bottle and repeatedly beaten in a Reston, Virginia, apartment by a woman who was supposed to be caring for him, court documents say … An anonymous call to the Department of Family Services prompted the investigation in mid-August.” [NBC4]
Nearby: Loudoun Seeks to Boost Water Supply — “With most of the D.C. area dependent on the Potomac River, and an ongoing study to seek an alternative to D.C.’s drinking water supply, Loudoun County, Virginia, is taking steps to make sure it doesn’t get caught short … Loudoun Water is in the midst of converting a now-empty Luck Stone quarry into a raw water storage facility.” [WTOP]
Puppy Stolen From Chantilly Pet Store — “The search is on for a puppy allegedly taken from a pet store in Northern Virginia. It happened this week at the XO Pups store in Chantilly. Fairfax County Police are reviewing surveillance video after the store owner reported a 10-week-old Maltipoo stolen.” [NBC4]
Affordable Housing Waitlists Open — “Affordable housing waitlist applications will open on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. and will remain open through Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. for select properties.” Options include Coralain Gardens in West Falls Church, the Residences at North Hill in Hybla Valley and, for seniors, Little River Glen in the Fairfax area. [Fairfax County Housing and Community Development]
Fairfax City Gets New Korean BBQ Restaurant — The Woo Korean BBQ & Cuisine opened in Fairfax City’s West Fairfax Centre near Lowes at 4070 Jermantown Road on Oct. 9. Featuring the tabletop grills typical for Korean barbecue restaurants, the 2,500-square-foot space “has an upscale feel to it” and “appears to be the first location for the brand.” [The Burn]
McLean Startup Launches Online Housebuying Platform — “Sellona Inc., a three-person startup, debuted its built-from-scratch, zero-commission ‘digital platform’ on Oct. 9, joining a variety of other home-buying and -selling apps. Its founders say it differs from the competition in that it doesn’t charge users any commissions, subscription or other fees whatsoever.” [Washington Business Journal]
Artist Opens Pop-Up Shop at Reston Town Center — The Ovissi Foundation opened a pop-up concept called the Ovissi Boutique “at the former home of Lou Lou at 11955 Freedom Drive in Reston Town Center” over the weekend. Through Nov. 17, visitors can buy “the work of 90-year-old Nasser Ovissi, who has lived in Reston for more that 40 years.” [Patch]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a comfortable high of about 77°F, accompanied by a light northwest wind at around 6 mph. As night falls, the skies will remain clear and the temperature will drop to a cool 51°F with calm winds. [NWS]
Herndon Town Councilmember Naila Alam’s attendance record is under fire from one of Fairfax County’s Congressional representatives.
In a tweet sent on Sunday (Oct. 13), Rep. Gerry Connolly said Alam has had the worst attendance in the council, missing more than 25% of all public meeting since she took office in 2020.
A battle is brewing once again over the prospect of a casino in Fairfax County.
As opponents continue to organize, including under a No Fairfax Casino Coalition that mostly consists of homeowners’ and citizen associations, several labor unions have now come out in support of the casino and entertainment district envisioned in Tysons by the developer Comstock Companies.
Reston Association is looking to address gaps in its fencing guidelines for single-family houses.
The community association’s staff have begun developing new standard operating procedures dictating who approves fences and general parameters for what’s accepted after getting concerns that the process is inconsistent. Some homeowners have also pushed for more flexibility with exterior changes, according to a recent presentation to the Design Review Board.
While the environment is generally a priority for Fairfax County, issues related to trees and invasive plants appear likely to take a backseat to other concerns when local elected officials lobby their state counterparts in the General Assembly next year.
At its legislative committee meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 15), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors reviewed a number of proposals for promoting tree conservation and addressing invasive species from the Fairfax County Tree Commission and Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC).
National Airport Could Add More Long Flights — “Five airlines have received tentative approval to run new long-haul flights out of Reagan National Airport.” The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it intends to grant one extra round-trip flight per day to San Antonio, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Francisco and San Diego. [ARLnow]
Mount Vernon Estate to Partially Close for Rehab — “On Nov. 1, the bulk of Washington’s famous home is due to close for several months as it undergoes the next phase of its largest-scale rehabilitation in over 150 years.” Various restoration projects have been undertaken at the Mount Vernon estate in recent years, with this latest work expected to wrap up in 2026. [Washington Post]
Gainesville-to-Reston Commuter Bus Could Be Axed — “Two new OmniRide commuter bus routes serving Warrenton and Front Royal and traveling into Washington, D.C., will be considered in a series of upcoming public hearings that will also involve discussion around the proposed elimination of the Gainesville-to-Reston route.” [WTOP]
Local Teen Stars in German Movie — “Tamino Beba, a freshman at West Springfield High School in Fairfax County, had always loved movies, and being in one had always been a ‘far fetched dream’ until one day that dream came true. Beba’s family had heard about a casting call for ‘Woodwalkers,’ a German-language movie series based on the novels of the same name by German author Katja Brandis.” [NBC4]
Tour de Mount Vernon Returns — “Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck invites you to join us for a Community Bike Ride AND Youth & Family Ride on Saturday October 19 2024, starting and ending at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.” Registration remains open for the event, which costs $35 per rider and starts at 8:30 a.m. [Mount Vernon District Office]
Halloween Movie Screening in Tysons Tonight — “To honor one of our favorite Halloween films of all time, The Boro will host an outdoor screening of Practical Magic on October 18 starting at 7:00pm in Boro Park.” Attendees can get a drink ticket for a midnight margarita, receive a palm reading and buy soap and lotion from a local vendor. [Eventbrite]
Trail in Burke to Close for Repairs — “The Fairfax County Park Authority will be conducting trail maintenance and repairs along the Huntsman Lake Trail beginning Oct. 21. The repairs include repaving work and replacement of timbers along the trail. Weather pending, the trail will reopen Oct. 26.” [FCPA]
Photos of Fairfax County Wanted — “Do you have stunning photos capturing the essence of Fairfax County? Whether it’s from a local park, a community event, a breathtaking skyline, a departmental gathering, or a newly launched initiative, we want to see them! Fairfax County is seeking exceptional images to feature in the Third Annual [Strategic Plan] Report.” [The Walkinshaw Advisory]
It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with a high temperature of around 67 degrees and a north wind around 9 mph. The night will be clear and cool with a low temperature of around 44 degrees and a north wind ranging from 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]
Pam Piligan’s journey to completing marathons in all 50 U.S. states was itself a marathon, spanning two decades and countless hours of training, traveling and running.
All that work paid off when the Vienna resident crossed the finish line at the base of the majestic Teton Mountain Range in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Saturday, Sept. 28, allowing her to fill in one final state on her home map of Navy Federal Credit Union’s branches.
A Springfield man was arrested yesterday (Wednesday) in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist in May.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, detectives determined that Michael Burghardt, 46, was driving a 2022 BMW M440i north in the southbound lanes of Rolling Road when he hit a southbound motorcyclist near Delong Drive in Newington on May 12.
The developer Comstock is suing the engineering firm Kimley-Horn and Associates for allegedly underpaying rent for its Reston Station office.
In a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Alexandria on Oct. 11, Comstock asserts that its tenant paid only half of the rent that it owes this month for space at 11400 Commerce Park Drive.
