Realty company Terreno Realty Corporation may have plans for a cluster of warehouses called the Fleet Industrial Park in Franconia.
The company recently announced that it purchased 6584-6674 Fleet Drive, a group of four industrial distribution buildings, for $84.3 million.
The buildings are approximately 357,000 square feet on a 19.1-acre lot.
In the release, Terreno Realty Corporation noted that the leases at the lot all expire by 2031:
The property is at 6584-6674 Fleet Drive approximately two miles from the intersection of I-95/395 and I-495 (Capital Beltway), provides 67 dock-high and 38 grade-level loading positions and parking for 580 cars. The property is 100% leased to 21 tenants, with all leases expiring by 2031, and the estimated stabilized cap rate is 5.3%.
Photo via Google Maps
H/t Ryan Belmore
Fairfax County Public School Board members have finalized a first draft of the division’s new boundary adjustment policy, which is scheduled for a full board review next month.
The major updates to the new policy mandate that the superintendent adhere to a specific set of criteria when drawing school boundary lines and require a county-wide review of school boundaries every five years.
The new draft policy, still subject to revisions, follows several months of discussion among school board members on the best approach to address overcrowding throughout the division.
The revised policy retains elements of the existing one, such as assigning students to schools based on proximity to their homes. However, under the proposed changes, when establishing new boundaries, the superintendent must ensure that schools have sufficient capacity for future students; avoid splitting students from the same neighborhood among different schools; minimize student travel times; and provide equal access to programming.
The superintendent may also consider additional factors when setting school boundaries, including the following.
- Minimizing disruptions to teaching
- Reducing reliance on temporary classrooms
- Cutting future budget costs
- Ensuring easy access to nearby neighborhoods
- Enhancing family involvement
- Maintaining long-term stability in school attendance zones
While these additional criteria are optional, At-large school board member Kyle McDaniel emphasized the superintendent must prioritize the first four.
“The biggest difference between the current policy and the new policy is this “may”/”shall” language,” he told FFXnow. “The old policy just had 14 criteria that had no priority or no ranking or no real intentional guidance to staff in terms of what the board would prioritize over other items.”
School board members have also updated the language in the old policy concerning the superintendent’s authority to make emergency boundary adjustments.
In cases of a “catastrophic event” or emergency, the superintendent has the authority to temporarily adjust school attendance areas without school board approval, provided the affected student population is less than 15%.
The superintendent must notify the school board of any adjustments, but a vote is not required unless the changes are expected to be permanent.
Board members also revised the section on expedited boundary adjustments, adding language that authorizes the superintendent to recommend such adjustments after consulting with the school board and conducting publicly-noticed meetings, should the following situations occur.
- New unoccupied housing requires to students to be reassigned to prevent overcrowding
- Adjust for transportation needs
- Manage excess enrollment
- Respond to program changes
- Address school openings and closings
- Address unexpected construction issues or delays
The policy also ensures that future boundary adjustments will be phased in, meaning high school students currently enrolled would not be forced to transfer.
If the board adopts the new policy, expected by June or July, it would likely not take effect until the next school year, according to McDaniel.
A Lorton man has been arrested and charged with murder following a domestic-related fatal shooting on Wednesday night.
Police were called to Mount Vernon Hospital at 2501 Parker Lane in Hybla Valley following an incident where Huy Tien Nguyen, 47, admitted his girlfriend, Alison “Kate” LaPorta, 38, who had sustained a gunshot wound to her upper body, according to a Fairfax County Police Department press release.
Nguyen initially told officers the shooting occurred in a parking lot. However, detectives says they later determined Nguyen allegedly shot LaPorta inside the vehicle he used to then drive LaPorta to the hospital. Detectives recovered the firearm near Nguyen’s Lorton home.
Nguyen was charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. He was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he is being held without bond.
Shake Shack proposed for Kamp Washington Shopping Center — “Fairfax City Board of Architectural Review approved exterior designs for two new restaurants planned for the former Just Tires location.” [Patch]
A Fairfax County school bus crashes into a DMV — A Fairfax County school bus struck the relatively new Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles building on Braddock Road Thursday morning when another driver failed to yield, forcing the bus driver to swerve off the road, Fairfax County police said. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Poetry in the Parks coming to Turner Farm Park Observatory — “April is National Poetry Month, and ArtsFairfax and the Fairfax County Park Authority are kicking off a summer of fun poetry events to get you inspired. Poetry in the Parks is a series of poetry readings and workshops, created by Fairfax County Poet Laureate Daniella Badra, that will span from April 27 to August 17.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
The Peterson family, of Fairfax-based Peterson Cos., donates $20 million to Inova Health System — “Inova Health System just landed another substantial donation from big names in Greater Washington’s real estate world, putting the system closer to its $75 million fundraising goal.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Friday — Expect showers after 2pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 65 degrees. The southeast wind will blow at 6 to 8 mph, and there’s a 30% chance of precipitation. For Friday night, showers are likely in a mostly cloudy setting and a low temperature of around 54 degrees. The southeast wind will be around 6 mph before transitioning to a northwest wind after midnight, with a 50% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is asking the county’s General Assembly delegation to oppose Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed funding cuts to Metro in the state’s budget.
During a board meeting on Tuesday (April 16), supervisors unanimously approved a letter written by Chairman Jeff McKay, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, and Dranesville District Supervisor James Bierman, asking the delegation to oppose the cuts and retain the funding needed to address the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) estimated $750 million shortfall.
The General Assembly passed the FY 2024-2026 biennium budget in March which included $149.5 million from the state to address WMATA’s funding shortage in FY 2025 and FY 2026, according to the letter.
“This funding, which is expected to be matched by the local funding partners, including Fairfax County, is essential to putting WMATA on sound financial footing and retaining its consistent operations.”
A month later, Youngkin announced his proposed budget amendments, which included cutting $113.8 million of WMATA’s funding. Instead, Youngkin urged localities to use funds previously allocated to them through state assistance.
However, the county clarified in its letter that this money — provided to the region through the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) by the Northam Administration in 2022 — was used to cover immediate Metro payments following the pandemic and to reserve the remainder for “ongoing needs.”
Even with the additional funding, the letter says the county expects the money from the NVTC to be largely depleted soon, making their request even more vital.
“We know WMATA is absolutely essential to our regional economy,” McKay said during Tuesday’s County Board meeting. “It is essential to Virginia’s economy, bringing in over $1 billion a year into the general fund.”
He also noted how the lack of funding could impact taxpayers.
“If this money doesn’t come from the state, where will it come from? From the real estate taxpayers of Fairfax County. That’s where it will come from,” McKay said.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said he was reluctantly supporting the request, saying Metro needed to “figure out how they’re going to get their costs under control.”
“We’ve got to get the long-term answer figured out because, you know, punting it down the road with a couple more years of ridiculous funding increases is not necessarily the best answer,” Herrity said.
Citing a 2017 study by former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Walkinshaw noted that Metro would need $500 million a year in dedicated funding to achieve stable financial footing, a burden that would ultimately fall on resident taxpayers.
“This idea that there are hundreds of millions of dollars or billions of dollars of cost savings to be found at Metro is a fantasy,” he said. “The amount needed in dedicated funding to prevent us from having to go back to property taxpayers every single year is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. That’s just math.”
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a fire at a high-rise on the 8200 block of Crestwood Heights Drive in Tysons just after noon today.
The department said firefighters arrived and found a fire on the roof. The scanner indicated the source seemed to be a “flash fire in the HVAC unit on the roof.” The fire is currently out.
One male in his 20s received significant burns to his face and was transported via helicopter to a burn center. A second victim had burns to their arms and shoulders, per scanner traffic.
MCLEAN, VA (FAIRFAX COUNTY) | 8220 CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS DR | REPORTED HVAC EXPLOSION IN RESIDENTIAL HIRISE – 2 BURN VICTIMS FOR EMS | MEDEVAC REQUESTED FOR ONE #BREAKING
— Alertpage, Inc (@alertpage) April 18, 2024
#FairfaxBravest are on scene of a fire in a high-rise building in the 8200 block of Crestwood Heights Dr in the Tysons area. Crews arrived to find a fire on the roof. The fire is out. Two civilians were transported with non life-threatening injuries. pic.twitter.com/PZdc0K53aw
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 18, 2024
The Fairfax County Police Department is seeking a suspect possibly connected to three robberies in which the man used pepper spray against store employees.
Police said the latest incident occurred on Tuesday in the Rose Hill neighborhood.
According to police:
[Tuesday] night around 1 a.m., officers responded to the 7-Eleven at 6146 Rose Hill Drive in Rose Hill for a robbery. The suspect entered the store, pepper sprayed the employee and stole merchandise. The victim was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Police said the incident followed a similar robbery at Velvets Tobacco and More (8524 Richmond Highway) in Woodlawn on Saturday.
The suspect entered the vape shop and demanded merchandise and personal property from the employee. He pepper sprayed the clerk in the face then stole cash from the register and merchandise. The suspect also stole the victim’s car keys. The victim was treated for minor injuries at the scene. The suspect left the area in the victim’s 2012 Infinity G35. Around 1:45 a.m. officers found the stolen car unoccupied close by on Sky View Drive and Earl Flannagan Drive.
On April 11, at approximately 11:00 p.m. the same suspect entered the Shell gas station at 8500 Richmond Highway in Woodlawn and demanded cash. The suspect took money from the register then pepper sprayed the clerk. The suspect ran from the business prior to police arrival. The victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 3.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone — 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for a cash reward.
Police are investigating the the fatal shooting of a woman who died at Mount Vernon Hospital last night.
The Fairfax Police Department said around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday night the woman was taken to the hospital by a man who remained on-scene.
ABC7 reported that for a brief time, only emergency services were allowed in the hospital, though full service later resumed.
Police said that detectives are still investigating to determine where the shooting occurred and the circumstances around the woman’s death.
Detectives are on scene at Mt Vernon Hosp for an adult woman who was fatally shot. Victim was brought to hospital by a man who remains on scene. Detectives are investigating to determine where shooting occurred & circumstances. Follow our blog for more details when available. pic.twitter.com/vHchzTcapR
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) April 18, 2024
Cat declawing to be banned in Virginia — “Veterinarians will not be allowed to declaw cats in Virginia starting in July, unless there are certain ‘therapeutic’ reasons to do so.” [ABC8]
Proposed 4-cent tax hike prompts community debate — “The proposed Fairfax County budget comes with a hefty real estate tax increase, and a lot of opinions from community members.” [WUSA9]
Historic McLean garden tour returns this weekend — “This walking tour showcases Ballantrae Farm — a 6.5-acre estate with a 1923 Colonial Revival manor house, a c. 1843 farmhouse and extensively landscaped grounds with areas for outdoor entertaining, a sunken tennis court, a hidden treehouse, and a walled kitchen garden.” [Eventbrite]
Two Florida men arrested for string of car break-ins at Fairfax parks — “Fairfax County police say two Florida men are under arrest and have been charged in connection with a string of car break-ins at parks across the Virginia county during a nearly two-year period.” [WTOP]
It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching a high near 79 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 10 mph. As for Thursday night, the clouds will increase and the temperature will drop to around 51 degrees, with an east wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
(Updated at 4:45 p.m.) Local elected officials, including Rep. Gerry Connolly, gathered in Lorton on Wednesday to celebrate the introduction of 42 new electric buses to the division’s fleet.
These buses, which were funded by a $16.5 million federal grant announced in January, join the 18 electric buses already in operation. Although the division currently operates over 1,600 diesel buses, county officials emphasized that these new electric buses mark the start of a larger transition.
“I know that this downpayment is the beginning of something much larger, and that’s going to take many years for us to complete,” School Board Chair Karl Frisch told the crowd of attendees at Lorton Station Elementary School on Wednesday.
“But I’m confident with our continued activism by our students, their parents, our Moms Clean Air Force and our school board colleagues and our friends at the state and federal level that we can get there because we absolutely have to,” he continued.
FCPS has pledged to provide entirely carbon-neutral student transportation by 2035. So far, the division has reduced 38% of its greenhouse gas emissions from 2008, according to the 2022 FCPS Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report.
In January 2021, the division received its first electric school bus as part of a Dominion Energy-led initiative aiming to replace all diesel school buses in Virginia by 2030. However, the Virginia House of Delegates rejected the expansion of this program, opting instead to create a grant fund.
In March, VDOT announced it had allocated $11.3 million in federal funding to assist the statewide construction of electric vehicle charging stations.
FCPS received eight electric buses from Dominion in 2021 and secured a state grant for 10 additional buses through a settlement with Volkswagen, which had been sued for emissions test cheating in 2016.
The new federal grant funds come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021. The grant, administered through the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, allocates $5 billion to the Clean School Bus program which is dedicated to replacing existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models.
“Every day throughout the United States we’re transporting 10s of millions of students on buses, and many of those buses are anything but clean,” Connolly said during the event.
“Here in Fairfax we’ve got 1,600 school buses, and today’s a great down payment toward a movement for replacing every one of them and making sure our kids are safe and in a healthy environment but also in a vehicle that is not contributing to the environmental problem,” he added.
