A sign for Graham Center in West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
When it got approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this fall, VHC Health and Intuitive Health’s planned hybrid emergency room and urgent care facility was touted as a clear upgrade for West Falls Church’s Graham Center, transforming the aging strip mall with an innovative health care resource and much-needed road safety improvements.
However, for the small businesses that in some cases have been housed at the Graham Center for decades, the impending redevelopment has brought stress and upheaval, as they consider whether to relocate or possibly close their doors for good.
The Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
In 2023, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors allocated $15 million to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Service Board to construct or renovate a crisis receiving center for youth behavioral health emergencies.
After more than a year, however, Fairfax has yet to pick a location – the next step to getting the center operational.
Comstock has proposed allowing a pedestrian bridge between the two office buildings under construction in Reston Row (via Urban Ltd/Fairfax County)
With construction progressing on Reston Row, developer Comstock is looking to add a pedestrian amenity that it hopes will attract office tenants to the growing neighborhood near the Wiehle Metro Station.
Comstock submitted plans to Fairfax County on Dec. 22 for a potential pedestrian bridge over an internal road that would enable workers to cross from one upcoming office building to another.
Difficult Run in Great Falls on Dec. 29, 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run Still Unknown — “A Fairfax County family is still searching for answers after a devastating hit-and-run crash claimed the life of their matriarch, Mary Wong. The crash happened on Huntsman Boulevard near Bridle Wood Drive just before 8 p.m. on December 27th, 2023 — just two days after Christmas.” [FOX5]
Metro Construction Finishes Ahead of Schedule — Metro resumed normal service at 5 a.m. today (Monday) after suspending operations on parts of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines in D.C. for 10 days of track repairs and upgrades. The construction work finished a day early and “more than $450,000 under budget.” [WMATA]
Motorcyclist Killed in Fair Lakes Crash Identified — Police are continuing to investigate a crash that killed motorcyclist Michael Yung of Lorton at West Ox Road and Piney Branch Road on Friday (Dec. 27). Detectives are looking at whether “speed was a factor” in the crash, which saw Yung collide with an SUV that was turning left in the intersection. [FCPD]
Police Investigate Reston Burglary — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are seeking the community’s help in identifying suspects who burglarized a business and stole electronics in Reston on Christmas Eve.” Police say four people broke into the business in the 1600 block of Reston Parkway and stole electronics around 5 a.m. on Dec. 24. [FCPD]
Critic’s Take on Year’s Best New N. Va. Restaurants — “I’ve been through the good, bad, and forgettable this year, all to bring you a list of my favorite Northern Virginia restaurants of 2024. From vegan soups to dry-aged fish, these are the new restaurants that I’ve measured most favorably.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
This Silver Line Station is Metro’s Least Used — “About 400,000 people ride Metro trains daily, making it the second-busiest subway system in the country behind New York City’s … But at Loudoun Gateway, the second-to-last stop on the Silver Line extension, there is never any bustle,” with an average of 317 people entering the station each day this year. [Washington Post]
Community Centers Start Lending Tech Devices — “Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services is pleased to announce the new Technology Lending Program available at 12 NCS centers.” Any county resident can borrow technology, such as Canon EOS cameras, 3D printers and, in the future, Chromebooks, for 14 days. [NCS]
Local Student Builds Career on TV, Broadway — “Braden Allen King grew up in Fairfax County and watched as his dad and brother took part in local theater productions, and his mom taught dance, with his sister dancing at her studio. So, it wasn’t much of a shock to anyone in his family when he decided he wanted to pursue a career as an actor.” [Fairfax County Times]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly cloudy morning followed by gradual clearing and a high around 57°F. There will be west winds blowing at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. As for Monday night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dipping to around 38°F. A southwest wind of around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. [NWS]
The intersection of Piney Branch Road at West Ox Road in Legato (via Google Maps)
A motorcyclist was killed in a crash Friday evening (Dec. 27) on Piney Branch Road near Costco in the Legato area.
The road is currently closed at West Ox Road after police and emergency medical services were dispatched to the intersection at 6:36 p.m. for a crash involving a motorcyclist and the driver of a 2021 GMC SUV, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
A trail in Royal Lake Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The new year will bring some upgrades to the trails at Royal Lake Park.
With a two-year-long design and permitting process nearing completion, the Fairfax County Park Authority is accepting public comments through Jan. 27 on an environmental review of the planned trail-network improvements at the park in Kings Park West.
Scott's Run Trail near Westgate Park in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County has bumped up the amount of money developers must contribute toward public facilities in Tysons if they’re unable to deliver the goods themselves.
As of Dec. 16, the county is charging developers who submit rezoning applications for Tysons sites $2.22 per square foot of their project’s gross floor area to support the construction of roads, parks and other public spaces and infrastructure, Department of Planning and Development (DPD) staff said in a recent report to the Board of Supervisors.
Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) is closed at Serenity Woods Lane in Great Falls after a two-vehicle crash (via Google Maps)
A driver was critically injured in a crash this morning (Friday) that has completely shut down Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) near Colvin Run Mill Park.
Fairfax County police officers and Fire and Rescue responders were dispatched to eastbound Leesburg Pike at Serenity Woods Lane in Great Falls around 9:20 a.m. for a two-vehicle crash, according to scanner traffic.
Fairfax County has two pieces of land that it hopes will eventually host affordable housing, but first, it needs to find developers who can turn that vision into a reality.
Earlier this month, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority began advertising a 2.93-acre parcel at 5827 Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads and a 9.6-acre parcel at 13500 Dulles Greene Drive just north of the Innovation Center Metro Station in Herndon as opportunities for affordable multifamily housing.
Fairfax County is planning on removing hills on Lee Chapel Road after multiple fatal crashes (via Pat Herrity/Twitter)
The public has a few more weeks to weigh on on two construction scenarios as Fairfax County officials work to improve safety on a deadly stretch of Lee Chapel Road.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation proposed two options at a virtual community meeting on Dec. 10 for approaching a project that will level the narrow, two-lane roadway between Ox Road (Route 123) and the Fairfax County Parkway:
