A Vienna church hopes to soon draw energy from both the sun and God as it embarks on what appears to be the biggest solar panel project in the town so far.
With permitting almost complete, workers are slated to break ground on a solar photovoltaic canopy in the Church of the Holy Comforter’s parking lot at 543 Beulah Road NE in mid to late July, contractor Govan Builders says.
Reston has seen a steady uptick in development over the past decade, fueled primarily by an influx of housing, new Fairfax County data shows.
The county recently updated its Reston Data Visualization Project — now called Reston Snapshots — with data collected from 2023 and the addition of a land use hub that provides an overview of the area’s progress toward fulfilling the Reston Comprehensive Plan’s vision of a more mixed-use, transit-oriented community.
Jessica Hudson is no longer Fairfax County Public Library’s director after stepping down to take a county manager position in San Juan Islands, Washington.
Sara Prohaska, marketing and communications director for the FCPL, confirmed that Hudson vacated the position she’d held for eight years on June 14. The Library Board of Trustees has begun the search for a new director in cooperation with the county’s Department of Human Resources.
For just under $40 million, you could stand on the same ground where Amelia Earhart once landed an airplane.
Ballantrae Farms, a 6.3-acre McLean estate whose house pre-dates the American Civil War, is currently up for sale with an initial asking price of $39.995 million. The property’s “storied past” includes a landing by Earhart in the 1930s, according to a listing that Washington Fine Properties posted last week.
Construction is now underway on a multi-year project to restore the residential high-rise that has towered over Lake Anne in Reston for over half a century.
The restoration will help preserve Heron House, a 15-story condominium building, while also making repairs to prevent water leaks that have affected some units, the Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association (LARCA) says.
Fairfax County’s farmers markets are going plastic-free this month.
Starting tomorrow (Wednesday) through July 28, visitors to the Fairfax County Park Authority’s farmers markets are encouraged to bring reusable shopping bags in support of Plastic Free July, a global initiative fighting plastic pollution.
McLean Bank Is Go-To Funder of Republican Campaigns — “Chain Bridge Bank, privately owned and with some 70 employees, has worked with the campaign of every Republican Party presidential nominee since John McCain in 2008, including Donald Trump.” The one-branch bank on Laughlin Avenue was founded by former Republican Senator Peter Fitzgerald and announced in May that it might go public. [Reuters]
FCPS Tweaks Grading Policies — “Fairfax County schools will allow students to retake tests for full credit and will add a D-minus to their grading scale as the district and others try to rethink how to measure student performance.” Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid says the new approach to grading will create more consistency and be clearer to communicate. [Washington Post]
Hybla Valley Affordable Housing Slowly Filling — “As of June 24, 2024, the Residences at North Hill had a total of 61 occupied units (22% occupancy) with 26 more units in-process according to Ivy Dench-Carter, senior vice president of development at Pennrose, which both owns and manages the property…Their goal is to have the residences at least 95% occupied by October.” [On the MoVe]
International Grocery Store Eyes Summer Opening — “Ummah Market, an international grocery store in Bailey’s Crossroads, could have a soft opening by the end of July and a grand opening by the end of August, says owner and CEO Jawad Yousufi…Yousufi describes the store as a ‘Mediterranean version of Whole Foods,’ featuring natural and healthy items from Turkey, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.” [Annandale Today]
Sheriff, Commonwealth’s Attorney Get Pay Raises — “Fulfilling a state-code requirement, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted June 25 to raise pay rates for three constitutional officers, effective July 1.” The new annual salaries for the clerk of the circuit court, commonwealth’s attorney and sheriff are $184,141, $204,274.49 and $259,158.99, respectively. [Gazette Leader]
Fire Department Celebrates First Hires — “75th ANNIVERSARY: On July 1, 1949, the first 10 career #FCFRD firefighters were hired. They served primarily as daytime apparatus drivers. Today we are the largest fire dept in Virginia and one of the best in the nation with w/ 1,400 career FFs, 170 civilians, & 370 volunteers.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
County’s Door-to-Door Shuttle Changes Departments — The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has taken over management of Fastran from the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS). “The realignment will streamline responsibilities and eliminate redundancies, allowing for improved service delivery and enhanced collaboration.” [NCS]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny conditions, reaching a high of approximately 85°F. In the afternoon, light wind will increase to 5-7 mph from the southeast. At night, the sky will turn partly cloudy and temperatures will drop to around 65°F. [NWS]
Boston Properties is betting on office for the next phase of its Reston Town Center expansion.
The developer submitted plans to Fairfax County on Saturday (June 29) that would increase the amount of office space allowed in the mixed-use neighborhood dubbed RTC or Reston Next that’s now under construction near the Reston Town Center Metro station, while decreasing retail, hotel and residential uses.
A commercial warehouse space in Tysons that currently houses a fitness studio and gold dealer is being targeted for a different kind of recreational use.
A new business called Smok’d has proposed turning three suites at 8453 Tyco Road into a “high-end” indoor firing range with a smoking lounge, according to a special permit application submitted to Fairfax County last Thursday (June 27).
The family of a Clifton woman who was killed last week while crossing Pickwick Road in Centreville has launched an online fundraiser.
Set up by the nephew of Lubia Marisol Vasquez Mateo, the Gofundme page says the family is seeking financial assistance to cover various expenses, including memorial costs, travel costs and the medical bills of her partner, Jose Vasquez, who was injured in the crash.
