News | FFXnow - Part 415

Morning Notes

Published October 31, 2023 at 8:15AM

A northern mockingbird spotted at Sunrise Valley Elementary School in Reston (photo by Pete Huffer)

Plaza America Architect Has Died — “George Dove, who started his architecture career in D.C. in 1971 and later rose to become managing principal of WDG Architecture, died Oct. 23. He was 81…He led designs for projects in Crystal City and Arlington Gateway in Arlington; Skyline Center in Falls Church; Plaza America in Reston; and the Portals project near the Jefferson Memorial in D.C.” [Washington Business Journal]

Mixed-Use Development in Bailey’s Crossroads Advances — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Oct. 25 recommended approval of a Comprehensive Plan amendment to facilitate a mixed-use redevelopment project on the Food Star site…The plan amendment would allow for increased density — with building heights up to 14 stories — on a 13-acre site at the southeast intersection of Leesburg Pike and Carlin Springs Road.” [Annandale Today]

NOW: Man wanted for reported abduction in Loudoun arrested in Oakton

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 30, 2023 at 4:55PM | Updated October 30, 2023 at 5:24PM

A man suspected of abduction in Ashburn was arrested at Chain Bridge Road and Flint Hill Road in Oakton (via FCPD/Twitter)

A police pursuit of a man who reportedly attempted to abduct a woman crossed county lines before ending just outside the Town of Vienna this afternoon.

Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) is currently closed at the Flint Hill Road intersection in Oakton in the wake of the arrest, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. The Town of Vienna said on Twitter at 4:30 p.m. that one southbound lane between Flint Hill and Nutley Street had opened.

School board approves raises for FCPS staff but says state funding still inadequate

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 30, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

All Fairfax County Public Schools employees will get a bump in their paychecks, starting next year, after the school board unanimously approved 2% raises last week.

The additional pay was made possible by the budget that the Virginia General Assembly belatedly adopted in early September, which provided money to raise teacher salaries across the state. But school board members and FCPS workers argue that overall state funding for education falls far short of what they need.

County board approves first projects under McLean downtown revitalization plan

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 30, 2023 at 1:30PM

The adjacent Astoria mixed-use residential development and Mars headquarters expansion on Old Dominion Drive and Elm Street in McLean (via Fairfax County)

On their own, the first developments approved by Fairfax County since it overhauled its plan to revitalize downtown McLean seem modest.

One is a corporate headquarters expansion, while the other is a seven-story, mostly residential building, promising 130 new units of housing but not exactly rivaling the scale of the high-rises going up in Tysons.

Effort to preserve dark skies in Great Falls moves ahead amidst community split

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 30, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated May 23, 2024 at 1:44PM

The roll-top observatory at Turner Farm Park (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

An effort to preserve dark skies in Great Falls recently got a vote of support from the Fairfax County Planning Commission amidst contention within the community.

At a heated Oct. 18 meeting, the commission unanimously recommended approval of regulations to preserve dark skies around Turner Park Farm Observatory Park. Public testimony, however, was divided into two camps.

Virginia to consider Metro’s funding request to address projected $750 million shortfall

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published October 30, 2023 at 9:30AM

A Metro train at the Vienna station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As Metro considers ways to address a looming $750 million shortfall and stave off changes to its operations, officials are requesting jurisdictions, including Virginia, review their options to help address the funding deficit that threatens thousands of jobs and various services.

Metro hopes policymakers in the commonwealth will consider adjusting the state law that sets a 3% cap on the growth of Virginia’s annual payment to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Dedicating more funding to Metro and overlooking the demands of other transportation projects, however, concerns some lawmakers and transportation leaders.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published October 30, 2023 at 8:15AM

Trees along Jermantown Road in fall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Centreville Shooting Started Over Parking — “Two men are in the hospital suffering from gunshot wounds after an argument about a parking space in Centreville, Virginia, police say. Residents say the incident started when a car with a group of men inside pulled into a parking spot outside a townhouse community on Golden Oak Road Thursday night. [NBC4]

Route 7 Improvements Made in Culmore — “In a follow-up to a meeting on pedestrian safety for Leesburg Pike in Culmore in August 2022, transportation officials presented an update at a community meeting Oct. 25 on what has been done and what’s in the pipeline…In one major improvement, the speed limit along Leesburg Pike between the City of Falls Church and the City of Alexandra has been reduced from 40 to 35 mph” [Annandale Today]

McLean Central Park playground upgrade nears funding goal with approved grant

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 27, 2023 at 1:30PM

An updated rendering of the planned McLean Central Park playground renovation (via FCPA/YouTube)

McLean got a step closer this week to realizing its wish for a new, improved and more inclusive playground at McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd).

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a $20,000 Mastenbrook Grant Wednesday (Oct. 25) to help fund the project, which has significantly expanded in scope thanks to the advocacy and fundraising efforts of local parents.

County board OKs housing in Annandale’s Eastgate Shopping Center

By Acacia James

Published October 27, 2023 at 11:45AM

Redevelopment of Eastgate Shopping Center is planned (Photo courtesy handout/Fairfax County Government).

Annandale’s Eastgate Shopping Center is closer to getting an apartment building.

During a meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 24), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a plan from developer Eastgate JV LLC to allow residential development on the 11.8-acre property at the corner of Little River Turnpike and John Marr Drive.

County board approves plan for homes near historic area of Lake Fairfax Park

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 27, 2023 at 11:00AM

Cemetery #FX242 near Lake Fairfax Park in Reston (via SEM Fairfax Land Associates/Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan for single-family homes near a historic area of Lake Fairfax Park at a Tuesday meeting.

The plan by developer SEM Fairfax Land Associates calls for eight single-family homes at the site of J.R.’s Custom Catering’s former Fairfax Hunt Club along Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston. The property features a historic log house that will be preserved as part of the redevelopment and an unmaintained and unnamed cemetery.