News | FFXnow - Part 468

Live-work development approved for Inova’s former HQ in Merrifield

Published July 6, 2023 at 10:15AM

Developer Madison Highland proposed a "game table community park" outside 8110 Gatehouse Road in its plan to repurpose the office building as a live/work development (via Fairfax County)

Inova Health System’s former administrative headquarters in Merrifield will soon be transformed into a combination of workforce housing and live/work units — a kind of development that’s still relatively novel for Fairfax County.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 8-0 to approve the project from developer Madison Highland after a public hearing on June 27. Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw recused themselves because they respectively serve on Inova’s board of trustees and quality and reliability committee.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 6, 2023 at 7:30AM

Clouds over The Point at Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

TGI Friday’s Might Leave Fair Lakes — “Bradenton, Florida-based First Watch on June 26 filed a food establishment application for 12249 Fair Lakes Promenade, where Friday’s has operated for roughly the last 15 years.” A spokesperson for First Watch, which serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, confirmed that the restaurant chain has been looking for a Fair Lakes location, but no lease has been signed yet. [Washington Business Journal]

Thousands in D.C. Area Disenrolled From Medicaid — “Thousands across the D.C.area have lost Medicaid coverage in recent months, as pandemic protections that allowed people to stay enrolled without reapplying came to a close. Known as ‘Medicaid unwinding,’ states are resuming annual Medicaid eligibility reviews, meaning many thousands more may lose their insurance over the next year.” [DCist]

Flash Flood Warning issued for part of Fairfax County amid downpour

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 5, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated July 5, 2023 at 6:25PM

A rain storm passes over central Fairfax (via NWS)

Rain is pouring down on Fairfax County, raising the risk of flooding.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the central portion of the county, including Oakton, Annandale, Merrifield and Fairfax City.

Report: Risk of ‘dying too soon’ varies by race, address in Fairfax County

By Vivian Hoang

Published July 5, 2023 at 3:00PM

A map shows the rates of "premature" deaths across Fairfax County (via Northern Virginia Health Foundation)

Black residents have experienced worse health outcomes than other populations across Northern Virginia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new report found.

Commissioned by the Northern Virginia Health Foundation (NVHF) and conducted by the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, the Fairfax County section of the “Dying Too Soon” report found “stark” disparities across the county in the rates at which people die before the age of 75.

Park Authority grant funds will help convert McLean baseball field to turf

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 5, 2023 at 2:15PM

The McLean Little League hopes to convert the grass baseball field at Linway Terrace Park into synthetic turf (via FCPA)

Linway Terrace Park in McLean inched closer last week to getting a new, turf baseball diamond.

At its meeting on June 28, the Fairfax County Park Authority board approved a $20,000 grant to the McLean Little League (MLL), which has proposed replacing the existing grass field at 6246 Linway Terrace with a synthetic turf field.

Reston Row changes advance, even with concerns about urban park and dining space swap

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 5, 2023 at 1:30PM

Reston Association president John Farrell raised the association's concerns at a meeting related to Reston Row (Photo via handout/Fairfax County).

Changes to Comstock’s Reston Row neighborhood are moving forward despite concerns about the proposed shift of a public park space into private outdoor dining space for Ebbitt House, an upcoming restaurant.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended on June 28 that the Board of Supervisors approve changes to the project near the Wiehle-Reston Easton Metro station.

Fairfax County extends ‘LOVE’ sign to Philly in bid for tourism

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 5, 2023 at 11:45AM

Officials with Visit Fairfax and Fashion District Philadelphia celebrate the installation of Virginia's "LOVEworks" sign, kicking off a Fairfax County tourism campaign (courtesy BeauMonde Originals for Visit Fairfax)

With the summer tourism season in full swing, Virginia’s “LOVEworks” marketing campaign has traveled beyond the Commonwealth’s borders for the first time.

Last week, Fairfax County ventured up the I-95 corridor to give a sign to Philadelphia, launching an effort to draw the denizens of the City of Brotherly Love to the home of the first U.S. president, among other attractions.

NEW: Urbanspace has left Tysons Galleria, creating uncertainty for food hall eateries

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 5, 2023 at 11:00AM

Twelve Twenty Coffee is one of three tenants left in the food hall after Urbanspace and Tysons Galleria parted ways (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Barely a year after relaunching its food hall, Tysons Galleria is angling for yet another reboot.

Andy’s Pizza, Empanadas De Mendoza and Twelve Twenty Coffee are the only eateries remaining on the mall’s third floor after the recent departure of Urbanspace, the New York-based market operator that oversaw the “Taste of Urbanspace” food hall.

County family services worker under arrest for reported rape

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 5, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated July 5, 2023 at 10:35AM

The Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (file photo)

(Updated at 10:35 a.m.) An employee of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services has been arrested for allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a woman last week.

Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Major Crimes Bureau arrested Ernest Melo, 35, of Centreville on Sunday (July 2) after the victim reported the June 28 assault to police a day earlier.

Multiple people injured in house fires on Fourth of July

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 5, 2023 at 9:30AM

Fireworks were the suspected cause of a house fire this year at Stuart Court (Photo via FCFRD).

The Fourth of July kept the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department busy, as at least three people were injured in fires that cropped up overnight.

One person was injured in a fire that broke out in Herndon around midnight today (Wednesday).