News | FFXnow - Part 518

Morning Notes

Published March 22, 2023 at 7:30AM

Walking from Joann Fabric and Crafts at Fairfax Towne Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Inova Gets Go-Ahead for Springfield Hospital — “Inova Health System just got the Virginia Department of Health’s green light to proceed with plans to bring a new hospital to Springfield — despite VHC Health’s attempt to block the project. The Falls Church-based health system secured the certificate of public need Tuesday afternoon for the nearly 1 million-square-foot hospital” [Washington Business Journal]

State Police Add Red Lights to Vehicles — “Virginia State Police are equipping the newest vehicles in their fleet with emergency light bars that also include red lights to improve visibility and safety…The enhanced emergency lights are on the road now in new police vehicles, which will gradually replace the older vehicles in the fleet.” [WTOP]

Town of Herndon to end state of emergency trigged by COVID-19 pandemic

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 21, 2023 at 2:30PM

Town of Herndon government offices (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

By the end of the March, the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be declared an emergency in the Town of Herndon.

The move follows efforts by neighboring jurisdictions to end formalized states of emergency.

Park Authority seeks funding, staff to clear 250 acres of running bamboo

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2023 at 1:30PM

Fairfax County parkland has an estimated 250 acres of running bamboo (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

The Fairfax County Park Authority is going to need a bigger budget to handle its running bamboo.

The agency has requested an additional $500,000 and a new, full-time staff position for an ecologist to help manage bamboo removal projects now that the county requires property owners to contain the species.

Updated e-bikes are coming to some Fairfax County Bikeshare stations

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2023 at 10:15AM

A 12-dock Capital Bikeshare station will be installed tomorrow at Reston Town Square Park (Photo courtesy FCDOT).

Electric bicycles with a brand-new look will dock at select Capital Bikeshare stations in Fairfax County this spring.

The rental bicycle-sharing service is rolling out 850 new e-bikes across the D.C. area, more than doubling its current stock and bringing its total fleet close to 7,000 bicycles, according to the Washington Post.

One of the first office buildings built in Fair Lakes could flip into housing

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 21, 2023 at 9:30AM

Residential uses are planned at the office site in Fair Lakes (via Fairfax County)

One of Fair Lakes’ first office buildings — Parkway Woods — could flip into a residential development.

TPC Hornbaker LC is seeking the county’s permission to redevelop the three-story office building and parking lot spread across nearly 4.4 acres into an apartment building.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 21, 2023 at 7:30AM

A new Springfield commuter parking garage is under construction (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro Adds Trains to Speed Up Service — “Metro is ramping up service across much of the rail system starting [Monday], promising ‘an infusion of trains.’ This comes as ridership has been on the upswing, hitting new post-pandemic records, and as the transit system has been allowed to bring back more 7000-series railcars.” [DCist]

County Launches Fund for Tech Startups — “The Fairfax Founders Fund (FFF), a grant and technical assistance program providing funds to early-stage Fairfax County-based startups, will begin accepting applications on April 10. FFF will provide up to $50,000 in capital to help start-ups develop their business and prepare for later-stage investment.” [Department of Economic Initiatives]

Reston entrepreneur to ski to North Pole to raise funds for kids with cancer

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 20, 2023 at 3:30PM

Len Forkas plans to ski to the North Pole to raise money for his nonprofit organization (Photo courtesy Hopecam).

Len Forkas, a Reston-based businessman, is skiing to the North Pole in a few weeks to break the ice on support for kids with cancer.

The 63-year-old — who is described as an “ultra-endurance athlete” — plans to ski 60 miles to the North Pole in order to raise money for Hopecam, a nonprofit organization he founded that connects children undergoing cancer treatment with their friends.

Plan to redevelop West Falls Church Metro wins planning commission’s support

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 20, 2023 at 2:30PM

A proposed multi-family residential building in the West Falls Church Metro station redevelopment (via Fairfax County)

The redevelopment of the West Falls Church Metro station secured the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s endorsement last week, a critical step forward for a project that could serve as a guide for other transit-oriented developments in the D.C. region.

The commission voted unanimously on Wednesday (March 15) to recommend that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approve a rezoning of the 24-acre property to allow over 1 million square feet of development, including 810 multifamily residential units, 85 townhouses, a 110,000-square-foot office building and up to 10,000 square feet of retail.

County master arts plan identifies gaps in facilities and support for the arts

By Vernon Miles

Published March 20, 2023 at 1:15PM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:33PM

Outside 1st Stage in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors got a first look last week at a new plan that it hopes can help turn the county into a hub for the arts.

At an economic initiatives committee meeting on March 14, Fairfax County Arts Committee Chair Leila Gordon said the new Master Arts Plan shows that some of the county’s revitalization zones — like the one in the works for downtown McLean — need to do more to prioritize the arts and add more supporting facilities.

McLean residents sue to stop I-495 widening over environmental impacts

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 20, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated March 20, 2023 at 11:57AM

Construction on the 495 NEXT project has cleared land by the GW Parkway for a stormwater pond, seen on March 15, 2023 (photo by Stephen Jasak)

(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) A group of McLean residents opposed to the extension of the I-495 toll lanes past their neighborhoods have turned to the courts in a bid to halt the project, now in its second year of construction.

The Northern Virginia (NOVA) Citizens Association filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Alexandria on Thursday (March 16) alleging that major revisions to the project design violated federal law, resulting in “significant on-going environmental harms” to residents.