Design rendering for one mixed-use apartment building proposed at 4131 Chain Bridge Road (via City of Fairfax)
A divided Fairfax City Council narrowly approved a major redevelopment plan at its July 22 meeting that will see a century-old home replaced with up to 276 apartment units, plus ground-floor commercial and retail space, on a key parcel in Old Town Fairfax.
The 4-3 vote to support the staff recommendation for redevelopment marked the conclusion of a nearly decade-old process to determine the future of the 2.7-acre site at 4131 Chain Bridge Road.
Welcome banner at the entrance to 1st Stage theater in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
For its next act, 1st Stage Theatre in Tysons will get a major face-lift.
The nonprofit theater company is in the midst of a three-year campaign to raise $4 million that will be used to upgrade its home in the Spring Hill Business Center (1524 Spring Hill Road), increase staff pay, expand programming and more.
Something unique is happening in the heart of Tysons, Virginia: A new venue for assisted living and memory support is offering a fresh, hospitality-driven approach to care—where residents explore possibilities for creativity, purpose, and connection. Opened in fall 2025, Kokua is part of Mather, an innovative pioneer in senior living.
For a limited time, Kokua is welcoming new residents seeking assisted living or memory support in the DC area with exclusive move-in incentives. Nestled in a lively urban neighborhood, our LEED-Gold certified community incorporates biophilic design that brings the outside in to enhance health and wellbeing.
THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED SPACES
In our assisted living and memory support neighborhoods, residents enjoy a collection of thoughtfully designed spaces that feel like an upscale hospitality destination.
Multiple restaurants offer chef-prepared cuisine with flexible, open-hour service, complemented by demonstration kitchens, art and music studios, as well as gathering spaces. A spacious outdoor terrace, Marzenia Salon, and beautifully appointed amenity areas create opportunities for wellness, connection, and everyday enjoyment.
FOCUS ON PERSONALIZED WELLBEING
Residents enjoy opportunities to choose from enriching programs, meaningful social opportunities with experiences such as sensory walks, meditation, acupuncture, Reiki, songwriting workshops, poetry readings, Sensory Symphony Swim, and more. (more…)
A framed photo of Brendan Banfield and Juliana Peres Magalhães on his bedside table in Herndon, provided by police as evidence in their murder case against him (courtesy Fairfax County Police Department via AP, FILE)
By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — A northern Virginia circuit judge ruled on Friday that prosecutors’ case against an IRS agent charged with killing his wife and another man cannot include a recorded interview from the defendant’s young daughter.
Ominously cloudy skies over the Russell at Reston Station apartments (staff photo by Angela Woolsey
Blue Line Metro Stations Reopen — “Blue Line summer construction is complete! Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations are now open. Thank you for your patience. Crews updated the train control and signaling system, renewed rails and ties, and repaired lighting.” [WMATA/Bluesky]
VCU Withheld Student’s Diploma — “A year after pro-Palestinian protests at Virginia Commonwealth University, Oakton native Sereen Haddad organized a gathering in late April commemorating the encampment that once stood on campus.” The university later cited Haddad and others for violating student conduct policies and said their degrees would be withheld until the process was resolved. Haddad said Friday (July 25) that a board had cleared her. [WUSA9]
Man Who Fired Gun in Mall Violated Parole — “A popular D.C. rapper who served time for opening fire inside the Tysons Corner Center mall in Northern Virginia will remain free after he was found guilty of violating his probation … [Noah] Settles was ordered to avoid marijuana and continue substance abuse treatment and drug screenings.” [NBC4]
Tysons Office Building Listed for Sale — “Bethesda-based Washington Property Co. has owned the four-story, 1980s-era office at 8618 Westwood Center Drive for more than 20 years, but is now looking to let it go. Offers are due by July 31, according to marketing materials from Cohn Property Group, the seller’s broker.” The site is being advertised as an opportunity for redevelopment, with an illustrative concept plan showing townhouses. [Washington Business Journal]
Vienna Extends Tax Deadline — “Due to technical problems, the deadline to pay Town real estate taxes is extended to July 31, 2025. Payments can be made in person, dropped in the night deposit box at Town Hall, or mailed. No late fees will be assessed to mailed payments postmarked on or before 7/31.” [Town of Vienna/X]
Auto Parts Store Opens in Annandale — “AutoZone is now open next to Pep Boys at 7121 Little River Turnpike in Annandale. It’s located in the space formerly occupied by Pep Boys’ auto supply store but is completely separate. The store sells everything for cars, from motor oil to wiper blades, from batteries to air fresheners.” [Annandale Today]
Totally Trucks Returning to Reston — “Bring the kids for an up-close look at the big trucks Reston Association uses to keep our community beautiful! If available, police and fire trucks may also be on display. Each child will receive a ‘Totally Trucks’ construction helmet. Some vehicles will be horn-free for a sensory-friendly experience.” The event will be held at RA’s Central Services Facility (12250 Sunset Hills Road) this Friday (Aug. 1) from 8:30 a.m. to noon. [Reston Association]
Outdoor Movie Series Starting Soon — “Introduce your family to the magic of the drive-in theater this summer at Starlight Cinema, part of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series. During the first four Saturdays in August, bask in the dreamy atmosphere of movies by starlight at Sully Historic Site, located at 3650 Historic Sully Way.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with highs reaching near 95 and heat index values as high as 101. A northwest wind around 6 mph will provide some relief. For Monday night, the sky will be mostly clear and temperatures will drop to a low of around 76 with calm winds. [NWS]
Expect showers and thunderstorms mainly after 5pm, with mostly sunny conditions and a high near 94. Heat index values may reach 100 and light winds from the northeast at 5 mph in the afternoon. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. For Saturday night, showers and thunderstorms are likely from 8pm to 2am, with mostly cloudy conditions and a low around 75. Southeast winds at 3 to 5 mph accompany this 60% chance of precipitation, and new rainfall of up to half an inch is possible. See more from Weather.gov.
We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
Northbound Fairfax County Parkway is closed at Burke Lake Road after a fatal crash (via Google Maps)
A man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Fairfax County Parkway in Burke earlier this afternoon (Friday).
Officers were dispatched to Fairfax County Parkway at Old Keene Mill Road around 4:09 p.m. for a tractor-trailer that had flipped over, according to scanner traffic.
A community member waves an LGBTQ pride flag at the rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The U.S. Department of Education is pushing several Northern Virginia school districts, including Fairfax County Public Schools, to roll back their policies intended to support transgender students.
The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced today (Friday) that it has found FCPS and its counterparts in Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William and Loudoun in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, arguing that letting students use bathrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex.
Mumbai Central in Idylwood (staff photo by Jared Serre)
A new Indian restaurant has quietly begun serving diners in Idylwood.
Mumbai Central, housed in Idylwood Plaza at 7505 Leesburg Pike, kicked off its soft opening earlier this month, owner Sunil Bastola confirmed to FFXnow.