commercial real estate | FFXnow

Fairfax County warns budget could be ‘challenging’ due to slowing real estate market, rising staff costs

Published November 29, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated November 30, 2022 at 1:15PM

The Fairfax County logo is shown on the front of the Fairfax County Government Center building at 12000 Government Center Parkway. (Staff photo by David Taube)

(Updated at 1:15 p.m. on 11/30/2022) Local officials are already preparing for “one of the most challenging” budget talks in years due to inflation, the changing real estate market, and staff retention challenges.

Right before the Thanksgiving holiday, Fairfax County staff offered supervisors and the school board an early look at projected revenues, expenditures, and points of potential discussion as the county and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) prepare to release proposed budgets early next year.

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The Boro developer buys JCPenney stores in Fair Oaks, Springfield

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 17, 2022 at 11:45AM

Fair Oaks Mall sign (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Two of Fairfax County’s longstanding JCPenney stores recently changed hands, a move that could set the stage for their malls to transition to more mixed-use environments.

Announced in September, The Meridian Group — the Bethesda-based developer behind The Boro in Tysons — partnered with D.C. real estate firm Martin-Diamond Properties to acquire five JCPenneys, including the anchor stores at Fair Oaks Mall and Springfield Town Center.

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Coworking company will open shared office spaces in Merrifield this winter

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 16, 2022 at 11:00AM | Updated August 16, 2022 at 3:18PM

Venture X's Merrifield franchise will include a community space (courtesy Venture X)

(Updated at 3:20 p.m.) A coworking company that advertises its flexible offices as “the future of workspace” is bringing that future to Merrifield.

Venture X has leased nearly 28,000 square feet of space on the third floor of Williams Crossing (3060 Williams Drive) and will open its first coworking location in Fairfax County on Jan. 2, 2023, the company announced last Wednesday (Aug. 10).

News

Herndon’s Sunset Business Park could get a new look

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 12, 2022 at 1:30PM

Rebranding could be on the horizon for Sunset Business Park in the Town of Herndon.

The property owners of one-story buildings with fading maroon facades are exploring the possibility of rebranding and renovating some areas of the park.

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Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published August 11, 2022 at 7:30AM

Looking up at Tysons Tower outside Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Route 7 Traffic Shift Starts Today — “During the daytime hours on Aug. 11 and the overnight hours on Aug. 15, lane closures and temporary detours will be in place along Route 7 while crews continue paving operations at Carpers Farm Way and Colvin Run Road (east) and shift westbound Route 7 traffic to the new Difficult Run bridge.” [VDOT]

Pro-Nazi Social Media Posts Excluded from Reston Murder Trial — “A Virginia judge has ruled that prosecutors cannot tell the jury in an upcoming double-murder trial about the defendant’s social media posts containing praise for Adolf Hitler and support for Nazi book burnings and the neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Division, according to newly unsealed court records.” [The Washington Post]

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Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 29, 2022 at 7:30AM

A family hits the mini golf course at Jefferson District Park in Idylwood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro Promises Relief for Train Riders Next Month — Starting Monday (Aug. 1), the addition of more rail cars will speed up service on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines to every 15 minutes on weekdays instead of the current wait times, which can reach up to 20 minutes. Metro says it anticipates expanding those service adjustments to weekends in September. [WMATA]

Man to Plead Guilty to Herndon Murder — A Virginia man told a Fairfax County judge he wants to plead guilty to the 1987 killing of 37-year-old Eige Sober-Adler in Herndon after being indicted in the case in January. Charles Helem is already serving life in prison for strangling and killing his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Bentley, in Chantilly in 2002. [WTOP]

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Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 13, 2022 at 7:30AM

A rainbow at sunset over Reston Town Center (photo by Beth Allgaier)

Police Uses of Force Prompt Town Hall — Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk’s office will host a virtual town hall on July 21 to discuss recent use-of-force incidents by Fairfax County police officers. Lusk, who chairs the Board of Supervisors’ public safety committee, said he shares community concerns “about both the nature of these incidents, as well as the frequency at which they are occurring.” [Rodney Lusk/Twitter]

Possible Reston Arts Center Delayed — Reston Town Center developer Boston Properties got approval to extend the deadline for when Fairfax County has to decide whether to build a new performing arts center by six months. A proffer agreement for the next phase of the center’s development allows the county to require an arts center or a park on the site along Sunset Hills Road. [Patch]

News

Jeff Bezos’ space flight company Blue Origin has its Reston landing spot

By Matt Blitz

Published July 8, 2022 at 10:15AM | Updated July 8, 2022 at 1:14PM

Blue Origins' new Reston offices on Edmund Halley Drive (image via Google Maps/screenshot)

(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) Jeff Bezos’ commercial space flight company has found its landing spot in Reston.

Blue Origin, owned by the Amazon founder, is docking at 2001 Edmund Halley Drive, a company spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow.

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Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 30, 2022 at 7:30AM

The sky is reflected by the office building at 8150 Leesburg Pike in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro Warns of Hour-Long Waits for July 4 — “Due to the reduced number of railcars available for service, capacity on Metrorail will be less than previous Independence Days. That means customers should be prepared for longer wait times, up to 60 minutes, and for crowding to occur, especially at the conclusion of the fireworks.” [WMATA]

Unhealthy Air Possible Today — “Code Orange unhealthy air is forecast for tomorrow (Thursday) for the metropolitan Washington region. Area residents are encouraged to limit outdoor activities.” [Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments/Twitter]

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 9, 2022 at 7:30AM

Plants grow over Vienna Metro station sign and fence (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Police Arrest Suspect in Car Part Thefts — “A 33-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of vehicle parts in residential parking garages in Fairfax County and Fairfax City…The first theft was reported on April 19 in the 5800 block of Trinity Parkway in Centreville.” [ALXnow]

Fairfax Man Charged for Loudoun County Bomb Threat — “An 18-year-old man from Fairfax was arrested on Tuesday and charged in connection with a bomb threat that was emailed to Dominion High School on May 19.” [Patch]