The deal to bring the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Alexandria’s Potomac Yard is officially dead, and the developer says suggestions that an arena could be built in Tysons instead were the final nail in the coffin.
Alexandria City officials revealed yesterday (Wednesday) that they had ended negotiations with developer JBG Smith, Wizards and Capitals owner Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and other stakeholders for a stadium in the proposed Potomac Yard Entertainment District. About an hour later, Monumental owner Ted Leonsis and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the two professional sports teams will stay at Capital One Arena in Chinatown after all.
After joining Leonsis and city leaders in December to tout the Wizards and Capitals’ planned move across the Potomac River, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin lamented that “personal and political agendas” at the state level torpedoed a significant economic opportunity, while the city expressed disappointment in how discussions between Youngkin and the General Assembly unfolded.
However, JBG Smith CEO Matt Kelly pointed to a different culprit, claiming that “special interests” seeking to combine a sports arena with a casino in Tysons had “complicated and ultimately blocked” the Potomac Yard negotiations.
Despite our best efforts, this project was unable to get a fair hearing on its merits with the Virginia Senate. It is now clear that our efforts may have been complicated and ultimately blocked, in part, by special interests seeking to move the Monumental arena to Tysons Corner and to combine it with a casino. The Washington Post and other outlets have reported on this scheme and the hundreds of thousands of dollars, enormous sums in Virginia politics, of political contributions associated with it — a large portion of which were directed to key senate leaders. When one follows the money, the implications are deeply troubling for Virginia and for the future of transparency in economic development pursuits, especially those that seek certainty through the now damaged MEI legislative process.
The Washington Post reported on Sunday (March 24) that Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34), hopeful Fairfax County casino developer Comstock CEO Christopher Clemente and political consultant Ben Tribbett, who counts both Surovell and Comstock as clients, had raised the idea of moving the Wizards and Capitals to Tysons instead of Alexandria with Monumental executives.
According to the Post, Leonsis and the other Monumental executives quickly rejected the proposal, which also didn’t appeal to Youngkin.
State Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37), who patroned the ultimately postponed bill to make Fairfax County — specifically a site in Tysons along Metro’s Silver Line — eligible for a casino, says he was never involved in “any serious talk” about combining the casino with a Monumental arena. The idea was “casually talked about” during the General Assembly’s session, which ended on March 9, but he never viewed it as a legitimate possibility.
“I think that was a last-minute thing people threw out there,” he told FFXnow. Read More
Professional pickleball players, local officials and community members are expected to turn out in abundance for the upcoming grand opening of Down the Line Sports Center in Fairfax City.
After a soft opening in early February, the indoor pickleball facility at Courthouse Plaza (10390 Willard Way) will officially introduce itself to the city tomorrow (Thursday). The event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting, followed by a meet-and-greet with six pro athletes visiting from around the country.
Those players — Rafa Hewett, Connor Garnett, Dylan Frazier, Pablo Tellez, Lea Jansen and Etta Wright — have also been enlisted for an evening of exhibition games that will start at 7 p.m. The $50 tickets for the exhibition include food and drinks at Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company, which is next door to Down the Line.
As of this morning (Wednesday), fewer than 20 tickets were left, according to Down the Line owner Jenni Bae.
“We’re really excited about our grand opening tomorrow,” Bae told FFXnow. “…Having six Major League Pickleball players here at one time to do an exhibition is a really big deal and something really special that we wanted to bring to the community, so we’re hoping that they enjoy it, and these are the kinds of things that…we want to bring to this area moving forward.”
Located in a former CVS, Down the Line Fairfax features three full-sized pickleball courts, one half-sized court and a short practice court, along with a players’ lounge and mini pro shop. Each of the full courts has a scoreboard that can be updated live, and courtside TVs will soon allow players to watch instant replays.
Bae says the soft opening has gone “really well,” describing the center’s members as already feeling like family.
Down the Line’s memberships cost $45 per month and come with discounts on private court and open play fees, a two-week window for booking private courts in advance and other perks.
“We’ve already built a community here. People have been really welcoming and excited to have this extra space as an option to play pickleball, so we felt very welcome,” Bae said.
Support for Down the Line has also come from local leaders. The facility won the Fairfax City Council’s approval in December, and construction costs were partially covered by a Façade and Interior Improvement Grant from Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED).
Being able to form those relationships, including the FCED, in advance resulted in a “very, very smooth” build-out, according to Bae, who’s excited that Mayor Catherine Read, FCED President and CEO Christopher Bruno and other city officials will participate in tomorrow’s ribbon-cutting.
“I am blown away by the unwavering commitment and dedication shown by Jenni Bae and her family to reach this milestone,” Bruno said. “Their vision and determination are commendable, and I am thrilled that Fairfax City will now reap the benefits with the unveiling of this newly activated destination for all of Northern Virginia.”
Down the Line’s arrival in Fairfax is a prelude to plans for a second, even larger facility in Annandale.
Replacing the vacant Kid’s Choice Sports Center at 4311 Ravensworth Road, the 50,000-square-foot center will feature 18 full-sized indoor courts, six golf simulators, a sports bar with food and drinks, and a pickleball and golf shop.
Bae’s team hopes to open the Annandale location around the end of 2024 or early 2025. Members of the Fairfax center will get priority access to a membership in Annandale, along with other benefits, though the details are still being worked out.
Bae says her goal is to ensure all members and customers have a “high-quality experience” at Down the Line, whether they visit the Fairfax center or the future one in Annandale.
“We’re excited to see more people come in, experience our center and the different things we have to offer,” she said. “…Everyone who comes in here, the first thing they notice is the atmosphere and the vibe here is very welcoming, makes you feel very at ease and at home, and that’s exactly what I wanted to provide for the people that come in here.”
(Updated at 4:30 p.m. on 2/28/2024) The Town of Vienna will kick off March with its third annual Restaurant Week.
More than 40 restaurants in the town will offer special deals during the promotional campaign, which will run from March 3-10. For the first time, the town will celebrate the week by hosting a drop-in social event near the Town Green on Tuesday, March 5 from 4-6 p.m. with giveaways and live music.
Sponsored by the Town of Vienna Economic Development Department, the program aims to boost resident and visitor activity in the town, while also boosting business for the participating restaurants, with a goal of increasing the number of patrons at each eatery during the week.
“While some restaurants are offering multi-course, prix fixe menus, others are offering exciting specials, or creating new menu items just for the week,” a press release says. “Alongside meticulously curated menus, local restaurants and eateries are introducing discounted à la carte dining and exclusive deals. These enticing options are designed to tantalize the palates of discerning food enthusiasts, encouraging them to explore new and delightful cuisines.”
Vienna introduced its own restaurant week in 2022 and revived the concept last year, when it more than doubled the number of participating eateries.
This year’s event will begin the same day that nearby Fairfax City’s Restaurant Week ends. From bakeries and cafes to fast-casual chains and fine-dining restaurants, the full list of participants is below, sorted by the type of food offered.
Asian
- Burapa Thai And Bar (delivery, carryout, dine-in)
- Chit Chaat Cafe (delivery, carryout)
- Oh My Dak (carryout, dine-in)
- Peking Express Of Vienna (curbside pickup, delivery, carryout, dine-in)
- Royal Nepal Bistro (carryout, dine-in)
- Sushi Koji (dine-in)
- Sushi Yoshi (carryout, dine-in)
- The Mixx Delight (carryout)
- Viet Aroma Asian Cuisine (carryout)
American
- America’s Best Wings (delivery, carryout, dine-in)
- Bazin’s On Church (dine-in)
- Bear Branch Tavern (carryout, dine-in)
- Big Buns (curbside pickup, delivery, carryout, dine-in)
- Caboose Tavern (dine-in)
- Domino’s Pizza (curbside pickup, delivery, carryout)
- Foster’s Grille (delivery, carryout, dine-in)
- Maple Ave Restaurant (dine-in)
- Social Burger (delivery, carryout, dine-in)
- The Virginian Restaurant (carryout, dine-in)
(Updated at 11:50 a.m.) Fairfax City will soon invite community members to experience cuisines from Azerbaijan and the Caribbean to Ireland and Vietnam for its seventh annual Restaurant Week.
From Monday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 3, promotions will be available to diners at more than 25 restaurants, according to the event’s website.
Restaurants will offer prix fixe menus, setting prices at $25 for brunch/lunch and $40 for dinner. Specialty restaurants will offer a two-for-$10 deal, according to a press release.
“Restaurant Week is that nudge our residents get twice a year that says dining out is a community event,” City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read said in the press release. “Dining in the city can be a culinary trip around the world without needing a passport.”
Participating restaurants include:
Baku Delicious, Bellissimo, Commonwealth Brewing Co., Capital Ale House, Coyote Grille, Curry Mantra, Dolce Vita, Draper’s Steak & Seafood, Earp’s Ordinary, El Pollo Rico, Hamrock’s Restaurant, Jas & Fam Caribbean Flavor, Mackenzie’s Tunes & Tonics, Mama Chang, Meokja Meokja, Ned’s New England Deck, Old Dominion Pizza Company, ONE Bar & Grill, Ornery Beer Company, Okonomi Asian Grill, Patriot’s Pub & Grill, P.J. Skiddos, Roots Natural Kitchen, Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, The Auld Shebeen, The Wine House and Vivi Bubble Tea.
Though it wasn’t mentioned in the initial list, Pupatella says its Mosaic District location is also participating in Fairfax City Restaurant Week.
The week is co-sponsored by the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority, the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and the Old Town Fairfax Business Association.
“Together, they have consistently expanded the event, establishing Fairfax City as a premier dining destination and fostering a strong sense of community among restaurant operators,” Fairfax City Economic Development President and CEO Christopher Bruno said.
Public art and social spaces will be key to transforming southern Richmond Highway into a community, a panel of local land use experts says.
Last week, the consulting nonprofit Urban Land Institute (ULI) presented recommendations at the Hybla Valley Community Center for how to foster economic growth in the corridor, while preserving its cultural identity through “placemaking.”
Placemaking highlights the unique aspects of a community, including its people and history, which encourages activity and “helps to make the space vibrant,” Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) Executive Director Evan Kaufman told FFXnow in an interview.
“Obviously, you can go to any corporate strip mall across the country, and you’re not really going to find a sense of place,” Kaufman said. “You’ll probably find an Applebee’s, Wendy’s, and Home Depot, which are great. Those provide services, but they’re not really telling a story of the community.”
After spending two days studying four miles of the corridor from Jeff Todd Way to Lockheed Blvd, the assembled panelists proposed creating community spaces for socializing — like parks and event venues — and enhancing the area with public art and more greenery.
The full findings will be detailed in a report that’s expected in the next six to eight weeks, according to the SFDC, which worked with the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development to finance the study.
ULI will also conduct follow-up surveys to track the implementation of the panel’s recommendations.
Designated as a focus area for commercial revitalization since 1986, the Richmond Highway corridor has seen those efforts intensify in recent years, as the county and Virginia Department of Transportation prepare to widen the road and add bus rapid transit service.
With some community members fearing negative impacts from the road widening project in particular on traffic, pedestrian safety and local businesses, the ULI study aims to identify strategies that can stimulate economic growth and improve the area’s quality of life.
In the short term, the consultant’s panelists recommended establishing a visitors center and using signage to guide visitors and residents to businesses affected by construction. Panelists also proposed using landscaping, pop-up activities and murals to beautify shopping plazas and make commercial areas more inviting. Read More
The first-ever Northern Virginia Space and Satellite Summit is about to launch in Tysons.
Organized by the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, the event will bring space industry leaders and experts to the Womble Bond Dickinson office in Boro Tower (8350 Broad Street, Suite 1500) on Thursday, Jan. 18.
“We are excited to bring together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals in the field of space and satellite technologies for the first-ever Space and Satellite Summit,” Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce interim president and CEO Mark Ingrao said. “This event is a testament to our commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and economic growth in the Dulles region and beyond.”
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority counts aerospace as one of the county’s key industries when coupled with the plethora of defense contractors in the area.
- David Bettinger, CEO of Arlington’s Axta Space
- Dennis Gatens, CEO and founder of LEOCloud in Ashburn
- George Nield, president of the British consulting firm Commercial Space Technologies
- Joseph T. Darden, director of aviation business development for Iridium, a satellite communications company headquartered in Tysons
- Stephen McCall, director of government relations for Texas-based Firefly Aerospace
The chamber says the event will also provide a valuable opportunity for networking. Attendees are required to register for the summit, which costs $45.
The summit comes just a week after NASA announced that its Artemis missions will be delayed in response to technical issues. The launch that the agency hopes will return humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972 isn’t expected now until September 2026.
For the first time this century, Fairfax County’s Mason District has a new supervisor.
In his first week since succeeding Penny Gross, who retired in December after 27 years in the position, Andres Jimenez says he has been actively engaging with constituents to tackle issues ranging from transportation to art projects and economic development.
An immigrant from Bogota, Colombia, who has now lived in the Falls Church area for 12 years, Jimenez is the first Latino to represent Mason District on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. He also works as the executive director of the pay equity campaign Green 2.0 and previously served as an at-large member of the Fairfax County Planning Commission.
Winning a decisive victory last November over independent candidate Terry Modglin with 72% of the vote, Jimenez says that, since taking office on Jan. 1, he has been setting up his various social media channels, launching a new podcast and organizing several public forums across the district.
“I think that smart government is when residents don’t just come to you, it’s when the government — when the supervisor’s office — is going into the community and reaching out to residents…and asking them what is working, what’s not working, because only then can you really begin to make change,” he told FFXnow.
The dates for the public town hall and open house events have not been announced yet. However, Jimenez anticipates key areas will include transportation, housing and economic development.
“We do plan to go out into the communities [and] listen to the residents and make sure that we are prioritizing the needs of Mason District,” he said.
Pedestrian and traffic safety
Top on Jimenez’s agenda is addressing pedestrian and traffic safety concerns in neighborhoods like Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners.
Last year, the community advocacy group Fairfax Families for Safe Streets published a report showing that pedestrian fatalities increased in 2022 as a result of “underfunding for pedestrian-focused projects.”
“Unfortunately, there have been a lot of fatalities when it comes to the pedestrians,” Jimenez said. “…We need to really start working on figuring out not only why is this happening, but how can we solve this problem.”
In 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved $100 million for county-wide pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements that will be allocated to different projects through 2028. About $30.2 million has been allocated to date, according to the county website.
At the moment, the county is reviewing 69 proposed safety projects proposed for Mason District. Each of the projects originated from resident suggestions through a county-led online survey.
Jimenez emphasized his objective is to ensure that money is promptly allocated to projects in Mason District, adding that the money is “desperately needed.”
Jimenez identified a few intersections — such as Leesburg Pike (Route 7) at both Row Street and Columbia Pike — as high priority, focusing more on signal upgrades and other spot improvements than more comprehensive, long-term solutions.
In the coming months, Jimenez noted that he plans to consult with local stakeholder groups, such as the Bailey’s Crossroads 7 Corners Revitalization Corporation, to help identify projects that need immediate attention.
“We’ve already identified several initiatives — obviously Seven Corners, Bailey’s Crossroads and Annandale — that need help,” he said. “They need signage and they need timers and they need different ways to make sure that pedestrians are safe.”
The winter gift-giving season has come to a close, but a new retail incubator store in Fairfax City will encourage the community to shop local year-round.
Set for a grand opening at 10 a.m. this Saturday (Dec. 30), Wander In will host more than two dozen painters, candle-makers and other artisans in a shared retail space at 3950 University Drive, Suite 211 in Old Town Plaza.
The program aims to give “prime retail space” to small and emerging businesses that are either based in the city or might consider opening a permanent storefront there, promising a relatively low start-up cost and some provided training.
“With Wander In, our goal is to enhance the shopping experience through exciting special events and collaborative business initiatives,” said Tess Rollins, executive director of the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA), which developed the idea with the Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED) office. “This resonates with both our cherished residents and valued visitors.”
At 1,974 square feet in size, including classroom, office and storage space, Wander In will accommodate over 30 vendors, including:
- Paris Love Jewelry offers a diverse selection of handcrafted and designed jewelry encompassing a blend of eclectic vintage and modern styles.
- White Dove Candle LLC presents a curated selection of premium candles, artistically designed to infuse your space with serenity and sophistication.
- Mary Bockenek Art features thumbnail-sized landscapes, mini abstracts, and three-dimensional heart art, all crafted with joy to add a vibrant pop of color wherever they find a home.
- Toute-Petite, translating to ‘attention to detail’ in French, embodies a commitment to meticulously crafted artwork, ensuring each piece is thoughtful. The brand offers a collection of greeting cards and small gifts appropriate for any occasion.
Each vendor is expected to stay at Wander In for terms of three, six, nine or 12 months. According to the FCED, vendors pay a $200 per month, along with a 10% consignment on products sold, and artists get 60% of the consignment fee.
In addition to getting to sell their wares, the vendors will host workshops, participate in community events, and learn marketing and other business skills from the Mason Small Business Development Center, which partnered with FCED, the business association and property owner Kimco Realty on the initiative.
With many of the participating businesses primarily run out of homes or at farmers’ markets, the store will enhance their visibility in the community, while also providing a new shopping option to customers, according to Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read.
“This will offer residents and visitors a fun browsing experience,” Read said, noting that Old Town Plaza is served by a free parking lot. “This is a great resource for those unique items we all look for at festivals and fairs, only now we can find them all year round.”
This weekend’s grand opening event will include refreshments and “limited giveaways” for customers. After that, Wander In will be open on Tuesdays through Sundays.
There will be regular workshops, classes, and events where customers can meet and even learn from the makers of the items that are being sold. One event coming in January will be a weekend pop-up, where vendors can reserve a two-day spot for $150.
“Wander In is more than a retail space; it’s a pioneering collaboration that echoes our vision for
Fairfax City,” FCED Director and CEO Christopher Bruno said. “With its innovative offerings, we anticipate not just a hub for unique, locally crafted gifts, but a redefined shopping experience that speaks to our community values. Wander In represents a significant stride in reshaping the entrepreneurial and community engagement landscape of Northern Virginia.”
Fairfax County is creating commercial profiles of different neighborhoods to guide future economic development and placemaking.
At an economic initiatives committee meeting on Dec. 12, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors discussed a place-led economic development pilot program that will provide snapshots of communities throughout the county.
“It’s really about providing all of us with data driven insights into Fairfax County commercial districts, how that…area is performing and functioning as well as who is being served by the commercial activity,” said Laura Baker, the catalytic development manager for the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives.
In the first phase of the pilot program, staff studied Bailey’s Crossroads and University Mall near Fairfax City. The locations were selected due to their diversity in scale, geography, business characteristics and community, as well as the willingness of stakeholders to take part in the process.
Each template dives into data on users and visitors, retail spending, recent investments, key insights and business highlights.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust and Board Chairman Jeff McKay said they were concerned about how the profiles will be updated and what new information they generated — beyond assembling disparate data the county already receives.
“What we don’t want to do is have outdated information out there that kind of works against the marketing of a particular area,” McKay said.
The Bailey’s Crossroads profile, for example, found limited connectivity between the community’s shopping centers, overall healthy commercial performance, and that the population’s median age and income are lower than the rest of the county.
The community also sees strong weekend activity, and there has been a slight increase in visitor growth after the pandemic.
Mike Van Atta, president of BC7RC, a volunteer organization that promotes community revitalization in Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners, said the profiles are particularly helpful because they can guide how partnerships between organizations drive community revitalization.
“Frankly, we think that’s a community health story as much as it is a community development story,” Van Atta said.
McKay noted none of that information was surprising — indicating that the community profiles provided an accurate snapshot.
In phase two, staff plan to study 26 special planning areas — except for those with a specified land use purpose or those that have already been the focus of recent studies.
Baker said Tysons and Reston will likely be excluded from the effort, since they have recently updated comprehensive plans and existing organizations, such as the Tysons Community Alliance and Partnership Reston, that focus on placemaking.
“There’s already a lot of transformation happening there,” she said.
County staff also plan to take a look at an additional 86 shopping centers, like the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield and the Rose Hill Shopping Center.
Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, whose district includes Bailey’s Crossroads, said she wants to see a dedicated section to vision in the profiles and more community integration.
“There’s not the community piece in here and I’m very concerned about that because people are resistant to change,” she said. “They don’t necessarily like what’s there now, but they don’t want much new.”
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said the community pieces come from the county’s comprehensive plan — which was created with significant input.
“The comprehensive plan really is a document that is highly integrated with the community, and the community in all cases have been involved in the development of that,” he said.
In the coming months, staff will finalize the template for the profiles and criteria to determine exactly which areas are studied before issuing a request for proposals. The second phase will likely begin in the first quarter of 2024.
Image via Google Maps
A medical device printer in Herndon is among five local companies that will receive funding from Fairfax County’s new grant program for startups.
3D Orthobiologic Solutions (3DOS), which launched in 2019, seeks to manufacture 3D-printed medical devices and dental impacts.
“Their IP technology licenses a Stanford University patent. The company has been accepted by Johnson & Johnson’s accelerator program JLABS,” the county said in an overview.
The Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives announced the inaugural winners of Fairfax Founders Fund grants earlier this month. The fund is intended to support companies that are involved in creating innovative technology products and have demonstrated potential for growth.
The other four companies that received funds are:
- Anapact: An Alexandria-based company that makes smart headgear for boxers and MMA fighters to offer real-time feedback on performance, impact and damage.
- BloomCatch: The Centreville company aims to combat the growing labor shortage in the gardening industry by offering digital access to plant care information through an app to train employees.
- NearStar Fusion: The Chantilly-based company, which was founded in 2023, provides a globally scalable clean fusion energy option by using pulse plasma guns as a new component for a fusion power plants.
- Healp: The company, which is based in Fairfax Station, provides an app that connections patients and medical providers that focuses on rare conditions and illnesses at no cost to the patient.
“We are delighted to recognize and support these exceptional startups in Fairfax County,” Department of Economic Initiatives Director Rebecca Moudry said in the announcement. “These grants will empower our local firms to advance their innovations, meet business goals, and drive economic growth and technological progress in our community.”
The application period for the next round of funding runs from Nov. 27 through Jan. 8. Companies receive up to $50,000 to prepare for later-stage investment.
To be eligible, companies must be based in Fairfax County, have raised no more than $1 million of startup funding so far and have received no more than $250,000 gross revenue in the 12 months before they apply, among other criteria.
First proposed in July 2021, the Fairfax Founders Fund was conceived as a way to support female, Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs, who are less likely to receive investments for startups from other sources than male and white entrepreneurs.
“The primary objectives of the fund are to stimulate economic development, connect startups with local resources and partnerships, and promote economic mobility by ensuring that early-stage capital is accessible to entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds,” the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority said.