News

A new plan to add a hotel and hospitality venue to a historic home at 10230 Main Street in the City of Fairfax got a mix of cautious interest and firm rejection from city council members last week.

The proposal from developer Ox Hill Companies would keep the home intact while building an extensive resort around the property, raising some concerns from abutting townhouse owners as well as the Fairfax City Council.


News

Homeowners in Fairfax City could face an average 16.9% increase in real estate taxes under the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released Feb. 25 by City Manager Bryan Foster.

In order to meet increasing costs — especially for schools — Foster proposes increasing the city’s real-estate tax rate from $1.03 per $100 of assessed value to $1.125.


News

As discussions continue on the first block of The Ox Fairfax, Ox Hill Companies is starting to craft a plan for a second block of the mixed-use development, which could transform the historic heart of Old Town Fairfax.

The Fairfax City Council will get a briefing this evening (Feb. 4) on a concept plan for “Block B” of The Ox. Submitted last October, the proposal calls for a six-story residential building with 240 units on a 2-acre site at 4021 and 4031 University Drive.


News

After a transformative election ousted most of Fairfax City Council’s experienced members, Mayor Catherine Read is pushing for election reforms to improve stability and representation.

Her plan includes adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) and extending council terms to four years with staggered elections. Read says the changes are needed to prevent the kind of turnover seen this year, which she worries could disrupt long-term city projects.


News

Fairfax City is stepping up surveillance of its historic downtown and two public parks with the help of private security guards.

Starting today (Monday), uniformed but unarmed guards will patrol the Old Town commercial district, Stafford Drive Park (3300 Stafford Drive) and Draper Drive Park (9797 Beech Drive) as part of an eight-week security pilot program developed by the City of Fairfax Police Department.


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A redevelopment plan for the Courthouse Plaza Shopping Center in Old Town Fairfax is headed to the city council for review.

The Fairfax City Council is expected to hold a work session today (Tuesday) to discuss a revised proposal from developer Combined Courthouse to transform the aging retail center at 10300 Willard Way into a mixed-use development.


News

Fairfax City will soon see the construction of a seven-story residential and retail building next to WillowWood Plaza along Eaton Place following a near-unanimous vote of approval from the city council earlier this week.

The new development, dubbed “N29 Apartments,” will replace a 328-space, 2.96-acre parking lot at 10306 Eaton Place, adjacent to a 1980s-era office complex.


News

A group of Katherine Johnson Middle School students has proposed a new design for Fairfax Circle that they hope will be more environmentally friendly.

Several eighth graders presented their ideas to the Fairfax City Council on May 28 for addressing issues such as flooding, runoff, and pollution, which they argue will help to reduce the city’s impact on surrounding ecosystems, such as the Chesapeake Bay.


News

The proposed Tommy’s Express Car Wash at Fairfax Blvd and Lion Run in Fairfax City passed its first hurdle last week and will advance to the planning commission next.

The Fairfax City Board of Architectural Review has unanimously recommended that the city council approve a proposal for a 4,553-square-foot car wash at 9917 Fairfax Blvd. The site was formerly home to The Espositos, a 40-plus-year-old Italian restaurant that closed permanently last month.


News

The Fairfax City Council recently approved several bicycle network enhancements along Fair Woods Parkway, its first project since adopting a bicycle master plan in 2021.

The unanimous adoption of the resolution gave city staff the go-ahead to engage engineering consultants to design the bike routes.


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