Fairfax City | FFXnow

Old Town Fairfax buildings to be razed soon for mixed-use condo development

Published November 16, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated November 16, 2023 at 1:19PM

City Centre West will replace commercial buildings on Main Street with a mixed-use condominium complex (courtesy Ox Hill Companies)

Fences have gone up around three commercial buildings at the corner of Main Street and West Street in Old Town Fairfax, signaling their impending demise in favor of a planned mixed-use development known as City Centre West.

Developer Ox Hill Companies anticipates demolishing the vacant Wells Fargo bank, a restaurant last occupied by OudResto & Hall and the office building with its headquarters (10501, 10515 and 10523 Main Street) by the end of this year, Managing Principal Christopher Smith recently told FFXnow.

News

Fairfax City refines concept for bicycle facilities on University Drive

By Acacia James

Published November 2, 2023 at 3:30PM

University Drive in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax City is starting to refine its plans to add bicycle facilities on University Drive.

The project will “implement bicycle facilities on University Drive between Layton Hall Drive and South Street, with shared lane markings through the center of Old Town and bicycle lanes to the north,” according to the city’s website.

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Fairfax to launch retail store for nurturing local artisans, entrepreneurs

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 1, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax City has been working to promote its downtown retail (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax City is browsing for makers of art, crafts and other products who want to expand beyond an online shop or farmers’ market stall but aren’t quite ready to commit to a full storefront.

Those are the budding entrepreneurs that the Fairfax City Economic Development team (FCED) hopes to attract to Wander In, an upcoming retail incubator store that the city is developing with the Old Town Fairfax Business Association (OTFBA).

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New urgent care center from Inova opens in former Fairfax Petland

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 24, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated October 25, 2023 at 3:38PM

A new Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care Center has opened at Pickett Shopping Center in Fairfax (courtesy Inova Health System)

A Fairfax pet store that came under investigation for mistreating animals has been replaced by a facility for treating sprained ankles and other medical needs of human patients.

Inova Health System has opened an urgent care center at 9404-A Main Street in Fairfax City’s Pickett Shopping Center, the recently rebranded nonprofit health care provider announced yesterday (Monday).

Around Town

Fairfax City sees new brewery as potential ‘regional destination’

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 20, 2023 at 11:45AM

Commonwealth Brewing Co. has revived a long-vacant space at 10426 Main Street in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The City of Fairfax has high hopes for Commonwealth Brewing Co.

The Virginia Beach-based company opened its second brewery and restaurant at 10426 Main Street with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 28, bringing new life to a space that has been vacant since at least 2015.

Around Town

Fairfax ‘landmark’ Coyote Grille goes dark after 21 years

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 17, 2023 at 9:30AM

Coyote Grille and Cantina has closed after 21 years in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax City’s Coyote Grille and Cantina has unleashed its last howl.

The eatery abruptly closed its doors at 10266 Main Street for good on Oct. 1 after serving up tacos, margaritas and other dishes and drinks inspired by the American Southwest for more than two decades.

News

Fairfax City Council defers decision on shared-use trail through forested park

By Melanie Pincus

Published October 4, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated October 4, 2023 at 3:43PM

A shared-use trail is planned through Fairfax City's Shiloh Street Park (via City of Fairfax)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) A years-long effort to build a pedestrian and bicycle trail along Fairfax Blvd (Route 50) is facing a roadblock.

At a public hearing last Tuesday (Sept. 26), the Fairfax City Council deferred action on a special use permit for nearly 12,000 square feet of trail in Shiloh Street Park (10400 Shiloh Street). The affected area requires the permit because it is zoned for residential development.

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Apartment building with retail proposed for former Fuddruckers site in Fairfax

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 3, 2023 at 11:00AM

A proposed mixed-use development concept for the northeast corner of Chain Bridge Road and Fairfax Blvd (via Fairfax City)

The vacant Fuddruckers building along Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) in Fairfax City may not be standing for much longer.

The site at 3575 Chain Bridge Road, which has been empty since the burger joint closed in 2017, is being eyed for a potential mixed-use development that would also encompass the adjacent Exxon gas station and Tobacco Hut lots, covering about 2.3 acres total at the corner of Chain Bridge and Fairfax Blvd (Route 50).

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Commercial vacancies decline in Fairfax, defying national trends, city says

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 26, 2023 at 1:15PM

Engineering consultant CDM Smith celebrates its recently opened, 13,300-square-foot office at 10600 Eaton Place in Fairfax City (courtesy Fairfax City Economic Development)

At a time when cities from D.C. to San Francisco are grappling with historically high vacancy rates, Fairfax City is feeling pretty good about the rising demand for its commercial space.

General commercial vacancy rates have dropped from 6.6% at the beginning of 2023 to 6% in the third quarter, Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED) — a partnership between the city’s economic development office and the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority (EDA) — reported last week.

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Vienna and Fairfax City cook up program to help staff local restaurants

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 15, 2023 at 11:30AM

A restaurant worker looks at order tickets (via Daniel Bradley/Unsplash)

The Town of Vienna and Fairfax City believe two cooks would be better than one when it comes to concocting a culinary workforce program to support their local restaurants.

The economic development teams from both localities have joined forces to develop a program that could provide job training or help businesses identify prospective, qualified employees.