Merrifield | FFXnow

County revises vision for mixed-use Pan Am shopping center after community input

Published August 2, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated August 2, 2023 at 6:59PM

Pan Am Shopping Center (file photo)

(Updated at 7 p.m.) The Fairfax County Planning Commission gave its full support last week to a proposal to allow housing at Merrifield’s Pan Am Shopping Center, a key step toward transforming the strip mall into a mixed-use neighborhood.

The commission voted unanimously on July 27 to recommend that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors amend the county’s comprehensive plan for the approximately 25-acre property southeast of Route 29 and Nutley Street, opening the door for up to 585 multifamily residential units and additional retail space.

Around Town

Latin American wine bar Grand Cata is now open at the Mosaic District

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 1, 2023 at 10:15AM

Latin wine bar Grand Cata has opened in the Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Grand Cata recently made a grand entrance at the Mosaic District.

The D.C.-based Latin American wine bar and store opened the doors of its first Virginia location on July 18, according to an Instagram post.

Around Town

As Tysons farmers market launches, Mosaic District’s plots expansion

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 27, 2023 at 10:15AM

People wait for plant-based food and empanadas at FreshFarm's Mosaic District farmers market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Tysons area will have no shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables for the rest of this year, as one farmers market prepares to make its introduction and another expands its presence.

A brand-new Tysons farmers market will launch at noon today (Thursday) at The PARC at Tysons (8508 Leesburg Pike).

News

FCPD: Woman sexually assaulted at Marriott hotel in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 21, 2023 at 3:00PM

Courtyard Marriott in Merrifield (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) A woman staying at the Courtyard Marriott in Merrifield was sexually assaulted yesterday (Thursday), Fairfax County police say.

Officers were called to the hotel at 2722 Gallows Road at 1:30 p.m. for the assault, which had just occurred, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

News

After 10 years, disability services nonprofit relocates Merrifield HQ

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 21, 2023 at 2:15PM

Inside Venture X's coworking space in Merrifield (courtesy Venture X)

Like many organizations, The Arc of Northern Virginia is rethinking its approach to office work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The local chapter of the national nonprofit, which provides services and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will move its headquarters to the recently opened Venture X coworking space at 3060 Williams Drive in Merrifield.

Around Town

All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ coming to Merrifield from Centreville’s Meat Project

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 19, 2023 at 1:30PM

The Korean barbecue restaurant Meat Project is expanding from Centreville to Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Centreville’s Meat Project is preparing to fire up a grill at Halstead Square in Merrifield.

The all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurant is expanding for the first time to The Lofts apartment building at 2727 Merrilee Drive, where it has leased a 3,456-square-foot, ground-floor space, per a site plan from retail broker Rosenthal Properties.

Around Town

Four restaurants with Fairfax ties honored at 2023 RAMMY awards

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 11, 2023 at 1:30PM

RASA, which opened a Mosaic District location in 2022, won the 2023 RAMMY award for Favorite Fast Bites (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County residents don’t have to cross the Potomac to taste some of the best cuisine that the D.C. area has to offer, as decreed by the 2023 RAMMY awards.

Announced at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C. on Sunday (July 9), the annual honors from the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) feted four restaurants with ties to the Fairfax area — including three in Merrifield’s Mosaic District.

News

Live-work development approved for Inova’s former HQ in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 6, 2023 at 10:15AM

Developer Madison Highland has proposed a "game table community park" outside 8110 Gatehouse Road with its repurposing as live/work units (via Fairfax County)

Inova Health System’s former administrative headquarters in Merrifield will soon be transformed into a combination of workforce housing and live/work units — a kind of development that’s still relatively novel for Fairfax County.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 8-0 to approve the project from developer Madison Highland after a public hearing on June 27. Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw recused themselves because they respectively serve on Inova’s board of trustees and quality and reliability committee.

News

Plans for a skating rink at the Mosaic District put on hold indefinitely

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 16, 2023 at 11:00AM

The Mosaic District's roller rink in summer 2022 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Mosaic District is hanging up its roller and ice skating plans — at least for now.

The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) agreed Wednesday (June 14) to indefinitely defer Rink Management Services Corporation’s request for a special permit that would allow it to operate a skating rink in the Merrifield neighborhood on a seasonal basis.

News

County recommends survey of family cemetery at Pan Am Shopping Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 15, 2023 at 11:00AM

The Thompson Family Cemetery is adjacent to the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield (photo by Amy Woolsey)

Before the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield gets redeveloped, Fairfax County staff say the adjacent, centuries-old cemetery should probably get examined.

The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development released a staff report last week recommending that mixed-use development be allowed at the shopping center, opening the door for property owner Federal Realty to build 585 residential units and expand its retail.