Reston | FFXnow - Part 376

Hunt Club residents in Reston worry redevelopment will affect possible slave cemetery

Published July 26, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated July 27, 2023 at 5:00PM

Cemetery #FX242 near Lake Fairfax Park in Reston (via SEM Fairfax Land Associates/Fairfax County)

Hunt Club Cluster residents in Reston are pushing back against a potential redevelopment of a 9-acre property just north of Lake Fairfax Park that encompasses a possible slave cemetery and a 1790s-era log cabin.

SEM Fairfax Land Associates has been working to secure approval from Fairfax County to build Fairfax Hunt Estates, a community of eight single-family homes, at 1321 Lake Fairfax Drive and preserve the log cabin known as Fairfax Hunt Club, according to the application submitted on Nov. 22, 2022.

Countywide

D.C. area will be under Heat Advisory on Thursday

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 26, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated July 26, 2023 at 2:04PM

Forecasts suggest Thursday, July 27 could feel like 107 degrees in the D.C. area (via NWS/Twitter)

(Updated at 2:05 p.m.) A Heat Advisory will take effect tomorrow (Thursday) for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, with temperatures expected to near 100 degrees.

Released by the National Weather Service this morning, the alert is slated to be in place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.

Aging Well: Urban walking is a step in the right direction

By Sponsor

Published July 26, 2023 at 12:30PM

Grab a leash and put on your walking shoes—new research shows that walking in urban green spaces can boost your cognitive health, reduce stress, and improve your mood.

This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.

Taking regular walks has been proven to offer impressive benefits for different aspects of your physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. And it may be the perfect way to get exercise: walking is free, low-impact, and can be done anywhere — and just a half-hour walk a day can impart health benefits.

News

Plans are brewing again to redevelop Lake Anne’s Crescent property

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 26, 2023 at 11:00AM

A rendering of a nixed plan for development at Lake Anne (via Fairfax County)

Over the next year, a major redevelopment project involving the Crescent Apartments at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston may be on the horizon.

The Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development will work with county partners for the next year to develop a process for the redevelopment of the Crescent property, according to Tom Fleetwood, the department’s director.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 26, 2023 at 7:30AM

Looking up at the Kingston at McLean Crossing apartments in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

New Dunkin’ Donuts Coming to Woodlawn — “The next-generation Dunkin’ under construction at Woodlawn Shopping Center is tentatively slated to open toward the end of third quarter 2023, according to the public relations firm for the ownership group. The store originally had hoped to be open for business early this year.” [On the MoVe]

Taller Metro Fare Gate Installations Begin — “After more than half a year of testing, Metro has finalized a taller faregate design that will roll out across the entire rail system in the coming year. The goal is to reduce fare evasion, which costs the agency about $40 million a year.” Vienna will be the first Fairfax County station to get the new gates, likely in early fall. [DCist]

News

County seeks more funds for Lake Anne economic visioning study

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 25, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated July 25, 2023 at 5:02PM

By the water at Reston's Lake Anne Plaza (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 5 p.m.) The final phase of the economic visioning of the Lake Anne area is nearing.

At a meeting today (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors opened up a request for an additional $200,000 for the third phase of the project.

Countywide

County’s 911 center ramps up staffing to fill vacancies after pandemic

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2023 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County's 911 operations floor in the McConnell Public Safety & Transportation Operations Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Handling 911 calls has never been a regular 9-to-5 job, but a national staffing shortage has increased the hours and pressure felt by call takers and dispatchers across the country.

Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications wasn’t spared from the workforce challenges that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping from close to 180 staffers before 2020 to about 160 people right now.

Around Town

What the Schnitzel, a food truck, will launch in Herndon this weekend

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 25, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated July 25, 2023 at 1:41PM

A soft opening for the food truck is slated for Saturday (Photo courtesy Melanie Glover).

(Updated at 1:40 p.m.) A German food truck is officially opening its doors in Herndon.

What The Schnitzel — described as the first and only food truck in the Northern Virginia area that sells German fusion cuisine — is celebrating its soft opening on Saturday (July 29) at Arts Herndon. It will be on site from noon to 5 p.m. at the building (750 Center Street).

Countywide

Fairfax County’s office vacancy rate is at a 10-year high, staff says

By Acacia James

Published July 25, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated August 1, 2023 at 10:17AM

Space is available for lease at an office building on Penrose Place in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:05 a.m. on 7/26/2023) Fairfax County is currently the second largest suburban office market in the nation, with an inventory of 120 million square feet.

However, the current office vacancy rate sits at 16.7% — topping the county’s previous 10-year high, according to Stephen Tarditi, director of market intelligence at the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 25, 2023 at 7:30AM

A sunset at Valo Park in Tysons (photo by Fazli Erdem/Twitter)

County on the Lookout for Spotted Lanternfly — “Fairfax County Forest Pest Management unit…is asking County residents to help slow the spread of this invasive pest by being vigilant about not moving spotted lanternfly life stages when traveling through known infested areas and to vacuum nymphs and adults with a shop vac and scrape egg masses into a container of soapy water, as well as report sightings.” [DPWES]

Longtime Seven Corners Clothing Store to Move — “After outfitting local healthcare workers for 20 years, Gallo Clothing in the Seven Corners Shopping Center is closing for good. The store’s last day is Thursday, July 27. Meanwhile, just about everything in the store is marked down 25 to 75 percent…The landlord is raising the rent, so Gallo Clothing is relocating, says manager Doris Zelaya.” [Annandale Today]