Reston | FFXnow - Part 477

Morning Notes

Published August 5, 2022 at 7:30AM

Lewinsville Park basketball courts in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

McLean Police Shooting Not Justified, Family Says — The parents of Jasper Aaron Lynch, who was fatally shot four times by a Fairfax County police officer during a mental health crisis call on July 7, said in a statement that the police “could have, and should have, handled this far differently.” Their comments came after the county police department released footage of the encounter. [WTOP]

Bailey’s Crossroads Car Dealership to Expand — “The Radley Acura dealership on Columbia Pike near Route 7 in Bailey’s Crossroads will undergo a major expansion. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning application Aug. 2 by Radley Management LLC to build a three-level parking garage with 307 spaces and an enclosed customer service drop-off addition.” [Annandale Today]

News

Circuitous Reston pedestrian refuge redesigned after community pressure

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 4, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated August 4, 2022 at 6:14PM

VDOT has redesigned a circuitous sidewalk in Reston (Photo via MTAC).

(Updated at 6:10 p.m.) Community pressure about a circuitous and convoluted pedestrian refuge at Village Road in Reston has prompted a redesign.

Reston Association voiced its concerns about the “horrible initial design” of the refuge island in a letter to state and local transportation officials, according to RA spokesperson Mike Leone. The letter, along with community pressure, led to the rebuild and redesign effort.

News

Fannie Mae campus redevelopment in Reston approved despite access concerns

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 4, 2022 at 11:00AM | Updated August 10, 2022 at 9:14AM

(Updated at 9:10 a.m. on 8/10/2022) The redevelopment of the former Fannie Mae campus in Reston is set to begin after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors gave the project its blessing on Tuesday (Aug. 2).

The board voted 9-1 to approve the redevelopment with a roughly 220,000-square-foot reduction in the amount of previously approved office space and the addition of a total of 74 townhouses and eight two-by-two units. (Correction: This article initially said the project was approved unanimously. Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith voted against approval.)

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published August 4, 2022 at 7:30AM

I-66 construction in Fairfax County (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Two Face Drug Charges After Seven Corners Police Shooting — “Two men have been charged after an officer-involved shooting that occurred last night at approximately 10:45 p.m. in the 6100 block of Arlington Boulevard in Seven Corners…The officer involved in the shooting has been identified as an 11-year veteran assigned to the Street Crimes Unit.” [FCPD]

Local LGBTQ+ Student Group Speaks Out — Fairfax County’s Pride Liberation Project released a statement backed by more than 600 students criticizing a proposal from the state Department of Education that they fear will classify any references to LGBTQIA+ people and events as sexually explicit. The guidelines address a new law that requires parents to be notified when school materials include sexually explicit content. [The Washington Post]

Countywide

Prepare to sweat with Heat Advisory issued for Fairfax County tomorrow

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 3, 2022 at 3:50PM

Condensation on a window at Patrick Henry Library in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

August has definitely arrived in the D.C. area, with another day in store for tomorrow (Thursday).

Like the rest of the region, Fairfax County will be under a Heat Advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

News

Reston’s Vantage Hill redevelopment moves forward on expedited timeline

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 3, 2022 at 2:15PM

The developer is seeking an expedited timeline for approval (Photo via Reston Association/handout).

The redevelopment of the Vantage Hill condominiums in Reston could move forward on a faster track than previously anticipated.

At the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (Aug. 2), the board unanimously approved a request to expedite the redevelopment of the southwest portion of the property — largely the pool area, which closed years ago — with 28 townhouses.

Aging Well: Hike up your heart rate and your mood

By Sponsor

Published August 3, 2022 at 12:30PM

Taking your exercise outdoors offers unique benefits for physical, cognitive, and emotional health

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

Why work out in a fitness center when you can get a great cardio workout enjoying fresh air and great views?

Countywide

Fairfax County likely to rename Lee and Lee-Jackson highways after route numbers

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 3, 2022 at 11:15AM

A road sign for Lee Highway, also known as Route 29, in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A formal vote won’t come for another month, but several Fairfax County supervisors indicated support yesterday (Tuesday) for using routes 29 and 50, respectively, as the official names for the roads known for now as Lee and Lee-Jackson Memorial highways.

The Board of Supervisors directed county staff by a 9-1 vote to prepare a resolution for its next meeting on Sept. 13 endorsing Route 29 and Route 50 as the new names after a year-long review process that included a community task force and public surveys.

News

Nonprofit and developer to acquire Reston’s Colvin Woods apartments

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 3, 2022 at 10:30AM

A joint venture is set to take over the apartment community (Photo via Colvin Woods).

A nonprofit organization and for-profit real estate development company are getting in position to acquire Reston’s Colvin Woods apartments.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan yesterday (Tuesday) for the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority to issue a $15 million loan to the joint venture between AHC Inc., a community-based housing development organization in Arlington, and Insight Property Group, a private real estate development company.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published August 3, 2022 at 7:30AM

A speed limit sign for Route 123 by the Tysons Corner Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Look Out for Spotted Lanternfly — “While there are still no sightings of the spotted lanternfly in Fairfax County, it is getting closer, and experts are on the lookout for it. This summer the invasive pest was found in nearby Loudoun County…The insect feasts on more than 70 plant species, though its preferred host is the tree-of-heaven.” [DPWES]

FCPD Detective Destroyed Evidence of Rape — Fairfax County police are reviewing dozens of unsolved sexual assault cases after the victim of a rape in 1995 learned that a detective had destroyed all physical evidence in her case, including the rape kit. Police now say they believe the woman’s account and that her case was handled inappropriately, but she says the department needs “to somehow be held accountable.” [The Washington Post]