Rodney Lusk | FFXnow

Published September 11, 2024 at 1:30PM

Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County will review its property deeds to remove clauses that historically barred non-Caucasian individuals from owning or leasing property in specific neighborhoods.

In response to new research revealing the prevalence of racially restrictive covenants in Northern Virginia property deeds, the Board of Supervisors, led by Dan Storck and Rodney Lusk, unanimously approved a board matter yesterday (Tuesday) to allocate resources for eliminating any segregation-era language from county-owned property deeds and assisting private property owners in doing the same.

Around Town

Springfield community and local military reunite for annual Bridge Walk after multi-year hiatus

By James Jarvis

Published August 14, 2024 at 11:30AM

The 2016 Springfield Bridge Walk (via Fort Belvoir/Facebook)

After a several-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Springfield Bridge Walk is back on.

The annual event celebrating the connection between the Springfield community and the nearby major U.S. Army installation, Fort Belvoir, kicks off this Saturday (Aug. 17) at 10 a.m. at the corner of Bland Street and Amherst Avenue.

News

Community suggests fire station relocation, new rec center at Franconia Governmental Center

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 8, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:17AM

The existing Franconia Governmental Center is adjacent to the Franconia Fire Station (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County is taking another look at its plans for the Franconia Governmental Center.

After two initial meetings to gather input from the community in April, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk hosted a final community conversation at John Lewis High School on Monday (May 6) to share preliminary feedback on what the county should do with the nearly 3-acre property at 6121 Franconia Road.

Countywide

Fairfax County may expand court access with remote kiosks, artificial intelligence

By Melanie Pincus

Published March 28, 2024 at 2:30PM

Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is considering using kiosks equipped with artificial intelligence to provide select legal information in a variety of languages.

The kiosks would feature a virtual assistant that could answer frequently asked questions using a closed-AI system (as distinct from open AI), according to Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, who introduced a board matter on the kiosks at the board’s March 19 meeting.

News

County board defers plan for affordable housing at Franconia Governmental Center

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 27, 2024 at 11:45AM

The current Franconia Governmental Center at 6121 Franconia Road (via Google Maps)

A plan to redevelop the site of the Franconia Governmental Center has been delayed again.

At Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 20, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk formally deferred a decision to convey a nearly 3-acre property at 6121 Franconia Road to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority to May 21.

News

Supervisor calls for more retail, less housing in proposed Rose Hill Plaza redevelopment

By Matt Blitz

Published August 31, 2023 at 9:45AM

Rose Hill Plaza (image via Google Maps)

Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk is asking the owner of Rose Hill Plaza to lower the number of residential units and increase retail space in its next redevelopment proposal.

The six-decade-old shopping center located off Franconia Road is slated for significant redevelopment but has met some community opposition in terms of how exactly that will be done and what the new center will include.

Around Town

Lego Discovery Center opens in Springfield, ushering in new era for town center

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 10, 2023 at 9:30AM

Inside Lego Discovery Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The highly anticipated Lego Discovery Center has launched in Springfield, though it’ll be a few more days before the brick-building mecca officially welcomes the general public.

With a ribbon cut by scissors made out of Lego bricks and a burst of confetti, the 32,000-square-foot attraction opened its doors at Springfield Town Center (6563 Springfield Mall, Suite 12004) around 11 a.m. yesterday to dozens of kids, parents and other adults who snagged advance tickets.

News

Funds sought to add more lighting under upcoming Springfield pedestrian bridge

By Matt Blitz

Published August 1, 2023 at 3:00PM

Rendering of the proposed Gateway sign at the Commuter Parking facility on Old Keene Mill Road (image via Fairfax County)

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) An extra $150,00 is being requested to add a “unique lighting feature” to the colorful “Springfield” welcome sign set to be installed on a pedestrian bridge near Old Keene Mill Road later this year.

At last week’s Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk proposed that the board consider spending $150,000 from the fiscal year 2023 carryover adjustment on a lighting feature to “complement” a welcome sign going up on the pedestrian bridge near the new Springfield Commuter Parking Garage.

News

Goodbye Lee: Board of Supervisors formally renames district “Franconia”

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2022 at 11:50AM

Franconia sign (image via Fairfax County)

General Robert E. Lee has suffered another defeat in Virginia — the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has voted to rename the Lee District to the Franconia District.

The board unanimously approved changing the county code to reflect the new name on Tuesday (Dec. 6), formalizing a change that it had already supported in June.

News

Springfield considers how to support development as study finds need for more housing, amenities

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 30, 2022 at 11:45AM

The Franconia-Springfield area is concentrated around I-95 and Old Keene Mill/Franconia Road (via FCEDA)

A decade after Springfield Mall was torn down, reemerging two years later as Springfield Town Center, Fairfax County officials are still trying to figure out how to make the reality of the development match that rebranding.

Progress on transforming downtown Springfield from a commercial hub into the more mixed-use, walkable environment envisioned by county planners has been slow, even nonexistent when it comes to housing, a recently released study found.