Tysons | FFXnow - Part 285

Morning Notes

Published April 3, 2024 at 8:15AM

A dog walk by Walney Pond at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Republicans Propose Renaming Dulles Airport After Trump — “Several Republican members of Congress introduced a bill to rename Washington Dulles International Airport for former President Trump. HR 7845, which is apparently a real thing, would make Dulles the second DC-area airport named for a President who was broadly unpopular in the region.” [Washingtonian]

Aspiring Casino Developer Denies Arena Interference — “Comstock CEO Chris Clemente told AP the idea of pairing the casino with the arena had been bandied about by lawmakers of both parties. He rejected the notion that there was any kind of coordinated attempt to hold off the initial arena deal in favor of an arena-casino pairing.” [Associated Press]

Around Town

Cherry blossom festival to bloom at the Mosaic District this weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 2, 2024 at 2:30PM

Art Blooms at Mosaic in 2022 (photo by Katie Dance)

The Mosaic District will celebrate an unusually long cherry blossom season this weekend with the return of its annual Art Blooms festival.

Organized in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the two-day event will bring artisan and farmers’ markets, live entertainment and family-friendly activities to the Merrifield neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (April 6-7).

Countywide

Fairfax County proposes crosswalks, bike lanes with annual road restriping program

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 2, 2024 at 11:45AM

Striping for a bicycle lane on Twin Branches Road in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Paving and re-striping season has descended upon Fairfax County once again, ushering in a series of public meetings later this month on proposed projects that include bicycle lanes and improved crosswalks.

Hundreds of miles of roadway will be repaved and re-striped by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as part of the program throughout the state.

Countywide

Fairfax County’s farmers market season to get underway later this month

By Acacia James

Published April 2, 2024 at 10:15AM

A display of peppers at a local farmers market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is gearing up for the return of its 10 farmers’ markets this spring, with some locations set to return later this month and others in May.

The 2024 season starts on April 17 with the McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market outside the Sherwood Regional Library (2501 Sherwood Hall Lane), the Fairfax County Park Authority announced last week.

Around Town

Compass Coffee opens doors of drive-thru cafe in West Falls Church

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 2, 2024 at 9:30AM

Compass Coffee is now open in West Falls Church (courtesy Compass Coffee)

Compass Coffee has opened in West Falls Church.

The regional coffee shop chain began now serving customers yesterday (Monday) at its newest location in the Shops at West Falls Church (7393 Lee Highway/Route 29). Visitors on that first day included Falls Church City Mayor Letti Hardy and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 2, 2024 at 8:15AM | Updated April 2, 2024 at 12:36PM

Turtles in a small pond off Hunter Green Court in Reston (photo by Peter Flanagan)

Vehicle Crashes into Centreville Apartment — “#FCFRD are on the scene of a vehicle into a building in the 13000 Blk of Orchard Dr. Firefighters arrived with one vehicle into a garden-style apartment building. FCFRD TROT is working to stabilize the building. The building investigator is on scene. No reported injuries.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]

Art Studio Eyes Reston Location — “An unusual new paint-and-sip style art studio is working on its first location in the state and it will be right here in Northern Virginia. It’s called Hawaii Fluid Art and they have announced the signing of a franchisee to bring a location to Reston. The actual location hasn’t been revealed” and may not have been identified yet. [The Burn]

Around Town

Pizzeria, brew pub and Perchfest coming to Capital One Center this spring

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 1, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated April 2, 2024 at 9:37AM

Starr Hill Biergarten in The Perch at Capital One Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:35 a.m. on 4/2/2024) Fresh off this past Saturday’s Easter celebration, Capital One Center in Tysons is gearing up to launch two restaurants and a new edition of Perchfest later this spring.

Stellina Pizzeria and Starr Hill Brewpub are both expected to open in late April, though precise dates haven’t been established yet, according to Capital One Center.

Countywide

Fairfax County questions Dominion over cost of connecting renewable energy to grid

By James Jarvis

Published April 1, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated July 16, 2024 at 7:58PM

Workers install solar panels on Reston Fire Station 25 (courtesy Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination)

Fearing that new interconnection rules from Dominion Energy could derail its carbon reduction targets, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has asked Virginia’s utility regulator to step in.

In a near-unanimous vote, supervisors authorized Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw on March 19 to send a letter asking the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to evaluate whether the new regulations create unnecessary hurdles for small renewable energy projects attempting to join the power grid.

News

Proposed condos in office park fit vision for downtown McLean, planning commission says

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 1, 2024 at 10:15AM

A condominium building could replace some of the McLean Professional Park's offices (via MV&A/Fairfax County)

A proposal to replace some office buildings in McLean Professional Park with condominiums won a unanimous recommendation from the Fairfax County Planning Commission on March 20.

During the public hearing, Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder lauded property owner T&M McLean Venture’s partial redevelopment plan as “a great opportunity” that will further the county’s efforts to rejuvenate downtown McLean.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 1, 2024 at 8:15AM

The Falls Church Episcopal with cherry tree (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fatal Shooting Reported in Mosby Woods — Mohammad Zekria, 37, of Fairfax was found dead in a vehicle on Friday (March 29) after a woman told police that her husband had shot someone and was threatening her and her family. Waisuddin Quraishi, 50, was taken into custody early Saturday morning and has been charged with second-degree murder. [FCPD]

Teens Driving Stolen Vehicle in Reston Arrested — “Three teenagers are in custody for evading police in a stolen car in Fairfax County. On March 19, just after 9 p.m., officers from the Reston Patrol Unit allegedly located a stolen car near the intersection of Centreville Road and Parcher Avenue. When they attempted to conduct a traffic stop, two teens hopped out of the car and began running away.” [WUSA9]