Tysons | FFXnow - Part 550

Published March 10, 2022 at 11:15AM

A federal budget plan approved by the U.S. House includes funding for more Fairfax County Capital Bikeshare stations (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A federal budget plan passed by the U.S. House yesterday (Wednesday) would send more than $8.3 million to Fairfax County, Virginia’s senators report.

Designated H.R. 2471, the $1.5 trillion spending package funds the federal government for fiscal year 2022, which began on Oct. 1, 2021, and ends on Sept. 30. It also includes $13.6 billion in aid to support Ukraine during Russia’s invasion and releases funding for the $1 trillion infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed into law in November.

News

MetroWest developer asks to remove barrier to town center construction

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 10, 2022 at 9:45AM | Updated November 8, 2022 at 1:57PM

CRC's MetroWest town center development plan (via CRC Companies/Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is currently reviewing a proposal that would clear the way for work to finally begin on the planned MetroWest town center near the Vienna Metro station.

Developer CRC Companies wants the county to revise its conditions for the mixed-use project on Saintsbury Drive so it can start construction on three residential buildings with ground-floor retail space, according to an application submitted on Jan. 28.

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New Fairfax County voting precincts require some to change polling places

By David Taube

Published March 10, 2022 at 9:00AM

Voters fill out their ballots at Marshall High School in November 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved changes to more than half of the county’s voting precincts after a public hearing on Tuesday (March 8).

Spurred by last year’s state redistricting process, which redrew federal and state electoral districts to balance constituents based on 2020 Census data, the precinct adjustments will require around 4% of the county’s registered voters — approximately 29,000 people — to switch polling places.

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Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 10, 2022 at 7:30AM

A rainy mid-day in Fairfax (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Invasive Spiders Could Reach D.C. Area — “An invasive species of spider the size of a child’s hand is expected to “colonize” the entire East Coast this spring by parachuting down from the sky, researchers at the University of Georgia announced last week.” [Axios]

Ramp Closure Coming to I-66 Near Vienna — “Travel lanes on Nutley Street will shift and the ramp from Nutley Street South to I-66 West will be closed as part of work planned for this weekend, March 11-14, for the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. Drivers heading from Nutley Street South to I-66 West will proceed..past the current ramp to turn right at a traffic signal onto a temporary ramp to access the interstate. This detour will remain in place for approximately three weeks.” [VDOT]

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JUST IN: Car crash closes Georgetown Pike in McLean, injures drivers

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 9, 2022 at 4:35PM | Updated March 9, 2022 at 7:30PM

Georgetown Pike is closed between Old Dominion Drive and Towlston Road in McLean due to a car crash (via Google Maps)

Updated at 7:30 p.m. — Georgetown Pike has reopened, and the driver’s injuries are no longer considered life-threatening, though they remain in the hospital, police say.

Earlier: Georgetown Pike has shut down in McLean after a vehicle crash that sent two people to the hospital.

News

County approves Tysons drive-thru restaurant, possibly a Shake Shack

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 9, 2022 at 3:15PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:53PM

A newly approved drive-thru restaurant at Pike 7 Plaza in Tysons will feature new landscaping (via Fairfax County)

Pike 7 Plaza in Tysons is officially getting a drive-thru restaurant.

Without discussion, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday (Tuesday) to unanimously approve property owner Federal Realty’s proposal for a standalone, one-story restaurant with a drive-thru in the shopping center’s southeast corner.

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County explores tech upgrades for public and senior housing

By David Taube

Published March 9, 2022 at 2:15PM

The Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority is looking at upgrading properties to get residents more connected.

County staff are evaluating whether it could add Wi-Fi to common areas in public housing and create computer rooms at senior housing properties.

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Fairfax County to apply for $4.2M grant to boost tourism industry

By Rick Horner

Published March 9, 2022 at 12:45PM

Fairfax County is looking to boost its tourism marketing efforts, which include destinations like Mount Vernon (courtesy Visit Fairfax/April Greer)

Fairfax County will apply for grant funding from the Virginia Tourism Corporation to help boost tourism in the area.

The Board of Supervisors approved a request yesterday (Tuesday) from the Department of Economic Initiatives for $4.17 million that will be used in conjunction with Visit Fairfax, the county’s travel marketing agency.

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Historic decor from J.R.’s Stockyards in Tysons hits auction block

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 9, 2022 at 10:30AM

J.R.'s Custom Catering has organized an auction to sell vintage decor from the now-shuttered Stockyards Inn in Tysons (courtesy Rasmus Auctions)

A slushy machine from Tysons’ original steakhouse could be yours for a little over $200.

The device is among thousands of furnishings and memorabilia pieces currently being auctioned off to the highest bidder after J.R.’s Stockyards Inn officially shuttered earlier this year.

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Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 9, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:54PM

Train near Tysons Corner Center food court (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Google to Buy Reston Company for Billions — “Reston, Virginia-based cybersecurity company Mandiant will be acquired by Google for $5.4 billion. Mandiant, founded in 2004, has about 2,300 employees, including more than 600 consultants and more than 300 intelligence analysts responding to thousands of security breaches a year.” [WTOP]

Court Hears School Masking Lawsuit — Attorneys for parents of immunocompromised children and Virginia made arguments on Monday (March 7) for and against letting schools mandate masks in some situations to accomodate students with disabilities. The Fairfax County School Board filed a brief in support of the parents, calling the state’s optional mask law unconstitutional. [Inside NoVA]