Vienna | FFXnow

Vienna proposes flat property tax rate, sets aside funds for aquatics facility in budget

Published March 17, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated March 17, 2025 at 10:11AM

Vienna Town Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna plans to stick with its current real estate tax rate, breaking from the hikes floated by many of its neighbors in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, the Town of Herndon and Fairfax City.

However, rising property values will still result in higher bills for most residents, while enabling the town to fund employee pay raises, an initial allocation toward a potential swimming pool and fitness center, and other priorities, according to the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released on March 5 by Vienna Town Manager Mercury Payton.

Around Town

Vienna Restaurant Week returns this weekend with more than 40 eateries

By Jared Serre

Published March 5, 2025 at 9:45AM

Vienna's new Carnegie Diner & Cafe serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, burgers and other American food (courtesy Carnegie Diner & Cafe)

In mere days, the Town of Vienna will kick off its annual Restaurant Week.

More than 40 restaurants will offer prix fixe menus, discounts or specials as part of the event, which starts Friday, March 7. A “festive social event” will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. that day at the Vienna Town Green, featuring music, giveaways and free refreshments.

News

Person taken to hospital after large house fire in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 27, 2025 at 10:05AM

Firefighters battle house fire on Blair Street NW in Vienna (via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department/Facebook)

A home in Vienna was devastated early this morning (Thursday) by a sizable fire that sent one person to the hospital.

More than two dozen units with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) responded to the 300 block of Blair Street NW at 1:15 a.m. after 911 received multiple calls for a house fire.

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NEW: Tree clear-cutting along W&OD Trail alarms local officials and residents

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 27, 2025 at 9:00AM

A tree stump left by Dominion Energy near the Washington & Old Dominion Trail (courtesy NOVA Parks)

Some tree trimmings and removals were expected when Dominion Energy initated a project last year to replace electrical lines in the Vienna section of the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail, but the extent of the clearings has taken local residents, elected officials and even the agency that owns the trail by surprise.

Starting in November, the utility began cutting down trees and vegetation along a 4-mile stretch of the trail from Vienna to Dunn Loring at a much more “aggressive” scale than it has in the past, according to Paul Gilbert, executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NOVA Parks).

Around Town

CVS Pharmacy to close over 30-year-old Vienna store this spring

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 25, 2025 at 2:30PM

CVS Pharmacy at the Cedar Park Shopping Center in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Another longtime tenant of Vienna’s Cedar Park Shopping Center is on its way out.

After more than three decades at 264 Cedar Lane SE, CVS Pharmacy will close the location for good on April 1, a spokesperson confirmed. Signs announcing the closure date have now been posted in the store’s front door and windows.

Around Town

Award-winning Vienna restaurant and more coming to Reston Town Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 19, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated February 25, 2025 at 11:07AM

A sign lists upcoming restaurants and retail stores at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Several new restaurants and retail stores are in the works at Reston Town Center, including a few that haven’t been previously confirmed.

Six new retail leases were announced today (Wednesday) by property owner, manager and developer BXP, which touted the signings as a mix of local and national businesses that will “continue to enhance Reston Town Center’s ability to offer something for everyone.”

News

Former Wolf Trap Hotel developer hopeful construction could begin this year

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 19, 2025 at 9:45AM

A portion of the fence around the future 444 Maple Avenue development site is sagging (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The corner of Maple Avenue and Nutley Street where the Vienna Wolf Trap Hotel and Tequila Grande continues to lie fallow, but the developer hoping to revitalize the site is at least working to make it more presentable.

Hekemian & Company and its civil engineering firm Walter L. Phillips got the Vienna Board of Architectural Review’s (BAR) approval on Jan. 16 to maintain a chain-link fence around the 2.8-acre property at 444 Maple Avenue West through the end of this year.

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Herndon, Vienna, Clifton would benefit from revisions to plastic bag tax law

By Scott McCaffrey

Published February 11, 2025 at 2:30PM

A plastic grocery bag (via Christopher Vega on Unsplash)

Its future remains uncertain, but legislation in Richmond could bring the towns of Herndon, Vienna and Clifton more money to spend on environmental and social-service initiatives.

A bill patroned by Del. Marty Martinez (D-29) would allow Virginia towns to get a portion of the plastic bag tax revenue collected by their surrounding county. After passing the House of Delegates on a 52-45 vote on Jan. 23, the measure advanced from a Senate Committee on Local Government on a party-line tally of 8-7 on Monday (Feb. 10).

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Patrick Henry Library staff readies for move ahead of new facility’s construction

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 4, 2025 at 9:00AM

Inside Patrick Henry Library in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

After years of planning, the start of construction on a new library for the Town of Vienna is almost within sight.

Staff at Patrick Henry Library have started preparing to relocate to a temporary site in the Cedar Park Shopping Center, where some services will be offered while the new facility is being built, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) announced in an alert to patrons on Friday (Jan. 31).

News

Vote on meals tax increase to fund Vienna aquatics facility deferred

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 29, 2025 at 9:00AM

The vacant Vienna Annex site in fall 2024 (photo by Amy Woolsey)

When Vienna Town Manager Mercury Payton shares his proposed new budget in early March, it won’t include any meals tax increase.

The Vienna Town Council agreed on Monday (Jan. 27) to defer voting on a proposal to temporarily raise the tax on meals sold at restaurants from 3% to 4% in order to fund an aquatics and fitness center at the Annex, a 3-acre site at 301 Center Street South that was previously occupied by the Faith Baptist Church.