Seven companies in the Tysons area landed on Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers for Diversity 2020” list.
In total, 13 Fairfax County-based companies made the list, according to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).
Forbes released the third annual list with 500 companies on Tuesday (Jan. 21).
“The workforce today — and the workforce of tomorrow — want to see a commitment to diversity and inclusion by employers,” Victor Hoskins, FCEDA’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “[The ranking] is a testament to these Fairfax County companies’ efforts to attract talented employees from all backgrounds and walks of life.”
Two Tysons area companies cracked the top 100. (SAP in Pennsylvania nabbed the #1 spot.)
Here are the ranks the Tysons area companies received on the list:
- #51: Navy Federal Credit Union (Vienna)
- #54 Booz Allen Hamilton (Tysons)
- #282 Hilton Worldwide (Tysons)
- #302 Capital One Financial (Tysons)
- #316 Northrop Grumman (Falls Church)
- #355 Mars (McLean)
- #447 Gannett (Tysons)
Nearby, three companies in Reston — SAIC, Leidos and Bechtel — also made the list.
More from FCEDA about the list:
Forbes developed the rankings in partnership with market research firm Statista. To create the list, employers were identified in an independent survey from a sample of more than 60,000 U.S. employees working for companies with at least 1,000 people in their U.S. operations.
According to Forbes, additional factors were considered such as diversity levels among executives, existence of a leadership position responsible for diversity, proactive communication about diversity and the presence of a diverse company culture.
Fairfax County police arrested a Falls Church man today for an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a high school student.
Police charged 57-year-old Philip Spivey with four counts of indecent liberties by a custodian.
Police say that Spivey had an inappropriate relationship with a student at Justice High School. “Spivey is also employed as a private music teacher,” according to the press release.
More from FCPD:
Detectives began their investigation after it was learned that Spivey was having unlawful sexual contact with a student… He is currently being held at the county’s Adult Detention Center without bond.
Victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure that the victim is receiving appropriate resources and assistance.
Anyone with information can contact the Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800, option 3.
Fairfax County’s Board of Zoning Appeals has delayed making a decision on appeals of a zoning determination for a controversial teen rehab facility proposed in McLean.
Newport Academy, a therapy program for teens with mental health issues, wanted to open two treatment facilities — one along Davidson Road and another at 1318 Kurtz Road.
Newport Academy has hinged its claim on the two locations being by-right uses — a use that won’t require approval by the Board of Supervisors.
Fairfax County Zoning Administrator Leslie Johnson issued a letter in May saying that Newport Academy’s three adjacent properties at 1620, 1622 and 1624 Davidson Road would be a congregate living facility.
Newport Academy originally tried to appeal the Davidson Road decision, but has withdrawn the appeal.
The Board of Zoning Appeals’ public hearing today (Wednesday) focused on three appeals from McLean residents regarding Johnson’s determination that the proposed Kurtz Road facility in the Salona Village neighborhood is a group residential facility — a win for Newport Academy.
The three appeals argue that the Kurtz Road facility should be designated as a congregate or medical use facility.
At the start of the public hearing today, county staff gave an overview of the appeals saying that the appellants have concerns about noise, falling property values, safety risks and increased traffic.
“Trying to skirt the zoning laws”
Roughly 50 people attended the public hearing today.
Attendees who testified in support of the appeal — against Newport Academy’s Kurtz Road facility — mentioned safety risks, traffic concerns on the narrow Kurtz Road,
Some of the Salona Village residents took issue with how close the facility would be to Franklin Sherman Elementary School (6633 Brawner Street).
Opponents to Newport Academy also voiced concerns about crime possibly increasing from the patients leaving the facility without permission and also how the facility would affect the local community.
One local said he and other neighbors met with the Carlyle Group, the investors behind Newport Academy, and suggested that Newport Academy use a house with more acreage and in an area with fewer traffic issues.
“Kurtz Road is full of walkers and bicyclists and people pushing strollers,” one female resident said. “I think the traffic from Newport would create a very dangerous situation.” Emergency vehicles, visitors, doctors and employees would add more vehicles to the road throughout the day, the woman said.
“Newport Academy is trying to skirt the zoning laws,” one Salon Village resident said — echoing a sentiment shared by several attendees.
“A Safe Haven”
Michael Allen, the lawyer representing Newport Academy, said that the girls, ages 12-17, at the facility would be “highly supervised.”
Allen told the board that Newport Academy screens its applicants, who mostly have anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
“Newport takes the appropriate safeguards at admission,” Allen said. Once admitted, Newport Academy does random room searches, random drug and alcohol tests and has tutoring and counseling, Allen said.
Board Member V. Max Beard asked why Newport Academy chose the McLean location and “Why create this kind of turmoil for yourself?” Allen responded that Fairfax County is a “county of opportunity” and a closer option for families in the Mid-Atlantic area.
Ultimately, Allen said that people who have disabilities and mental health should live alongside everyone else. “I suspect the neighbors testifying today will watch Newport like a hawk,” he said.
People who spoke in support of Newport Academy — including several licenses counselors — called the proposed facility a “safe haven” and “surrogate village.” Supports said that patients will be monitored 24/7 and supervised within the fenced in property.
Some parents praised Newport Academy for helping their kids. “We want them to be our neighbors,” one person said.
Newport Academy’s Plans for Kurtz Road
After facing a backlash from neighbors and local officials, Newport Academy’s intentions for the McLean properties have been unclear.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust previously told Tysons Reporter in the fall that Newport Academy plans to sell the properties and wanted the determination reversed for the Davidson Road properties so that the zoning determination wouldn’t negatively impact future plans.
One of the three Davidson Road properties is currently for sale.
Allen told Tysons Reporter that Newport Academy is not pursuing the Davidson Road properties anymore, but does intend to open at Kurtz Road if the Board of Zoning Appeals upholds Johnson’s determination.
Staff said today that Newport Academy has received a mental health treatment license from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health.
Allen added that Newport Academy officials are feeling confident about their case.
Next Steps
Zoning staff recommended that the board uphold Johnson’s determination.
After more than four hours of discussion of testimonies, the board decided it would be best to defer the decision to a later date.
The appellants requested that the board delay its consideration by a few weeks to respond to arguments and material received “last minute” from Newport Academy. Allen, representing Newport Academy, also requested time to submit a post-hearing brief.
Board Member James Hart said he’s concerned about paperwork piling up, leading to further delays to give the board time to consider the arguments, which could then lead to more paperwork.
The board will consider the appeals again on March 11.
(Updated at 12:50 p.m.) “How do you make a ‘sense of place’ in Tysons?” is a question developers, Visit Fairfax and locals are trying to answer. One proposal is to add a university.
Currently, Stratford University has a Falls Church location. Outside of the Tysons area, prospective students have options, like George Mason University.
During two panels at a Bisnow event on Jan. 16, Christopher Auth, the divisional vice president of PS Business Parks, said that he would like to see a university in Tysons — an idea that several other real estate professionals agreed with.
Public and private universities can add more jobs to offering opportunities for educational advancement for the local workforce.
Do you think Tysons could benefit from a university? Let us know below.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
A luxury tower with condominiums plans to celebrate its grand opening this weekend in The Boro.
Known as Verse, the 25-story-tall tower offers one-, two- and three-bedroom condos, along with a private outdoor lounge and fitness spa.
The building has 140 residences — the one-bedrooms start at $500,000, two-bedrooms at $850,000 and three-bedrooms at $1.2 million.
The grand opening celebration is set to take place from noon-4 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 25) at the entertainment lounge and sky park on the 9th floor.
The event is free and people interested in attending are encouraged to RVSP on Eventbrite.
A neighborhood market tucked into the Halstead Square apartment complex is now open.
The Bodega (2730 Gallows Road) opened last Tuesday (Jan. 14), according to its website and Instagram.
Shoppers can find “essential groceries,” according to the Instagram.
The market is open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and until 9 p.m. on Sundays, according to the website.
Fire department officials say a fire at the Shell gas station in the Falls Church area started by accident in the attic.
The fire broke out yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon at 6519 Arlington Blvd.
“Owner observed smoke in attic and called 911,” Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted today (Wednesday).
A malfunction in the oil furnace caused the fire, according to the fire department.
No injuries have been reported and fire caused $10,000 worth of damage, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue said.
Photos via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter
Fairfax County police say a man accidentally discharged a gun while inside the Embassy Suites along Leesburg Pike in Tysons.
The incident happened around 11 a.m. on Sunday (Jan. 19).
“The bullet was located inside of a wall and nobody was injured,” according to the report.
Police said the 50-year-old man from Great Falls was charged with reckless handling of a firearm, discharge a firearm within a building and drunk in public, police said.
Image via Google Maps
Updated 2:30 p.m. — The fire is now out, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted around 1:30 p.m. “No reported injuries at this time,” the tweet said. “Fire investigators on scene to determine cause.”
Earlier: A fire has broken out in a building’s chimney in the Falls Church area today (Tuesday).
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted about the incident shortly before 12:30 p.m.
“Units on scene of a fire in [a] chimney with extension into the structure in the 6500 block of Arlington Blvd,” the tweet said.
Units on scene of a fire in chimney with extension into the structure in the 6500 block of Arlington Boulevard. Crews working to extinguish. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/kRGcZih05Q
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 21, 2020
UPDATE 6500 block of Arlington Boulevard. Fire is out. No reported injuries at this time. Fire investigators on scene to determine cause. @ArlingtonVaFD and @AlexandriaVAFD on-scene assisting. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/a6iDw60P0q
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 21, 2020
Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter, map via Google Maps
Black Dog Beer Shop, a craft beer store inspired by the owner’s dog, plans to open near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station in early February.
Owner Tyler Cohen, who lives in the Mosaic District, previously told Tysons Reporter that his black dog, Ash, inspired the name of the store.
“I think they just, like, go together,” he said. “Dogs and beer is the thing.”
To gear up for his opening, Cohen has been detailing his tours of breweries across Virginia on the website’s blog.
The store is set to hold a grand opening at 2672M Avenir Place in 18 days, according to a countdown on the website.
The store plans to be open from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays, according to the website.
