The Vienna Town Council was set to hear proposed ideas for how to improve transportation along Maple Avenue area on Monday night — but that discussion got pushed to next year.
Town staff was slated to present recommendations from the Maple Avenue Multimodal Study — a study by Kimley-Horn meant to suggest near- to mid-term solutions regarding transportation along the corridor. But the study wasn’t ready.
Lynne Coan, a spokesperson for the town, told Tysons Reporter that now the discussion of the study and recommendations have been postponed to the Jan. 13 work session.
Town staff already have a list of top priorities they want, along with ideas for future studies and strategies.
Cotton On, an Australian retailer, is looking to come to Tysons Corner Center.
Known for its clothing and stationery brands, Cotton On has a global presence with thousands of stores.
In 2016, the Los Angeles Times reported that the retailer has more than 1,400 stores in 18 countries and just over 100 store in the U.S.
Permits with Fairfax County for a “new tenant layout” at 7872 Tysons Corner Center popped up this week.
Can’t wait for the Tysons location to open? The closest store is at Fair Oaks Mall.
Image via Cotton On/Facebook
After a chase, Fairfax County police caught the woman they say robbed a CVS near Glory Days Grill.
The incident happened around 9 p.m. on Monday (Dec. 16) at 3053 Nutley Street.
Police say a woman went into the store and demanded money from the cashier.
“A woman matching her description was later seen in the area of another CVS in Annandale and officers attempted a traffic stop,” according to the report. “The driver sped off and hit another car before fleeing on foot.”
Police chased and caught a 35-year-old woman from Delaware and charged her with robbery and felony hit and run.
Image via Google Maps
(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Firefighters extinguished a house fire along Old Chesterbrook Road in McLean.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted about the fire in the 6800 block of Old Chesterbrook Road at 10:51 a.m. The fire department tweeted at 11:09 a.m. that firefighters located the fire in the basement.
“Firefighters working to extinguish the fire in walls and between floors,” the fire department tweeted shortly after 11:30 a.m.
The occupants are safe and didn’t receive any injuries, the fire department said.
Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire, which firefighters were able to extinguish shortly before 12:30 p.m.
UPDATE from scene of house fire in 6800 block of Old Chesterbrook Road in McLean. Firefighters working to extinguish fire in walls and between floors. All occupants accounted for and safe. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/126124vvcx
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 18, 2019
Map via Google Maps
Sunrise’s new proposal to build a senior living facility at 380 Maple Avenue will go before the Town of Vienna’s zoning and architectural review boards this week.
The new plans include approximately 950 square feet of ground-floor restaurant space and 85 assisted living units and common areas, along with structured parking and one level of underground parking, according to town documents.
Tonight (Wednesday), the plans head to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a public hearing on the request for the conditional use permit.
Then on Thursday (Dec. 19), the Board of Architectural Review will hold a public hearing on exterior modifications for Sunrise’s plan.
Both public hearings start at 8 p.m. at the Vienna Town Hall (127 Center Street S.)
Image via Sunrise
People in the Tysons area had a chance last night to provide feedback on several preliminary concepts that would change the Silver, Orange and Blue lines.
The concepts are a part of a two-year study to address both short- and long-term needs. For people in Tysons, one option would let trains turn back at different areas along the Orange, Blue or Silver Lines, while another option would create new Silver Line connections north or south of I-66.
Around 5 p.m. last night (Tuesday), a dozen attendees showed up to the open house at the Courtyard by Marriott Tysons-McLean (1960A Chain Bridge Road) — just in time for a presentation by Mark Phillips, the project manager for the reliability study.
Phillips said that capacity issues at the Rosslyn tunnel for the three lines prompted the study.
“It’s created reliability issues,” Phillips said. “If there is a breakdown, which has happened a couple of times this week, on one line, it impacts the other two.”
Phillips said that dangerous activity — like people holding the doors open and overcrowding — and an expected increase in ridership along the three lines also prompted the study.
By 2040, an 18% increase in daily ridership — roughly 40,000 new riders — is expected on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines, according to informational boards at the meeting.
Informational boards gave the benefits and trade-offs for all of the preliminary concepts, along with a board comparing how the concepts do or do not meet Metro’s four goals: capacity, reliability, flexibility and sustainability.
People have until Jan. 6 to provide feedback via an online survey.
The list of ideas will get narrowed down once feedback from the public and external stakeholders — including six technical and advisory committees — has been received. A cost/benefit analysis is set to happen in the spring or summer, followed by a recommendation in the fall.
Phillips said that he expects the recommendation to include both short- and long-term changes.
Sechoir is moving to a new spot — but it’s not far from where its currently located near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station.
The medical spa and hair salon is currently located at 2674D Avenir Place. Signs say that it is moving to 2672J Avenir Place.
According to the signs, Sechoir offers facials, Botox, waxing, eyelash extensions, laser hair removal, cellulite reduction and more.
Along that street, a Fairfax County permit indicates that iFix is coming to 2674E Avenir Place.
The W&OD Railroad Regional Park may get parallel walking and bicycle trails in the City of Falls Church.
The city’s Planning Commission held a work session on the proposed plans last night (Monday).
The dual-path would run between N. West and Little Falls streets, according to the city documents.
“The project would include replacing the existing 10-foot wide shared-use trail with an 11-foot wide bicycle trail and an 8-foot-wide pedestrian trail separated by a 2-foot-wide stamped asphalt buffer,” the documents say.
The city is also working on updating four W&OD crossings:
- N. Spring Street
- N. Oak Street
- Great Falls Street
- Little Falls Street
Staff said at the meeting last night that the new paths and crossings would improve safety.
Stormwater management still needs to be coordinated between the city’s Department of Public Works and Nova Parks, staff said.
The proposed plan appears to match the city’s vision for the W&OD. The city’s W&OD Master Plan calls for separated walking and biking trails, along with improved intersection crossings, new plazas and restored lighting, according to the city.
Meanwhile, the city’s Comprehensive Plan desires either trail widening or adding a parallel pedestrian path, the documents say.
While the commissioners voiced support for the plan, Chair Russell Wodiska said that he wants to give residents a chance to comment on the proposal. Locals can expect a public hearing to happen in the near future.
Images via Falls Church
Neiman Marcus Last Call’s days are numbered at the Mosaic District.
The clearance outlet for the Neiman Marcus chain plans to close its spot at 2905 District Avenue, Suite 100 by Jan. 20, store employees said.
“Entire Store on Sale!” and “Save 50%-75% Entire Store!” signs popped up last Thursday (Dec. 13), an employee said.
Inside the spacious store, shoppers can find designer dresses, handbags, shoes, holiday gift sets, athletic clothes, men’s and women’s clothes and more. The store appeared well-stocked when Tysons Reporter stopped by earlier today (Tuesday). This reporter found a lace blouse from Laundry By Shelli Segal — normally $79 — for $34.50 and $4 bath bombs.
The 50%-75% discounts apply to the lowest price listed on the tags, an employee said.
(Updated 12/19/19) Last night, the members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors were sworn in.
The 10-member board will see four new faces in the New Year, including Dalia Palchik, the new representative for Tysons.
Here is information on who will be in the seats at the board’s first meeting next year.
Chairman: Jeffrey McKay
McKay was first elected to the board in 2007, serving as the Lee District Supervisor until the end of this year, according to his county bio. Prior to joining the board, he was the chief of staff to former Lee District Supervisor Dana Kauffman from 1996 through 2007.
McKay beat three challengers to clinch the Democratic nomination for the county board’s chair in the June primary before defeating Republican Joseph Galdo in the November election.
Hunter Mill District: Walter Alcorn
Alcorn will fill the seat of Cathy Hudgins, who served on the board for five terms and announced her retirement at the start of this year. He beat five Democrat challengers in the primary.
Alcorn is a former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner and served on the Fairfax County Park Authority Board. He has also worked as a policy aide in the Providence District supervisor’s office and was the president of the Herndon High School PTSA.
Lee District: Rodney Lusk
McKay’s run for the chair left the Lee District seat open. Lusk beat three Democratic challengers in the June primary.
Lusk has been a Fairfax County employee for the past 29 years — including working for then-Supervisor Gerry Connelly as a land use zoning aide and most recently as the national marketing director for the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, according to his campaign website.
Providence District: Dalia Palchik
Palchik grew up in the area after immigrating with her family to the United States at an early age from Argentina. She was elected to the Fairfax County School Board in 2015 and served as the Providence District Representative.
Just days after current Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth announced in December that she wouldn’t seek election, Palchik jumped into the race and defeated four Democratic challengers in the June primary. In November, she beat Republican Eric Anthony Jones.
Sully District: Kathy Smith
First elected to the board in 2016, Smith was re-elected as Sully District Supervisor in November, beating Republican Srilekha Palle.
Previously, Smith served as the Sully District Representative to the Fairfax County School Board for 14 years, including as the chairman three times, according to her county bio. She was also a teacher for seven years and taught in her home state of New Jersey.
Mount Vernon District: Daniel Storck
Storck was first elected as Mount Vernon District Supervisor in 2015 and reelected this fall.
He has developed and owned healthcare, benefits and insurance consulting firms and was previously a school board member from 2004-2015, according to his county bio. Notable resume item: he also was an Abraham Lincoln impersonator.
Braddock District: James Walkinshaw
Walkinshaw, a former chief of staff to Rep. Gerry Connolly, announced his run for the seat to replace Republican John Cook, who retired. He beat Republican Jason Remer and independent candidate Carey Chet Campbell in November.
Walkinshaw previously volunteered as a mentor to at-risk boys through Fairfax County’s Befriend-A-Child program and joined Fairfax County’s Council to End Domestic Violence, according to his campaign website.
He serves on the Board of the Ravensworth Farm Civic Association and is a volunteer with the Friends of Lake Accotink Park, the bio says.
Dranesville District: John Foust
First elected to the board in 2007, Foust was reelected to represent McLean, Great Falls and Herndon residents on the county board. He defeated Republican Ed Martin in the November election.
Originally from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Foust has been living in Northern Virginia since 1981 and in McLean since 1987, according to his county bio. Foust worked in steel mills and practiced construction law in Northern Virginia.
Mason District: Penelope Gross
In the November election, Gross was able to keep her seat, defeating Republican Gary Aiken. She was first elected to the board in 1995, according to her county bio.
Previously, she worked as a staffer in various congressional offices, served on the Board of the Lincolnia Park Civic Association and was on the Executive Board of the Mason District Council of Civic Associations, her bio says.
Springfield District: Pat Herrity
Herrity hung onto his seat, beating Democrat Linda Sperling. He was first elected to the board in 2007, according to his campaign website. Herrity’s father was a former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
With Cook retiring, Herrity will be the only Republican on the board in 2020.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to have their first meeting in 2020 on Jan. 14.
