Fairfax County police found as many as 50 flyers advertising a white supremacist hate group around McLean yesterday morning (Thursday).
Officers from the McLean Police District responded to “numerous reports of suspicious flyers” in multiple residential neighborhoods in western McLean, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
“Homeowners alerted officers to sealed plastic bags containing a propaganda flyer weighted with bird seed on their property,” the FCPD said. “Police have recovered 40-50 flyers throughout the neighborhoods. Detectives are working to determine the origin of these flyers.”
Police believe preliminarily that the flyers were distributed randomly.
At least one of the flyers appeared to be attempting to recruit residents to the Loyal White Knights, a branch of the Ku Klux Klan that operates in North Carolina and Virginia, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
“Fairfax County taxpayers! ‘Wokers’ are playing you for fools! Evidently, tolerance does have a price — $60,000+,” said the flyer, which was shared with FFXnow by a resident who said they were found scattered along Churchill Road.
The flyer also featured a post office box and phone number for the Loyal White Knights.
“100% Americanism — pray for white Americans,” it said.
The FCPD is investigating the flyers as a “bias incident,” which it defines as an act that’s motivated by bias against an individual’s race, religion, ethnicity or nationality, disability or sexual orientation, but doesn’t constitute a crime.
Bias incidents can be considered violations of civil law.
“They become criminal acts only when they directly incite perpetrators to commit violence against persons or the destruction of property,” police said.
The KKK has targeted Fairfax County before, distributing about 30 flyers with antisemitic propaganda and disparaging comments about the Fairfax County School Board in Fairfax Station in June 2021. Antisemitic flyers were also found around Wolf Trap last February.
The FCPD is asking potential victims or witnesses to contact its detectives:
If you are the victim or witness of a Bias Crime or Incident in Fairfax County, please contact the FCPD at 911 (for in progress) or our non-emergency number at 703-691-2131. Anyone with information about this crime or who may have noticed anything suspicious is asked to please call our McLean Police station at 703-556-7750. To contact our detectives, please call our Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau at 703-802-2750
FCPD Focuses on Stopping Teen Distracted Driving — “Police in Fairfax County…are ramping up traffic enforcement during distracted-driving month, partnering with schools to educate the most distracted drivers — teenagers…Officers have written 5,000 more citations and warnings to speeding and distracted drivers than this same time last year.” [WTOP]
Fire Department Adds Data Dashboard — “Our Fire and Rescue Department is constantly updating the ways it provides service to meet the needs of residents…The department launched RescueVision to provide real-time situational awareness and decision support at the 911 dispatch center.” It offers a look at service availability, transport locations and how coverage compares to other departments. [Fairfax County Government]
Fairfax Approves Funding for Supportive Housing — “Fairfax City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a $700,000 appropriation to help fund the redevelopment of the Hy-Way Motel property on Fairfax Boulevard for permanent, supportive, low-income housing.” [Patch]
McLean Company Prepares to Go Public — “Cycurion Inc., a McLean cybersecurity solutions firm set to go public via a SPAC merger this year, has appointed a new CEO to guide it through its next phase of growth. Kevin Kelly, the former CEO of cybersecurity company Halo Privacy…has taken over the CEO role from Cycurion founder Emmit McHenry, who will remain chairman.” [DC Inno]
County Celebrates Black History Month Tonight — “To celebrate Black History Month, the Fairfax County Black History Program Committee, in partnership with Cox Communications, presents an evening celebration of Black history in Fairfax County. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Refreshments and resources tables will be available at 5:30 p.m.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Where to Celebrate George Washington’s B-Day — “It might be Presidents Day for the rest of the country, but in Virginia, the third Monday of February is George Washington Day, and there are plenty of celebrations around Northern Virginia to celebrate what would have been the first president’s 291st birthday.” [Inside NoVA]
Herndon Company Makes Forbes List — “For the second-year in a row, Deltek, which has its headquarters in Herndon, was recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Best Mid-Sized Employers…Deltek, a global provider of software and solutions for project-based businesses, is listed #229 among the 500 mid-sized businesses.” [Patch]
Fun Run Fundraiser Coming to Kingstowne — “The inaugural ConnerStrong Foundation You’re Not Alone 5k Fun Run will take place Saturday, March 25, starting at 7:30 a.m. at Kingstowne Shopping Center…The goal of the event is to raise awareness of the resources available in our community to support the lack of food and clothing that impacts many families and individuals in Fairfax County.” [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Friday — Rain in the morning and afternoon. High of 68 and low of 36. Sunrise at 6:58 am and sunset at 5:49 pm. [Weather.gov]
Before he helped oversee the Washington Nationals’ rise from cellar dwellers to World Series champions, Ted Lerner was busy building Tysons.
The real estate developer who transformed rural farmland into Fairfax County’s urban center died Sunday (Feb. 12) at the age of 91 in his Chevy Chase, Maryland, home. The cause was complications from pneumonia, as first reported by the Washington Post.
As founder and principal of Lerner Enterprises, Lerner laid the groundwork for Tysons by establishing Tysons Corner Center — now one of the biggest and busiest malls in the D.C. area — and the nearby Tysons II development. This work made him a visionary in the eyes of those now charged with shaping the area’s future.
“Ted Lerner was a visionary who laid a foundation for a mixed use Tysons Center which is now continuing to evolve into a dynamic urban community,” Tysons Community Alliance Chair Josh White said to FFXnow. “His contributions will continue on well into the future.”
In a memorial video from Lerner Enterprises, Lerner said his work in both real estate and baseball focused on “striving for excellence and building for future generations.”
“That way, it’s not about the properties at all. It’s about community. It’s about the future,” he said.
A native of D.C. and Army veteran, Theodore Lerner entered the real estate industry in 1951 with a $250 loan from his wife, painter and sculptor Annette Morris, according to a bio provided by the Nationals.
After initially getting a foothold in housing as a pioneer of concepts like model houses and centralized sales, he turned to the retail market with investments in Maryland’s Wheaton Plaza, which opened in 1960, and the land at the intersection of routes 7 and 123 then known as Tysons Corner.
When Lerner and fellow developer Gerald Halpin started building in Tysons, the area had little in the way of amenities beyond a corner store and a beer joint amid dairy farms and fruit orchards, according to the Post. That changed with the arrival of the Capital Beltway in 1961 and Dulles International Airport in 1962.
In a heated battle for control, the developer team of Lerner, Homer Gudelsky and H. Max Ammerman beat Baltimore banker James Rouse to get the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ approval for its $20 million plan to build a shopping center on 85 acres on the northeast side of the crossroads.
Tysons Corner Center opened in 1968 to quick success with an initial focus on local businesses, the Post reported in an extensive 1988 profile.
“When Tysons was still an apple orchard, he understood the potential for population growth and the demand for retail that would follow,” Fairfax County Economic Development Authority president and CEO Victor Hoskins said. “He predicted the emergence and value of enclosed malls which were a new concept at the time and helped transform Tysons into a predominant retail cluster in the Mid-Atlantic region.”
The history of Tysons II is a bit more complex. While the Tysons Corner Center team collectively bought the land in 1963, the site stayed untouched through the 1970s due to some internal disputes, including over Lerner’s push for a bigger stake.
Lerner ultimately acquired the 117 acres owned by Gudelsky and Ammerman in 1982 with a $35 million bid at a “tense courtroom auction,” according to the Nationals. It was a record price for land in the D.C. suburbs at the time.
Tysons II was cemented by the opening of Tysons Galleria in 1988 and now also boasts The Ritz-Carlton hotel and 10 office buildings, known collectively as the Corporate Office Centre at Tysons II.
Approved for approximately 6.8 million square feet of mixed-use development, per the Tysons Comprehensive Plan, the 11-acre district is still being built out. Lerner Enterprises announced plans just last year for a 21-story office building at 1725 Tysons Blvd.
Though Lerner and his partners sold Tysons Corner Center in 1985, the mall remains indebted to them for putting Tysons on the map, according to Macerich Corp., which took over the shopping center in 2005.
Macerich Executive Vice President of Asset Management Cory Scott called Lerner “an early visionary and a consistent champion for Tysons” in a statement to FFXnow:
As the original developer of Tysons Corner Center and much of the central Tysons area, Tysons would not be what it is today without Ted Lerner’s vision, foresight, and determination. His impact on the development of the Tysons community and the region is tremendous and will continue to be felt in the future as this area grows and evolves. He wanted so much for his hometown, for it to be a winner on a variety of fronts (real estate, community, philanthropy, sports. More importantly, he and his family have given so much to the region. There aren’t many like Ted Lerner and he will certainly be missed.
Lerner Enterprises didn’t directly address its future direction in the wake of its founder’s passing, but it noted in a message that Lerner’s legacy will continue through his family, many members of which have leadership or advisory roles in the company.
“Mr. Lerner often remarked that he could never have imagined that his small company would reach such heights, and told friends and family that his life had exceeded his wildest expectations,” the developer said. “He will be greatly missed by all of us at Lerner.”
(Updated at 3:50 p.m.) The family of the man who died after being dragged by a Metro train at the Dunn Loring station yesterday (Wednesday) has launched a Gofundme to cover their memorial service expenses.
The man has been identified as 50-year-old Harold Riley by one of his daughters, according to reports by FOX5 and NBC4, which say that he had two daughters and four grandchildren.
The daughter, who organized the fundraiser, told FOX5 that her dad’s dog, Daisy, is a service animal and was wearing a service animal vest when her leash got caught in the doors of the train — contradicting the Metro Transit Police Department’s statement that the dog “does not appear to be a service animal.”
“We tragically lost my father today in a train accident. As he was exiting the train the doors closed while his service dog was still inside. The train took off and my father was taken with it,” the Gofundme page says. “We want to raise money to be able to have a nice service and have him cremated. My father loved his grand children and his dog more than anything and he was such an amazing ‘PanPaw.'”
The fundraiser has a set goal of $3,000.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority confirmed this afternoon that Daisy is indeed a service dog in a statement first reported by NBC4’s Adam Tuss.
“The dog found by MTPD officers, now identified as Daisy, had a sweater vest on when she was initially found, covering a harness that read service dog,” a spokesperson said. “Again, we send our condolences and sympathies to the family of Mr. Riley.”
Just this morning, WMATA told FFXnow that its police department “found the dog without ID and did not find any vest or markers to indicate the dog was a service animal.”
In a statement yesterday, Metro Police said they received a report shortly before 1:30 p.m. that a person had been hit by a train at the Dunn Loring station.
Based on the preliminary investigation, Riley had exited the train, but the doors closed on his dog’s leash before the animal was able to deboard. When the train started moving, Riley got pulled along the platform and onto the tracks.
Riley was transported to a hospital, where he died. Daisy was found unharmed on the train at the West Falls Church Metro station.
The police department said the train operator had conducted two “safe door checks” before moving the vehicle.
Turkey Earthquake Rescue Worker Shares Experience — “Dr. Murteza Shahkolahi has helped to pull survivors from the rubble several days after the quake first hit…Shahkolahi is with Virginia Task Force 1, the team from Fairfax County, Virginia, which gets deployed around the world to respond to natural disasters.” [WTOP]
Politicians Pitch Springfield for FBI HQ — “A bipartisan group of Virginia’s federal, state and local leaders met in Springfield Wednesday, calling on the General Services Administration to choose the 58 acres of federally-owned land at the GSA Franconia Warehouse Complex for the new FBI headquarters.” [Inside NoVA]
A Look Inside NOVA Wild, the New Reston Zoo — “The safari park reopened for the season last week. This Friday, visitors can enjoy a lights show called the Great Migration. There are other plans to revamp and upgrade parts of this place in the coming years.” [FOX5]
Tandoori Restaurant Arrives in Woodlawn — “The long-awaited Tandoori Kabob & Grill restaurant, located at Sacramento Center in the Woodlawn section of Alexandria, opened Feb. 3. The family-owned restaurant offers a variety of fresh, made-to-order meals, including Tandoor and grill specials, combination meat platters, curry, rice, vegetables, gyros, and bread, as well as appetizers, desserts and beverages.” [On the MoVe]
Franconia Park Gets Playground Upgrade — Manchester Lakes Park is getting a new playground, an approximately $150,000 project expected to finish construction by the end of March. With the existing playground at the end of its lifecycle, the Fairfax County Park Authority will install new equipment, do drainage work and update the park’s trails to meet accessibility standards. [FCPA]
Herndon Native Scores in Capitals Return — “A series of unexpected events led to Joe Snively skating on the Capitals’ third line for Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes and he responded by recording points on both their goals in a 3-2 loss. The 27-year-old…hadn’t appeared in an NHL game in nearly two months, but he proved to be a bright spot for a team tapping deep into its depth.” [WTOP]
Artwork Decorates Richmond Highway Shopping Centers — “In recent weeks, new artwork has been popping up along the Richmond Highway Corridor. At Mount Vernon Plaza in Hybla Valley, paintings of birds and plant life have begun adorning the facades of several buildings housing retail tenants.” [On the MoVe]
Hope for Marijuana Sales in Virginia Fizzles Again — “Partisan gridlock thwarted any movement on the issue last year, and 2023 looks unlikely to be any different. A Republican-led House panel defeated on Tuesday the Democrat-controlled Senate’s main surviving retail bill, which would have allowed sales to begin next year” [Associated Press]
Herndon Gym to Host Blood Drive — “Following last year’s nationwide drop in blood supplies, area blood banks are still working to replenish their supplies. Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa in Herndon wants to help…Worldgate is partnering with the INOVA Blood Donor Services to host a blood drive on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 12:30-4:30 p.m.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — Light rain starting in the afternoon. High of 68 and low of 50. Sunrise at 7:00 am and sunset at 5:48 pm. [Weather.gov]
A new Singaporean restaurant at Tysons Galleria is ready to serve its first patrons tonight (Wednesday).
After offering a preview in December, the mall will officially welcome Jiwa Singapura at 5 p.m. on the third floor of its redeveloped Macy’s wing, across from the recently launched CMX CinéBistro movie theater.
The restaurant comes from international chef Pepe Moncayo, who’s best known in the U.S. for the Spanish-Japanese fusion establishment Cranes in downtown D.C.
“Jiwa Singapura blends street food and high-end dining, for a taste of some of the Asian city-state’s boldest, nuanced flavors,” the restaurant said in a press release. “The menu features classics like Hainanese chicken rice, laksa and chili crab, as well as nods to the family recipes of Singapore native and Moncayo’s wife, Aishah Moncayo.”
Though originally from Spain, Moncayo moved to Singapore in 2010 to work at a new restaurant. He met his wife and launched his first solo venture on the island before relocating to D.C. to open Cranes in 2019.
Brookfield Properties, which manages Tysons Galleria, previously told FFXnow that it made a deal with the Cranes team for Jiwa Singapura because the restaurant would be “a unique offering” not just for the mall, but for the D.C. area as a whole.
Moncayo says the “diverse and collaborative” community in Tysons is something he values after working and living in Singapore.
“Tysons has an urban presence with a small community feel and we felt it would be the perfect place to open this new and exciting concept of Singaporean cuisine in the Northern Virginia area,” he said in a statement to FFXnow. “We look forward to this new chapter and collaborating with our neighbors and other stakeholders in the community.”
Designed by the architectural firm //3877, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant features a main dining room with 170 seats, 30-foot-high ceilings, an open kitchen, and a bar area with 10 seats and four stand-up tables.
There is also a 16-seat “semi-private” dining room and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor terrace with 80 seats and a mini-bar.
The drink offerings include a wine list with nearly 60 labels, sake, a house rice pilsner developed in partnership with local favorite Caboose Brewing Company, and a signature rum and apple brandy cocktail named after Singapore’s iconic Merlion.
For now, Jiwa Singapura is only open for dinner, operating from 5-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, but lunch hours are coming soon, according to the press release.
(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) A man has died after being pulled by a Metro train at the Dunn Loring station this afternoon, prompting a suspension of service between Vienna and West Falls Church.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Rail Operations Control Center and Transit Police Department received a report shortly before 1:30 p.m. that a person was being dragged by a train.
“Despite lifesaving measures, unfortunately the adult male individual was pronounced deceased after being transported to the hospital,” a Metro spokesperson said. “The investigation is in its early stages, but preliminarily it appears that an item being carried by the individual became caught in the train doors before it departed the station, dragging the individual down the platform.”
Shuttle buses and Metrobus routes 28A and 2B can also be used as alternate travel options were offered as alternate travel options until train service between the Vienna and West Falls Church stations was restored around 2:50 p.m.
The Orange and Silver lines also briefly switched to single-tracking between Ballston and Clarendon in Arlington.
Confirming social media reports that the man’s dog was found on a train at the West Falls Church station, Metro Transit Police say the man was holding the dog’s leash, which was the “item” that got caught in the train doors.
“The deceased cleared the platform and was on the platform away from the car, but upon closer review, a leash appears to be tied to the person, which was unfortunately caught in the door, leaving the dog with no ID inside of the car,” the police department said. “This obstruction caused the individual to be dragged on the platform and onto the tracks.”
The dog is now being taken care of by police, the department says, which noted that the pet “does not appear to be a service animal.”
WMATA only allows pets other than service animals on trains and buses if they’re “carried aboard in a secure container from which it cannot escape.”
According to police, surveillance video showed that the man was about 450 feet away from the train’s cab, and the train operator made two “safe door checks” before starting the vehicle.
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission says it has launched an investigation into the incident.
Update on investigation at Dunn Loring #wmata pic.twitter.com/rGzEgUgAny
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) February 15, 2023
.@MetroTransitPD is on scene at Dunn Loring responding to a customer struck by a train. Orange
Line service suspended btwn Vienna and West Falls Church. Shuttle bus service requested. #wmata https://t.co/08nVrah4Tr
— MetroStrong (@wmata) February 15, 2023
Passenger critically injured at Dunn Loring Metro. PASSENGER'S DOG FOUND ON TRAIN AT WEST FALLS CHURCH METRO. #WMATA @ffxnow https://t.co/Mj8Md6b8yk
— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) February 15, 2023
The Fairfax County School Board amended its new capital projects plan last week to prioritize finding solutions to overcrowding at McLean’s Kent Gardens Elementary School,
The Fairfax County Public Schools Fiscal Years 2024-2028 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) was approved unanimously last Thursday (Feb. 9) late in a five-and-a-half-hour meeting mostly spent debating new calendars for the next three school years.
“I understand that the CIP is not perfect, but there’s lots of data and information and a spending plan that we need to move forward on to continue our construction and enrollment projection work efficiently,” Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen said.
According to the CIP, which outlines the school system’s short-term capacity needs and renovation plans, Kent Gardens is currently at 121% capacity with 1,023 students. The only school with a higher capacity utilization — Wakefield Forest Elementary School — is in the midst of an expansion.
FCPS has made tweaks over the years to reduce the capacity deficit, adding temporary classrooms, rearranging the interior layout to be more efficient, and reducing the ratio of out-of-boundary students allowed in the school’s popular French immersion program from 40% to 25%.
However, staff have “exhausted ways to modify the building” and a more significant programming or boundary change is needed, said Tholen, whose district includes McLean.
The amendment, which she called “long overdue,” designates Kent Gardens as a priority for boundary or capacity adjustments, directing staff to review and identify options. The CIP previously only recommended that the school be monitored.
“I want to thank Principal [Holly] McGuigan and the Kent Garden Elementary School students, parents and community members for speaking to us over the last year on this topic,” Tholen said. “I do agree with them that dealing with the overcrowding should’ve happened long before this and I will not make any excuses for the delay.”
At-large board member Abrar Omeish noted that FCPS paused consideration of boundary adjustments in 2018 so the school board could update its policy, though no changes have been adopted even after a consultant presented a final report on Dec. 14, 2021.
“I’m excited to see when that will be coming forward, but…in the meantime, [at] Kent Gardens, the problem there has only grown, and we haven’t been able to address it, so this is an opportunity to do that,” Omeish said.
FCPS has since resumed evaluating boundary changes, implementing adjustments in the McLean and Justice high school pyramids in 2021 that are now being phased in.
The CIP also lists the Marshall High School pyramid as a priority for a boundary review in anticipation of the planned Dunn Loring Elementary School, though a potential scoping isn’t expected until 2026.
With the prioritization of Kent Gardens approved, FCPS will present an analysis and recommendations to the community sometime this year, Tholen said. The review will take into account public input that has already been shared, including at a community meeting on the capacity challenges in October.
“Community input will be sought on these options before a final decision is made,” Tholen said.
Architect of the Capitol Fired After Reckless Driving Probe — “President Joe Biden has fired the embattled Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, following a scathing inspector general report on his personal and professional management and calls for his removal.” The inspector general found that Blanton’s family was misusing his work vehicle after a 2021 reckless driving incident involving his daughter near the Tysons Walmart. [NBC4]
Springfield Lego Center Chooses Master Builder — “Andrew Litterst’s [most impressive LEGO creation] is a bunch of LEGO Star Wars spaceships mounted on an electric LEGO train so that they chase each other on tracks around the room. So it’s no wonder he was just named LEGO’s Master Builder in the D.C. region — the first to hold that title at the soon-to-open LEGO Discovery Center” [DCist]
Man Arrested for Mount Vernon Carjacking — “Authorities in Fairfax County say a man is under arrest and faces charges after an 81-year-old woman was assaulted and carjacked Saturday night in Alexandria. The attack happened around 4:50 p.m. in the 7600 block of Richmond Highway.” [FOX5]
Bill Would Require Schools to Spend Covid Relief Funds — “Legislation backed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin that would require Virginia school divisions to spend any federal pandemic funds they haven’t yet used or forfeit them is headed to the Senate for consideration. An October report from the Virginia Department of Education shows Fairfax County Public Schools have the most unspent relief funds, representing more than $170 million.” [Virginia Mercury]
Nonprofits Brace for End to Emergency SNAP Benefits — “Southeast Fairfax County food pantries operated by nonprofits like United Community and Lorton Community Action Center may experience unusually strong demand the weekend of March 18-19, if families remain unaware of the change, said Araujo.” The final emergency allotment will be tomorrow (Thursday). [On the MoVe]
Vienna Leaders to Discuss Public Safety Trends — “Vehicle break-ins will be one topic of discussion at the first Mayor and Chief at Your Service of 2023 on Thursday. Mayor Linda Colbert and Police Chief Jim Morris will participate in the public forum at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Vienna Police Department’s Community Room” [Patch]
Mosaic District Chocolate Shop Marks Valentine’s Day — “When Neuhaus, a Belgian chocolate shop, set out to open its first Virginia location, this Fairfax neighborhood’s bustling, upscale environment stood out. The store opened its doors on District Avenue last October, and has since embraced enthusiastic and welcoming local customers.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Mount Vernon Town Hall Flies Over District — “From development news to the Bus Rapid Transit progress, Supervisor Dan Storck shared updates on the Mount Vernon District over the last year at the annual Mount Vernon Town Meeting…One of the meeting highlights is a virtual flyover tour overviewing updates in the Mount Vernon District, which has approximately 133,000 residents.” [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 64 and low of 45. Sunrise at 7:01 am and sunset at 5:47 pm. [Weather.gov]
Depending on who had the microphone, last week’s public hearing on the proposed redevelopment of Metro’s West Falls Church station suggested it will either overwhelm local roads or avert “climate arson,” to use one speaker’s phrase.
As they did earlier in the planning process, supporters of the project seemed to have an edge over skeptics at the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s meeting on Wednesday (Feb. 8), arguing that the over 1-million-square-foot development would deliver needed housing and amenities, while making the transit station area more accessible and vibrant than the parking lots that it would replace.
“It is not pleasant to go through an enormous parking lot to get to Metro,” said Aaron Wilkowitz, a resident of the Mount Daniel neighborhood. “I would absolutely love it if we replace that parking lot with dog parks and with playgrounds and all sorts of wonderful things that my family can enjoy and that neighbors can enjoy.”
Developers EYA, Rushmark Properties, and Hoffman & Associates (FGCP-Metro LLC) are seeking to rezone the nearly 24-acre site to allow 810 multifamily residential units, 85 townhouses, a 110,000-square-foot office building and up to 10,000 square feet of retail.
The development would also bring about 2.1 acres of park space and transportation improvements — most notably, a 10-foot-wide shared-use trail on Haycock Road over I-66, as recommended by a community advisory group late last year.
Even the more critical speakers praised the inclusion of the Haycock Metrorail Connector Trail, but they worried about whether the developers will deliver. County planner Bryan Botello noted that the design needs to be approved by the county and state transportation departments.
Some residents questioned whether the grid of streets and 1,095 parking spaces sought at the site — 40% fewer than the 1,781 spaces required by the county — will support traffic, especially with development also coming to the adjacent Virginia Tech campus and in nearby Falls Church.
Ellison Heights-Mt. Daniel Civic Association president Adrianne Whyte warned that, if the parking and loading space is inadequate, “existing roads will become dysfunctional.”
“If this rezoning is approved, the development envisioned by all three parcels combined will dramatically change the stability of our neighborhood, increase the traffic on the roads within and around our neighborhood, and probably negatively impact the quality of life of the residents and other surrounding neighborhoods,” Whyte said.
Resident Cheryl Sim expressed skepticism that the future West Falls Station Blvd linking all three properties will mitigate traffic on Haycock, noting that the Falls Church and Virginia Tech developers have said the road will be closed “on occasion” for events.
A resident of the Pavillion Condominiums next to the site countered that he would welcome street closures if it means he no longer has to travel to Falls Church to find “vibrant community life.”
FGCP-Metro LLC will construct the project in phases, with much of the transportation infrastructure coming first to maintain access to the Metro station and bus stops — a condition of its agreement with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
That includes the on-site segment of West Falls Church Blvd and other planned internal streets. The developers will also be required to complete the Haycock trail before the county permits 40 residents.
“The impetus of this project is really to achieve WMATA’s twin aims of boosting ridership and upgrading its aging infrastructure, so we are providing a lot of infrastructure up front, about $30 million worth,” Walsh Colucci lawyer Andrew Painter said for the applicant.
Proponents argued that putting housing at transit stations alleviates traffic by giving residents direct access to transportation options other than cars, suggesting that, if anything, the development should be more dense than what’s proposed.
“People have to live somewhere,” said Joseph Schiarizzi, who chairs Falls Church’s Environmental Sustainability Council but spoke as an individual. “And they’re either going to drive through our neighborhoods, through Leesburg Pike and completely block it up, or they can live near where they work…Literally on top of a Metro, obviously that’s where the most possible people should live. It just makes sense, and to do anything else is really climate arson, I believe.”
While the planning commission deferred a decision to March 8, Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder observed that the most enthusiastic about the project tended to be younger, including a mother who testified at 11:20 p.m. despite having “a 2 a.m. wake-up call waiting for me at home” in the form of a 4-month-old kid.
The woman said she and her husband moved into the Gates at Westfalls Condominiums so they could be in walking distance of Metro, which they both use for their work commutes.
“If we had it our way, we would never drive our cars, but that can be hard to do in this area, so we are very excited and grateful to have more options to walk to in the near future,” she said.
Rendering via EYA
