Community members who attended a public meeting on the future elementary school in Dunn Loring last week appeared to favor replacing the existing administrative center at 2334 Gallows Road with a four-story building.
Samaha Associates, an engineering firm contracted by Fairfax County Public Schools, presented two primary design options for the planned school, which is expected to be 118,000 square feet in size with the goal of addressing crowding in the Tysons area.
One proposal would shift the school further away from Gallows Road onto what’s currently Murphy Field, a popular facility for local youth soccer groups. The building would be mostly two stories tall with a third story of classrooms on the west side.
The site would have room for an athletic field by Gallows Road as well as playgrounds, a play area, and an outdoor classroom, but they would be scattered around the property.
Slated to begin in spring 2024, construction could start sooner with this option, since the Dunn Loring Center building wouldn’t have to be completely demolished first, Samaha principal Tom Lee said at the meeting on Thursday (Nov. 10).
“More importantly, we’re able to get three site entrances off of Idylwood [Road], one aligning with Greenbriar Way and then two more for the bus loop, so you see a complete and independent separation between the kiss-and-ride traffic and the bus traffic with parking on both sides,” he said.
The other option would construct a four-story building in the existing Dunn Loring Center footprint with play areas consolidated to the west, away from Gallows.
Both options eliminate the site’s current entrance off of Gallows, but the four-story one would have a longer kiss-and-ride queue that could accommodate about 50 vehicles compared to the 30 spaces in the other design. However, drivers would have to go back out the way they came in when buses are using the loop at the front entrance.
Most attendees expressed support for the four-story design, in part because it keeps the athletic field away from Gallows Road and has a smaller footprint, likely allowing more trees to be retained, though a full tree survey hasn’t been conducted yet.
“That field that’s currently there is used all the time, some of the only good green space in the area, and to replace it with fields that are right on Gallows Road and have kids playing at one of the busiest intersections in the area, I think, is a terrible idea,” one man said to applause. “…I think it really shifts the burden of this school on all the people who live there.”
Lee noted that a four-story building would be “slightly more expensive” to construct. The project has a $36.8 million budget covered by bond funds that were originally earmarked for a school in the Oakton area.
The design also leaves no room for an expansion, but the school would be constructed with an internal “shell” on the fourth floor that could fit three to four more classrooms “as the need arises,” Lee said.
Samaha had suggested a third option to a Design Feedback and Engagement Committee that met on June 9, but it retained an entrance on Gallows for a limited kiss-and-ride lot, leading to concerns about traffic back-ups. That design has now been taken off the table.
In response to a resident who said turning right onto Gallows or coming left off Gallows onto Idylwood Road “is a problem already,” Lee said he doesn’t see any opposition to adding turn lanes at the intersection, but the project team would have to consult with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
“We just need to get it through the next level of design,” Lee said. “…We can show an intent to add those now. I don’t think there’s any pushback to that idea.”
The Dulles International Airport Metro station platform (via WMATA/Facebook)
It’s official: after years of rising costs and an ever-lengthening construction timeline, the second phase of Metro’s Silver Line has opened to the public.
A train pulled out of the new Dulles International Airport station for the first time shortly after noon following a celebration this morning, where local, state and regional leaders gathered to mark the opening of the 11.4-mile extension of the rail line into Loudoun County.
If everything went according to schedule, an express Silver Line train departed from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station at 1:15 p.m., carrying winning “Silver Ticket” holders straight to Ashburn. The first passenger train from Ashburn to Downtown Largo will leave a little before 2 p.m., making all stops along the way.
First Silver Line train carrying local leaders, officials leaves the Dulles Airport Station #wmata @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/S4fhh8fMSg
— Adam Tuss (@AdamTuss) November 15, 2022
At this morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, which started at 10:30 p.m. at the Dulles station, Rep. Don Beyer said the extension would usher a “once in a generation community infrastructure paradigm shift.”
Metro Board of Directors Chair Paul Smedberg lauded regional and local leaders for coming together to make what was a decades-log planning dream a reality.
“Today represents the best of what transit can do it,” Smedberg said.
Sen. Mark Warner said that the opening is the culmination of years of bi-partisan planning for decades.
“Every one of these speakers are going to come with partially silver hair at this point,” Warner said.
Others characterized the opening as an opening of new opportunities and possibilities.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) said that the project will produce an “incalculable return on investment” despite cost overruns and delays.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who noted that today also marks the 60th anniversary of the airport, said she was confident that the Silver Line will offer a “comeback from Covid.”
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Board Chairman Jeff McKay said the extension provides a much-needed investment for the local economy, noting that the county is a significant economic engine for the commonwealth overall.
The long-anticipated project, which cost upwards of $3 billion, brings six new Metro stations to Virginia and activates the Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County with Metrorail service.
“This is the result of what many people before us have done,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
U.S. Department of Transportation @SecretaryPete sharing…
“What we see here with the ⚪️ Silver Line is democracy at work. Democracy 🇺🇸 in action can be a lot to bear. In the end, people have come together to make this work.” #SilverLineExtension #ridesilver #yourmetro #wmata pic.twitter.com/omKQPNp4Uz— Metro Forward (@wmata) November 15, 2022
Screenshot via WMATA/Facebook
In addition to the Sheraton conversion, JBG Smith is also seeking to increase the 245 units approved for another building in the Tysons West development — a residential mid-rise designated as Building C — to up to 300 units.
With its new application, the developer says it will provide an open lawn and meadow as an interim park on the future Building C site, an undeveloped parcel at the intersection of Cornerside Blvd and Ashgrove Lane that’s currently used for parking.
Replacing Ashgrove Lane east of Cornerside, which will be extended to the north side of the Sheraton, the 89,000-square-foot interim park would give Tysons West 3.46 acres of public park space in all — well above the 0.9 acres recommended by the county. The total includes an existing “pocket park” of benches and flower planters outside Moby Dick.
Proposed transportation improvements include a “Tysons West Trail” for pedestrians and bicyclists on the northeast corner of the Sheraton property by Route 7 and a 6-foot-wide sidewalk by the interim park along Cornerside.
“Approval of this FDPA will continue to implement the County’s vision for Tysons by expanding upon the type of residential housing options and advancing its transformation into a transit-oriented mixed-use neighborhood,” Brantley wrote.
Overall, Tysons West encompasses 16 acres, including the existing shopping center, and could total 1.1 to 1.6 million square feet of construction as approved by the county in 2013.
Silver Line Phase II Arrives — “The #SilverLineExtension opens [today]! We’ll be live streaming our opening event celebration on 11/15 at 10:30 am and we’d love for you to tune in virtually. Check back here in the morning or visit http://wmata.com/silverline around 10:30 to join the excitement. Let’s #RIDESILVER!” [WMATA/Twitter]
Hunter Mill District Supervisor on UVA Shooting — “Once again we are rocked by a senseless shooting at a Virginia school. As a proud graduate of @UVA I am devastated for the school and the whole UVA community. We must find a way to work together to prevent these recurring tragedies and end gun violence.” [Walter Alcorn/Twitter]
School Board Chair on UVA Shooting — “Thinking of all the folks with children and loved ones at UVA. Such a senseless and horrible and preventable tragedy. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. This has got to stop.” [Rachna Sizemore Heizer/Twitter]
Burglary Attempts in McLean Under Investigation — “Fairfax County Police say the incidents happened on Saturday night at two houses located within a mile of each other. The first incident happened around 9:11 p.m. at a house in the 1300 block Lancia Drive, and the second incident happened around 10:14 p.m. at a house in the 1300 block Altamira Court.” [FOX5]
Fairfax County Adds New Glass Recycling Sites — Coinciding with Fairfax Recycles Day, there will be ribbon-cutting ceremonies today to celebrate the addition of two glass recycling dumpsters to the county’s Purple Can Club. The new receptacles are at the Virginia Railway Express station in Burke (10399 Premier Court) and the Saratoga Park and Ride on Barta Road in Springfield. [DPWES]
Fairfax City Seeks Input on New Street Names — “Fairfax City Council is hosting a public hearing on Tuesday to solicit public input on the recommended names submitted by the community for 14 city streets. The council voted in July to change the names due to their association with slavery, the Confederacy, and the myth of the ‘Lost Cause.'” [Patch]
Affordable Housing Improves Home Values, Reports Say — “Fairfax County, like most communities across the nation, is taking urgent steps to address a shortage of affordable housing for individuals and families earning low and moderate income…Industry leaders and advocates alike point to an increasing supply of research that demonstrates the benefits of affordable housing.” [Housing and Community Development]
Seven Corners Phasing Meeting Tomorrow — “Due to technical issues with the Seven Corners Phasing Study virtual meeting held on Nov. 10, 2022, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has scheduled an additional online community meeting for Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, at 7 p.m.” [FCDOT]
Reston Association Seeks Board Candidates — Four seats will be open for the Reston Association Board of Directors’ election in March of next year. Openings include three-year terms for an at-large director, a Hunters Woods District director and a representative for apartment owners, along with a one-year at-large position. [RA]
It’s Tuesday — Rain starting in the afternoon. High of 47 and low of 34. Sunrise at 6:53 am and sunset at 4:56 pm. [Weather.gov]
Another family-owned restaurant that felt like a mainstay of Vienna’s culinary scene is gone.
Rose Kabob had its final day of business yesterday after serving platters of chicken, lamb and kubideh (ground beef) at 126 Maple Avenue West for 16 years.
When the doors opened around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday (Nov. 12), the dining room was still empty, but owner Hassan Mostafavi and his daughter-in-law were already busy juggling errands and takeout orders. That left him little time to explain the closure beyond that they “unfortunately lost the lease.”
“We love the community. We’re going to be missing all the customers,” Mostafavi told FFXnow.
Located in the Vienna Shopping Center, Rose Kabob launched in 2007, as Mostafavi sought to “practice what he preached” as a former professor and business consultant for over 35 years, according to its website.
Run by Mostafavi and his family with the same chef for roughly 13 years, the restaurant was picked as a top “cheap eat” by Washingtonian multiple times in the early 2010s.
In a farewell message posted to the website, Mostafavi said he plans to travel and spend more time with family and friends, while urging customers to continue supporting local businesses.
Dear Vienna,
It is time for us to close the doors here at Rose Kabab Restaurant. We have loved the years of serving you and have made countless friends along the way.
Please never stop supporting local business. It is the fabric of our community. It is the strength of our local economy. While I will miss seeing many of your smiling faces and sharing conversation and laughter, it is time that I (Hassan) travel and spend sweet moments with my family and friends.
With love, Hassan and the rest of the Rose Kabab family
Zan, Zendegi, Azadi Women, Life, Freedom
Rose Kabob might be the longest-tenured restaurant to close in the Town of Vienna since Amphora bid adieu in January 2021, though Charles’ Barber Shop in the Cedar Park Shopping Center had been around since the 1980s until its last owner decided to retire in August.
Construction is currently underway to turn the former Amphora building at 377 Maple Avenue West into a new restaurant called The Maple Room.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
There are lots of traditions around Vienna that you should know about if you’re new to town or maybe just looking to branch out after the last few years. Many of these events are really cute with little kids and I remember them fondly when my boys were smaller. They age out quickly of the little kid stuff, so buy tickets early!
- James Madison Band: 2022 Tiny Tots Concerts — Three different shows, fun songs, characters and traditionally there’s a “snow” dump at the end so if you sit in front be prepared to be dumped on (it’s not wet!) but if you have a kid who doesn’t like to be dirty, maybe sit more in the middle of the room.
- This Sunday, November 20 is the Vienna Turkey Trot — Fun run, 5k or 10k
- Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights — Open now! About a 1 mile walk with light displays and ends with a fire pit and s’mores, cider, hot chocolate, etc.
- Vienna Church Street Stroll — Next Monday at 6 p.m. If you’re looking for something a little bigger, these were also a fun one-time event for me (some of them are far or they’re pricey, so it’s not worth it for me to make these a tradition but it was fun one time).
- Enchant at Nationals Park
- Christmas Village at Leesburg Animal Park — 2022 tickets aren’t up yet as of November 14
- Zoo Lights at the National Zoo in D.C.
- Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Leesburg — Now to January 29
- Bull Run Festival of Lights — Now open, 2.5 mile drive through light displays
- Wolftrap Sing Along — Free, December 3 at 4 p.m.
- VRE Santa Train Ride — Tickets go on sale on November 28 for the event on December 10
- Merry Mosaic — Many events from November to December, which includes both Santa visits and Menorah Lighting for Hanukkah
- The Nutcracker at Capital One Hall — Sunday, December 11
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The Capital Beltway is getting a new ramp in Dunn Loring, as the Virginia Department of Transportation prepares to open another segment of the extended I-66 Express Lanes.
A new, permanent ramp and exit from the northbound I-495 Express Lanes to the general purpose lanes on I-66 West was scheduled to open this morning, VDOT announced Friday (Nov. 11).
The ramp is located on the right side of the Beltway, about 500 feet north of the existing ramp, and loops around the interchange.
The existing ramp closed today but will reopen on or around Saturday (Nov. 19) as the new connection from the 495 North Express Lanes to the new 66 Express Lanes West, according to VDOT, though the exact date could vary depending on the weather.
The department announced last week that the westbound I-66 toll lanes from I-495 to Route 28 in Centreville will open to traffic this Saturday, with the eastbound lanes following by the end of November.
The Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project has been in the works since 2016, adding 22 miles to the I-66 toll lanes while reconfiguring interchanges and creating a shared-use trail in the corridor. A 9-mile stretch of lanes opened between Gainesville and Centreville in September.
Starting Dec. 5, the entire I-66 Express Lanes system will require vehicles to have three or more occupants to qualify as high-occupancy so they can use the lanes toll-free.
Accessibility of New Silver Line Stations Still Lacking — “As Metro prepares to open six new rail stations in Northern Virginia, some future passengers are expressing dismay over their limited access for pedestrians and cyclists. While they say they are pleased with station amenities…they see room for more improvements that could provide better connections to the transit points that don’t rely on vehicles.” [Virginia Mercury]
Tysons Sees Slow Progress on Walkability — “Fairfax leaders say plenty of Tysons-area residents are frustrated that walking and cycling doesn’t feel safer or easier. Still, public officials say, the area is showing potential. It will take more time, they say, to find a balance between moving thousands of vehicles and creating space for what they hope will be a growing number of pedestrians and cyclists.” [The Washington Post]
Lorton Man Dies From Medical Emergency — “Police said that they had taken Murray into custody without force after receiving multiple calls about a man ‘acting erratically and disorderly’ at around 4:15 p.m. in the 6500 block of Amherst Avenue in Springfield. At that time, Murray was running into traffic and hitting vehicles as they passed by.” [WTOP]
Chef Peter Chang Opens Fairfax Restaurant — “There’s another new Chang venture in Fairfax flying under the radar with a semi-secretive name: Lu Wei Peter Zhang, which quietly opened in September…The concise menu includes traditional dishes like salt-and-pepper pork feet, marinated beef tendon with pancakes for wrapping, and hot pots with assorted meats.” [Washingtonian]
Falls Church Developer Officially Seals Movie Theater Deal — “Joe Muffler, key point person for the Mill Creek’s Founders Row mixed use development in the downtown area of the City of Falls Church, announced to the News-Press earlier this week that a formal lease has finally been signed with Paragon Theatres for a multiscreen facility at Founders Row.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Sheriff’s Office Dog Dies — “With much sadness, we share with you the sudden and unexpected death of Hank, our young therapy dog. Hank was an Aussie Doodle whose training began at birth for the role he played at the Sheriff’s Office…Hank’s quiet interactions helped manage our stress levels.” [Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook]
Kaiser Opens New Springfield Medical Center — “The new 99,000-square-foot facility at 6551 Loisdale Court in Springfield, set to start seeing patients Monday, replaces the adjacent Springfield site — Kaiser’s oldest Mid-Atlantic property…The new facility expects to serve more than 47,000 Fairfax County residents and 144,000 annual visits.” [Washington Business Journal]
Fort Belvoir Bowling Center Returning — “The bowling alley on the Army garrison is reopening on a limited basis this month. According to Fort Belvoir Family and MWR, the bowling center’s ‘soft opening’ will start Nov. 17, and the facility will operate during set hours every Thursday through Sunday” [On the MoVe]
Mount Vernon RECenter Renovation on Schedule — “Once the rec center shuts down — in January 2023 according to the updated project timeline — FCPA will move out of the facility over a two-week period, and the contractor will take over the site. The newly renovated and expanded rec center with two ice rinks and a dedicated fitness center is tentatively expected to reopen in January 2025.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Monday — Clear throughout the day. High of 48 and low of 33. Sunrise at 6:52 am and sunset at 4:57 pm. [Weather.gov]
The extended I-66 Express Lanes outside the Capital Beltway will open ahead of schedule, the Virginia Department of Transportation says.
Previously scheduled to arrive in December, the lanes will open in the westbound direction from I-495 in Dunn Loring to Route 28 in Centreville as soon as Saturday, Nov. 19, VDOT said in a news release snuck in just before a three-day weekend.
The eastbound lanes along that 13-mile stretch of road are expected to open by the end of November.
“Updates will be provided to the public as final construction progresses. All work is weather dependent, and inclement conditions could affect the final opening schedule,” VDOT noted.
Construction to extend the I-66 toll lanes 22 miles outside the Beltway has been underway since summer 2016. Toll lanes opened inside the Beltway in December 2017.
Nine miles of express lanes west of Centreville opened in early September, also coming sooner than anticipated. Tolling on that section, which extends to Gainesville, began on Sept. 24.
As with the existing express lanes around Northern Virginia, the new I-66 lanes will charge tolls that vary based on traffic volumes and speed. Vehicles that meet the high occupancy requirements can use the lanes for free, but they need to have an E-ZPass Flex set to “HOV On.”
The I-66 Express Lanes currently have an HOV requirement of two or more occupants, but that will increase to three or more occupants along the entire corridor, starting Dec. 5, according to VDOT, which says the new rule will be consistent with other toll lanes in the region.
Here’s more from VDOT on how drivers can prepare for the express lane openings:
Obtain an E-ZPass to pay tolls, or an E-ZPass Flex to travel toll-free as HOV. Drivers can obtain an E-ZPass at ezpassva.com, by calling 877-762-7824, or in person at many Giant and Wegmans grocery stores in Northern Virginia, as well as at AAA offices, Fairfax Connector stores, and DMV Customer Service Centers.
Become familiar with other payment options available through I-66 EMP such as paying online, via the mail, by calling 833-643-2867, or in person at the 66 Express Lanes Customer Service Center in Manassas. Payment options other than E-ZPass will incur administrative fees. More information can be found at Ride66express.com.
More information about the I-66 Express Lanes can be found at Ride66express.com.
Though the express lanes will open to traffic soon, work on some interchanges and a shared-use trail alongside the highway will continue. The overall project is scheduled for completion by mid-2023.
Whether you are ready to move-in now or would prefer to personalize a new home from the ground up, Brookfield Residential has two new home communities that offer the Loudoun County lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of.
Waterford Manor in Leesburg offers high-end 3+ acre estate homes nestled in the rolling hills of Virginia’s countryside, while Cadence at Lansdowne offers low-maintenance villa homes in a vibrant 55+ community.
Want to know the best part? Brookfield Residential is making it easier than ever to own a new home at these two popular Loudoun County communities with their Mix & Match Savings offer, which includes below-market interest rates* and the opportunity to refinance for free* within three years on top of thousands in free* options and upgrades.
A New Home on Your Terms
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The second option lets homeowners keep more cash on hand with paid closing cost assistance*. This reduces homeshoppers’ out-of-pocket costs at the purchase of their home, plus they’ll also be able to refinance for free* any time within the first three years of their loan.
With these two options, homebuyers in Loudoun County stand to save thousands in free* options and upgrades!
*Terms and conditions apply and are subject to change without notice. Visit BrookfieldOffers.com for details.
Why Buy in Loudoun County?
Loudoun County is one of the most sought-after areas to live in Virginia. With geography defined by the beautiful contrasts of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Potomac River, notable historical landmarks and some of the region’s finest dining, drinking and shopping options, Loudoun has something for everyone.
Embrace Exceptional Living at Waterford Manor
With new estate homes in Virginia’s countryside, Waterford Manor grants a rare and luxurious lifestyle in Leesburg. Beginning at $1.3M, Waterford Manor’s homes range in size from 4-7 bedrooms, 4-7 bathrooms, up to 7,000+ sq. ft. and 4- to 5-car garages. Additionally, this popular community provides:
- 3+ acre homesites with scenic views of the Loudoun countryside
- Traditional and multi-generational home designs with main-level primary suites available
- Great proximity to shopping, dining and entertainment in Downtown Waterford
- Easy access to Dulles Greenway and Route 15
Enjoy Low-Maintenance Luxury at Cadence at Lansdowne
This close-knit Active Adult community offers all the benefits of low-maintenance living with beautiful main-level living homes that come with lawn care included. Priced from the $600’s, these 2- and 3-level 55+ villa homes feature main-level primary suites. They range from 3-4 bedrooms, 3-5 bathrooms and up to 3,700+ sq. ft. Plus, a selection of quick move-in homes are available for you to move into this year! Cadence at Lansdowne also boasts:
- Low-maintenance living close to friends and family in Northern Virginia
- Pickleball courts, a picnic pavilion, walking trails
- A community dog park and pet station for your four-legged friends
- An ideal Lansdowne location, with shopping, spas, golf and so much more in close proximity to the community
To learn more about these two remarkable Loudoun County communities and how you can claim your savings, visit BrookfieldOffers.com.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
