Sophia Manicone has come a long way from her “Vienna Idol” days.
The 18-year-old Vienna resident recently realized the dream of every theater kid with her Broadway debut in the revival of “Parade,” which officially opened yesterday (Thursday) at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City.
Starring Tony winner Ben Platt and “The Cher Show” breakout Micaela Diamond, the musical explores racism and antisemitism as a dramatization of the real-life 1913 trial of Jewish American factory manager Leo Frank, a case that stoked the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan and led to the creation of the Anti-Defamation League.
Manicone — a senior at the Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts with Vienna’s James Madison High School as her base school — plays Iola Stover, a factory worker who testifies against Frank.
She joined the revival’s Off-Broadway premiere at New York City Center (NYCC) in November and learned a month later that she would be part of the transfer to Broadway. She was one of 18 cast members making their debut when the show began previews on Feb. 21.
“It’s so unbelievable. It still doesn’t feel real,” Manicone told FFXnow by email. “Being a part of this incredible cast is so thrilling. I’m performing alongside people I listened to (and sang along with) on cast recordings since I was a little kid. The people in the cast and the creative team have been welcoming and supportive. I feel so lucky!”
Manicone traces her love of theater back to the musical films and cartoons she watched as a young kid. A trip to see “Mary Poppins” on Broadway when she was 3 cemented that infatuation, leading her to pursue her first audition in New York when she was in second grade.
“My parents got us tickets in the last row of the theater in case I wasn’t able to sit through the show,” she recalled. “But apparently I didn’t move an inch and was mesmerized — especially when Mary Poppins flew across the theater!”
Manicone’s journey to the Great White Way began in earnest on the Vienna Town Green, where she made her first big public performances competing in the annual “Vienna Idol” fundraiser, she told DC Theater Arts in 2016.
She was 9 when she won the title in 2014 with “her booming Broadway voice,” The Connection reported at the time. From there came roles in local theater productions, including her first professional lead role in Creative Cauldron’s “Ruthless! The Musical.”
Because of her community theater work, Manicone says her ability to participate in school plays was limited, but in sixth grade, she appeared in “Seussical” at Louise Archer Elementary School. She also sang choir in her elementary and middle school years.
“I had amazing teachers and as a middle schooler, it was wonderful having such a supportive environment where I felt I belonged,” she said.
Musical theater teacher Erich DiCenzo saw that Manicone had the “it factor” needed to succeed in the performing arts as soon as he met her at Fairfax Academy, where she played Katherine Plumber in “Newsies” during her junior year.
As director of the program’s Musical Theatre and Actor’s Studio, which offers courses to students interested in theater as a career, DiCenzo says Manicone has been “a true joy to teach” over the past three years, praising her work ethic, passion and kindness as well as her talent.
“I’d be hard-pressed to think of someone more deserving,” DiCenzo said of Manicone’s Broadway debut. “As her Director, I couldn’t feel more pride. I look forward celebrating Sophia’s success in New York City when I see the show. After seeing her in the New York City Center’s production, I assure you this is one you won’t want to miss!”
Manicone says she’ll “never forget” the phone call she got while eating lunch on Sept. 17, informing her that she had been cast in NYCC’s production of “Parade.”
She beat out over 500 other actors for the role of Iola, and many family members, friends and teachers from both Fairfax Academy and Madison traveled to see her perform during the show’s five-day run, according to City of Fairfax Schools, which hosts the academy at Fairfax High School.
After learning that she would be in the Broadway production as well, Manicone moved to New York City around Jan. 28 — at the same time she wrapped up auditions for college. With “Parade” set to run through Aug. 6, she has been finishing her high school classes online and is on track to graduate on time.
However, the demands of professional theater have meant giving up some aspects of student life, as she told Madison’s student newspaper earlier this year, and this show is no exception.
“I am so grateful to Fairfax County and my school’s administration. They’ve been very supportive,” Manicone said. “…I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it to graduation though. I have shows six days a week. We’re still looking into whether I could attend graduation in the morning and make it back to NYC for an 8 p.m. curtain.”
Strep Throat Diagnoses Rise in Fairfax County — “Data from emergency departments and urgent care centers in the community have shown an increase in the number of people who have been diagnosed with strep throat since late January 2023. For the week of March 5-11, there were more visits to ED and urgent care facilities for strep throat than at any time in the past 3 years” [Fairfax County Health Department]
BB Gun Appears During Fight at Annandale HS — “Video obtained by 7News captured a fight at Annandale High School in Fairfax County Wednesday where a BB gun ended up falling to the floor…Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) also confirmed to 7News the presence of the BB gun following the fight during a ‘class change.'” [ABC7]
Tysons Developers Pivot Away From Office — “Cityline Partners still has 4M SF of office space planned at its Scotts Run development in Tysons, but the only projects moving ahead at the vast site near the McLean Metro station are multifamily and hotel. With the region’s already weak office market not expected to recover in the near future, that trend is poised to continue.” [Bisnow]
West Springfield Student Wins Landmark Wrestling Title — “Elaina Primozic won the first Virginia girls wrestling state meet. Elaina entered the wrestling team as a manager, but after a few weeks, she emailed the coach to join the team. Elaina finished the season by winning the 156-pound title at the first Virginia High School League girls’ championships.” [FCPS/Facebook]
Board Chair Frustrated by Maryland’s Beltway Project Delays — “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay (D) called Transurban’s decision in Maryland a setback to needed improvements at the American Legion Bridge, one of Fairfax County’s biggest traffic bottlenecks, and said the outcome was not in the long-term interest of Virginia or Maryland.” [Gazette Leader]
Mount Vernon Post Office Stays in Place — “The post office at Mount Vernon Plaza will remain in business at its current location, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) confirmed March 15 to On the MoVe.” The Washington Business Journal reported in December that the shopping center’s property manager had “filed suit against the USPS for unpaid rent,” giving the post office until Feb. 28 to vacate. [On the MoVe]
Herndon Library Gets “Maker Lab” — “The Maker Lab @ Herndon is a space designed for people who love to learn, discover, and explore…You will have access to a variety of tools and equipment, including a 3D printer, sewing machines, robots and more.” The facility’s grand opening will be celebrated tomorrow (Saturday) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. [Fairfax County Public Library]
Fairfax Woman Competes in Beauty Pageant — “On Saturday, Fairfax City resident Amini Bonane will be pursuing her quest to become the first Congolese woman to be crowned Miss Africa USA…Patch recently interviewed Bonane to find out about her experience growing up in Fairfax City and what led up to her becoming a Miss Africa USA contestant.” [Patch]
Nearby: Baby Bald Eagle Hatches in Loudoun — “On Tuesday, the eaglet hatched in the nest along the Dulles Greenway. The eaglet’s parents — Rosa and Martin — have two more eggs they’re incubating in the nest in a wetlands area of Leesburg, so wildlife experts are watching closely for those to hatch sometime this week.” [The Washington Post]
It’s Friday — Possible light rain in the afternoon and evening. High of 60 and low of 45. Sunrise at 7:18 am and sunset at 7:18 pm. [Weather.gov]
Cityline Partners, the real estate company overseeing the development of Scotts Run, is changing up its approach to a still-vacant portion of the Tysons East neighborhood.
The developer KM Hotels has partnered with Hilton to combine two of the latter’s brands in one high-rise building at the southwest corner of Route 123 (Dolley Madison Blvd) and Anderson Road, a legal agent for Cityline said in a rezoning application filed with Fairfax County on Monday (March 13).
The proposed Hilton hotel building will occupy half of a nearly 1.8-acre site known as the Westgate Block, replacing an 18-story office building envisioned by the Scotts Run South master plan that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors originally approved in 2013.
With the change in plans, Cityline is “just responding to the market,” the developer’s managing director Donna Schafer told the Washington Business Journal, which first reported the application.
At 17 stories or 225 feet tall, including a penthouse, the hotel will have a Home2 Suites — an “extended stay concept” from Hilton — on floors six through nine, while floors 11 through 17 will be devoted to the boutique Canopy.
“Canopy is a relatively new offering by Hilton and is designed to draw on the spirit and character of the surrounding neighborhood. This includes food and drink options that will complement the area,” Walsh Colucci lawyer Lynne Strobel wrote in a statement of justification.
Planned amenities include a rooftop restaurant and bar, meeting rooms and courtyards for guests of the 263 hotel units.
With a maximum square footage of 227,312, the building will also have 4,846 square feet of ground-floor retail or service space and a four-level parking podium to serve hotel guests and visitors. It will have 172 parking spaces and two loading spaces.
According to the application, the switch from office to hotel won’t increase Scotts Run’s density, since the developer is instead shifting over space that was allocated but ultimately not needed for Archer Hotel, which opened just two blocks away in September 2021.
In addition to drawing visitors to the area, the application argues that the proposed hotel will benefit Tysons by adding “a number of employees,” contributing to the tax base, and providing conference rooms and other work-related amenities while having less of an impact on traffic than an office building would.
The developer projects that its new proposal will generate approximately 167 fewer vehicle trips during the morning rush hour on weekdays and 131 fewer trips in the afternoon than the existing plan.
“The Applicant’s proposal represents an essential stepping stone in the development of Scotts Run South and Tysons,” Strobel wrote. “The proposed hotel acts as a gateway to Tysons, and will add to the uses that have already begun to transform the Tysons East District into a vibrant mixed-use community.”
For the other half of the Westgate Block, Cityline has proposed either a 255,759-square-foot office building with up to 12,970 square feet of retail or a 259,412-square-foot residential building with up to 15,482 square feet of retail.
If approved, the block will be built in two phases, with the hotel coming first. Last year, Cityline got the county’s approval to create an temporary park on the lot at 1600 Anderson Road until construction begins.
Fairfax County hasn’t officially accepted the application for review yet.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay plans to introduce a board matter next week that would direct county staff to analyze a road safety measure called turn calming.
The measure would direct staff to look at cities like Portland and New York City that have established turn calming programs, as recommended in a March 1 letter from the county’s Trails, Sidewalks and Bikeways (TSB) Committee.
McKay plans to introduce the matter when the board meets Tuesday (March 21).
“When it comes to pedestrian safety in particular, we need every possible tool in our tool box,” McKay told FFXnow.
After a year that saw a high number of pedestrian fatalities in Fairfax County, the TSB wrote to McKay endorsing a turn-calming program as one way to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in the county.
A turn calming program would make alterations to intersections with the goal of bringing down vehicle speeds during turns and reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
In an addendum to the letter, the TSB points to an education campaign, physical improvements such as “hardened” center lines, and other strategies as “essential components” of a turn calming program.
Shawn Newman, who represents the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling on the TSB, says turn calming would push transportation planners to rethink how intersections are designed.
Right now, many right turn corners in the county are designed so that cars can make them at “a relatively high rate of speed,” he explained.
“A simple fix such as bumping the corner out a bit and making it closer to a 90-degree angle will force vehicles to slow down and be more careful on the turn,” Newman said. “Left turns can also be made safer by extending out the median to again force vehicles to slow down and drive more carefully.”
According to the TSB committee’s letter, intersections were the location of 54, or 45%, of the county’s pedestrian-involved vehicular crashes recorded in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Crash Analysis Tool between 2015 and October 2022.
“Intersection-related accidents are likely due to several factors that would be addressed by a turn-calming program: many drivers are traveling at too high a speed through intersections, cut corners and accelerate through intersections, and have limited awareness of potential presence of pedestrians,” TSB Chairman Kenneth Comer wrote in the letter.
The TSB letter comes after the Board of Supervisors unanimously endorsed a Safe Streets for All program in May 2022. The letter identifies a turn calming program as the “most promising” step to prioritize along the county’s major arterial roads in addition to the program’s recommendations.
“It’s good that they passed that…but it hasn’t accomplished its goal yet,” Newman said. “The streets are not safe yet.”
VDOT maintains practically all of the county’s public roads, so the state agency would have to be involved. If the measures work, McKay says he would fight for them to be implemented.
“I don’t want to spend any resources on things that don’t statistically work,” McKay said.
The TSB letter also recommends the county resist any efforts by VDOT to remove a crosswalk at the Braddock Road and Kings Park Drive intersection in West Springfield, where a pedestrian was killed in December.
When Panerai was scouting potential locations for its first-ever store in the D.C. region, Tysons Galleria emerged as an appropriate choice for the self-described “luxury” Italian watchmaker.
The company’s new boutique opened yesterday (Wednesday) on the mall’s second floor, between stores for Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen and Montblanc, which also sells watches as well as pens and leather goods.
“Tysons Galleria has stood up to its reputation as a premier shopping destination in the D.C. area, something that truly resonates with our brand ethos,” a Panerai spokesperson said. “Given Panerai’s product line and appeal, Tysons instantly became a fit as it has successfully connected and met the rising demands of local shoppers for luxury goods.”
The over-400-square-foot store features a VIP lounge for private consultations and was designed based on a new concept by Panerai Creative Director Alvaro Maggini.
According to a press release, the design was inspired by “industrial architecture and the sea world, paying homage to Panerai’s craftsmanship in watchmaking and ties to the Italian Navy.”
Upon entering, Panerai exhibits a warm, inviting space that instantly diffuses the brand’s adventurous and bold appeal. The decor’s unique features include custom Italian furniture, dark ceilings, concrete walls, veined marble flooring, and Panerai’s signature luminous green wall clock. This latest creative concept transforms the store’s atmosphere and reimagines the brand’s relationship with its customers: making it a destination for leisure, connection, and compelling experiences.
Founded in 1860, the business was started in Florence, Italy, by Giovanni Panerai as the city’s first watch-making school and a shop that supplied the Italian Royal Navy.
Panerai didn’t introduce civilian watch collections until 1993, according to its website, which also highlights its development of a custom-made model for actor Sylvester Stallone to wear in the 1996 movie “Daylight.”
The company now has over 250 boutiques worldwide, including about 60 locations in the U.S.
Panerai is the latest new tenant to open at Tysons Galleria in recent weeks, following IWC, the restaurants Yard House and Jiwa Singapura, and the dine-in movie theater CMX CinéBistro. Other openings include the home furniture store Azzurri and the menswear outlet Indochino.
Electric car manufacturer Lucid Motors has also opened a delivery and service center with a showroom next to Bowlero.
Man Arrested for Pointing Laser at Police Chopper — Fairfax County police detectives arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly pointing a laser at the department’s Fairfax 1 helicopter around 11:25 p.m. on Saturday (March 11). The Fairfax 1 crew was assisting Virginia State Police with a search and traced the laser’s source to an apartment in the 9200 block of Ashland Woods Lane. [FCPD/Facebook]
Dunn Loring Metro Escalator Replacements Underway — Metro began work on Monday (March 13) to replace the two platform escalators at the Dunn Loring station, part of a push to upgrade 130 escalators in the rail system by 2028. Construction will be done on one escalator at a time, with the open one being treated as stairs. The project is expected to take about eight months, finishing around the end of October. [WMATA]
Park in Springfield Gets New Name — The Franconia District’s transition continues with the Fairfax County Park Authority Board approving “Grove Point Park” as the new name of Franconia District Park. The move avoids confusion with Franconia Park in Groveton — formerly known as Lee District Park — and helps “connect the new name of the park with surrounding neighborhoods.” [FCPA]
Chantilly Pizza Chain Eyes Expansion — “More than a decade after selling its first Italian restaurant franchise, Paisano’s plans a major expansion that would nearly double its D.C.-area footprint, and stretch it much further along the East Coast. The pizza chain, with more than two-dozen Greater Washington locations and roughly 75 in all, aims to add 200 total new spots by 2026.” [Washington Business Journal]
Renovated Merrifield Office Building Features ‘Treehouse’ — “Bridge Investment Group recently completed amenity renovations to Willow Oaks Corporate Center at 8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Boulevard…Renovations include the run-of-the-mill amenity updates, like a fitness center, coffee bars and a new cafe, but the renovation at the top of the building is a little different.” [WTOP]
Laser Hair Removal Clinic Opens in Tysons — LaserAway has opened its doors at The Boro. The company provides laser hair and tattoo removals as well as skin care services and products. Also at The Boro, ShowPlace ICON Theatre is reviving its $5 Tuesdays discounts this spring, which will be valid all day for all movies. [The Boro/Tysons Today]
GMU Backs Bringing FBI HQ to Springfield — “George Mason University is throwing its support behind the effort to attract the new FBI headquarters to Springfield, citing its academic programs that align with the FBI’s interests and its three campuses near the proposed site.” [Patch]
County Seeks Performers for New Farmers Market Season — “The Fairfax County Farmers Markets are seeking musicians to perform at local farmers markets. Musicians and singers are invited to apply online through the Music at Market website…Farmers markets are open Wednesdays through Sundays from April until December” [FCPA]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 59 and low of 33. Sunrise at 7:19 am and sunset at 7:17 pm. [Weather.gov]
The McLean Community Center’s efforts to attract the attention of a younger generation appear to be paying off.
Earlier this week, the organization announced a robust slate of candidates for its upcoming governing board election that includes five adults and 10 teens — more than tripling the number of kids who competed in last year’s elections.
Voters will once again choose three adult board members and two teens, one representing students in the McLean High School boundary area and the other representing the Langley High School area.
Open to all residents of MCC’s tax district, absentee voting began today (Wednesday) and will continue through 5 p.m. on May 17. The official election will be held at the annual McLean Day festival from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Road).
Absentee ballots can be requested online, by phone (703-744-9348) or by email at [email protected]. They can be dropped off in-person at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue) or sent by mail.
The candidates certified for this year’s election are:
Adults
- Gloria Marrero Chambers
- Matt Colsia
- Katie Gorka
- Kathleen Cooney Porter
- Lincom (aka Amirthalingam Thillaichidambaram)
Teens — Langley High School
- Sophia Bruno
- Cabot Fisher
- Charlotte Loving
- Duy Nguyen
- Ethan Pwu
- Sonya Thott
Teens — McLean High School
- Eleanor Ague
- Rafik Hanna
- Katy Perez-Nesmith
- Philip Rotondo
The slate features a couple of familiar names. Current Langley representative Charlotte Loving is seeking another term, and former Trump administration official Katherine Gorka is making another bid for a seat after falling short last year.
Personal statements submitted by each candidate can be found on MCC’s website.
The 11-member governing board oversees the community center’s budget, programs and facilities. Adults serve three-year terms, while the youth members serve for one year.
Spring Hill Road in McLean has no townhouses now, and at least some area residents are unconvinced that there should be any in the future.
During a workshop on Thursday (March 9), the Fairfax County Planning Commission preliminarily advanced a request for more density at the northwest corner of Spring Hill Road and the Dulles Airport Access Road, but said the concept plan must be revised before it’s fully considered.
The decision came after homeowners spoke in opposition to the Spring Hill Assemblage development proposed for the 4.97-acre site.
“There are a number of issues, and they need to be thoughtfully viewed,” Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder said, pointing to compatibility with the surrounding neighborhoods, site access and open space utilization as factors that need to be reviewed.
As part of the county’s Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process, property owner Spring Hill Road Investments LLC is asking the county to allow three to four dwelling units per acre at 1336, 1340, 1344 and 1348 Spring Hill Road. The parcels are currently zoned for just one unit per acre, with a future density of two to three units envisioned by the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.
There’s “a disconnect” what the comprehensive plan allows and “the reality of how that redevelopment can occur,” according to Matt Roberts, a principal at Hirschler Law who’s representing the developer.
Past attempts to develop the site under the existing plan guidance haven’t worked out, because they “always come in more dense,” he told the planning commission.
“What we see with the SSPA process is an opportunity to address that issue. We can also do it in a way that respects the existing neighborhood and align ourselves with county housing and planning goals,” he said, noting that the proposed concept consolidates the lots and vehicular access points while offering “ample opportunities for on-site open space.”
However, McLean residents challenged the claim that increased density is necessary to make development “economically viable,” as stated in the statement of justification for the SSPA nomination.
Many of the benefits touted by the developer — including open space, trail connections and the new site entrance — could be achieved without altering the comprehensive plan, argued representatives of the McLean Hunt Estates Civic Association and the Lewinsville Coalition, which has homeowners on Lewinsville Road to the north of the property.
“The applicant mentions on-site amenities and recreational areas without defining what they might be,” Irwin Auerback with the Lewinsville Coalition said. “It is hard to imagine how there can be much usable open space on 4.97 acres at the requested density.”
The coalition believes “the amendment is unjustified and would be detrimental to the neighborhood” and fears that “making such a change would open the way for similar actions on other properties in the future,” he concluded.
The Spring Hill Assemblage concept plan calls for 19 townhouses — five more than the maximum currently recommended, county staff confirmed.
McLean Hunt Estates Civic Association representative Susan Bartram recalled previous failed applications to increase the property’s density from 2004 and 2020, calling this “yet another attempt to squeeze more onto this small assemblage than is compatible with nearby residential housing.”
“Both the opening and concluding paragraphs [of the statement of justification] state that the development of the property is more economically viable at a higher density,” she said. “That is simply not a valid justification for amending the comprehensive plan. Compatibility with the neighboring subdivisions is the relevant issue for the county, not maximizing profit margins.”
In response to the incompatibility concerns, Spring Hill Road Investments has introduced an alternate plan for single-family detached houses, though townhomes are its preferred approach.
“What we submitted was the one that we felt met many more perhaps goals of the comprehensive plan in terms of lot consolidation, open space and otherwise,” Roberts said.
The revised concept shows 19 units but reduces the size of the proposed amenity space and reconfigures a trail through the property. It was presented to the Lewinsville Coalition and the McLean Citizens Association before last week’s planning commission meeting, Roberts told FFXnow.
Roberts says the applicant has also committed to working with the community to add “guardrails” in the comprehensive plan amendment that would provide “guidance on how the future rezoning could ensure compatibility with its surroundings.”
Spring Hill Road Investments maintains, however, that an increase in allowed density is necessary to facilitate any kind of development on the site, Roberts said in a statement:
The County’s planning and economic policies recognize that more housing is needed countywide. The right incentives need to be in place to achieve the County’s redevelopment and housing goals. The current Comprehensive Plan language envisions greater density here, but while that language has been in place since the 1980s, it has not facilitated any redevelopment at this site. Our nomination promotes additional housing in the County without detracting from the existing neighborhood.
The planning commission backed county staff’s recommendation that the nomination be included in the third tier of the SSPA work program, meaning a review will be deferred until after other higher priority items.
Elsewhere in the Dranesville District, a proposal to replace an office building in Pimmit Hills with townhouses was put in the work program’s second tier, which is for “valuable” nominations that don’t quite qualify as top priorities. Developer Elm Street Communities is expected to file a formal development plan once the SSPA is officially accepted.
The commission also voted to designate development around the Innovation Center Metro station as a top-tier priority.
Ulfelder said he anticipates getting more community feedback on the Spring Hill proposal before the commission finalizes its proposed SSPA work program, a vote expected on March 29. After that, the package will go to the Board of Supervisors for its approval on April 11.
Fairfax Student Hospitalized After Possible Overdose — “Just hours after a student suffered a possible overdose at Fairfax High School on Monday, the school district held a meeting with parents to discuss the school system’s growing drug problem. Rescue crews rushed to the high school after a male student was suspected of overdosing on fentanyl, according to 911 dispatch.” [NBC4]
Medicaid Enrollment Requirements Resume — After letting all Medicaid members stay covered during the first years of the pandemic, all states are now reevaluating members’ eligibility. Coverage won’t be canceled or reduced before Virginia reaches out to each person, but members should update their contact information to ensure they get the notification. [Fairfax County Public Assistance and Employment Services]
Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against FCPS Advances — A student’s lawsuit filed in 2019 alleges that Fairfax County Public Schools officials ignored and retaliated against her when she reported being sexually assaulted at Herndon’s Carson Middle School a decade ago. A judge allowed the case to move forward on Friday (March 10), but FCPS said “several counts” against it were dismissed. [FOX5]
Rock Band Acquires Springfield Vinyl Records Company — “Bay Area rock legends Metallica have purchased a majority interest in a Northern Virginia record-pressing company. Furnace Record Pressing, located in 6315 Bren Mar Drive…said Tuesday the acquisition formalizes a long-standing relationship between the company and the hard-rock pioneers.” [Washington Business Journal]
Residents Weigh in on Potential Rose Hill Redevelopment — At a planning commission workshop, community members voiced both support for and opposition to mixed-use development at Rose Hill Plaza. Some residents argued that the shopping center has no need for a revitalization, while others called the proposal “a good opportunity to transform the large parking lot” with more housing and improved walkability. [Patch]
Sushi Restaurant Coming to Gunston Plaza — Sushi Queen, which originated in Sterling, has leased 4,000 square feet of space at 7730 Gunston Plaza. The all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant will follow in the footsteps of the Middle Eastern Rana Café and American’s Best Wings, which opened at the Lorton shopping center in January. [On the MoVe]
Tysons Events Company Goes Private Again — “Tysons events software giant Cvent Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: CVT) has reached a deal to go private again via a sale to private equity firm Blackstone Inc. (NYSE: BX) that values the local company at $4.6 billion…The deal is expected to close in ‘mid-2023,’ the companies said in an announcement.” [WBJ]
Unemployment Rises in Virginia — “Virginia has one of the lowest state unemployment rates in the nation, but it rose last month and is now higher than it was a year ago. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Virginia’s unemployment rate in January was 3.2%, up from 3.1% in December, and up from 2.9% in January 2022.” [WTOP]
Animal Shelter Plans St. Patrick’s Day Adoption Event — “Adopt Your Lucky Charm Adoption Event, this Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19. All dog adopters can pick their adoption fee from the lucky pot o’ gold! Adoption fees will range from $5 to $25 for all dogs adopted during this event. View all our available dogs (and other pets!) online” [Fairfax County Animal Shelter/Facebook]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 47 and low of 30. Sunrise at 7:21 am and sunset at 7:16 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 2:50 p.m. on 3/16/2023) Virginia’s extension of the I-495 Express Lanes past the George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean remains on track for a 2025 opening, even as its counterpart across the Potomac River faces another setback in its efforts to widen the Capital Beltway.
Private toll lanes operator Transurban pulled out of Maryland’s project to add toll lanes on its side of the Beltway and replace the American Legion Bridge on Friday (March 10), citing “significant delays to environmental approvals, changing political landscape and environmental lawsuits that remain unresolved.”
While that project is now in limbo, the Virginia Department of Transportation says Transurban’s departure won’t affect its I-495 Northern Extension (495 NEXT) plan, which is entering a second year of construction this month.
“Virginia’s 495 NEXT project to extend the Express Lanes on the Beltway is independent of the Maryland project,” VDOT told FFXnow. “…While VDOT will continue to coordinate with Maryland as they determine how to best deliver the Maryland project, we do not anticipate changes to the 495 NEXT project.”
The Virginia project has long been plagued by fears that Maryland won’t follow through on the so-called Beltway Accord that then-governors Ralph Northam and Larry Hogan announced in 2019 to replace the American Legion Bridge, which opened in 1962 and last expanded in 1992.
(Correction: This story previously said the bridge hadn’t been updated since it originally opened, but it was widened to 10 lanes in 1992. Hat tip to boywaja)
Where Virginia officials have embraced them as a means of addressing traffic congestion, express lanes have faced fierce opposition in Maryland from residents, environmental groups and local leaders, particularly in Montgomery County from as far back as 2005.
Despite that tangled history, which has included court battles, delays and a downsizing, VDOT expressed confidence in a statement to FFXnow that Maryland will ultimately move forward with its Beltway toll lanes, noting that the project has gotten federal approval.
Our colleagues in Maryland have told us that they remain committed to congestion relief in the corridor and have expressed their intention to deliver their project in accordance with the federally approved Record of Decision, which is a managed lanes project. Virginia will continue to coordinate with Maryland as they determine their next steps to alleviate one of the region’s worst traffic bottlenecks.
The department maintains that, even on its own, 495 NEXT will reduce congestion and provide new travel options. In addition to adding 2.5 miles of toll lanes to the region’s roughly 90-mile network, the project includes a shared-use trail and could usher in bus service between Tysons and Maryland.
An environmental assessment from 2020 found that 495 NEXT will move 2,500 more people per hour in both directions and reduce travel times by up to 24 minutes for northbound drivers, according to VDOT.
“By increasing the person-carrying capacity of I-495, drivers will have less incentive to use neighborhood cut-through routes, reducing traffic on local roads,” VDOT said. “The 495 NEXT project will also improve safety throughout the corridor, and replace aging bridges and other existing infrastructure.”
McLean residents and Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, who represents the area, have argued that failing to extend the toll lanes into Maryland will result in traffic getting bottlenecked at the American Legion Bridge, forcing their neighborhoods to bear the project’s costs for minimal benefits.
Construction on 495 NEXT is expected to continue into 2026, with the express lanes opening to traffic by late 2025.
