The Vienna Town Council says a plan for new duplexes shows promise but isn’t quite ready for approval yet.
At a meeting on Oct. 24, the council said there are lingering concerns about the lot coverage — how much of a site is built on by a development — for the Vienna Courts project. Developer BFR Construction has proposed a set of duplexes at the Vienna Courts offices 127-133 Park Street NE. The project would replace four office buildings with 14 two-family dwellings.
The developer has asked the town for an exemption to lot coverage limits so it can build on 70% of a site where the city’s zoning only allows 25% lot coverage.
“The applicant is requesting a lot coverage of 70%,” the staff report said. “The proposed style of the development does not lend itself to the stated 25% maximum due to the number of units and required parking area.”
“Your lot coverage is significantly higher than anybody else,” Councilmember Steve Potter said. “Living next to a construction site and seeing the lack of space that is on their properties and how it intrudes onto the public streets and how it impacts school bus routes and people doing their walking and all that, I wonder if that has been given careful consideration.”
The project had previously received a mixed reception from the Planning Commission.
Town leaders said lot coverage is an issue with the project, but they believe a compromise is possible.
“I’m not sure if we’re quite ready to vote on this tonight, but you have gotten some feedback,” Mayor Linda Colbert said. “I think it’s a beautiful project, and I look forward to looking at this again.”
The project was scheduled to be reviewed again at a meeting on Monday, Nov. 14.
Nutley Street Roundabout to Open in Vienna — “Beginning during the early morning hours on or about Monday, October 31, the first of two roundabouts on Nutley Street at I-66 will open to traffic as part of the redesigned I-66/Nutley Street Interchange. Drivers traveling to northbound Nutley Street from I-66 East will enter and proceed around the roundabout to go north on Nutley Street.” [VDOT]
Former Commonwealth’s Attorney Dies — “Former Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert F. Horan Jr., who prosecuted virtually every high-profile criminal case in Virginia’s largest county for 40 years — from the ‘Roy Rogers murders’ in 1976, to the abduction of 5-year-old Melissa Brannen in 1991, to the D.C. sniper Lee Boyd Malvo in 2003 — died Friday at his home in the Clifton area. He was 90.” [The Washington Post]
Republican Nominee Chosen for 35th District — “Monique Baroudi will be the GOP nominee taking on Democratic nominee Holly Seibold in the Jan. 10 special election to fill the unexpired term of Del. Mark Keam (D), who resigned in September to accept a job in the Biden administration.” [Sun Gazette/Inside NoVA]
County Dems Call Herndon Sample Ballots “Misleading” — “Calling themselves ‘Herndon Democrats,’ a political action committee unaffiliated with the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is distributing ‘misleading’ sample ballots, according to the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. The sample ballots distributed by the Herndon Democrats PAC are inaccurately indicating a Democratic Party endorsement in the nonpartisan Town of Herndon elections on Nov. 8” [Patch]
Anti-Crime Labels on Car Parts See Results — “There’s some progress to report in Fairfax County’s battle against the theft of catalytic converters — a valuable, yet easy-to-remove part in a car’s emissions system…Police had made arrests since the effort launched in June to engrave identifying information onto the devices.” [WTOP]
Reston Town Center Tower Set for Sale — “Real estate giant Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE:BXP) has a contract to sell The Avant, a luxury multifamily tower at Reston Town Center it built nearly a decade ago, for $141 million…Boston Properties would sell the residential component of the building but continue to own the 26,000-square-foot ground-floor retail component.” [Washington Business Journal]
Police Issue Tickets in Annandale — “Officers from our Motor Squad participated in a Pedestrian High Visibility Enforcement campaign in the Greater Annandale area yesterday…While over 285 tickets were issued, we need your help! Remember to slow down, avoid distractions while walking and driving, and pay extra attention at intersections.” [FCPD/Facebook]
It’s Monday — Possible light rain in the evening and overnight. High of 64 and low of 52. Sunrise at 7:36 am and sunset at 6:11 pm. [Weather.gov]
The Blackfinn Ameripub in Merrifield (2750 Gallows Road) will serve its last beer this weekend, according to staff at other franchise locations.
The pub featured classic Americana fare, like burgers and fries, a broad selection of ales, and a specialized “gameday menu“.
In addition to football games, Blackfinn Ameripub is also locally known for its New Year’s Eve parties.
Merrifield’s Blackfinn Ameripub will reportedly be open through the weekend and shut down on Sunday (Oct. 30), staff at two other Blackfinn Ameripub locations confirmed. The Merrifield location could not be reached by phone.
There are two other Blackfinn Ameripub locations in the region — one in Ashburn and one in D.C. just north of the White House — and one in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Photo via Blackfinn Ameripub/Facebook
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
There is so much Halloween fun for all ages this weekend around Fairfax. Here are a few we recommend checking out!
Citylight Fall Festival (October 29) — All-Free Family Festival with Trunk or Treat, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, photo booth, crafts, and so much more. Pumpkin bowling anyone? You definitely don’t want to miss apple cider, kettle corn and doughnuts!
SUP, Witches? Coven Paddle (October 30) — Calling all witches and warlocks. Join us for a flashmob SUP paddle across Lake Anne on Halloween Eve. Wiccan attire is highly encouraged. The coven departs the Lakeside Cluster dock at 2 p.m.
Mosaic Spooktacular (October 30) — From store to store stop by for trick or treating! Shop around FestFarm Farmers Market and get your face painted at the Bienna Singing Princesses glamour tent.
Boo at the Zoo (October 30) — Join Roer’s Zoofari in costume for a fun-filled Halloween! Zookeepers will have Halloween themed enrichment sessions with our animals and creepy crawlies!
Great Falls Spooktacular (October 31) — Dress up the entire family and head to the Village Centre Green and Great Falls Shopping Center to trick-or-treat with their foundation sponsors, local merchants, and community organizations in a safe environment. There’s even a pet parade and costume contest!
Explore Fairfax with Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
With its mix of coffee, French toast, and sushi, Cafe île (8270 Greensboro Drive) wants to be a little bit of everything rolled into one.
The eclectic menu ranges from tartine and croissants in the morning to a more Omakase-focus at night — a style of serving sushi that leaves the specifics of what’s served up to the chef.
“Normally, it’s a sushi restaurant, but we want [more of a] fusion and hybrid,” said Jin Kim, partner and media director for the restaurant.
Kim said along with open-faced sandwiches and other breakfast cuisines, the cafe will serve specialty coffee. At lunch, the vibe of the restaurant is more casual, with a focus on “regular sushi” aimed at office workers or nearby residents, but things take another turn when dinner comes along with a several-course meal.
“The first step is a simple soup, then finger food, then sushi, then five or six different levels” said Kim. “It’s a little bit high-end. It’s high-quality sushi.”
The new restaurant is set to replace the Subway at 8270 Greensboro Drive next month. Kim said the restaurant will likely have a soft opening in the middle of November with a full opening toward the end of the month.
County Prosecutor Often Sough Suspects’ Detention — “Fairfax County’s top prosecutor, who has faced criticism for practices some view as too lenient, released data Wednesday showing that his office recommended people accused of violent crimes be denied bail at 76 percent of hearings but that judges did so only about half the time.” [The Washington Post]
Gummies Linked to Sickness at Fairfax County School — “At least seven students at Liberty Middle School in Fairfax County, Virginia, reported feeling ill after apparently eating Delta 8 THC gummies, the principal of the school said in a letter to families.” [NBC 4]
County School Enrollment Up — “Enrollment in Virginia’s largest school system has increased for the first time since the pandemic, but the number of students attending classes still isn’t back to pre-pandemic levels.” [WTOP]
Nonprofit Kicks Off Gift Campaign — “Britepaths is seeking donations from the community to provide meals and gifts to 265 families across Fairfax County during the upcoming holiday season as part of the Fairfax-based nonprofit’s Holiday Program.” [Reston Patch]
It’s Friday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 57 and low of 42. Sunrise at 7:33 am and sunset at 6:14 pm. [Weather.gov]
Over the last ten years, Vienna has been steadily losing its tree canopy.
In an assessment report submitted to the Vienna Town Council earlier this month, staff found that the city’s tree canopy cover has been reduced by approximately 163 acres — or 13% — since 2011.
The decline in the town’s tree canopy is in contrast with earlier increases in prior decades.
Vienna currently has around 38.7% canopy coverage, which is lower than Fairfax County as a whole (51.2%) and nearby Falls Church (46%), but slightly ahead of some nearby areas like Arlington (38%) and Alexandria (32.5%).
The highest losses were concentrated around the center of town, near the now-ironically named Maple Avenue.
The report also includes suggestions on how Vienna can reverse the decline, including using more of the town’s right of way to plant trees along roads.
“Although overall canopy percentages of Vienna have decreased in the past 10 years, there exists many opportunities to plant, preserve, and maintain the trees within the town,” the report said. “The next steps will determine the course for The Town of Vienna’s tree management program.”
The report includes several considerations for boosting the town’s tree canopy:
- Establishing a percentage for the Town’s tree canopy goal.
- Providing support for tree planting and preservation programs and activities.
- Engaging and educating the residents and stakeholders in Vienna to support and participate in tree-related
activities. - Developing a program to encourage planting of trees on private property.
- Writing an Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) for Vienna.
- Conducting an inventory of the Town’s public trees (street ROW, parks, and other public property).
- Continuing to compile and maintain data on the annual expenditures on tree planting and number of trees planted to maintain Vienna’s “Tree City USA” status.
Town Council member Nisha Patel said she hopes the report will be a wakeup call for the town.
“The message has been loud and clear for all of us: that we need to plant more trees,” Patel said. “Thank you for giving us the hard evidence of that.”
Early Voting Sites Open Today — “Fairfax County will open an additional 13 early voting sites starting Thursday, Oct. 27. In total, there will be 16 voting locations available across the county until the last day to vote early on Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. Early voting began last month starting with three sites open.” [Fairfax County Government]
COVID-19 Vaccine Centers Scale Back Hours — “With COVID-19 vaccines now widely available at pharmacies, urgent care centers and medical providers throughout the community, clinics located at the Government Center and Hyland South County Center are scheduled to scale back their hours of operation. Starting the week of Nov. 7, both vaccination sites will be open for three days each week.” [Fairfax County Government]
Drug Take Back Day Returns — Residents are encouraged to dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medications at the county’s annual Drug Take Back Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several drop-off locations are available throughout the county. [Fairfax County Government]
Survey to Help Develop Park Planning Strategy — “The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is developing a Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Access Strategy known as PROSA. The PROSA Strategy will provide a framework for equitable access to the park system and will be completed in 2023. Park officials believe the new plan will provide a pathway toward improved park access and a balance of recreational experiences.” [Fairfax County Government]
Company Sells Reston HQ for New Home — “Future Business Leaders of America is leaving its home of 30 years. The organization has sold its former 10,000-square-foot headquarters at 1912 Association Drive in Reston for $4.125 million, and is moving to a lease of an undisclosed size in nearby RTC West.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 61 and low of 52. Sunrise at 7:32 am and sunset at 6:15 pm. [Weather.gov]
October is drawing to a close, but Tysons Corner Center still has a few new retailers to unveil this month, just before the holiday shopping rush gets underway.
On the mall’s second level next to Brooks Brothers, the online clothing company Everlane will open its 11th brick-and-mortar location — and its second in the D.C. area — on Thursday (Oct. 27).
The store will sell men’s and women’s clothes. Unsurprisingly, given its online origins, the business offers some digital services intended to save customers’ time, including a “Save My Spot” feature that will save their spot in the line for a fitting room and text them when it’s available.
Throughout its opening weekend, Everlane will have “fun treats” from Northside Social Coffee & Wine, the non-alcoholic drink vendor Kin Euphorics, and D.C.-based Fluffness Cotton Candy. DJ Adrian Loving will provide a soundtrack on Saturday (Oct. 29), according to a public relations representative.
Also expected to open in late October, per a Tysons Corner Center press release:
Oak + Fort – is a Canadian-based woman-owned fashion & lifestyle brand, offering versatile clothing and home essentials. Since its first brick-and-mortar in Vancouver, Canada, Oak + Fort offers one-stop shopping experience at affordable prices. As the brand appeals to a modern style, Oak + Fork stays true to the design of every collection, with a focus on fashion-forward collections and using sustainable products.
Purple – For over 30 years, Purple specializes in mattresses and becoming the first innovative sleep brand that significantly reduces pressure on areas of the back and neck. The brand offers an array of bedroom essentials including pillows, sheets, bed frames, and more. The online digitally native brand has been growing its permanent brick-and-mortar footprint in several key markets across the country.
Purple has had a presence in Tysons Corner Center since late 2020, opening a pop-up in the mall’s BrandBox hub. However, the mattress company will now have a permanent space near Macy’s.
A Day & Night Cereal Bar is also on the way, though it’s unclear when it’s expected to open.
The mall welcomed the Italian chocolate and gelato shop Venchi last Wednesday (Oct. 19). Other recent arrivals include Third Love, a lingerie retailer that markets itself as inclusive of all sizes, and The Lexus Experience, a limited-time showroom for the Japanese car manufacturer that will be around through Jan. 2.
For those still in need of a costume, Spirit Halloween is now open in the former Lord & Taylor space.
A new bridge for cyclists and pedestrians is connecting two parts of Tysons previously separated by the Beltway.
The new bridge helps provide a link between the residential communities east of the Beltway to the Tysons Corner Center mall.
“The new bicycle and pedestrian bridge over I-495 (Capital Beltway) between Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road/Dolley Madison Boulevard) opened this afternoon,” the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said in a release, “greatly improving bicyclist and pedestrian accessibility, connectivity, and safety in the Tysons area.”
Construction started in August 2021 and was supposed to be finished this summer, but VDOT officials previously said the weather was uncooperative.
“Construction on the first phase of the Tysons/Old Meadow Road Bike/Ped Improvements project began in August 2021 and is now substantially complete, with minor work occurring in the coming weeks until final completion with minimal impacts,” the release said. “The project’s second phase will extend the new shared-use path by half a mile along Old Meadow Road from Provincial Drive to Route 123; final design and construction will occur on the second phase as additional funding becomes available.”
The bridge and related improvements cost $13.4 million, paid for with a mix of federal, state and Fairfax County funding.
The trail has already seem some use from enthusiastic locals. Timothy Barrett, President of the McLean Hills Condominium Board of Directors, emailed FFXnow to share some of the excitement from the neighborhood.
“Yesterday, I took a walk with my dog, Bobby, across the new pedestrian bridge,” Barrett wrote. “I’m president of the McLean Hills Condominium Board of Directors, and we are delighted to have immediate access to Tysons now without crossing any streets! Bobby Barrett was most excited, enjoying a puppuccino at Starbucks on the Plaza, previously out of reach for his little legs!”
Let there be light…
On (and leading up to) our new bike/ped bridge over the Beltway in Tysons! pic.twitter.com/SDdXmqPmTT
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) October 22, 2022
