Late this morning, a vehicle ran into the window of a building in downtown McLean.
The incident occurred in the 1400 block of Center Street shortly before noon, according to a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue spokesperson.
An adult male driver drove into the front of a building, causing “minimal” damage, a Fairfax County police spokesperson said.
No one was injured, according to the fire department spokesperson.
It is unclear at this time what caused the incident. The fire department spokesperson said that there will be a police investigation.
The police spokesperson was not able to share the type of vehicle and specific building address.
Units on scene of vehicle into building in 1400 block of Center Street in McLean. Minor damage. No injuries at this time. Several units returning to service. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/j0N4lI1Axt
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 15, 2020
Catherine Douglas Moran contributed reporting
Map via Google Maps
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors kicked off its first meeting in 2020 by voting to support equal taxing authority.
Yesterday (Tuesday), Chairman Jeffrey McKay and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw jointly proposed asking the General Assembly to support equal taxing authority.
Currently, counties have less taxing authority than cities and towns in Virginia.
“The local tax structure in Virginia has become outdated, and limitations on counties’ ability to raise revenues from diverse sources has resulted in an over-reliance on property taxes to fund core local government programs and services,” according to the board matter from McKay and Walkinshaw.
McKay and Walkinshaw argue that counties would be able to invest more in education, transportation, public safety and human services with equal taxing authority.
“Virginia relies more on local taxes and revenues for funding government services than most other states,” the board matter says. “Relying too heavily on one source of revenue leaves counties vulnerable to downturns in the real estate market and population shifts.”
The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) has been pushing for equal taxing authority for the 2020 General Assembly session. Montogomery County’s board recently voted to support equal taxing authority.
“Having served on the VaCo board for a number of years, this is one of the few issues that we can truthfully say has overwhelming support from virtually every county in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” McKay said before the vote.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity — the only Republican on the Board of Supervisors — disagreed.
“It does not have overwhelming support in the Springfield District,” Herrity said. “I think what we have is more of a spending problem than a revenue problem.”
The board voted 9-1, with Herrity voting “no,” to support the proposal.
Appeals of a zoning determination for a controversial therapy facility proposed in McLean will head to Fairfax County’s Board of Zoning Appeals next week.
Newport Academy, a therapy program for teens with mental health or addiction problems, wanted to open two treatment facilities — one along Davidson Road and another at 1318 Kurtz Road — but faced a backlash from neighbors and local officials.
Fairfax County Zoning Administrator Leslie Johnson issued a letter in May saying that Newport Academy’s three adjacent properties at 1620, 1622 and 1624 Davidson Road would be a congregate living facility.
Newport Academy, which has hinged its claim on the two locations being by-right uses — a use that won’t require approval by the Board of Supervisors — originally appealed the Davidson Road decision.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust previously told Tysons Reporter in the fall that Newport Academy plans to sell the properties and wants the determination reversed so that the zoning determination won’t negatively impact future plans.
Newport Academy, though, has withdrawn its appeal regarding the Davidson Road facility.
The Board of Zoning Appeals will just hear the three cases regarding the Kurtz Road facility in the Salona Village neighborhood.
In August, Johnson issued a letter saying that the Kurtz Road facility is a group residential facility — a win for Newport Academy that McLean residents are trying to appeal.
The Board of Zoning Appeals will consider the three appeals at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan 22.
A Facebook group of local residents that has been fighting Newport Academy’s attempt to open the facilities is urging people to come to the appeal hearing.
Image via Google Maps
The Virginia Department of Transportation is gearing up to study Shreve Road in the Falls Church area.
The Shreve Road Community Working Group announced yesterday (Tuesday) that VDOT identified funding for the study.
“VDOT is in the process of scoping a planning study on Shreve Road between Lee Hwy (Route 29) and Leesburg Pike (Route 7),” Jennifer McCord, a VDOT spokesperson, told Tysons Reporter. “This study will follow up on the recently completed speed study, seek community input and identify potential improvements along the corridor.”
The study is expected to start in the spring and take about six to 10 months, McCord said.
“The cost of the study is still being finalized, but these studies typically run between $50,000 and $100,000,” McCord said.
“As part of the project, a traffic engineering consultant from VDOT will review Shreve Road from Route 29 (Lee Highway) to Route 7 (Leesburg Pike), obtain input from local residents, and identify possible safety and traffic solutions,” according to the working group.
The working group has been advocating for efforts to improve the road after a fatal hit and run near the intersection of Shreve Road and Hickory Street in August.
“The Shreve Group has prioritized the need for pedestrian infrastructure so that children can safely access Shrevewood Elementary School, and cyclists and pedestrians can securely approach crossings for the W&OD trail,” according to the group. “The Shreve Group has also highlighted the dangers at multiple 90-degree turns along the road.”
Back in December, the working group held a town hall with elected officials to address safety concerns along the road, which runs through Fairfax County and the City of Falls Church.
Earlier last fall, VDOT reduced the speed limit from 35 to 30 miles per hour from Leesburg Pike (Route 7) to Wieland Place. At the town hall, several attendees called for lowering the speed limit.
Following the town hall, VDOT sent a letter to Del. Marcus Simon (D-53rd) on Jan. 6 saying that Fairfax County’s transportation department received a grant for pedestrian improvements around Shrevewood Elementary School and that VDOT is working with Fairfax County.
“[VDOT is] also in contact with the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority, regarding their plans to possibly redesign their roadway crossings of the Washington and Old Dominion(W&OD) Trail,” the letter says.
Image via Google Maps
The European Wax Center plans to open a new location in Tysons Station.
The waxing services chain is “coming soon” to 7508 Leesburg Pike, according to the company’s website.
People interested in trying out the new location can sign up online for a week of complimentary wax services.
The European Wax Center offers a variety of waxing services for men and women.
Image via Google Maps
Funding for new sidewalk projects in the Town of Vienna is coming from the estate of a late councilmember.
The town announced today (Tuesday) that Maud Robinson, a former councilmember and wife of late Mayor Charlie Robinson, left a “bulk” of her estate to the town to build sidewalks over a five-year period.
“She gave the bulk of her estate to the town because she and Charlie were absolutely devoted to the Town of Vienna,” Laurie Genevro Cole, the executor of the estate and trustee of the trust, said in the press release. “Vienna is their legacy.”
The funding is to go toward adding 3.3. miles of additional sidewalks “in areas where they aren’t already planned or likely to be funded through grants or new construction,” the press release says.
“The majority of Robinson’s estate, which has not yet been settled but will total more than $7 million, will endow the Maud Ferris Robinson Charitable Trust, which will fund the sidewalk projects,” according to the press release.
Charlie Robinson died in 2000, and Maud Robinson died last year.
Currently, the town is working to find streets with gutters and curbs that could use new sidewalks. The Vienna Town Council is set to consider the first batch of potential sidewalks at its meeting on Jan. 27.
More from the press release:
Before [the] Town Council makes a decision as to which projects to move forward with, residents on selected streets will be contacted by the Town and given an opportunity to provide feedback…
Public Works Director Michael Gallagher notes that it could take up to two years from identification of a street to walking on sidewalks. The Town will use contractors for this work.
“This is a wonderful gift to the Town of Vienna,” says Mayor Laurie DiRocco. “These sidewalks – and others – help connect places, but, more importantly, they connect the community. Maud and Charlie were all in for the Town of Vienna. We’re grateful that this is how Maud, out of her deep sense of public service and commitment to the Town, chose to pass on her legacy to the Vienna community.”
In addition to the trust established to fund sidewalks, Robinson left $50,000 to the Town for beautification purposes. Cole says that these funds will be used to plant trees and other similar projects.
Mad Fox Brewing Company closed in Falls Church back in July. Now, a new brewery is set to open in the vacant space in May.
Solace Outpost — a collaboration between Solace Brewing Company, H2 Collective from The Hilton Brothers and the Blackfinn Ameripub group of Northern Virginia — will occupy 444 W. Broad Street, Suite I, according to a press release from MoKi Media.
“The new brewery will feature experimental IPAs and other beers and methods, such as kettle sours and smaller batches but will keep a core quartet of Solace favorites — Sun’s Out Hops Out, Lucy Juicy, Partly Cloudy and Crazy Pils — permanently on tap,” according to a press release.
People can also expect a yet-to-be-announced independent pizza concept at the brewery.
“The Woodmont Properties owner of the space closed the deal earlier this month,” the Falls Church News-Press reported yesterday (Monday).
The new brewery is set to open in May, the press release said.
Land along the Dulles Toll Road may get developed into a residential community for people ages 60 and older.
Pulte Homes is looking to turn almost 5 acres of land — four consolidated parcels — at the northwestern intersection of the Dulles Toll Road and Spring Hill Road into 59 dwelling units: 36 multi-family units in one building, 14 single-family attached units and nine affordable units.
“The affordable dwelling units comprise 15% of the total number of units,” according to county documents.
According to county documents, the development would include:
- a four-story multi-family building with 32 two-bedroom units and four one-bedroom units atop of parking podium
- open space with a 2,000-square-foot clubhouse and pickle ball and bocce ball courts
- housing for roughly 80-100 residents
The community would have a villa-style architectural design with a “slightly more contemporary with a flat roof,” the documents say. The land currently has several aging single-family homes.
“The Applicant believes that this community will appeal to residents in McLean and the surrounding area who are seeking to downsize and enjoy less maintenance of their homes while continuing to live in the community,” according to the documents.
A Fairfax County Planning Commission hearing on the proposal is tentatively slated for June 10.
Image via Google Maps
Several newcomers have arrived recently in Tysons Corner Center, while a few spots are now vacant.
Here’s an update on the latest store changes at the mall:
Now Open
Beeboy, a plush toy company, is now open in the former spot of candy store Sugarfina on the first level by Macy’s.
Alexandria-based Tradition de France debuted on the first level of the mall by Lord & Taylor and is the second location for the family-owned business.
Now Closed
Colombian Jeans Store has closed on the second level next to Blessed, according to the spokesperson. A new tenant is expected to be expected in a few weeks, the spokesperson said.
Dabke Lebanese Cuisine is no longer on the third level of the mall.
Coming Soon
B8TA, a retail-as-a-service company, is coming to the first level of the mall near Bloomingdales.
Rent the Runway will have a pop-up show starting on Thursday (Jan. 16) inside of the mall near parking Terrace E.
Permits indicate that Cotton On, an Australian retailer, is coming to the mall. No word yet on the exact location or expected opening date.
Orangetheory Fitness is coming to Idylwood Plaza.
The new tenant will occupy the 3,145-square-foot space that Massage Heights will vacate at the end of January, Emily Gagliardi, the leasing director for Idylwood Plaza, told Tysons Reporter.
The fitness chain is opening a location in Falls Church at 6404D Arlington Blvd.
Orangetheory Fitness offers hour-long workouts where people can choose between walking, jogging, running, biking and other activities. The studios have treadmills, bikes, striders, rowers and weights, according to the company’s website.
