(Updated at 4:35 p.m.) Merrifield’s Mosaic District is bringing its “Films in the Park” screening series back for the fall — this time, with three times more Lin-Manuel Miranda.
While the live recording of “Hamilton” on Broadway remains walled off on Disney Plus, the prolific Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner wrote songs for three out of the four featured movies, including tonight’s opener, “Encanto.”
In contrast, this summer’s edition of the outdoor movie series had just one film — “Moana” — with contributions from Miranda. The three-month lineup also highlighted recent blockbusters like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”
The Mosaic District describes this as a “special fall edition” of the series to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which lasts from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
The full schedule is below, with each screening starting at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Park:
September
- Sept. 21 — Encanto (2021, 1h 42m, PG)
- Sept. 28 — Vivo (2021, 1h 35m, PG-13)
October
- Oct. 5 — In The Heights (2021, 2h 23m, PG-13)
- Oct. 12 — Coco (2017, 1h 45m, PG-13)
The U.S. has observed National Hispanic Heritage Month since 1988. Intended to recognize the cultures, histories and contributions of the country’s Spanish, Caribbean, and Central and South American residents, the occasion began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 before expanding to a full 30 days.
Fairfax County was planning its first-ever festival to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this Saturday (Sept. 23) at the PARC at Tysons (8508 Leesburg Pike). However, the Fairfax Fiesta has been canceled due to expected inclement weather, including “heavy rain, high winds and uncomfortably cool temperatures.”
“We received a tremendous outpouring of interest from the community to participate and attend this event,” Celebrate Fairfax, which organized the event, said. “…Safety is our highest priority for the artists, vendors, community organizations, elected officials, event staff and volunteers scheduled to set up, break down, and participate in the event.”
The similarly named Fiesta Fairfax in Fairfax City, however, will go on. Originally set to take place this Saturday in Old Town Square, the event has been relocated indoors to Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive).
Expect more music and food, along with other kinds of live entertainment and “educational exhibits,” according to the city’s website.
About 17.3% of Fairfax County’s population identifies as Hispanic, as of the 2020 Census, which found that the county’s growing Asian and Latino communities had turned it into the second most racially diverse county in Virginia.
The Fairfax County Courthouse will soon lend a helping hand to visitors intimidated by the prospect of navigating the legal system on their own.
The county’s new Self Help Resource Center will officially open at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 5 with a kick-off event in the courthouse law library (4110 Chain Bridge Road, Room 115), the Fairfax Bar Association recently announced.
Supported by $96,000 in county funds, the center will offer free legal assistance and resources to anyone who has to deal with the court, particularly those who are representing themselves either by choice or because they’re unable to hire a lawyer.
“Access to justice for self-represented litigants is a significant issue facing the legal community today,” the Fairfax Bar Association said in a press release. “…Barriers faced by self-represented litigants include cultural and language barriers, procedural hurdles, and general difficulty navigating the court process and understanding legal terminology, from what forms to file, to where and when to appear, and what to say in court.”
The association says it began exploring the possibility of opening a self-help center after the Virginia Access to Justice Commission approved the creation of a pilot program on Dec. 9, 2021.
Created by the Virginia Supreme Court in 2013, the commission found in a 2019 report that the volume of cases where a litigant is representing themselves is high and may be increasing, reflecting general economic challenges and increased online media access.
Surveys of judges and clerks indicated that individuals representing themselves appear to often be low-income and have limited education, according to the report. Judges stated that people generally opted for that approach “because they cannot afford to hire an attorney and cannot obtain representation from legal aid.”
Among other ways to make the court system more transparent and accessible, such as the launch of a self-help website, the report recommended initiating self-help centers staffed by pro bono attorneys or qualified non-attorneys who can provide information about the legal process and court policies and procedures.
Fairfax County’s Self Help Center will be the first one to open in Virginia, according to the office of Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, who was a top advocate for the facility as chair of the Board of Supervisors’ public safety committee.
Here’s more on the new center from the bar association:
The Fairfax Bar Association in partnership with the Fairfax County Courts, Fairfax Law Library, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Office of the Fairfax Public Defender, Office of the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, particularly the Office of Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, and law firms in Fairfax County collaborated in the creation of a self- help resource center located in the Law Library in the Fairfax County Courthouse Complex.
The Center will be open to the public and available for all individuals who are interacting with the judicial system as litigants, prospective litigants, witnesses, or who simply have business with the court. The Center will serve the large number of self-represented individuals, and would assist them in navigating the court process, providing legal information and forms to allow them to represent themselves in a meaningful way. The Center will serve as an alternative option for those who are unable to afford legal services and for whom pro bono help is not available. The types of assistance provided include the provision of legal information, referrals, forms, and resource materials on topics related to various court matters.
(Updated at 6:20 p.m.) Three people were arrested earlier this week for stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from Tysons Corner Center businesses, police say.
At 9:09 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 19), a worker at Sunglass Hut in the mall reported that the store had just been robbed, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Using the mall’s surveillance cameras, detectives with the department’s Tysons Urban Team unit determined that there were three suspects and they were still inside. One man and two women — all New York residents — were located and arrested.
“Approximately $15,000 worth of stolen merchandise was recovered,” the FCPD announced yesterday (Wednesday). “The stolen merchandise was found to belong to several businesses inside Tysons Corner Center to include Express, H&M, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Victoria’s Secret, American Eagle, Guess, and Sunglass Hut.”
The 20-year-old man has been charged with two counts of grand larceny, petit larceny, larceny with intent to sell , and conspiracy to commit larceny, according to the police department. When not committed against a person, Virginia defines grand larceny as thefts of $1,000 or more.
The two women, who are aged 19 and 20, have been been charged with two counts of grand larceny, larceny with intent to sell, and conspiracy to commit larceny.
All three individuals are being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on no bond, police said.
The arrests came just days after the FCPD reported late last week that its detectives had “busted” three other people — also identified as New York residents — for allegedly attempting to use a stolen credit card to buy $21,000 worth of merchandise from Louis Vuitton in Tysons Galleria.
As part of a summer crime prevention initiative, the police department cracked down on retail theft in June, which it said resulted in a drop in cases countywide that month. Incidents at Tysons Corner Center have continued to decline from 103 in May to 62 so far in September, according to FCPD data.
“Since the Summer Crime Prevention Initiative in June, we have seen a decrease in shoplifting incidents at 1961 Chain Bridge Road,” the department told FFXnow. “We recognize that shoplifting tends to increase in the fall toward the holiday season and will take steps to address this trend.”
Gallows Road Study Identifies Safety, Traffic Issues — “The Gallows Road Multimodal Study is exploring ways to make the seven-mile corridor safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users, while reducing traffic congestion…FCDOT found most of Gallows Road is uncomfortable for pedestrians, due to the large number of lanes, the 35 mph speed limit, and narrow buffers between the sidewalk and roadway.” [Annandale Today]
D.C. Area Healthcare Workers Authorize Strike — “Some 3,800 union healthcare workers in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., are threatening to go on strike at the end of this month if the leadership at Kaiser Permanente and the union cannot agree to a new contract addressing staffing shortages and low pay for workers.” The company’s facilities include medical centers in Fair Oaks and Burke. [Maryland Matters]
Inova Adds Urgent Care Center in Lorton — “A new urgent care center jointly operated by Inova Health System and GoHealth Urgent Care opened Sept. 18 at Lorton Marketplace…Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care will provide treatment by Inova clinicians for common, non-life-threatening health concerns in adults and children ages six months and up.” [On the MoVe]
FCPS Gets Extension for Special Education Services — “Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia has received an extension to finalize meetings with families of students who may be eligible for extra help in the aftermath of the pandemic…Superintendent Michelle Reid said the county has already held meetings about eligibility for 30,656 students, or 96.7%, and expects to be finished by next month.” [WTOP]
Vienna Town Council Candidate Drops Out — “An already competitive Vienna Town Council race has gotten more interesting in recent days, as candidate Elizabeth Korondy dropped out of contention and the Vienna Transportation Safety Commission (TSC) chairman decided to seek a Council seat via a write-in campaign.” [Gazette Leader]
Fairfax Corner Celebrates 20 Years — The shopping center is marking its 20th anniversary with a social media contest for a $100 gift card to one of its retailers or restaurants. “To enter, like this post and comment one of your favorite Fairfax Corner memories with us! One winner will be randomly selected by Monday, September 25” [Fairfax Corner/Instagram]
Chili Cook-Off Coming to Tysons — “The Boro…is excited to host Cushman & Wakefield’s annual chili cook-off! This year’s competition benefits the Boulder Crest Foundation and will feature 15 to 20 teams vying for the grand prize. Cushman & Wakefield employees will judge the competition. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy” [Tysons Today]
Acorns Wanted by Virginia Forestry Department — “As it does every autumn, the Virginia Department of Forestry is encouraging Virginians to help collect acorns and nuts to be planted at its Augusta Nursery.” Fairfax County residents can drop off donations at the department’s Northern Virginia office in the Herrity Building (12055 Government Center Parkway). [Gazette Leader]
It’s Thursday — The weather forecast for Thursday is mostly sunny with temperatures reaching around 79°F, accompanied by a gentle north wind at 6 mph. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy, with lows near 59°F, and a 6 mph northeast wind. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 1:25 p.m. on 9/21/2023) Tysons residents looking to usher in fall by tossing back some cold brews will have a couple of options this month.
Oktoberfest at The Boro
Update — The Boro’s Oktoberfest was scheduled for this Saturday (Sept. 23), but with rain in the forecast, it has been postponed to the following Saturday, Sept. 30.
The Boro’s annual Oktoberfest celebration is set to return from 2-5 p.m. with a biergarten at The Sandlot (1680 Boro Place), food trucks, live polka music, a beer stein-holding competition and some more kid-friendly activities, such as crafts, face painting and glitter tattoos.
Beers on tap at the biergarten will include:
- Eggenberg Helle Weizen
- Eggenberg Hopfenkonig Pils
- Tucher Festbier
- Weihenstephaner Hefe-Weissbier
- Solace Gute Nacht Oktoberfest
- Zero Gravity Oktoberfest
- Aslin No Backsies Hefeweizen
The winner of the stein-holding contest will be rewarded with a gift certificate to one of The Boro’s retailers. Some branded beer mugs will also be up for grabs, going to the first 150 people to show up at Oktoberfest.
In recognition of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, The Boro is using the event “to raise funds and awareness” for a local chapter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, per a media alert. The Pennsylvania-based nonprofit supports cancer research and provides resources to families of children diagnosed with cancer.
The Boro’s Oktoberfest celebration is free to attend, but registration through Eventbrite is encouraged.
Oktoberfest Wine, Cider & Beer Festival
Shipgarten (7581 Colshire Drive) in the Scotts Run neighborhood will also celebrate Oktoberfest on Saturday (Sept. 23) with a Wine, Cider & Beer Festival.
Running from 1-6 p.m., the festival will feature dozens of international and Virginian wines, spiked and bourbon apple ciders, and beers from both local and out-of-state breweries. Samples of the venue’s regular draft beers from Tysons Biergarten and Waffles & Tacos will also be offered.
Event highlights outside of the booze include bratwursts and other food, outdoor games, live music from 12:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., a kids’ corner with a moon bounce, face painting and more, and a whole lineup of apple and pie games:
- 1:15 p.m. — Apple bobbing competition
- 2 p.m. — Apple grabbing race
- 3 p.m. — Apple toss
- 4 p.m. — Pie toss
- 5 p.m. — Pie-eating competition
Admission is free, but tickets can be reserved through Eventbrite. With no parking on site, Shipgarten provides complimentary shuttle service from 1700 Old Meadow Road as well as $20 valet service.
For Oktoberfest celebrations outside of Tysons, G34.3 Brewing Company (8532 Terminal Road, Suite L) in Lorton is throwing a party from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday with a beer release, German food and music. Tickets cost $29.99.
The Town of Vienna’s annual Oktoberfest is also returning on Oct. 7.
(Updated at 2:15 p.m.) A crash involving three vehicles, including a Virginia State Police vehicle, has partially shut down the northbound Capital Beltway (I-495) near Merrifield, including all express lanes.
According to state police, the crash appears to have occurred around 12:36 p.m. when a trooper responded to a disabled vehicle in the northbound express lanes just south of Route 50.
“A multi-vehicle crash occurred several minutes later involving a box truck that overturned partially onto a state police patrol vehicle,” a VSP spokesperson said. “There is one reported injury in the box truck. The trooper was not injured.”
The trooper reported that he “got hit” and requested additional units, including a medic, at 12:50 p.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
Four people have been transported to the hospital, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says.
“One patient was extricated,” the fire department said in a 1:49 p.m. tweet. “Four patients were transferred. 3 with non life-threatening injuries and 1 with serious injuries.”
State police and FCFRD units remain at the scene to investigate.
Traffic from the blocked I-495 toll lanes is being diverted into the regular travel lanes. The north left and left center lanes are also closed, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s traffic cameras.
As of 1:36 p.m., traffic backups extended approximately 1.4 miles.
#FairfaxsBravest are on scene of a three vehicle crash on the I-495N Express Lanes prior to Rt. 50. One patient was extricated. Four patients were transferred. 3 with non life-threatening injuries and 1 with serious injuries. I-495N is shut down except for the far right lane. pic.twitter.com/xqLYy3tGp8
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) September 20, 2023
Multi-Vehicle Crash. I-495 NB (IL) at US-50 (Ex 50/Arlington Blvd). Fairfax County, VA. 2 left main lanes blocked, 2 right main lanes open. All I-495 NB Express Lanes blocked. Delays start after VA-236 (Ex 52/Little River Turnpike), approximately 1.5 miles.
— MATOC Alerts (@MATOC) September 20, 2023
All lanes on northbound 495 Express Lanes near Rte 50 are blocked due to incident. Drivers on Lanes being diverted off to regular lanes.
— VA Express Lanes (@VAExpressLanes) September 20, 2023
The Capital Beltway’s proximity to 2000 Corporate Ridge is both a boon and a potential obstacle to plans to convert the office building into a live/work development.
The accessibility of Tysons Corner Center and other attractions will make the property enticing to residents and workers, who can now cross I-495 with a pedestrian bridge, McGuireWoods land use lawyer Greg Riegle argued on developer Madison Highland’s behalf at a Fairfax County Planning Commission public hearing on Sept. 14.
However, county staff fear noise from the adjacent highway could deter those same residents and workers from utilizing the park and amenity spaces proposed to replace most of the 8-acre site’s surface parking.
The developer, going under the name McLean Corporate Ridge Property LLC, has committed to some mitigation measures, including window upgrades and evergreen tree plantings to separate the public park areas from an existing sound wall along the Beltway, according to a staff report.
“There still remains outdoor recreation and park space that is encumbered by noise impacts that exceed Policy Plan guidance,” staff said in the report. “Staff continues to recommend creative solutions, like artistic walls, to further mitigate noise impacts to better be in conformance with the Policy Plan or to increase the useability of the space of future residents should be further explored by the applicant.”
Despite those concerns, which Riegle noted could be further addressed at the more detailed site plan phase, county staff and the planning commission recommended that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approve Madison Highland’s rezoning application.
Following up on similar projects in Bailey’s Crossroads and Merrifield, the developer is seeking to convert the 10-story office building northeast of the Beltway and Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) into up to 250 live/work units, which can serve as housing, a workplace or both. Between 10 and 13% of the units will be designated as workforce dwelling units, in accordance with the county’s guidelines for Tysons.
Even after recent renovations, 2000 Corporate Ridge is struggling with vacancies in a slow office market, according to Riegle. Compared to a full replacement, the proposed conversion would be a more efficient and environmentally friendly way to put the building “to productive use,” while keeping the door open for future commercial uses, he told the planning commission.
“The building as it exists doesn’t contribute anything to the fabric or economy of Tysons, and there’s not a good way forward, absent repositioning here,” Riegle said. “The tactical repositioning is good for the site, it’s good for the community, and frankly, it’s good for the remaining office opportunities in Tysons.”
While the building and its 4-level, 644-space parking garage will stay, the project promises to transform the rest of the site with a 0.73-acre private amenity space for tenants and 3.2 acres of publicly accessible open space, including a “reforested hillside” to the north, a preserve with a boardwalk and bird-watching station to the south, and a neighborhood park near the McLean Hills Condominiums.
Located on the north side of the property adjacent to the Beltway, the reforested hillside will feature an 8-foot-wide, ADA-accessible trail that the developer has agreed to extend off-site with a shared-use trail to the I-495 pedestrian bridge.
To accommodate the trail, Madison Highland anticipates needing to remove most of the trees on the northern part of the site, much to Braddock District Planning Commissioner Mary Cortina’s alarm.
“That is the best sound barrier that you can have,” Cortina said. “I understand you need to make an accessible path, but all of those trees are gone, and that’s not just a loss to the immediate area, but everybody that drives by too. Every tree coming down between 495 and the buildings, it changes the air quality for the people that live there too.”
Sunny Yang, a planner for the county, said staff shares those concerns, but the site’s slope would otherwise make it difficult for the trail to meet accessibility requirements. The developer plans to preserve 15,200 square feet of trees elsewhere on the property, per the staff report, which calls the trail an “integral” connection for the development.
Under a proffer agreement that was being revised up to the afternoon of the public hearing, the developer has committed to looking for ways to save more trees when developing its site plan.
“We’re not in the business of taking down trees that don’t need to be taken down,” Riegle said.
Though disappointed by the prospective tree losses, Cortina joined the rest of the commission in supporting the proposal overall, praising the “beautiful” design and “attention to detail.”
Providence District Commissioner Phil Niedzielski-Eichner called the conversion a “creative” approach to reusing a “high-vacancy” office building constructed in 1985, noting that the plan has evolved since it was first submitted to the county last year.
“As we talk about the dynamics of land use, the reality is we’re always making tradeoffs between objectives and ideal purposes, and I fully respect the issue of the tree save,” he said. “It’s very important in all of our considerations, but I also want to balance that against the benefits being realized with this application.”
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on the application on Oct. 24.
Local and State Candidate Forum Tonight — “The South County Federation, a non-partisan umbrella group of homeowners, civic and citizens associations in the greater Lorton area, plans to hold an in-person and virtual candidate forum Sept. 20 for several general election races…All 20 invited candidates said they would participate.” [On the MoVe]
Charges Dropped in Sexual Battery Case — At a preliminary hearing Monday (Sept. 18), a Fairfax County judge dismissed sexual battery and abduction charges against a 20-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Chantilly in July, saying there wasn’t probable cause for a trial. The man remains in jail on separate charges in Loudoun and Prince William. [WUSA9]
Lincolnia Restaurant Featured on TV Is Closing — “Foxfire Grill, which underwent a dramatic makeover on the reality TV show, Restaurant Impossible, will close at the end of October. The restaurant on Little River Turnpike in Fairfax County has indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a full bar. Its last day will be October 31.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
McLean Contractor at Risk of Bankruptcy — “Just two years after going public and raising $267 million from investors, McLean cybersecurity contractor IronNet Inc. appears to be on borrowed time…It’s not the first time IronNet has warned of a potential bankruptcy, but the board’s decision to furlough almost all employees and suspend operations on Sept. 5 has made its situation especially dire.” [Washington Business Journal]
McLean HS Hires Fairfax Girls’ Basketball Coach — Four-time state championship winner Pat Deegan has taken over as head coach of the girls’ varsity basketball team at McLean High School. The former Fairfax High School coach was chosen to succeed “Jen Sobota, who recently stepped down after 10 seasons and winning more than 100 games to become the assistant director of student activities at McLean.” [Gazette Leader]
Dulles Chamber of Commerce Seeks New CEO — “Friday was Melissa McKenna’s last day as the president and chief executive officer of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce, according to the organization’s weekly email newsletter…Chamber Chair Joe Malabo and Vice Chair Mike Williams are working out the details of a search committee to find a new president and CEO.” [Patch]
N. Va. Coalition Assists People With Public Transportation — “The Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA) is working with Centreville Immigration Forum and other organizations to remove some of those barriers. Their pilot program is training 55 participants, all of whom are low-income and do not speak English fluently. Each person received a transit card worth $100 for their training trips.” [DCist]
For Principal, Working at FCPS Is a Family Affair — “Since 2000, Edison High School Principal Amanda Burke has been a familiar face at Fairfax County Public Schools. She started her career teaching at the high school she now leads. Today, Principal Burke’s infectious enthusiasm for education reflects in her two children, who also work for FCPS.” [FCPS]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high near 79 degrees and a light northwest wind of 3-6 mph. The evening will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 60 degrees and a gentle northeast breeze. [Weather.gov]
The sounds of Broadway are coming to Fairfax County in a truck this fall.
The Concert Truck will kick off the season with six stops across the county in three days, starting at the Oakwood Meadow Senior Residences in Rose Hill on Sept. 27 and concluding on Sept. 29 at the Providence Community Center in Oakton.
The mobile concert hall will also make stops at The Boro for its inaugural Tysons Fall Mixed Market, George Mason Regional Library in Annandale, the Mosaic District in Merrifield, and Capital One Center in Tysons.
At each stop, The Concert Truck co-founder and pianist Nick Luby will be joined by singer Jacob Lamb for an hour-long performance “featuring arrangements of Broadway classics,” according to a public relations representative for The Boro.
Luby started The Concert Truck with fellow pianist Susan Zhang in April 2016 as a way to expand the accessibility of live music, according to the pop-up’s website.
Equipped with lights, sound and instruments, the 16-foot box truck launched in Columbia, South Carolina, delivering eight performances in five days. It has since appeared across the country and partnered with local and national arts organizations, such as the Kennedy Center’s Washington National Opera and the Virginia Arts Festival.
The full schedule for the truck’s Fairfax County tour is below.
September 27, 2023 @ 11:00 a.m.
Oakwood Meadow Senior Residences
5815 S. Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VirginiaSeptember 27, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.
Boro Park
The Tysons Mixed Market
8350 Broad Street Tysons, VA 22102September 28, 2023 @ 11:30 a.m.
George Mason Regional Library
7001 Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA 22003September 28, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.
Mosaic
2905 District Avenue Fairfax, VA 22031September 29, 2023 11:00 a.m.
Capital One Center — The Sculpture Garden
1680 Capital One Tower Road Tysons, VA 22102September 29, 2023 @ 2:30 p.m.
The Providence Community Center
3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031
For anyone looking to get a more traditional Broadway experience, Capital One Hall is bringing back its “Broadway in Tysons” series for a third year. The season will open with “Jesus Christ Superstar” — which is celebrating its 50th anniversary — on Oct. 20-22, followed by “The Cher Show” on Feb. 16-18, “STOMP” on April 5-7 and “Little Women” on May 17-19.
Extending a quarter-mile along Tysons One place, the park will feature a dog park, a 10-foot-wide multi-use trail, a Metro plaza area and active recreation zones, including a children’s play area, according to the application.
In an initial version of the proposed development plan, the linear park was designed around Tysons One Place, but based on feedback from county staff, the developer will expand the park space by razing and relocating that section of the roadway.
“The linear park, that’s something we’re all really, really excited about…It really will serve as a great connection for folks coming from International Drive to the Metro, to the bus bays, to the site,” Clifford said, predicting that the park “will be a crown jewel of the area.”
With Metro currently only accessible from the mall via elevated walkways, Macerich “made a concerted effort” with its revised plan “to bring folks back down” to street level, Vice President of Development Hillary Zahm said.
In addition to the linear park, the plan adds a corner plaza with ramps to the Lord and Taylor site — known as phase 2A — and a loop trail around the mall’s perimeter that will include connections to the Metro station, the bridge to Westpark Drive, and the I-495 pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
According to a staff report, Macerich has also agreed to install a crosswalk with pedestrian signals and ADA-accessible curb ramps across Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) at Tysons Blvd, a provision that the county had sought after a woman was killed there in 2021.
“We will have at-grade pedestrian crossings into the Metro south pavilion and the bus bays, so there are crosswalks proposed in phases 2A and 2B,” Zahm said. “So, there will be a clear pedestrian path into the site, into the towers and the shopping center, both at-grade and elevated.”
Providence District Commissioner Phil Niedzielski-Eichner, who represents the area, commended Macerich for working with county staff “to generate a development plan that is as exciting as it is consistent with our hopes and aspirations for the future of Tysons.”
The application, which outlines five total phases of development for Tysons Corner Center, will go to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for a public hearing and final vote on Sept. 26.
