(Updated at 6:30 p.m. on 8/13/2023) An 85-year-old man died Friday (Aug. 11) after getting seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash on Arlington Blvd (Route 50) in Merrifield.
Paul Hession, a resident of the Churchill neighborhood in the McLean area, was a passenger in a 2015 Toyota Camry that was turning left from westbound Arlington Blvd to Stonehurst Drive around 11:44 a.m. on Friday, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release on Saturday (Aug. 12).
“The driver of a second vehicle, a 2010 Toyota Prius, traveling eastbound on Arlington Boulevard, struck the Camry in the intersection,” police said. “After the initial collision, the Camry struck a third car, a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Eqs300, that was stopped at the intersection.”
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units were dispatched to the scene of the crash around 11:58 a.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz. At least one person had to be extricated from their vehicle.
Hession was taken to an area hospital, where he died. The drivers of all three vehicles were also hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Virginia Department of Transportation traffic cameras showed vehicle backups on Route 50 approaching Pickett Road, where police directed traffic at the Fairfax City border.
The crash occurred as other police and fire units were busy investigating a major two-vehicle crash on Route 50 at I-66 near Fair Oaks Mall. Route 50 was fully closed there, and both drivers were initially considered to be in life-threatening condition, the FCPD said.
#FCPD is investigating a three vehicle crash in Merrifield, on eastbound Arlington Blvd near Stonehurst Dr. Eastbound Arlington Blvd is closed while the investigation continues. One adult man take to the hospital in life threatening condition. Please use an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/DmeXcdwLsz
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 11, 2023
Updated at 6:15 p.m. on 8/13/2023 — The pedestrian killed in Friday morning’s crash was 86-year-old Brigitte Forster of McLean, Fairfax County police say.
The driver of the 2009 Toyota Sienna that hit her was turning left onto northbound Kirby Road from the Sylvestry at Vinson Hall parking lot when they “cut the turn short and entered the southbound lanes,” according to the police.
Updated at 9:50 a.m. — Kirby Road has reopened after this morning’s fatal crash, police say.
Earlier: A woman has died after a vehicle hit her while she was crossing Kirby Road in McLean.
Fairfax County police officers are investigating the scene at Kirby Road and Old Dominion Drive next to the Chesterbrook United Methodist Church, the department said at 7:12 a.m.
“Traffic being diverted at Kirby Rd & Old Dominion Dr. Follow officer direction,” the Fairfax County Police Department tweeted.
According to scanner traffic on Open MHz, a police dispatcher reported at 6:05 a.m. that there was a crash with an injury at 1733 Kirby Road, stating that the victim may be trapped under a minivan, but those details hadn’t been confirmed yet.
A Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department unit with a medic was also dispatched to the scene. The minivan driver remained on the scene, a dispatcher said at 6:08 a.m.
“It would appear that the victim was struck in a crosswalk on Kirby Road,” an officer said at 6:32 a.m. The crosswalk at that intersection crosses Kirby right at the top of a ramp from Old Dominion.
The woman was transported to the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, where she died at 6:39 a.m., according to scanner traffic.
This appears to be the sixth fatal pedestrian crash in Fairfax County so far this year, following a crash involving a possibly intoxicated driver on Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads on June 8. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ crash database, which has records dating back to 2010, doesn’t show any previous incidents at Kirby and Old Dominion.
Officers are on scene of a fatal pedestrian crash at Kirby Rd & Old Dominion Dr in McLean. Driver of a vehicle struck an adult woman. Woman declared deceased. The driver remained on scene. Traffic being diverted at Kirby Rd & Old Dominion Dr. Follow officer direction. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/9PtUG1vTW3
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 11, 2023
Image via Google Maps
Crane Removal May Affect GMU Area Traffic — “This Saturday, August 12, beginning at 9:00 a.m., contractors will be removing a crane from the central portion of the One University building site adjacent to the George Mason University campus…The removal will take several hours and will block the northern curb lane on University Drive just west of Route 123, near Mason’s Field House.” [The Walkinshaw Advisory]
Metro Train Operator Fired After Stranding Riders — “Metro is requiring supervisors to conduct checks on train operators working split shifts after an intoxicated operator left passengers stranded for 40 minutes last year…The commission released a report on the incident, which occurred Dec. 23 and resulted in Metro firing the operator, Metro spokeswoman Sherri Ly said.” [Washington Post]
Latest Design for Penn Daw Fire/Housing Facility Shared — “The gymnasium at Bucknell Elementary School was packed July 27 for Fairfax County’s presentation of a revised concept design for the colocated fire station, affordable housing and emergency shelter/supportive housing in Penn Daw.” Notable changes include a relocation of the affordable housing closer to Beacon Hill Road and the addition of solar power roof shingles. [On the MoVe]
Virginia Bumps Up Penalties for “Swatting” — “While it has always been a crime to intentionally provide false information to law enforcement, a new law is now in place in Virginia that includes stronger penalties for calling in fake emergencies… ‘It is a significant change,’ said Sgt. Jacob Pearce with Fairfax County Police.” [WTOP]
Tysons Area Apartment Prices on the Rise — “Those wishing to partake of the urbanizing atmosphere of Tysons and the Mosaic district around Merrifield are having to pay more for the privilege, according to new apartment-rental data. Both areas have seen year-over-year increases in median rentals even as the nation as a whole saw a contraction in costs.” [Gazette Leader]
Fairfax City Seeks Feedback on Website Update — We are updating the #FairfaxCity website — please take this short survey to help guide our efforts…The survey is open through Aug. 11. The next version of our website will be easier to navigate & tasks will be easier to accomplish. Thanks for your input!” [City of Fairfax/Twitter]
Reston Media Company at Risk of Losing Nasdaq Listing — “With its stock price floundering, Reston media analytics company Comscore Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) took a massive impairment charge in the second quarter that wiped out any chance of it turning a profit…Last month it received a delisting warning from Nasdaq, and the drop in its share price also prompted the company to take a non-cash $44.1 million goodwill impairment charge in the second quarter.” [Washington Business Journal]
Local Volunteer Wins FCPS Equity Award — “George Becerra was recognized as the first recipient of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. The award recognizes staff, students, or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.” [FCPS]
It’s Friday — The forecast predicts mostly sunny weather with a high near 87 degrees and a west wind of about 8 mph. In the evening, expect partly cloudy skies with a low around 69 degrees and a southeast wind at roughly 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
The largest Vietnamese heritage festival on the East Coast is elebrating its 10th anniversary this weekend.
The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center (7901 Tysons One Place) will be alight with the lively VietFest cultural celebration from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13. Vietfest is organized by the National Organization for Vietnamese American Leadership of Greater Washington, D.C. (NOVAL-DC).
Celebrated yearly, VietFest returned last year to its largest turnout of over 30,000 attendees after taking a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, its Facebook event page says.
The free, outdoor extravaganza includes cultural performances, a lion dance, a martial arts presentation, a traditional áo dài fashion show, crawfish and pho eating competitions, local food vendors, and beauty pageants. VietFest will also host its fifth annual talent show at 2 p.m. on Saturday, where participants will showcase their talents in hopes of winning a grand prize of $1,000.
To commemorate 10 years of VietFest — from its humble origins in a George Mason University parking lot to a sprawling two-day festival in one of Virginia’s largest shopping malls — the festival will have increased programming and “more food vendors than ever before,” says Bobby Ly, director of VietFest and co-president of NOVAL-DC.
Ly noted that this year’s celebration will feature a new heritage wall filled with photos of VietFest throughout the last 10 years.
“We usually have a heritage wall that’s like 30 feet long with pictures of the Vietnamese community from 1975 to now and all their contributions to the United States,” Ly said. “But this year, our heritage wall is different. It’s going to be…all pictures of Vietfest through all the 10 years that we’ve been doing it. And for me, I’m very proud of that and I think that’s going to be the highlight.”
Ly attributes VietFest’s smashing success over the last decade to its inclusivity, saying that it “stands out” from other festivals in the area because it’s “open to all communities” to participate, even if it’s primarily known as a Vietnamese festival.
“Now going into our 10th year, it’s going very strong,” Ly said. “The whole reason why VietFest was started was to help bring the community together, not just the Vietnamese community, but all other communities…Because every time we have the festival, not only Vietnamese show up, it’s all Asians, all other communities coming out.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Ly optimistically predicts clear skies and high turnout, reminding visitors that they can always cool off from the heat inside the mall, where VietFest-affiliated vendors will be selling snacks like popcorn.
“The weather looks like it’s going to be nice, no rain,” Ly said. “It’s going to be a little bit hot, but the area where Tysons is, the buildings give us a lot of shade, and we have a little wind, so perfect weather. I have no doubt that we’re going to have a lot of people.”
Though last year set a high bar with its record attendance, Ly is determined to surpass those numbers and continue the momentum built up from 2022.
“I’m hoping that we could do much better this year, but last year, all our vendors, they made enough food for two days, but on the first day they sold everything,” Ly said. “Because of last year, I think this year will be even better because now everybody’s hyped up, and everybody knows that there’s gonna be a lot of people, and most importantly, all of these different organizations, all of these communities are promoting VietFest as though it was their own community.”
“So, you know, I think that this year will be phenomenal, and hopefully it will be the best year ever,” Ly continued. “I mean, that would be fitting since it’s our 10-year anniversary.”
The development now under construction on Falls Church City’s former high school site has landed its first retail tenants.
Hoffman & Associates, the developer behind the nearly 10-acre West Falls neighborhood, announced yesterday (Thursday) that the restaurants SEOULSPICE, BurgerFi and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls will all open in fall 2024, along with the Spanish immersion preschool Tierra Encantada.
“West Falls will serve as a dynamic destination and vibrant community in the heart of West Falls Church,” Hoffman & Associates President Shawn Seaman said in a press release. “Each of these new businesses will bring something unique to the neighborhood, and we look forward to sharing more additions to this community in the near future.”
Tierra Encantada will occupy 10,000 square feet of space at 7131 Magnolia Street in the development’s retail corridor, which will be in the median of a new street called West Falls Station Blvd bisecting the neighborhood.
This will be the second of 15 locations that the early childhood education provider has planned for Northern Virginia. The first school opened in Alexandria last year, and a third one has been proposed near Ballston in Arlington.
“This early education and preschool program focuses on promoting early cognitive development and respect for diversity with a fully Spanish curriculum, a play-based learning model, and daily scratch-made meals from organic ingredients,” Hoffman & Associates said.
Here’s more on the three restaurants from the press release:
SEOULSPICE, a quick service restaurant known for its Korean comfort food, plans to open a new, over 2,000-square-foot location at 150 West Falls Station Boulevard. This will be SEOULSPICE’s eighth location in the DMV, expanding further into the Northern Virginia market and reinforcing the company’s commitment to serving delicious and nutritious gluten-free Korean cuisine.
BurgerFi, a popular fast-casual burger concept, will open a new over 2,000-square-foot location at 170 West Falls Station Blvd. With over 125 restaurants domestically and internationally, BurgerFi is a chef-founded concept offering a casual dining atmosphere with award-winning American cuisine. BurgerFi uses 100% natural American Angus beef with no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or additives and offers a diverse menu including their award-winning vegetarian VegeFi® Burger, Wagyu Beef, Cage-Free “Fi’ed” Chicken Tenders and Sandwiches, Fresh-Cut Fries and Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Frozen Custard Desserts, beer, wine, and more.
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls will open at 235 West Falls Station Blvd with 1,375 square feet – its largest location yet. Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is the largest lobster roll brand in the U.S., bringing the luxury of lobster to all at an affordable price point and casual environment. Mason’s uses simple recipes and the highest-quality lobster sustainably sourced directly from Maine.
Planned for 1.2 million square feet of construction, West Falls is the biggest development project in Falls Church’s history.
In addition to 142,100 square feet of retail, it will include about 647 apartment and condominium units, 217 units of senior housing, a 146-room hotel, 326,100 square feet of office space, about 14,000 square feet of civic space, and an 18,000-square-foot community gathering space called The Commons.
The project broke ground in May 2022, and the first buildings are on track to be finished in fall 2024, though the senior living facility may be delayed after developer Trammel Crow dropped out of that part of project.
Hoffman & Associates told the Falls Church City Council in June that the first phase is expected to be substantially complete in January 2025. That includes the hotel, a multifamily condominium building, a medical office building, two parking garages, and an apartment building with a still-unidentified grocery store.
West Falls constitutes the city’s portion of a massive effort to revitalize the 40-acre West Falls Church Transit Station Area. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently approved plans to overhaul both the Metro station property in Idylwood and Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center campus.
“This larger development is intended to add an active and pedestrian-friendly area to the vibrant neighborhood that fosters community, sustainability and innovation,” Hoffman & Associates said.
As the new school year approaches, young readers can celebrate summer reading this Sunday (August 13).
The Fairfax Library Foundation will bring a second edition of its Children’s Summer Reading Festival to the Chantilly Regional Library (4000 Stringfellow Road) from noon to 3 p.m.
Admission is free, and children and families can enjoy face painting, a bounce house, food trucks, a mini zoo and other attractions. The event doesn’t require tickets, but attendees who reserve a spot via Eventbrite can get a festival tote bag while supplies last.
In early June, Lorton Library (9520 Richmond Highway) hosted more than 1,200 attendees at the inaugural edition of the festival, according to an FLP press release. At the event, more than 240 children registered for Fairfax County Public Library’s summer reading program.
This Sunday’s date is a rescheduling — Chantilly Regional Library was originally slated to host the festival in late June. Families can also attend an outdoor screening of Frozen at the library Saturday night (Aug. 12).
Also open to adults, FCPL’s summer reading program runs through Aug. 18, and it’s still possible to register. Participating readers have already exceeded the 50,000-book goal for the community by more than 30,000 books.
Participants in the summer reading program can earn virtual badges for completing reading goals. After readers meet their goals, they can get a coupon sheet with offers from businesses and the Fairfax County Park Authority.
A critical vehicular link between Reston and the Wolf Trap area has been restored.
The new, two-lane Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run is now fully open, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced yesterday (Wednesday).
Located near Baron Cameron Avenue between Lake Fairfax Park and Colvin Run Park, the expanded bridge has one travel lane in each direction, saving drivers from the hassle and potential confusion of having to yield to oncoming traffic.
More on the project from VDOT:
The new bridge (located between the Dulles Toll Road and Baron Cameron Avenue):
- Improves traffic flow by replacing the nearly 50-year-old weight-restricted one-lane bridge that required drivers to stop if there was traffic crossing the bridge in the other direction
- Includes a median/splitter island separating the two lanes to improve safety
The Hunter Mill Road over Colvin Run Bridge Replacement project, which is now complete, also includes:
- An improved trail crossing south of the bridge
- Landscaping in the median/splitter island
- Abutments for a future trail bridge over Colvin Run (the rest of the trail bridge will be constructed by Fairfax County)
Construction on the project began approximately two years ago in August 2021. Built in 1974, the previous bridge had just one lane and was limited to carrying 10 tons at a time, even though the road was used, on average, by 8,500 vehicles per every day, as of 2019.
One lane of the new span was completed in December.
The project cost a total of $5.2 million, relying on funds from the federal, state and Fairfax County governments.
Hunter Mill Rd drivers don't need to yield to oncoming traffic at Colvin Run in #Vienna anymore – the two-lane bridge fully opened today! The now complete project also includes a raised median and an improved trail crossing south of the bridge.
Read more: https://t.co/N92AqLAo8P pic.twitter.com/yMjBU8R87H
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) August 9, 2023
A critical vehicular link between Reston and the Wolf Trap area has been restored.
The new, two-lane Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run is now fully open, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced yesterday (Wednesday).
Located near Baron Cameron Avenue between Lake Fairfax Park and Colvin Run Park, the expanded bridge has one travel lane in each direction, saving drivers from the hassle and potential confusion of having to yield to oncoming traffic.
More on the project from VDOT:
The new bridge (located between the Dulles Toll Road and Baron Cameron Avenue):
- Improves traffic flow by replacing the nearly 50-year-old weight-restricted one-lane bridge that required drivers to stop if there was traffic crossing the bridge in the other direction
- Includes a median/splitter island separating the two lanes to improve safety
The Hunter Mill Road over Colvin Run Bridge Replacement project, which is now complete, also includes:
- An improved trail crossing south of the bridge
- Landscaping in the median/splitter island
- Abutments for a future trail bridge over Colvin Run (the rest of the trail bridge will be constructed by Fairfax County)
Construction on the project began approximately two years ago in August 2021. Built in 1974, the previous bridge had just one lane and was limited to carrying 10 tons at a time, even though the road was used, on average, by 8,500 vehicles per every day, as of 2019.
One lane of the new span was completed in December.
The project cost a total of $5.2 million, relying on funds from the federal, state and Fairfax County governments.
Hunter Mill Rd drivers don't need to yield to oncoming traffic at Colvin Run in #Vienna anymore – the two-lane bridge fully opened today! The now complete project also includes a raised median and an improved trail crossing south of the bridge.
Read more: https://t.co/N92AqLAo8P pic.twitter.com/yMjBU8R87H
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) August 9, 2023
The highly anticipated Lego Discovery Center has launched in Springfield, though it’ll be a few more days before the brick-building mecca officially welcomes the general public.
With a ribbon cut by scissors made out of Lego bricks and a burst of confetti, the 32,000-square-foot attraction opened its doors at Springfield Town Center (6563 Springfield Mall, Suite 12004) around 11 a.m. yesterday to dozens of kids, parents and other adults who snagged advance tickets.
A prebooked ticket is required for admission until the official opening on Monday, Aug. 14.
Under construction since December, the discovery center features a variety of play and building areas, a Mini World with models constructed from more than 1.5 million bricks, a 4D theater, a climbing gym, an indoor train ride and a cafe. There’s also a store with exclusive sets and a customize-a-figure station, among other offerings, that can be accessed separately.
“It’s been such a long time coming,” said Andrew Litterst, the D.C. area’s Master Model Builder. “I was here at the Springfield Town Center back in February, competing for my job title. Six months later, here we are. We’re very excited to finally be at this point. It’s an amazing attraction, and I can’t wait to get inside and work with people.”
A former environmental sciences teacher at Marshall High School, Litterst was anointed master builder for Lego’s first discovery center in the D.C. area after winning a Brick Factor competition where he raced to build models inspired by different themes, like the Super Bowl or space, WAMU reported at the time.
As master builder, he serves as a spokesperson for the center, and he’s responsible for building and maintaining its many Lego models. His creations range in scale from dragons with movable wings to replicas of D.C. landmarks, such as the Capitol and a Nationals Park with an actual view of the National Mall.
Given his background as an educator, perhaps it’s not surprising that Litterst is especially looking forward to delivering the center’s workshops and building challenges, which invite kids to create models in a set amount of time.
“Lego is the embodiment of the scientific method,” Litterst said. “Whatever you’re trying to build, that’s your problem. That’s the question you’re trying to answer, and how you go about building that, that’s kind of the rest of that discovery process. So, I’m going to try building something this way. Oh, that doesn’t look quite right. Let’s tear it down and try a different way, and so, it’s a learning process through trial and error and it’s just a great group activity as well.”
Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk says the combination of entertainment and education makes the Lego Discovery Center a valuable addition to Springfield, particularly at a town center seeking to become a destination for more than just shopping.
Despite a major renovation and rebranding from its original name of Springfield Mall, Springfield Town Center remains dominated by retail and has seen little progress over the past decade toward fulfilling Fairfax County’s vision of accessible, mixed-use development.
An economic market study released last year found that the town center drove an uptick in retail vacancies in Springfield during the pandemic, but the 2-million-square-foot area is “well positioned” to support growth in other sectors, including 800 to 1,200 multifamily residential units and 100,000 to 200,000 square feet of office.
Retail will still be a key component of the town center, whose incoming tenants include the department clothing stores Burlington and Daily Thread. But the county and property owner PREIT hope to balance it out with housing and other types of commercial development.
In addition to Lego, the town center is in line to get a five-story hotel and a 460-unit residential building called the Hanover — the first multifamily housing approved in Springfield since 2001.
“We’re now exercising the original vision for the Springfield Town Center,” Lusk said. “We’re building those amenities that are going to help create the community of the future, so we’re excited about that.”
At yesterday’s grand opening, though, the Lego Discovery Center delivered some more immediate rewards to friends Adam Smith and Jayson Brown, who eagerly presented a pair of “perfect” cars that he had constructed.
Both boys declared the facility “good” after exploring a pyramid, volcano and Jungle Jump slide in the open “Build Adventures” zone.
Adam’s mom, Jamie Davis Smith, says it took about 40 minutes to travel from their home, but the family is happy to have a Lego Discovery Center closer than the one they previously visited in Philadelphia, where her parents live.
“He loves Legos, and they have a lot of things here you can’t do at home, like the tracks he can race cars down and all the different zones,” Davis Smith said. “So, it adds a different layer to building with LEGOS and playing with them. I think we’ll come back a lot probably.”
Confusing I-66 Signs Will Be Fixed, VDOT Says — “The Virginia Department of Transportation is replacing a sign on Interstate 66 that says to go west to get to D.C., which is to the east. On a busy stretch of I-66 at Nutley Street in Vienna, there’s a sign for I-66 East to Washington, but just in front of it, there’s a sign for I-66 West to Washington.” [NBC4]
Woman Arrested for Fairfax Pool Hall Fight — “A 19-year-old Fairfax woman faces multiple charges, including the malicious wounding of a police officer, following an altercation that took place early Friday morning a Fairfax City pool hall, according to police. Officers responded around 1:30 a.m, to Revolution Dart and Billiards at 9687 Fairfax Blvd. for the report of a patron refusing to leave.” [Patch]
Police Issue Almost 25K Citations During Safety Campaign — “The Fairfax County Police Department has successfully wrapped up their 2023 ‘Road Shark’ campaign, issuing close to 25,000 citations and warnings to dangerous drivers on Fairfax County roadways.” The campaign also “resulted in hundreds of Driving While Intoxicated arrests.” [FCPD]
Dominion Square Development Secures More Financing — “The first all-affordable housing development in Tysons has secured new pieces of its financing puzzle and is on track to break ground late this year…[Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing] said it hasn’t yet finalized construction financing, but is working with its lenders and tax credit investor funders, hoping to raise the needed funds by the end of 2023″ [Bisnow]
N. Va. Schools Nervous About State Budget Negotiations — “The new school year starts in just a few weeks in Northern Virginia. But with General assembly negotiations ongoing over how to spend the state budget surplus, local schools are preparing to open their doors without hoped-for state support.” [DCist]
McLean “Castle” Ready for Housing Market — “A Tuscan-style estate in McLean will hit the market later this month full of regal vibes, all of which could be yours for…$22 million. When it goes for sale, it’ll be the second-highest property currently listed in McLean, according to Redfin.” [Washingtonian]
Park Authority Reveals Selfie Contest Winners — “At the culmination of National Park and Recreation Month, many Fairfax County Park-goers participated in a selfie photo contest hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority…The Park Authority is happy to congratulate the following contest winners in their respective categories.” [FCPA]
It’s Thursday — Expect showers and potential thunderstorms throughout the day, with highs near 78 degrees. Precipitation chances peak at 80%, with new rainfall amounts of a quarter to half an inch possible. At night, precipitation chances drop to 30%. The sky will gradually clear, reaching a low of around 66 degrees. [Weather.gov]
