The W&OD Railroad Regional Park may get parallel walking and bicycle trails in the City of Falls Church.
The city’s Planning Commission held a work session on the proposed plans last night (Monday).
The dual-path would run between N. West and Little Falls streets, according to the city documents.
“The project would include replacing the existing 10-foot wide shared-use trail with an 11-foot wide bicycle trail and an 8-foot-wide pedestrian trail separated by a 2-foot-wide stamped asphalt buffer,” the documents say.
The city is also working on updating four W&OD crossings:
- N. Spring Street
- N. Oak Street
- Great Falls Street
- Little Falls Street
Staff said at the meeting last night that the new paths and crossings would improve safety.
Stormwater management still needs to be coordinated between the city’s Department of Public Works and Nova Parks, staff said.
The proposed plan appears to match the city’s vision for the W&OD. The city’s W&OD Master Plan calls for separated walking and biking trails, along with improved intersection crossings, new plazas and restored lighting, according to the city.
Meanwhile, the city’s Comprehensive Plan desires either trail widening or adding a parallel pedestrian path, the documents say.
While the commissioners voiced support for the plan, Chair Russell Wodiska said that he wants to give residents a chance to comment on the proposal. Locals can expect a public hearing to happen in the near future.
Images via Falls Church
After several months of delays, plans to redevelop the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church property in the Falls Church area may go before Fairfax County planners in the spring.
Developer Toll Mid-Atlantic LP Company is seeking permission to redevelop 10 acres of the property at the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Idylwood Road into a residential neighborhood.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission’s public hearing for the project has been postponed several times this year since the application was first submitted in April.
“The St. Paul’s Lutheran Church SPA public hearing and concurrent Toll Brothers rezoning public hearing were moved since the applicant has yet to resubmit plans to the County for review,” Senior Planner Kelly Posusney told Tysons Reporter.
The Planning Commission is now scheduled to consider the application in the spring — if the plans are resubmitted to the county, Planning Commission staff told Tysons Reporter.
Posusney said that the resubmitted plans are now tentatively expected in January.
“If they fail to resubmit in January, the public hearings would most likely need to be moved again,” Posusney said. “The project has only completed our pre-staffing review, which is the initial review by staff. They never submitted plans for a staffing review, and that is why they need to resubmit.”
Image via Google Maps
(Updated 12/20/19) This year, Hanukkah begins this Sunday (Dec. 22) and will end on Monday (Dec. 30).
For anyone looking into public celebrations, there are lots of events around the Tysons area where people can gather and join in the festivities
This Sunday (Dec. 22), the Chocolate Gelt Drop at the Freeman House (131 NE Church Street) will feature the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department as it hosts an evening of live music, menorah lighting and festivities. There will be chocolate gelt’s dropped from the top of a fire truck as well as food. All are welcome to this free event from 5 to 6 p.m.
Temple Rodef Shalom is sponsoring a community dinner next Friday (Dec. 27) from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at their place of worship in McLean (2100 Westmoreland Street). They will be serving brisket and Latke, a type of fried potato cake. Tickets are $30 for non-member adults, $18 for kids age 6 to 10 and $10 for kids under 5 years old.
For members of Temple Rodef Shalom, there will be a “low-key” Hanukkah event designed for kids on Friday, Dec. 27, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Temple Rodef Shalom (2100 Westmoreland Street). According to the event page, this event is designed for kids who thrive in low stress and relaxed environments. They will have the opportunity to enjoy a story, crafts, a photo booth and food. Tickets are $5.
On Sunday (Dec. 29), the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia will host Light Up the Night! Community Menorah Lighting from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Strawberry Park in the Mosaic District. People are welcome to gather and light candles, play games, sing together and eat sufganiyot, a type of round jelly donut.
The same day there will be a Hanukkah Master Chef: Latke Edition around 1 p.m. at 226 W Maple Ave. Attendees are asked to RSVP beforehand for this free event.
“A Festival of Lasers — Laser Tag” is an alternative way for people to celebrate Hanukkah among their peers.
Hosted by Gather DC, an organization designed to bring together people of the Jewish faith, this event invites people to enjoy three games of laser tag as well as snacks, drinks and socializing for $25. The event will take place this Wednesday (Dec. 18) at Ultrazone Laser Tag and Amusement Center (3447 Carlin Springs Road) from 6:45-10 p.m. and allow people to meet others around the 20s and 30s age range.
For the entire week, the Chanukah Wonderland will feature crafts, entertainment and a store from Dec.22-29 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. It will be held at 226 W Maple Ave in Vienna.
Photo via Element5 Digital/Unsplash
Fire Truck Getting Festive in Falls Church — “The annual tradition returns as the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department decorates the reserve engine and escorts Santa Claus through the streets of the greater Falls Church area. Santamobile begins this Sunday, Dec. 15 and will run through Monday, Dec. 23.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Tysons Company Taking on Terrestrial Transmissions — “In the past few months, Tysons, Va.-based Omnispace has made some of its most significant announcements since a $30 million Series A raise in 2017… Omnispace announced earlier this month a permit from the Mexican government to build a terrestrial communications network that will mesh with satellite networks.” [American Inno]
Local Students Show Off Cooking Skills — “Culinary Arts 1 and 2 students from Marshall Academy had the opportunity to shadow the executive culinary team and director of hospitality at the McLean DoubleTree Hotel, where they worked with staff members to prepare lunch. Working in teams with staff members, they prepared grilled chicken with a demi-glace sauce, baked tilapia, mixed vegetables, rice pilaf, and dinner rolls.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Real Estate Company Eyeing One Tysons East — “Akridge is also considering taking the speculative approach with One Tysons East, a 270,161-square-foot office planned for a 1.3-acre site at 1690 Old Meadow Road, Akridge President Matt Klein said in an interview.” [Washington Business Journal]
Dozens of community members gathered at Shrevewood Elementary School last night to hear about the latest work to address safety concerns along Shreve Road.
The road, which runs through the City of Falls Church and Fairfax County, has been the focus of a push for improved safety from the Shreve Road Community Working Group, a coalition of residents and community associations advocating for improvements to the corridor, along with elected officials and residents.
“What brought us here originally is the terrible tragedy,” Jeremy Hancock, the co-founder of the Shreve Road Community Working Group, said at the meeting, referring to the Falls Church resident who died from a hit and run near the intersection of Shreve Road and Hickory Street.
Hancock said that 140 people submitted feedback about the road in a survey and that the group is pushing for changes to both specific things, like crosswalks for the school, and also address systemic issues, like speed.
“We have heard for a long time the concerns along Shreve Road,” Hancock told Tysons Reporter. “Our greatest impact is getting the community together.”
Del. Marcus Simon (D-53rd) kicked off the town hall informing locals about accomplished and upcoming actions by local officials for the road “right now.”
Here are some of the things locals can expect, according to Simon and Allison Richter, the liaison to Fairfax and Arlington counties for VDOT:
- lowered speed from 35 to 30 miles per hour from Leesburg Pike (Route 7) to Wieland Place
- replacing older signs that weren’t reflective anymore
- trimming back vegetation covering the signs
- reducing sign clutter by taking out old signs that are no longer needed
“At the end of the day, there was good reason to decrease the speed limit on that portion, but traffic engineers found other speed limit was adequate,” Richter said about the recent speed study.
New signs with the new speed limit will be up soon, she said.
Even with the speed reduction in the one area, several attendees in the audience voiced concern that the speed is too high and dangerous.
“Speed is a big factor to results of a crash,” one person said.
“We want to make sure we don’t artificially lower the speed limits,” Richter responded to attendees’ comments. “People drive the speed they want to drive and then it becomes a burden on the police department.”
An attendee who claimed to be a former police officer with Fairfax County said that drivers can often go up to 10 mph above the posted speed limit without fear of getting a ticket. The police representatives at the meeting declined to comment on the attendee’s comment.
In response to concerns about the sharp turn on Shreve Road near Oldewood Drive, Richter said, “If we straighten the curves and widen the lanes, it encourages speed.”
Simon mentioned that there are bigger projects proposed for the road that require grant funding.
Richter and Simon said proposed changes include:
- changing the intersection of the W&OD Trail and Shreve Road
- creating a new walking route from Route 7 to W&OD Trail
- federal funding for three new crosswalks along Shreve Road, including at Fairwood and Virginia lanes
“Let us get all of this implemented plus give it a little bit of time and see how traffic adjusts,” Richter told the attendees. “And if we’re still having a lot of issues, we can continue to talk.”
Bonnie Kartzman, the co-founder of the Shreve Road Community Working Group, said that community involvement with sending letters to elected officials and attending meetings help the cause.
Kartzman urged attendees to sign up for the working group’s email newsletter and volunteer.
Updated 12/13/19 — Falls Church police said today (Friday) they reclassiffied the incident as a “suspicious incident.”
More from police:
While this incident is suspicious in nature and police would still like to speak with the individual, officers have determined there was no criminal act and doesn’t meet the criteria for attempted abduction. However, this incident serves as an example of the importance of speaking to your children about their personal safety and what to do when approached by a stranger. Parents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to police.
Falls Church police are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect linked to an attempted abduction of a child outside Aldi.
Police said a man approached a child outside of the grocery store, told the child to leave with him and then left when the child’s mother returned.
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Monday (Dec. 9) outside of the grocery store at 133 Hillwood Avenue.
Police said the incident was reported to them on Thursday (Dec. 12) and that the suspect is wanted for questioning.
“The suspect is described as a black male, about 6′ tall, medium build and wearing a gray hooded jacket with black sleeves, light blue jeans, and white sneakers, carrying an umbrella, and possibly wearing a baseball hat,” police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 703-248-5053.
A tax reduction for small distilleries across the country is about to expire on Dec. 31 — potentially leaving local businesses like the Falls Church Distillers uncertain of the future.
Earlier this year, Michael Paluzzi, the owner of the Falls Church Distillers, attended a conference and petitioned members of Congress to pass a bill that would freeze taxes on hard liquor at $2.70 per gallon rather than allowing them to rise to $13.50 per gallon.
The bill garnered 16o Republican cosponsors and 166 Democratic cosponsors, but ultimately did not inspire a legislative change.
Paluzzi said he is disappointed that his efforts with the American Craft Spirits Association didn’t get more support from Virginia politicians.
“We just don’t seem to muster their support for whatever reason,” he said. “The logic escapes me.”
As the looming tax increase approaches in three weeks, Paluzzi said he is preparing to downgrade his dreams of expansion and will focus on fostering his current market in the Virginia, D.C. and Maryland areas, instead of expanding to new states.
For now, many small distillery owners are just trying to stay afloat, Paluzzi said, adding that they will not be able to hire new employees or expand their markets like many planned.
Though he keeps up with newsletters and peers, Paluzzi said he isn’t in contact with people on Capitol Hill.
“Not hearing anything is always a scary thing,” he said.
Photo via Falls Church Distillers/Facebook
The West Falls Church Economic Development Project in the Little City has updated plans, including a new design for the hotel.
The Falls Church City Council held a joint work session with the Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority on Monday (Dec. 9) to review progress and discuss project aesthetics.
A presentation by James Snyder, the city’s director of community planning and economic development services, explored how the new development will look in the community and revealed a variety of building styles and colors to break up block redundancy.
People can expect numerous trees to be included in the final project, rooftop greenery, a grocery store, hotel, a new high school, senior living homes, family housing, shops and pedestrian-friendly walkways in the development, according to the presentation.
It has not been announced which hotel or grocery store will move into the space, but a commissioner said the announcement should be made either in the spring or summer of 2020.
Images and blueprints from the presentation primarily featured grey and white brick buildings with red, light wood and metal accents. Architects and designers said they looked toward New York and D.C. for industrial design ideas.
“The biggest change is the hotel. We heard everybody’s feedback that time that they were not thrilled with the hotel design, so we have started in a new direction,” another representative said.
The plans are expected to remain somewhat consistent throughout the next ideation phases, except for the senior living center, according to Snyder, who added that the Planning Commission is still awaiting development plans from the senior living facility.
“I like the geometric forms and modern architecture,” Planning Commission Chair Russell Wodiska said. “That’s a new look for Falls Church.”
Going forward in January, the next steps will be to work on creating a sense of community in the development, another commissioner said.
This Thursday (Dec. 12), community members are welcome to attend an event at the Town Hall (300 Park Avenue) from 7-9:30 p.m. where they will be able to learn more about the project and share their comments.
Image via City of Falls Church
Local officials are set to talk about how to improve safety along Shreve Road at a town hall on Thursday.
The event comes several months after a Falls Church resident Betty Ana Bernstein-Zabza died from a hit and run near the intersection of Shreve Road and Hickory Street in August.
Del. Marcus Simon (D-53rd) and the Shreve Road Community Working Group, a coalition of residents and community associations advocating for improvements to the corridor, plan to provide an update “on actions by local officials to improve the notoriously dangerous Shreve Road,” according to an email from the working group’s co-founders.
The town hall is set to start at 6:30 p.m. at the cafeteria in Shrevewood Elementary School (7525 Shreve Road).
First image via Google Maps; flyer via Shreve Road Community Working Group
City officials and community members in Falls Church are gearing up to celebrate the recent renovation of one park and the start of work on another one this Saturday (Dec. 7).
The events kick off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. at the new Broad Street entrance (601 W. Broad Street) for the Howard E. Herman Stream Valley Park, according to a press release from the city.
The park recently underwent renovation and restoration efforts, which included adding a new arched park sign, benches, pathway, pedestrian bridge and stream daylighting.
After the ribbon cutting, a groundbreaking ceremony will take place at around noon for the improvement project at Big Chimneys Park (210 Gibson Street).
The work is set to start this month and will include installing new play equipment, improving the drainage at the south end of the park and adding an accessible trail from the Winter Hill neighborhood, according to the press release.
Mayor David Tarter is expected to speak at both events, along with Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Chair Charley O’Hara and other community leaders.
Attendees who would like to get a ride between the parks can use the bus that will be available after the ribbon cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies, according to the press release.
Image and map via Google Maps
