The Dead Run stream restoration completed in-part last year is continuing with improvements planned for the stretch of waterway between Georgetown Pike and Churchill Road in McLean.
Last year’s project revitalized the dream in McLean Central Park, combatting erosion and re-greening portions of the stream to be better suited to local wildlife.
The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Stormwater Planning Division has scheduled a virtual meeting to discuss the project on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m.
The Fairfax County government website said the upcoming expansion of that restoration will tackle the part of the stream north of the earlier improvements and include re-greening along one of the main tributaries.
“The project is a continuation of the stream restoration that was completed through McLean Central Park,” the Stormwater Planning Division said on its website. “It will begin at Churchill Road and extend to Georgetown Pike. The tributary behind the Saint Luke Serbian Orthodox Church is included in this scope of work.”
Stormwater Planning Division said part of the project’s goals is added protection to nearby properties at risk from the negative effects of erosion.
“Property will be protected by providing a stable stream bed, banks and alignment, which will reduce the rate of stream bank erosion and channel migration; trees at risk of falling will be removed or protected where possible; native vegetation will be installed to hold soil in place and provide habitat,” the Stormwater Planning Division said. “Health and safety will be protected via improved water quality, protection of public utilities, such as sanitary sewer lines, within the floodplain and stabilization of stream banks.”
The project design is expected to be completed by July 2021.
Image via Fairfax County
Normally the McLean Community Center’s October calendar would be full of fall activities and gatherings. The lingering specter of COVID-19 has muted that somewhat, but there are still several virtual or distanced in-person events planned over the next month.
- Twelfth Night (Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m.) — The American Shakespeare Center is hosting a live, virtual performance of the Shakespeare comedy. An American Shakespeare Center staff member will be online to answer questions and provide insight. Tickets are $15 or $10 for McLean residents
- The Unruly Theatre Project’s Virtual Improv Show (Wednesday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.) — The Alden theater is sponsoring a virtual improv show. The program is free and viewable after registering online.
- Virtual Family Fun Trivia Night (Friday, Oct. 23, 7-9 p.m.) — Families can register as a group ($5 per family) to engage in socially distant trivia hosted by The Old Firehouse. Prizes are awarded for winning teams.
- House of Terror and Family Trunk or Treat (Saturday, Oct. 24, from 6-9 p.m.) — The Old Firehouse is hosting a haunting at the teen center, turning the facility into a walk-through house of horror. The program is also providing a “Trunk or Treat” program as an alternative to trick or treating.
- Virtual: McLean Uncorked (Sunday, Oct. 25, 5-6 p.m.) — Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean is hosting a free wine discussion with both beginners and connoisseurs. A wine expert will lead the session and explore various aspects of wine, from production to food pairings. Wine must be purchased separately.
- Spooky Virtual Family Bingo (Friday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.) — The Old Firehouse is hosting a Zoom bingo session. Families are encouraged to dress in costumes and join the call. Prizes will be awarded each round of bingo and Old Firehouse staff will vote on the best costume.
There’s no indoor spa, no exotic perks meant to appeal to younger startup crowds. Tom Passarelli’s upcoming Boost McLean is a no-frills or gimmicks approach coworking.
Passarelli is working on getting Boost McLean set up at 6731 Whittier Avenue in the aftermath of a pandemic that devastated the business built on a bunch of strangers working in close proximity in a shared space. The building is still under construction and Passarelli hasn’t moved into the full advertising push yet.
“We’re not marketing yet, but we do have a waiting list,” Passarelli said.
Instead of a sprawling complex taking up a floor or two of an office, building, Passarelli is putting together Boost McLean as something substantially smaller, around 40,000 square feet.
Passarelli said his goal is to serve the McLean business community, catering more towards being an office location for established businesses rather than chasing the latest startups.
The program will offer food and snacks, coffee, and beer and wine if an ABC permit is approved. Passarelli said Boost McLean will also offering catering services if people want them. There will also be wi-fi and printing capabilities.
“It’s a business center and small business club,” Passarelli said. “It’s not a WeWork for the younger crowd and startups, but for people who are a little further along in their careers and don’t want to go downtown but can’t work out of their homes.”
The project was in the works before COVID-19, but Passarelli said he’s made some changes to the program to adapt to the new challenges. Passarelli said the website will include a chance to see how many people are currently in the facility and an anti-microbial filter for the HVAC system.
Image via Boost McLean
As anyone working from home might have noticed, it can be difficult to work productively when there’s no sort of supervision. The Old Firehouse Center (1440 Chain Bridge Road) in McLean is offering a program that gives students that in-person pressure to stay focused on virtual learning.
“Old Firehouse Learning Connection is a supervised e-learning program held at the Old Firehouse Center, supervised by our staff, designed for students in 7th-12th grades,” the McLean Community Center said on its website. “The program will provide a supervised environment for students to complete their school-led virtual instruction.”
The program includes limited socially distant recreation during breaks and some help from staff with school work, but the focus is on providing a supervised environment.
The program runs rom Tuesday-Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sessions are each around one month long, and $300-$400.
- Session 1: 8101.220 — 9/8-10/2 — $400
- Session 2: 8102.220 — 10/6-10/30 — $400
- Session 3: 8103.220 — 11/4-11/24 — $300
- Session 4: 8104.220 — 12/1-12/18 — $300
No transportation will be provided and the program is only available to residents of McLean Small Tax District 1A.
Photo via Google Maps
Amid national protests over police violence, the Fairfax County Police Department highlighted a few recent incidents in the McLean district that exemplified how encounters with the police should go.
The Fairfax County Police Department is no stranger to questionable use of force, but in the video, Sgt. Scott Shafer discussed details of two cases in the McLean Police District and one in the Fair Oaks district where a violent confrontation was resolved peacefully.
The first was at the intersection of Wild Blue Indigo Court and Wood Violet Court just south of Fairlee.
“In August, officers responded to a report of a naked man acting disorderly,” Shafer said. “Suspect was destroying items and shattered the front glass door of a home. It was determined there was a victim on scene who had been assaulted and needed stitches.”
Police said the naked man was peacefully taken into custody.
The other incident was outside of a Giant in McLean.
“Officers responded to this Giant for a weapon’s call,” Shafer said. “An argument occurred after an employee told a customer to wear a mask. The customer threatened the employee with a knife, stole an item, and ran away. Officers located the man who was holding a metal pipe and refused commands to stop. The man turned and threw a knife at the officers, thankfully missing them. Twelves knives were recovered from the man after he was arrested.”
Captain Dalton Becker, commander of McLean station, said the incidents just described are just a small piece of what officers see on a daily basis.
“I’m very proud of the McLean officers,” Becker said, “as well as all Fairfax County officers.”
The only officer-involved shooting of 2020 was in the McLean Police District. Police say that shooting occurred in January when a Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) entered a house while serving a narcotics search warrant.
McLean Automotive Service Center (1387 Chain Bridge Road) is a beloved local landmark of old town McLean, having been around since 1953. Now, the shop has transitioned into a Craftsman Auto Care, the latest in a local franchise of auto shops.
Just as so many car owners have trusted their vehicles to the shop, owners James and John Justice said in a press release they are turning the brick and mortar establishment over to Matt Curry, owner of Craftsman Auto Care.
“I’ve seen how Matt operates and how he treats his customers and employees, and I’d like that for my business,” James Justice said. “I’ll miss the people, but I know I’m leaving them in good hands. It’s time to let someone else tackle the challenges of keeping up with technology, and I’m ready to enjoy retirement away from the auto repair industry.”
The McLean location is the fifth for Craftsman Auto Care, joining Alexandria, Chantilly, Fairfax, and Merrifield.
“We are honored that the Justice brothers trust us with the legacy their father started when he opened McLean Automotive in 1953,” Curry said. “It’s a big responsibility, and I was humbled when I learned Craftsman was the only business that they considered to carry on their heritage.”
Craftsman Auto Care is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Photo via Google Maps
When students at Cooper Middle School (977 Balls Hill Road) in McLean eventually do return to their classrooms, they could find their school in the middle of a sweeping overhaul.
At a School Board meeting last week, the Board unanimously approved a contract to make a series of improvements to the school, including a renovation of all systems and spaces in the building.
Some of these changes are technical and behind the scenes, but others are more prominent.
“This includes new HVAC, IT, electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems in their entirety,” said John Torre, executive director of communication and community relations for Fairfax County Public Schools. “Approximately 69,000 [square feet] of new space will be added to the existing building.”
This new space includes:
- new two story classroom addition
- new library space
- new courtyard
- additional classroom space in a new second floor that will be built over a portion of the existing first floor
- new main entrance
- reconfigured administration space
- cafeteria expansion
- main gym expansion
The existing Kiss and Ride circulation outside the building will be improved in the renovations, with parking at the school reconfigured and expanded. A new paved play area will be provided, Torre said.
“This project is currently scheduled to begin in mid-October 2020 with an end date of late summer 2023,” Torre said.
Image via Google Maps
Downtown McLean could see new development over the next 10 years, after Fairfax County adopted a new program last Tuesday making it cheaper and faster for developers to build in revitalization districts.
Developers whose plans meet certain criteria could benefit from real-estate tax breaks, a 10% reduction in site plan fees and a fast-tracked process for zoning applications if they build in McLean, or one of the other five revitalization district in the county.
The Board of Supervisors adopted the Economic Incentive Program on Sept. 15 to give the private sector incentives to revitalize and redevelop properties in a half-dozen commercial revitalization districts, including McLean.
The program was established by an ordinance that amends the county code.
Other qualifying districts include:
- Baileys Crossroads/Seven Corners
- Annandale
- Lincolnia
- Areas along Richmond Highway, including suburban areas and part of the Huntington Transit Station Area
- Springfield, except the single-family portion of the Springfield Transit Station Area
To qualify for the lower costs and faster application processes, developments must be commercial, industrial or multi-family residential. Proposals need to be new and should consolidate at least two neighboring parcels of land totaling at least two acres.
Proposals need to align with the county’s Comprehensive Plan for redevelopment, and follow all laws and policies regarding affordable housing.
Developers will only receive tax breaks for their proposals if they act within the 10-year timeframe specific to their revitalization area. McLean’s window for the tax cut starts on July 1, 2024 and lasts through June 30, 2034.
The county plans to make the application process and forms available later this fall. Those who are interested can connect with county staff and discuss their eligibility by emailing Community Revitalization Section Director Elizabeth Hagg at [email protected].
McLean’s MPAartfest 2020 is kicking off early next month with a planned drive-in concert with some prestigious Motown alumni.
The concert “Voices of Classic Soul” will take place at the McLean Community Center parking lot (1234 Ingleside Avenue) with a showing at 4 p.m. and at 6 p.m.
The concert will feature Joe Coleman from The Platters, Joe Blunt of The Drifters, and Theo Peoples from The Temptations and The Four Tops. The group is scheduled to perform some of the big hits from their respective groups.
Tickets are $25 per car, with cars guided to spaces to ensure proper distancing.
The concert kicks off two-weeks of MPAartfest, a primarily digital program this year and live-streamed concerts.
Image via McLean Project for the Arts
Earlier this week, the Board of Supervisors voted in favor of changing the name from the McLean Metro station to McLean-Capital One Hall Metro station.
The decision still has to go to WMATA’s Board of Directors for approval, but it seems likely station could take on the name of the planned performance hall under construction nearby.
Naming a Metro station for a nearby company is an unusual move — something the Board of Supervisors opposed Metro doing November. Supervisors were quick to say the station is not named after banking giant Capital One, which is headquartered adjacent to the Metro station, but for the performance hall.
This is a very particular situation in which we do have an agreement between the county and Capital One Hall to provide a minimum of 100 days of use,” said Supervisor Dalia Palchik, representing the Providence District. “It’s going to be our very own Strathmore. It’s a very specific request to have this name put on the Metro station so people know we have this asset here in Fairfax County.”
How do you feel about the proposed name change?
Staff photo by Jay Westcott
