Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
Valentine’s Day is just about 3 weeks away and on a Friday this year!
Sometimes we can forget to book early, so here’s your reminder to book a restaurant reservation early this year! Some of these may even have a special menu for Valentine’s Day.
Vienna
- Clarity
- The Palm
- Bazins
- Maple Ave
- Randy’s
- Café Renaissance
- Blend 111
- Zenola
Falls Church
- 2941
- Thompson’s Italian
- Dominion Beer & Wine
McLean
- Assaggi Osteria
- J Gilbert’s
- Eddie V’s
- Wildfire
- Lebanese Taverna
- Nostos
- Founding Farmers
Looking for ladies night out ideas instead? Check out this post from last year!
Fairfax County wants to give commuters another way to access the McLean Metro station in Tysons.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is set to vote on a funding application that seeks to add a new entrance to the Metro stop.
The county is looking for $1 million to add a new entrance on the north side of the station to make it easier for pedestrians coming from Scotts Crossing Road and the Capital One campus.
“The increase in the number of residential dwelling units in the area presents an opportunity to capture commuters that would otherwise drive single-occupancy vehicles on the Dulles Connector Road and 1-66 Inside the Beltway in efforts to reach Arlington and downtown D.C,” according to county documents.
Ridership at the McLean Metro station has continued to rise, according to stats from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC).
Compared to the four stations in Tysons, the McLean station saw the largest spike in ridership from April-June, rising 25% over the last year, followed by the Greensboro Metro station at 18%.
Ridership at the McLean station has now gone up dramatically for 3 quarters in a row: first by 18.6%, then 20.6% and now 25%.
Kudos to @CapitalOne & @MITREcorp #sustainability #transit #TOD #greencommute— Tysons Partnership (@tysonspartners) September 26, 2019
The Metro entrance proposal is one of three project submissions to NVTC that the board is set to consider endorsing tomorrow (Tuesday) for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 I-66 Inside the Beltway Commuter Choice Program.
The two other proposed projects include:
- $8.6 million for a new bus route from Reston to Arlington and bicycle and pedestrian improvements around Reston
- $500,000 for fare buy down on Express Route 599, since the current $7.50 express fare is higher than the $4.25 fare on other Fairfax Connector express bus routes
In total, Fairfax County is requesting roughly 10 million from NVTC. County staff recommends that the McLean Metro station project be the top priority, according to county documents.
Map via Google Maps
Fairfax County’s Board of Zoning Appeals has delayed making a decision on appeals of a zoning determination for a controversial teen rehab facility proposed in McLean.
Newport Academy, a therapy program for teens with mental health issues, wanted to open two treatment facilities — one along Davidson Road and another at 1318 Kurtz Road.
Newport Academy has hinged its claim on the two locations being by-right uses — a use that won’t require approval by the Board of Supervisors.
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 originally tried to appeal the Davidson Road decision, but has withdrawn the appeal.
The Board of Zoning Appeals’ public hearing today (Wednesday) focused on three appeals from McLean residents regarding Johnson’s determination that the proposed Kurtz Road facility in the Salona Village neighborhood is a group residential facility — a win for Newport Academy.
The three appeals argue that the Kurtz Road facility should be designated as a congregate or medical use facility.
At the start of the public hearing today, county staff gave an overview of the appeals saying that the appellants have concerns about noise, falling property values, safety risks and increased traffic.
“Trying to skirt the zoning laws”
Roughly 50 people attended the public hearing today.
Attendees who testified in support of the appeal — against Newport Academy’s Kurtz Road facility — mentioned safety risks, traffic concerns on the narrow Kurtz Road,
Some of the Salona Village residents took issue with how close the facility would be to Franklin Sherman Elementary School (6633 Brawner Street).
Opponents to Newport Academy also voiced concerns about crime possibly increasing from the patients leaving the facility without permission and also how the facility would affect the local community.
One local said he and other neighbors met with the Carlyle Group, the investors behind Newport Academy, and suggested that Newport Academy use a house with more acreage and in an area with fewer traffic issues.
“Kurtz Road is full of walkers and bicyclists and people pushing strollers,” one female resident said. “I think the traffic from Newport would create a very dangerous situation.” Emergency vehicles, visitors, doctors and employees would add more vehicles to the road throughout the day, the woman said.
“Newport Academy is trying to skirt the zoning laws,” one Salon Village resident said — echoing a sentiment shared by several attendees.
“A Safe Haven”
Michael Allen, the lawyer representing Newport Academy, said that the girls, ages 12-17, at the facility would be “highly supervised.”
Allen told the board that Newport Academy screens its applicants, who mostly have anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
“Newport takes the appropriate safeguards at admission,” Allen said. Once admitted, Newport Academy does random room searches, random drug and alcohol tests and has tutoring and counseling, Allen said.
Board Member V. Max Beard asked why Newport Academy chose the McLean location and “Why create this kind of turmoil for yourself?” Allen responded that Fairfax County is a “county of opportunity” and a closer option for families in the Mid-Atlantic area.
Ultimately, Allen said that people who have disabilities and mental health should live alongside everyone else. “I suspect the neighbors testifying today will watch Newport like a hawk,” he said.
People who spoke in support of Newport Academy — including several licenses counselors — called the proposed facility a “safe haven” and “surrogate village.” Supports said that patients will be monitored 24/7 and supervised within the fenced in property.
Some parents praised Newport Academy for helping their kids. “We want them to be our neighbors,” one person said.
Newport Academy’s Plans for Kurtz Road
After facing a backlash from neighbors and local officials, Newport Academy’s intentions for the McLean properties have been unclear.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust previously told Tysons Reporter in the fall that Newport Academy plans to sell the properties and wanted the determination reversed for the Davidson Road properties so that the zoning determination wouldn’t negatively impact future plans.
One of the three Davidson Road properties is currently for sale.
Allen told Tysons Reporter that Newport Academy is not pursuing the Davidson Road properties anymore, but does intend to open at Kurtz Road if the Board of Zoning Appeals upholds Johnson’s determination.
Staff said today that Newport Academy has received a mental health treatment license from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health.
Allen added that Newport Academy officials are feeling confident about their case.
Next Steps
Zoning staff recommended that the board uphold Johnson’s determination.
After more than four hours of discussion of testimonies, the board decided it would be best to defer the decision to a later date.
The appellants requested that the board delay its consideration by a few weeks to respond to arguments and material received “last minute” from Newport Academy. Allen, representing Newport Academy, also requested time to submit a post-hearing brief.
Board Member James Hart said he’s concerned about paperwork piling up, leading to further delays to give the board time to consider the arguments, which could then lead to more paperwork.
The board will consider the appeals again on March 11.
New walkways are coming to McLean this year.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said in a newsletter that work on a rectangular rapid flash beacon at Chain Bridge Road and Wasp Lane is expected to be finished in March.
Then, a walkway will get constructed on the south side of Dolley Madison Blvd from the intersection of Great Falls Street and Lewinsville Road to the McLean Metro station. That work is slated to get done in April.
Other walkway projects expected to finish in April include, according to the newsletter:
- East side of Georgetown Pike — south of Colonial Farm Road and on the east side of Route 123 and Potomac School Road
- North side of Kirby Road from Birch Road to Corliss Court
Finally, a walkway coming to the south side of Chesterbrook Road, spanning from Chesterford Way to Maddux Lane, is set to get completed in August.
Map via Fairfax County
To celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., several places around the Tysons area will have free community events and service projects on Monday (Jan. 20).
From musical performances to parades to volunteering opportunities, here’s where to find MLK Day events:
Falls Church
The Falls Church City Council recently declared Monday, Jan. 20, this year to be an official day of service in the city.
The city is gearing up for volunteer projects that day, according to a press release. The activities include:
- city councilmembers, board members and commissioners plan to work at the Miller House, a home for adults with differing abilities
- the Falls Church City elementary school community is invited to join Give Day, an event looking to raise $10,000 and collect food for Food for Others
On Give Day, elementary school families will be able to assemble ‘Power Packs’ filled with non-perishable food items that Food for Others distributes to for local students. The event is set to take place from 10 a.m.-noon at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (601 S. Oak Street).
The fourth annual march and commemorative program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and civil rights history plan to take place in the City of Falls Church on Monday.
The event starts at 10 a.m. with the march proceeding down Lee Hwy to Falls Church Episcopal (115 East Fairfax Street).
“Area service organizations will be at the church providing information about volunteer opportunities in our local communities,” according to the event description. “A commemoration program with a keynote speech by Joan Mulholland, a Freedom Rider and civil rights activist, will take place in the church at noon.”
McLean
A tribute at The Alden on Thursday, Jan. 30, will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. with performances by musician Damien Sneed, a graduate of Howard University, and the Howard University Choir as part of the “We Shall Overcome” tour.
“We Shall Overcome” will feature spoken word from King’s recorded speeches combined with a variety of African American music traditions.
“When I saw ‘We Shall Overcome’ last January, I knew I had to bring it to The Alden,” The Alden Performing Arts Director Sarah Schallern Treff said in a press release. “By the time I spoke with Mr. Sneed’s agents the following afternoon, Jan. 30 was the only available date.”
The event is set to start at 7 p.m. at 1234 Ingleside Ave. Tickets cost $45 for the public, $25 for seniors and students and $20 for McLean Community Center tax district residents.
Vienna
Several churches in the Vienna area are offering service projects on Monday, including the First Baptist Church of Vienna (450 Orchard St NW) and The Church of the Good Shepherd (2351 Hunter Mill Road).
People interested in finding more volunteer opportunities around the area can search the databases on the Corporation for National and Community Service website.
Photo by Brian Kraus/Unsplash
Happy Friday! Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:
New Tenants in Tysons — Bisnow has a roundup of the new businesses that signed leases to come to Tysons. [Bisnow]
Metro Metrics Released — “People are returning to Metrorail but avoiding Metrobus, according to 2019 figures released Wednesday by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority suggest.” As for Metrorail, the fastest-growing stations were McLean, up 28%, and Greensboro, up 22%. [Washington Business Journal]
New Fitness Event in McLean — “The McLean Community Center is introducing a new event to help people work toward their goals. Be Fit McLean Health and Wellness Fair will happen from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18.” [Patch]
AJ Madison Showroom Opens in Tysons — “Michael Gross, Isaac Gross and Rabbi Chezzy Deitsch, together with a minyan of Chabad Tysons congregants, got together to open up a new premium appliance showroom.” [Connection Newspapers]
Temps well below freezing Sat A.M. will allow for smaller amounts of snow & freezing rain to have higher impact. Travel may be disrupted. Untreated roads/sidewalks may be icy. Watch the first steps out of your home, when many falls occur. Updates: https://t.co/DtvXcTe0Qk
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 17, 2020
Sneak Peek: Tysons Reporter plans to cover the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals’ public hearing for Newport Academy’s proposed treatment facility along Kurtz Road in McLean.
Weekend Send Off: Let Tysons Reporter know what your plans for the weekend are in the comments section.
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
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
For the ninth year in a row, people can taste chocolate from local chocolatiers at an annual festival in McLean.
The McLean Chocolate Festival is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of McLean — proceeds go to local organizations.
Last year, the festival raised more than $21,000 people and had more than 3,100 attendees, according to the website.
The festival is set to take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 26 at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue).
Attendees can expect a children’s game room and live entertainment. Admission is $2, but kids ages 3 and under can attend for free.
Photo via Burke & Herbert Bank/Facebook
A power outage is affecting 144 Dominion Energy customers near the intersection of Georgetown Pike and the Beltway (I-495).
The outage is mostly north of Old Dominion Drive between Swinks Mill and Spring Hill roads.
Crews are investigating the cause of the outage, and customers can expect power to come back between 4-7 p.m., according to the Dominion Energy power outage map.
Peggy Fox, a Dominion Energy spokesperson, told Tysons Reporter that the outage was first reported at 11:55 a.m.
Map via Dominion Energy
