A new tower is coming to Tysons’ skyline and snapping up the “tallest building in the region” title.
The tower is apart of Clemente Development Co. plans for The View development, which won approval from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last night (Tuesday).
The mixed-use development by the Spring Hill Metro station will add six buildings, including the 600-foot-tall building that will reach higher than Capital One’s headquarters.
Known as the Iconic Tower, building plans to capitalize on its height with a publicly-accessible botanical garden and observation deck.
The development has been praised for its varied building heights and sleek design, but the Iconic Tower’s height of 600 feet — 200 feet above the maximum for Tysons buildings — has received some criticism from the McLean Citizens Association.
Dale Stein, the president of MCA, said that the height “breaks the trust of the community.”
However, the supervisors felt differently.
Providence District Supervisor Linda Smyth said that the height creates an architectural statement that will help define downtown Tysons.
“If we keep that 400-foot level… we will have a collection of 400-foot shoeboxes defining our skyline in Tysons,” Smyth said, adding that people are “starting to see that already.”
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said that while he understands the MCA’s position about the height, “I don’t necessarily agree with that concern.”
Supervisors also lauded the development’s planned entertainment uses, which include a black box theater, art walk and open-air theater, along with a nearby community center.
“We’re no longer suburbia,” Smyth said. “We are going into the future with this.”
Image via Fairfax County
A janitors’ union has tentatively reached a contract agreement with commercial cleaning companies in the D.C.-area — avoiding a strike that could have affected Tysons offices.
Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ struck an agreement with the Washington Service Contractors Association today (Tuesday, Oct. 15), according to a press release from 32BJ SEIU.
The janitors’ union was planning two strikes later this afternoon ahead of the approaching deadline for the new contract agreement.
The strike was meant to demand wage increases and full-time hours — some janitors currently earn $12.60 per hour for part-time work in Northern Virginia, according to the union.
In total, the strike would have hit more than 1,200 office buildings in D.C., Virginia and Maryland, according to the press release.
Union spokeswoman Julie Karant told Tysons Reporter that more than 4,000 janitors and 500 buildings in Northern Virginia would have been affected by a strike.
Some of the Tysons office buildings were the janitors work include:
- Capital One Tower (1600 and 1680 Capital One Drive)
- Freddie Mac building (8250 Jones Branch Drive)
- Northrop Grumman (7575 Colshire Drive)
- MITRE Corp. (7525 Colshire Drive)
The deal, which covers more than 10,500 jobs, is pending approval by union members, and the union plans to release more details on Monday, Oct. 20, “pending a ratification vote by union members,” the press release said.
“Associated Building Maintenance Co., Inc. remains the only employer out of 58 companies that has not signed the agreement,” according to 32BJ SEIU.
Tysons’ new Burlington is currently closed due to a trash compactor fire earlier this month — but may reopen soon.
Signs on the door say that the store is temporarily closed. “We apologize for the inconvenience,” the sign says.
The store opened at 8355 Leesburg Pike in September.
Smoke entered the store from a fire in a trash compactor behind the building on Oct. 4, Ashley Hildebrandt, a spokesperson for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, told Tysons Reporter.
A reader told Tysons Reporter that the Burlington has been closed since at least Sunday, Oct. 6.
Tysons Reporter reached out to Burlington to ask when the store closed and when it plans to reopen. This story will be updated if the company responds.
Two employees at nearby Burlington stores said that while a reopening date has not been announced yet, they have heard that the store may reopen by next week.
Stationery and gift company Paper Source is planning on opening a store in The Boro.
Building permits indicate that work is underway on the store at 1643 Boro Place.
Paper Source has nearby locations in D.C., Reston and the Mosaic District.
The store joins a long list of retailers gearing up to open at the new Tysons development.
Photo via Paper Source/Facebook
Luxury bed company Hästens is now open in Tysons Galleria.
Based in Sweden, the company sells expensive beds — some over six-figures. The company is the official bedding supplier of the Swedish royal court.
This is the first D.C.-area location for the chain. The closest stores are in New York City.
Located on the first level between Coach and Lilly Pulitzer, the store is open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays.
Photo via Facebook
Heres What’s Closed Today — Government facilities, transit options and community centers are affected by Columbus Day — also known as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in some areas — today. [Tysons Reporter]
FCPS OKs CBD Oil — “The Fairfax County School Board has approved a policy on the storage, dispensing, and administration of cannabidiol oil and THC-A that aligns with Virginia law that became effective on July 1.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Reston Hospital Center Coming to Tysons — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 24 unanimously approved plans by Reston Hospital Center to convert an existing three-story restaurant/bank building at 8240 Leesburg Pike into a freestanding emergency room that will be associated with Reston Hospital.” [Inside NoVa]
New Owners for Tysons Office Building — “American Real Estate Partners (AREP) has acquired 1660 International Drive, a 212,731-square-foot, Class A office building in McLean, Va., from NewTower Trust Company in a $71 million deal, according to AREP.” [Commercial Observer]
Vanpooling in Tysons — “Tysons is aiming to increase the number of residents to 100,000 and the number of employees to 200,000 by 2050. It also wants to reduce the number of cars on the road… In order to accomplish both of these goals, Tysons has to help people get to work without driving themselves alone.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Voter Registration Deadline on Tuesday — The voter registration deadline is on Tuesday (Oct. 15). [Virginia Department of Elections]
Rabid Raccoon Found in Falls Church — “City of Falls Church Police report the Fairfax County Health Department confirmed Wednesday, Oct. 9, that the animal put down on Oct. 4 was suffering from rabies. Police say no human was exposed to the sick raccoon but warn that residents should be aware of the endemic threat of rabies to the area.” [Falls Church News-Press]
The View Moves Forward — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted 10-0 Thursday night to recommend approval of the View at Tysons, setting up a final vote Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.” [Washington Business Journal]
The developer of two mixed-use developments by the Spring Hill Metro station will likely have to wait until next year for Fairfax County to determine the proposals’ fates.
Georgelas LLC is looking to redevelop car dealerships along the north side of Tyco Road into developments called West Spring Hill Station and North Spring Hill Station.
The development — particularly West Spring Hill Station — has faced concerns from county staff and the Planning Commission, including the projects’ synergy with The View, school overcrowding, and the abundance of artificial turf.
At the request of the developer, Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, the commissioner for the Providence District, pushed the decisions last night (Thursday) about the projects to the end of the year.
“Since the public hearing on the Georgelas application, we’ve had a series of discussions with the applicant that represent progress but more attention needs to be given to some of these specifics,” Niedzielski-Eichner said.
The proposed North Spring Hill Station would replace the existing Tesla dealership with four new buildings, including two residential towers, one office tower and a parking garage with an athletic field on top. The existing Verizon telecommunications facility on the site would stay.
Meanwhile, West Spring Hill Station would add four buildings — two for residential, one for residential or office space and the final one for offices — and three public parks.
Fairfax County planners said that the North Spring Hill Station addresses the expectations in the Tysons Comprehensive Plan — but not the West Spring Hill Station.
“[West Spring Hill Station] does not fully address the criteria, particularly with regards to providing a comprehensive, functioning grid of streets; the provision of open space; and, coordination of development,” the staff report said.
The staff report also notes that the West Spring Hill Station may require further development of the Koons Tysons Toyota site.
The Planning Commission deferred its decision on the projects to Dec. 11.
While the developments were set to go before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Oct. 15, the agenda indicates that the public hearing will get pushed to a later date.
Since the Board of Supervisors’ last full meeting of the year is on Dec. 3, the fate of the two developments probably won’t get determined until 2020.
Images via Fairfax County
Capital Bikeshare use has been steadily rising in Tysons over the last three years.
Between January and August, riders this year took 7,523 rides — 575 rides more than last year’s total. So far, ridership this year has gone up 8% compared to 2018.
Ridership jumped up last year as well. Capital Bikeshare experienced a 16% increase in Tysons ridership from 2017 to 2018.
The data is from the latest status report by the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT), which is slated to be presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
The increasing ridership is likely to continue as more stations come to the Tysons area next year.
“FCDOT received a Commuter Choice grant for 10 new stations in the Merrifield and Vienna Metrorail area and is actively working on finalizing station locations for the Providence District Transportation Alternatives Program grant that will add up to 18 new stations to the Fairfax County system in 2020,” according to FCDOT.
The county finished a feasibility study of the Route 123 corridor between Route 7 and Burke Lake Park in partnership, according to FCDOT.
Currently, there are 14 stations in Tysons. Earlier this year, Capital Bikeshare expanded into Merrifield and Falls Church.
So far in Falls Church, riders have taken 322 trips, while riders in Merrifield have taken 2,181 trips this year, according to FCDOT.
Image via Fairfax County
Fairfax County plans to turn a vacant retail building in Tysons into a new grid of streets.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors bought the site that once housed the Container Store (8508 Leesburg Pike) from a JBG affiliate for $16.6M, the Washington Business Journal reported.
The county plans to add a new street that would connect Leesburg Pike and Greensboro Drive, according to the story.
The site sits across from Embassy Suites by Hilton and Ruth’s Chris Steak House by the Spring Hill Metro station.
The Container Store relocated from 8508 Leesburg Pike to 8459 Leesburg Pike near the Best Buy last October.
Image via Google Maps
Google seems to be slow when it comes to updating aerial maps of The Boro in Tysons.
Several businesses — such as Whole Foods — are expected to open in less than one month, yet Google Maps’ map and satellite views still show the area as it was at the beginning of 2019 — under construction and incomplete.
When viewers search “The Boro Tysons,” dirt parking lots and partially completed buildings show up, rather than the fully paved streets complete with parks that in-person visitors can see today.
Map view is slightly more accurate with Flower Child, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Whole Foods and Fish Taco labeled. But there are empty spaces where the newly developed apartment complexes should be, and the locations of the buildings are incorrectly placed — strewn across Boro Place, the main street in the Boro.
Pop over to streetview, and people can see what The Boro looked like in June 2018.
Some community members have noticed the inconsistency and taken to twitter to express their concerns.
It is unclear when the issue will be fixed.
Still surprised that @googlemaps is clueless about the new @TheBoroTysons development, depicting several roads that don't exist, etc#TysonsVA pic.twitter.com/lzwQLvRjeg
— Chris French (@chrislfrench) October 3, 2019
Images via Google Maps
