This summer, you can find love touring around Fairfax County — a tour that will start next month in Tysons.
As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the “Virginia is for Lovers” slogan, Fairfax County received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation to send series of letters spelling out “LOVE” around the county.
According to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority:
Fairfax County will receive its first permanent ‘LOVEwork’ sign, which will embark on a Summer of LOVE tour to county attractions. The LOVE tour will kick off on the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center from May 9 to May 19, coinciding with National Travel & Tourism Week.
The sign is also scheduled to be displayed at Caboose Commons in Merrifield from June 26 to July 1.
It will make an appearance in the Tysons area at Wolf Trap, where it will be displayed from July 12 to July 24, before eventually being sent to the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton as part of a permanent display.
Photo via Virginia Tourism Corporation
Editor’s note: Over the next several weeks, Tysons Reporter is profiling the eight districts of Tysons. This is the second article in that series.
Arriving at the McLean Metro station today, your first impression of Tysons is a construction zone — impressive, perhaps, though not the most inviting. But, sooner than in most other districts, “America’s Next Great City” will be rolling out a verdant welcome mat and transforming Tysons East into an urban park and a vibrant gateway to Tysons’ downtown.
Tysons East, one of Tysons’ eight districts and one of its four “downtowns,” is the area around the McLean Metro station. It already holds the Capital One tower, which is the tallest building anywhere between Baltimore and Richmond. That won’t be the last tower to pop up in the district: the aptly-named One Tysons East will soon be joining it.
Each of the four downtown districts has a specialty. Tysons Central 123’s two malls make it a shopping paradise, Tysons Central 7 is already known for its high-powered offices, and Tysons West is slowing developing a cultural scene.
Tysons East — though a mixed-use urban environment with plenty of offices, shops, and residences — will be characterized by two unique attributes. First, plans are in the works to improve and extend the Scotts Run Stream Valley Park, making this into the greenest corner of downtown Tysons. Second, planners envision Tysons East as home to public uses, like educational institutions, that would make it a hotspot for the creative class.
Trees and Towers
One of the greatest failures of past generations of urban planners in Fairfax was their failure to preserve nature. This generation of planners is trying their best to regain the park space that was lost, planning reclusive gardens and natural spaces as a nearby retreat from the chaos of downtown Tysons.
In Tysons East, they’re working with the Scotts Run Stream Valley Park, a half-mile-long strip of dense forest extending south from the McLean Metro. Although today it’s fairly uninviting, without designated trails or other recreational facilities, there are plans in the works for it to become a beautifully-landscaped public green.
This new park will also function as a connector, with pedestrian and bicycle paths to join the residential neighborhoods of the East Side to the bustling downtown of Tysons East. In fact, the first pedestrian path, from Magarity Road to Coleshire Meadow Drive, should be under construction in the next few months.
The Tysons Comprehensive Plan envisions that, as redevelopment progresses, the park will “be expanded through the stream valley and in adjacent areas to provide better access and connectivity throughout the Tysons East District.”
“It will provide a range of experiences, such as enjoying the outdoors and scenery, arts, performances and programs or participating in recreation,” the plan says. “Intimate gardens with shady places of retreat could provide relief and gathering places for families, visitors and workers in Tysons.”
Dave Whitman is a principal at SmithGroup, the planning and urban design consultants responsible for the Scotts Run development that will redefine Tysons East. He explained that the Scotts Run park will contribute much more than a name to the development — it will shape the area’s urban visual identity.
“Elements from Scotts Run such as water, vegetation, wood, and stone will be incorporated into the design of the public spaces and streetscape throughout the project,” he said.
Institutional Ambitions
One defining feature of the Comprehensive Plan’s vision for Tysons East is institutional. The Plan states that “public and institutional facilities such as professional education, recreational, health and sports amenities should be located in this district.” By emphasizing the educational and recreational role of the district, planners hope to make it a more diverse and desirable residential area.
However, the Comprehensive Plan doesn’t actually include specific plans to incentive these kinds of institutions, and current redevelopment plans — which cover most of the district — do not seem to include such uses, except for some athletic fields.
Last August, the future looked uncertain for popular local nightspot Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike). But just a few months later, Biergarten isn’t just staying in place: it’s growing.
The Biergarten had been in-place on a month-to-month basis — a placeholder until the construction nearby extended into the lot. Owner Matt Rofougaran said the Biergarten will remain in place through the end of the year, if not longer.
But the extension doesn’t mean the Biergarten will remain stagnant. This past weekend, the Biergarten opened a new speakeasy-by-day and nightclub-by-night in the basement.
Where there were once German style long tables in the basement, fitting the German beerhall theme of the rest of the establishment, the room has been turned into a club called Room 7.
There are 50 beers available downstairs, both in bottles and cans, with a special table service being offered. The club is over-21 only and has a strict dress code.
During the speakeasy hours, the location is planned to offer “prohibition-type cocktails,” mainly custom house mixes with higher-end whiskey in a more relaxed atmosphere.
“I like the speakeasy trend,” Rofougaran said. “This is a good first-date spot. A lot of places you go are too loud and obnoxious.”
After a pause, Rofougaran added, “But then in the evenings, it’s going to get loud and obnoxious.”
Rofougaran said he’s also looking to get some of the big DJs from D.C. to make the trip across the Potomac to perform at the club. The club is also planned to host a variety of themed nights, like “Persian Night” on Thursdays or “Old School Hip Hop” on Fridays.
“It was time for a renovation,” Rofougaran said.
Rofougaran was frank that he hoped the change would generate sales, but also added that the higher end speakeasy and nightclub vibes were something he felt the Tysons area was lacking.
A grand opening celebration for Room 7 is planned for April 11.
Rofougaran also opened up a little about The Shipyard, a new location for the Biergarten planned for the Scotts Run development in Tysons East.
Early plans indicated that the new location near the McLean Metro station would replace the existing Biergarten, but according to Rofougaran, current plans have The Shipyard and Tysons Biergarten operating concurrently.
The Shipyard is planned to have four shipping containers modified into their own types of mini-restaurant or bar. One will be a branch of the Biergarten. Another will be an egg roll spot called Roll Bär. The other two have not been announced yet.
A Tysons company is helping BMW move into the driverless car market with aims to reduce the time and cost to develop autonomous vehicles.
Tysons-based DXC Technology Co. has signed up to help BMW with the technology to collect, store, and manage vehicle sensor data in autonomous cars, the Washington Business Journal first reported.
“DXC will greatly support our commitment to maximizing innovation, which will benefit our customers,” Alejandro Vukotich, senior vice president at the BMW Group, said in a press release. “With the managed services, we are able to ramp up the solution to support the next stage of the future of BMW Group’s autonomous drive platform.”
The data DXC will be processing can be collected globally to maximize the efficiency of the vehicles and reduce costs. The press release also says the DXC programs are built with online collaboration in mind, meaning engineers in different locations can work together on data analytics for the self-driving cars.
Edward Ho, executive vice president of DXC Technology, said in the press release that the next five years are a pivotal time in the development of autonomous cars to revolutionize the car industry.
“DXC welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with BMW Group to advance autonomous driving development capabilities,” Ho said. “With the platform and tools provided by DXC, BMW engineers are able to significantly accelerate the engineering and testing of autonomous driving algorithms.”
Photo via Facebook
Tysons’ tire bandits have struck again.
Less than one week after the crew stole all of the wheels from a vehicle at the 1500 block of West Branch Drive, a Fairfax County police recap shows that another vehicle at the 7900 block of Jones Branch also had its tires stolen.
The new theft brings the total number of tire larcenies in the area since February up to seven. This is also the third time the thieves have struck at the 7900 block of Jones Branch Drive, which earlier reports indicated was the Highgate at the Mile mixed-use development.
All but one of the thefts has taken place within the Mile, 40-acre stretch of buildings northeast of Tysons Galleria currently under consideration for redevelopment.
Editor’s note: Over the next several weeks, Tysons Reporter is profiling the eight districts of Tysons. This is the first article in that series.
Tysons Central 123 is the commercial heart of Tysons. Residential towers, tree-lined boulevards of storefronts, and perhaps a convention center will catalyze the continued success of this retail district as the Tysons Comprehensive Plan is carried out.
Tysons Central 123, named after Route 123, contains over half of Tysons’ retail floor space. Almost all of that retail is concentrated in the two enormous malls that define the neighborhood: Tysons Corner Center, south of Chain Bridge Road, and Tysons Galleria, north of it. Combined, they make the district a regional shopping destination.
As it stands, Tysons Central 123 is a major shopping destination — but very little else. That was a successful approach when Tysons was only a suburban mall, but now changes are in the works.
The district’s section in the Tysons Comprehensive Plan calls for it to evolve into a full-fledged neighborhood. That means tree-lined boulevards rather than congested highways, it means mid- and high-rise buildings rising around the malls, it means more retail at street level, and it might mean a convention center.
Fifth Avenue in New York isn’t only a shopping destination. It also offers cultural destinations, a pleasant outdoor streetscape, and a large residential community. All of these will increasingly appear in Tysons Central 123, supplementing the shopping rather than detracting from it. Retail will continue to define the neighborhood.
“This district is envisioned to remain the region’s signature shopping destination,” states the Comprehensive Plan.
Hills and Valleys
One particular feature of the Tysons Central 123 district is the steep topological slope down from Tysons Drive to Westpark Boulevard. Planners see this challenge as “an opportunity to integrate the district with the adjacent North Central District” through “terraces and plazas” that could provide a unique character to the surrounding neighborhood.
Getting Around
Today, the area has strong transportation options: the Tysons Corner station of the Silver Line anchors the center of the district. The transit center there is served by eight different bus lines, more than any other point in Tysons, connecting to destinations near and far. However, with increasing density, existing challenges for mobility will become more pronounced.
Three men were arrested in the Tysons Corner Center mall’s Apple Store last Friday (April 5) and charged with credit card fraud and theft, according to police.
The arrest took place around 1:45 p.m. after staff at the store alerted police officers to a man in the store believed to be a suspect in previous credit card fraud cases, according to a recap from the Fairfax County Police Department.
According to the police report:
Officers determined there were two other men working with the man inside the store. They were using fraudulent identification along with stolen credit cards to make purchases. Officers arrested all three men and found devices in their car used to manufacture fraudulent identification documents and credit cards. Also inside the car was approximately $50,000 worth of property. Madalin Florea, 43, of Connecticut, was charged with three counts of credit card theft, three counts of credit card fraud, three counts of larceny with intent to sell and possession of a fictitious driver’s license. Coja Ion, 60, of no fixed address, was charged with credit card theft, credit card fraud, larceny with intent to sell and possession of a fictitious driver’s license. Gabriel Balam, 29, no fixed address, was charged with credit card theft, credit card fraud, larceny with intent to sell and three counts of possession of a fictitious driver’s license.
Photo via FCPD
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
Spring Break is almost upon us in Fairfax County and that means Easter. If you’re staying in town, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate.
The Town of Vienna holds 2 different Easter Egg Hunt events in town. One requires tickets, and is sold out but you should know about this for future years. The other doesn’t require pre-registration.
- No tickets required. Held on Saturday, April 13 from 10:30-1130 a.m. at the Freeman House (131 Church Street NE, Vienna). Events is for children 12 and younger and includes an Old-Fashioned Egg Roll, a visit with the Easter Bunny and egg decorating.
- This event requires tickets and is sold out. However, for future events, the event is held on April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Bring a flashlight and basket to find eggs at dusk! Also present will be the Easter Bunny and a moon bounce.
Other Events Around Town:
- Unfortunately, this event is also sold out. However always check online to see if someone has changed their plans and looking to resell their tickets. The event is held at Meadowlark Botanical Garden on Tuesday, April 16 at 11 a.m. Bring a basket for your child, ages 2-11. The event includes crafts, snacks and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
- Held on April 20, starting at 10 a.m. with egg hunts starting every 30 minutes. Registration is required. The event includes the egg hunt split up by age, crafts and an Easter Bunny visit.
Easter Eggstravaganza at Roer’s Zoofari
- The Zoo just over the Vienna line in Reston, will have an egg hunt, face painting, bounce house and crafts on Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14 and April 20-21.
Easter Egg Hunt in Falls Church
- The City of Falls Church will hold an egg hunt on Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. Children under 11 years old can bring their own baskets and hunt for eggs and meet the Easter Bunny. The event is free and doesn’t require reservation. After the event there’s a craft tent, a magic show at 10:30 a.m. and egg dying.
A hotel planned near Leesburg Pike has been nixed by the developers in favor of a new athletic field.
The field is proposed for 8229 Boone Blvd, a street parallel to Leesburg Pike and halfway between Chain Bridge Road and Gallows Road. P.S. Business Parks owns the property.
The athletic field is part of fulfilling requirements associated with the developer’s The Mile project northeast of Tysons Galleria.
The application notes that the field will include synthetic turf, field lighting, bleachers and other equipment. Parking for the field will be located in the Tycon II and Tycon III office buildings next door.
According to the application:
The proposed athletic field will serve the growing needs of the Tysons community. It is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, which calls for developers to provide athletic fields in Tysons… The proposed soccer field will satisfy the field expectation associated with the rezoning and development of The Mile, a residential mixed use development in the North Central District.
It’s a move that will likely be popular with local citizens groups, which have called for more athletic fields to be added throughout Tysons.
Technology contractor Applied Insight is packing up its bags in Ashburn and setting up camp in Tysons.
The company announced earlier this week that it will be moving into 1850 Towers Crescent Plaza, part of the Towers Crescent complex.
The new headquarters will function as a hub for the business as it moves into research and development on cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure projects for the federal government.
“Our move to Tysons is about convenience and collaboration,” John Hynes, CEO of Applied Insight, said in a press release. “It’s a more central location for the leadership team to come together when we need to.”
Hynes said the company already spends a lot of time meeting with customers in Tysons, making the new headquarters a more convenient spot.
“The new space also has great facilities for bringing our people together for training and collaboration on new projects, particularly in technology development and business development,” Hynes said. “It’s part of fostering the creative culture that will be key to our long-term success.”
