The trustees of a Dunn Loring church have pulled back a proposal that some day might see their 4.2-acre site redeveloped for multi-family housing with a child-care center and new worship space Trustees of the Vine Church, a United Methodist-affiliated congregation located at 2501 Gallows Road, had nominated the site to be considered for Fairfax County’s site-specific plan amendment (SSPA) process which allows members of the public to propose land use changes church leaders could have sought a rezoning from the current R-3 district (which allows residential uses up to four dwelling units per acre) to one that permits mixed-use redevelopment The proposal could have resulted in a two-story house of worship with a child-care center plus up to 150 residential units in buildings with three to four stories Concerns among residents living around the site led church trustees to step back for now according to Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik “I appreciate that the church has worked with the community,” Palchik said at the Tuesday (March 4) meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Those church leaders will “have some additional meetings with the community and additional help from some of our [county] agencies,” she said The decision removed the parcel from a list of approximately 50 sites countywide that the Board of Supervisors approved for staff consideration Out of the 53 total nominations that the county received between Jan. and Feb. 13, four were deemed ineligible because they’re either in areas already subject to planning studies or were approved for changes within the past two years In all, the county board accepted 43 nominations this week that will now go through a screening process that includes public meetings and hearings to see if comprehensive plan changes are warranted. That process will continue through June Many of the proposals seek major changes to existing zoning which could raise concerns in surrounding communities But “there is much time for community input” in coming months Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith said The new crop of applications “kind of run the gamut,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn observed Some appear to have feasible development possibilities while others have been considered and rejected before A push to redevelop Reston National Golf Course, for instance, has returned, despite stalling during the last SSPA review in 2022 Though Alcorn has pledged not to allow development on the site as long as it’s opposed by residents the nomination has advanced to the screening phase “I look forward to community engagement,” Alcorn said The Mason, Hunter Mill and Providence districts each had a dozen or more sites proposed for consideration. Other districts had between one and four. A full list of the submitted SSPA nominations can be found on the county’s website Image via Google Maps McLean Police District- Detectives from our Tysons Urban Team (TUT) arrested four suspects after a robbery in Dunn Loring detectives were alerted to a commercial robbery that just occurred in the 2900 block of District Avenue in Dunn Loring and threatened the employee with pepper spray before fleeing The suspects then fled out of the business into a vehicle Officers stopped the vehicle after a short pursuit and took all four suspects into custody was charged with Felony Eluding and Conspiracy to Commit Larceny four counts of Larceny with Intent to Sell All are being held at the Fairfax County Detention Center on no bond detectives connected these suspects to additional crimes that occurred in Fairfax County between October 26 and November 16 Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers” Anonymous tipsters are eligible for a cash reward Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you A place where you can connect with your neighbors see what’s happening in your neighborhood and share any available surveillance footage with our department call (preferred) or text 9-1-1 (voice and TTY) Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email The 15 Best Maryland Crab Houses Worth the Drive The Best New D.C. Restaurants in May, According to Eater Editors The Best Places to Dine Around Clarendon and Courthouse, According to Eater Editors and reliable cocktails are all on the table Nestled between the city of Fairfax and Falls Church this pocket of Fairfax County has been steadily attracting more restaurants particularly after the Mosaic District complex opened in 2012 and the Avenir Place development has branched off from there This Peruvian restaurant is a Dunn Loring hit with fun specials (ultra-cheap margaritas on Thursdays) and an excellent selection of Peruvian apps and entrees from sharp ceviche to artfully executed lomo saltado Where to Watch Copa América and Euro Cup Games in D.C Where to Order Takeout and Delivery in Fairfax County and some dramatically named specials (think Shrine to the Trident Throne for a crispy catfish offering) A post shared by Kiin Imm Thai Vienna (@kiinimmthaivienna) This outpost of the Northern Virginia family of restaurants has everything residents have come to expect from the quirky brand: goofy dog murals on the walls pun-tastic dish names (many of them dog-themed) a respectable selection of specialty brews and sandwiches and plenty of pizza (as well as a few salads and soups) the pesto and chicken-stuffed Phoenix is a good bet Smart diners always order the seasoned Italian waffle fries on the side This neighborhood bar always has a festive atmosphere when sports fans show up to cheer on their team of choice There is spacious seating both indoors and throughout the enclosed patio section outside and even salads can be a nice surprise here This French bistro offers traditional staples with tweaks whether it be duck confit or steak frites — keep an eye out for seasonal preparations of fish dishes There’s also a nice French wine bar on the second floor rooftop with a menu of wines by the glass and some snacks — it’s a hit during warmer months Where to Find Fabulous French Onion Soup in D.C B Side is one of the best destinations for drinking in this corner of Virginia and cocktail aficionados can all find something to order It’s fine to get a drink off-menu from one of the engaging bartenders but B Side’s narrow cocktail menu always lists a few interesting choices so expect to wait for a seat during peak hours (there are a few patio seats) Drinkers can snack on options like charcuterie but hungrier diners can go for something more substantial on the meaty dinner menu B Side shares the space with sandwich and butcher shop This second location of the Vienna-based brewery always seems to draw a crowd (particularly on account of their expansive outdoor seating) as well as coffeeshop items like pastries and breakfast sandwiches The Mosaic District farmers market has become quite the destination for prepared foods Whether it’s a cheeseburger from DMV Empanadas or a plate weighed down by dumplings from Jinland Wenhua it’s pretty hard to leave the market hungry Opening hours usually extend through Sunday mornings and afternoons (hours vary by season) This underrated gem is the neighborhood’s go-to option for ornate desserts The cafe sells beautiful pastries including macarons and original creations like their apple classic tart (like a mini tarte tatin) Palmiers are gigantic; ham and cheese croissants are a good savory breakfast option and some Mediterranean lunch specials as well Rasa is D.C.’s flashy mini-chain known for its Indian customizable bowls — wraps are a new addition to its offerings A post shared by RASA (@rasa) Kirby is an exciting addition from Compass Rose and Maydan owners Rose Previte and Mike Schuster Expect the same attention to Lebanese and Middle Eastern condiments and spreads a festive party platter of kebabs for small groups Where to Find Unconventional Happy Hour Deals in D.C Enjoy a flight of Scotch from this bar’s selection (or a whiskey-based cocktail like a Penicillin) The food menu here is pretty standard pub fare — a French dip touches like Scotch eggs and fish and chips This Greek restaurant has a breezy menu of salads cute patio outside as well as some additional outdoor seating across the street Greek wines are among the beverage options Nestled in a deep corner of an unassuming shopping center off Gallows Road but it’s worth the effort for one of the D.C area’s best Thai restaurants that doesn’t hold back on spiciness Some of the more interesting dishes on the menu include a funky tuna curry Popular with families and known for its friendly service this outpost and brewery from the Great American Restaurants local empire has refreshing brews An order of Ozzie rolls is a good addition to any meal A post shared by Sweetwater Tavern (@sweetwatertavern_gar) 2024 at 5:10 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}ENSCO which has been in Fairfax County for more than 50 years moved its company headquarters to the Dunn Loring Metro area VA — Engineering consultant ENSCO has opened its new global headquarters near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority announced ENSCO which serves government and private company clients in the aerospace located its headquarters at 2600 Park Tower Drive The space serves more than 120 corporate team members in executive leadership "Relocating our corporate headquarters marks an exciting milestone for our company," said ENSCO President Jeff Stevens "This move not only reflects our growth and success but also our commitment to providing a dynamic and collaborative environment for our team Our new space at 2600 Park Tower Drive is designed to foster innovation and support our continued mission to deliver exceptional service to our customers." The new location provides close access to the Orange Line Metro station as well as Interstate 66 and Interstate 495 The company has been in Fairfax County for over 50 years and has 750 employees headquartered in the region "I want to congratulate the entire ENSCO team for your new state-of-the-art headquarters here in Vienna and I want to thank you for your continued investment in advancing critical innovation from Fairfax County," said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay "We are committed to accelerating the growth of our talent pipeline and continue to provide access to the top talent needed to grow your operations." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until midnight on Tuesday (7News) — Four people were arrested for allegedly robbing a business and threatening one of its employees with pepper spray on Saturday in Dunn Loring according to the Fairfax County Police Department detectives said they responded to the 2900 block of District Avenue in Dunn Loring for the report of a commercial robbery According to an officials' preliminary investigation stole items and threatened an employee with pepper spray The four of them then allegedly left the area in a car and police later stopped them after a short pursuit Officials said they took the four allegedly involved into custody The following people have been charged in connection to the incident: Police's investigation also revealed that the four suspects were allegedly involved in additional crimes in Fairfax County The four of them are being held at the Fairfax County Detention Center on no bond Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents to call our Tysons Urban Team at 703-556-7750 Fairfax County Public Schools has received the zoning changes necessary to build a future Dunn Loring Elementary School The unanimous vote yesterday (Tuesday) by the Board of Supervisors doesn’t mean a school will necessarily be built at the site of the current Dunn Loring Administrative Center but a four-story building to serve nearly 1,000 students is now allowed if the Fairfax County School Board ultimately opts to move forward The decision proved a tough call for some supervisors who acknowledged unresolved community concerns about parking pedestrian safety and other issues with the site “The initial outreach … was definitely lacking,” said Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik whose district includes the site at 2334 Gallows Road Even though “it has certainly improved,” Palchik urged FCPS leaders to remain engaged with the residential neighborhoods surrounding the prospective school parcel located at the intersection of Idylwood Drive and Gallows Road “Be a good neighbor,” she advised started life as an elementary school in 1939 The last students moved over to Stenwood Elementary School in 1978 and the building has since been used by FCPS as an administrative center A number of speakers at the Feb. 4 public hearing said there’s no need for a new school in that location, citing revised enrollment projections that indicate a declining student population across FCPS “There is really no proof that this needs to be built,” Shari Blackburn president of the Wheystone Court Association Her neighborhood sits immediately north of the school parcel Even if it is required in order to accommodate student growth the massing of the building is inappropriate “It’s too large of a building being squeezed into this little lot,” she said “A massive new school at a massive price tag,” added Tina Doyle “It’s a very dangerous situation,” Doyle said of the parcel’s layout and the conditions around it “There are a lot of safety concerns and traffic concerns.” In 2019, county voters approved a school bond that allocated $40 million for a new elementary school in Oakton. However, with community members objecting to the use of Blake Lane Park for the future school, the school board voted in 2021 to instead use the funds for a Dunn Loring school to address growth in Tysons Merrifield and the Falls Church area of the county The cost of the project is now estimated at just over $80 million A number of supervisors criticized FCPS for what one called a “dismissive” attitude toward historic preservation in general the Fairfax County History Commission specifically Tammy Mannarion, who presented the commission’s views at the hearing, criticized school leadership for “a cavalier approach” to historic-preservation efforts and “a lack of understanding and respect” of the county’s Inventory of Historic Sites The Dunn Loring school building is among the roughly 350 county parcels on that inventory provides no guarantees a property will be preserved acknowledged “a lack of in-depth dialogue early on” related to historic preservation But he said FCPS tried to make up for that later in the process “We’ve put a lot of work into this application,” he said who came into the process after it had started won praise from Palchik for calming the waters and working with affected parties to reach agreement The Fairfax County Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposal in October 2023, but twice deferred a final vote In the interim, FCPS leaders worked with nearby communities, the Architectural Review Board and other groups. Among the proffers or legal conditions that school officials added to the plan were: Ultimately, the planning commission voted 9-0 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the rezoning application and development plan — albeit with some of the same concerns expressed by the supervisors the entranceway and pediment will be preserved and moved indoors where it will be incorporated into a part of the new school devoted to the history of the old one Supervisors said the school board will make the final decision on whether to build a new elementary school on that parcel Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said approving the rezoning “will be another piece that will give some flexibility” to address student enrollment changes “We do have overcrowding — certainly in Tysons and the Vienna area,” Alcorn said But some supervisors said they aren’t in a position to second-guess the school board on where facilities are needed “That is entirely in their purview,” Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman said McKay said he was pleased that the design calls for a four-story building “The future of schools needs to be looking up But McKay expressed some unease at how the multi-year process to get to final vote had played out It all left him “a little uncomfortable,” McKay said Local pho fans have a new restaurant to choose from Viet Corner, which comes from the family behind the Alexandria eatery Pho Viet Flare opened on Saturday (April 5) in the former Quickway Hibachi storefront in the Shops at Avenir Place The restaurant has seen “lots of locals” visit and their reactions have been encouraging so far Located steps from the Dunn Loring Metro station Viet Corner features a menu similar to that of Pho Viet Flare including the popular “Build My Pho” option diners can choose either beef or vegan broth before selecting up to two different types of protein Viet Corner also offers four different “We Make It For You” options including the beef combo pho that features five different meats ($17.95) Also on the restaurant’s menu is a variety of traditional Vietnamese offerings Cong told FFXnow in August that he had dreamed of expanding his family’s restaurant business since Pho Viet Flare opened in 2003 and the Vienna area looked like the right place to make that happen “Vienna is always one of my top locations since it is known for its vibrant community which can be ideal for a new restaurant venture,” he said the area has a strong local food culture with residents who appreciate diverse dining options making it a promising location for a Vietnamese noodle soup Viet Corner is currently open daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m UberEats and GrubHub hasn’t been set up yet but is “coming soon,” according to the restaurant The restaurant joins a handful of other eateries at the Metro station, though it’s the lone Vietnamese option. Other tenants include the adjacent Japomen Fairfax County Public Schools won the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s support yesterday (Wednesday) for construction of a new Dunn Loring Elementary School which now goes to the Board of Supervisors will help support “decades of [student] growth to come,” Providence District Commissioner Jeremy Hancock said The vote came after a contentious public hearing in late October, followed by more discussions in November as FCPS officials sought to make their final proposal palatable to commission members 15 meeting was make-or-break time for the effort at Gallows and Idylwood roads “We have deferred this application just about as far as we can” without starting the process over acknowledging that “significant constraints and competing priorities” at play had hampered efforts to create a plan acceptable to all interested parties FCPS is seeking to raze the existing 1930s-era, two-story school building at 2334 Gallows Road, which has been used in more recent decades as an administrative office. In its place, the school system has proposed a new four-story school building that could support 900 students and 100 staff laid out a list of changes that had been made since November to address concerns of both neighbors and historic preservation groups Perhaps most significant: School leaders will preserve the pediment and entranceway of the existing building incorporating it into an interpretive exhibit that will be housed inside the new school McGranahan said that will be “easier said than done” because of the sheer size of the architectural element to be preserved but it could be accommodated in a two-story-tall area where the history of school will be highlighted School leaders also agreed to give the county’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) and historic-preservation staff access to the site before demolition of the existing building add ethnographic research to the planned interpretative exhibit and include the ARB as a reviewing party for the interpretive exhibit Sully District Commissioner Evelyn Spain told school leaders that the changes made her “confident you have adequately addressed” issues related to preservation FCPS also added a number of proffer conditions they would adhere to in response to other community concerns “We’re absolutely open” to working with the neighboring communities Commissioners suggested the efforts by FCPS were adequate and acknowledged a real need to create additional student capacity in the county’s Dunn Loring/Vienna/Falls Church areas “I know we need this school,” Franconia District Commissioner Chris Landgraf said but he remained uneasy about the “very significant” concerns of neighbors The vote to recommend approval of the request was unanimous except for Mount Vernon District’s Walter Clarke, who abstained because he wasn’t in attendance for the October public hearing on the proposal Hancock said the raze-and-replace strategy was the best option available since the site in question is “the only viable location” for a school in the vicinity The original Dunn Loring Elementary School opened to students in September 1939 having been constructed by the New Deal’s Public Works Administration Serving only white students during the era of segregation in Virginia the school was integrated in the early 1960s with the arrival of some students from Vienna’s previously all-Black Louise Archer Elementary School the school board voted to close Dunn Loring Elementary at the end of the school year in June Students were reassigned to nearby Stenwood Elementary School The rezoning application for the new school is now scheduled to go to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for a public hearing on Feb Some major upgrades could be coming to Dunn Loring Park’s athletic fields The Fairfax County Park Authority announced last week that it’s exploring plans to resurface and expand the existing basketball court at 2540 Gallows Road possibly turning it into a dual-purpose basketball/futsal court Futsal is a sport similar to soccer but played on a smaller gaining popularity throughout the county,” the FCPA said the Park Authority celebrated the opening of a dual-use basketball and futsal court at Stratton Woods Park in the Hunter Mill district.” the Dunn Loring Park location would be Fairfax County’s fourth futsal court According to its park amenity locator, the FCPA added its first futsal court at Spring Lane Park (3400 Carlyn Hill Drive) in Bailey’s Crossroads, and most recently, it completed a combined futsal and basketball court at Stratton Woods Park in Reston A survey on proposed changes to the site is scheduled to run through 5 p.m The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) is calling for the Fairfax County School Board to delay the construction of a new Dunn Loring elementary school arguing that the project is unnecessary given the ongoing decline in student enrollment at nearby schools The request comes ahead of a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting tomorrow (Feb when officials are set to hold a public hearing and vote on whether to approve the project Last month, the Fairfax County Planning Commission backed a rezoning application that would allow the school system to replace a 1930s-era two-story building at 2334 Gallows Road — now used as an administrative office — with a new Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) officials say the new school would help alleviate crowding at nearby elementary schools in the Providence District and prepare for long-term growth in the area particularly as Tysons continues to develop But in a letter sent to the school board on Sunday (Feb. 2), the MCA challenged that justification, saying data shows enrollment at nearby elementary schools — including Freedom Hill, Shrevewood and Stenwood — has been declining. According to the school system’s fiscal year 2025–29 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that downward trend is expected to continue leaving hundreds of available seats in existing schools FCPS projects that Stenwood Elementary School — less than a mile from the proposed Dunn Loring site — will see enrollment drop from 99% capacity in the 2024-25 school year to 95% by 2029-30 Freedom Hill Elementary is expected to decline from 81% to 72% capacity while Shrevewood Elementary is projected to drop from 84% to just 64% capacity over the same period The MCA argues those numbers undermine the need for a new school suggesting that the county should instead focus its resources on maintaining existing facilities and addressing needs in areas where schools are over capacity “CIP enrollment data and projections show substantial current surplus capacity in the elementary schools around the Dunn Loring site and that significant surplus capacity is projected to increase over the next five years,” the letter states “To proceed on the current schedule would lead to even greater surplus capacity in August 2029 representing ineffective use of public funds and limiting FCPS’ system-wide flexibility to meet future capital needs.” MCA’s Board of Directors approved a resolution last year requesting more data to support the proposed project Fairfax County School Board At-Large Member Kyle McDaniel has echoed the MCA’s concerns, questioning the project’s necessity with the school system facing billions of dollars in facility renovation and maintenance needs During a school board CIP work session last month McDaniel argued that the new school would add to an already significant surplus of seats creating excess capacity at a time when FCPS is struggling to fund renovations and critical infrastructure suggesting resources should be directed toward overcrowded or aging schools instead Neither McDaniel nor any other school board members including Providence District representative and board chair Karl Frisch responded to FFXnow’s inquiries about the project’s fate or concerns raised by their colleagues and residents At the planning commission’s meetings, which included a public hearing in October Providence District Commissioner Jeremy Hancock argued that the new school is needed to accommodate future growth and increased demand for educational space particularly as development in Tysons continues MCA leaders and critics of the plan contend that demographic trends don’t justify the immediate need for the school With the Board of Supervisors set to vote tomorrow it remains to be seen whether the MCA’s objections will sway county leaders with the new school expected to be completed by 2027 Fairfax County school officials will try again this month to win planning commission support for the proposed new Dunn Loring Elementary School we need to do a little more work — [to] get all the pieces right,” Providence District Planning Commissioner Jeremy Hancock said last Wednesday (Oct 30) after more than two hours of presentations As a result, commissioners voted unanimously to defer action for two weeks in an effort to tie up loose ends before the body votes on its final recommendation “There’s a desire for more information,” Hancock said as the clock approached midnight Whether that delay will impact the timeline on a project that has encountered its share of setbacks remains to be seen The proposal to raze the existing Dunn Loring Administrative Center at 2334 Gallows Road and replace it with a new school drew concerns from community members about impacts on traffic congestion tree preservation and encroachment on neighboring properties Speakers also argued that Fairfax County Public Schools hasn’t seriously explored saving the existing structure, which is listed on the county’s inventory of historic sites, and didn’t conduct adequate outreach with the community Concerns of nearby residents “have been completely ignored,” Rebecca Cate representing the Dunn Loring Community Association Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said FCPS leaders were acting as if they don’t need to comply with the county government’s planning process “They are not the federal government or the state government,” Cortina said The planned new school would have four stories accommodate about 900 students and 100 staff and contain about 118,000 square feet of space It will be used to accommodate growth in the area of the county between Tysons to the north and Merrifield to the south FCPS leaders decided to build up rather than out to save the athletic fields and open space that occupy the western part of the parcel The overall floor-area ratio (FAR) of the project — which represents the building’s total square footage divided by the parcel’s square footage — comes in at 0.3 two-story administrative building operated as an elementary school from 1939-78 Designed by a state government architect who also worked on other school buildings around Virginia the school was built by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression on land sold to the school system by a man who had FCPS had a design consultant evaluated the possibility of preserving some or all of the building The review found that reusing the building would present challenges to meeting “current educational requirements” and “significantly” increase costs FCPS intends to preserve artifacts from the original building and display them at the future elementary school “Additional ways to honor this important history are also being considered,” FCPS says the decision not to preserve the existing building or incorporate parts of it into new construction drew the most vocal criticism at last week’s hearing from both community members and planning commissioners “I’d like FCPS to slow down and examine the big picture,” said Tammy Mannarino a member of the Fairfax County History Commission who was speaking on her own behalf An attorney for FCPS explained that school leaders didn’t run their plans through the county’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) because that step isn’t required for new construction ARB Chair Christopher Daniel testified that a vote should be delayed Failing to gather the board’s input represented “missed opportunities” to make the project better making the case that the site has cultural and historic significance and its demolition risks “losing an irreplaceable link to the county’s past.” Planning Commission members seemed to be on the same page “The historical aspect hasn’t been addressed enough,” Sully District Commissioner Evelyn Spain said “There’s so much richness that needs to be brought forth and kept.” While concurring that more discussion was warranted before final action commission chair Phil Niedzielski-Eichner said he’s nonetheless “sympathetic to the challenge the school system has.” “There’s just a huge backlog of unmet needs,” he said “Further delay … means higher cost.” The project will be funded by school bonds approved by voters in 2019 and 2021 The $36.8 million from the 2019 bond sales were originally destined for a school in the Oakton area, but with the selected site of Blake Lane Park sparking objections the Fairfax County School Board voted in January 2021 to instead use the funds for a school to serve the Dunn Loring and Pimmit Hills area However, some community members, including the McLean Citizens Association, have argued that there are more pressing needs in other parts of the county While an initial timeline envisioned construction beginning this fall Hancock said “we’re years away” from getting the school opened A small slice of Japan has opened up near the Dunn Loring Metro station The team behind the Chantilly food hall Tilly Kitchen launched Japomen in the Shops at Avenir Place (2767-J Avenir Place) on Oct Initially anticipating a launch in May, the opening was a relief to Jason Kang, who co-owns the restaurant with Rockville’s Pike Kitchen owner James Park and sushi chef Peter Yoo it almost took one year to open,” Kang told FFXnow “A lot of people in this area … they already know we’re going to finally open Park and Yoo introduced Japomen as one of the concepts at Pike Kitchen a food hall that serves different kinds of Asian cuisine and locations at EpiQ Food Hall in Woodbridge and Lotte Supermarket’s food court in Sterling Building on Yoo’s 30-plus years of experience with Japanese restaurants in the D.C including some more unique offerings like onigiri (triangular rice balls wrapped in seaweed) and hand rolls (labeled on the menu as “sushi tacos”) To encourage customers to try the hand rolls the restaurant is offering a free spicy salmon or truffle white soy salmon one with any ramen order Kang says no end date for the promotion has been determined yet There are also specialty ramen bowls, such as halal chicken and lamb, kimchi and seared wagyu, along with the standard miso and shoyu options. The Japomen bowl puts noodles and chopped pork belly in “slightly spicy” miso broth with a citrusy kick from yuzu and jalapeno Japomen makes an effort to prepare and cook everything in-house including the cha siu (pork) that’s marinated in a special sauce The tuna comes from whole bluefin tuna that’s cut at the restaurant Kang says that approach enables them to maintain slightly lower prices than other Japanese eateries in the area costs $14.95 compared to $19.80 at the nearby Jinya Ramen Bar in the Mosaic District “The customers can enjoy better quality Japanese food at a reasonable price The team hopes to add alcoholic drinks to their offerings but is still waiting on a license from the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority An inspection was scheduled for today (Tuesday) Japomen will be joined at Avenir Place, possibly in December, by Viet Corner a Vietnamese restaurant that will represent the first expansion of Pho Viet Flare in Alexandria Final consideration of Fairfax County Public Schools’ proposal to build a new elementary school to serve the Dunn Loring area has been delayed until 2025 The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously yesterday (Wednesday) to defer a vote on its recommendation for the proposal until Jan which also postpones any final action by the Board of Supervisors The decision to defer came after “a little reflection” from FCPS according to Providence District Commissioner Jeremy Hancock “They have decided to do a little more community outreach,” Hancock said School officials didn’t speak at yesterday’s meeting, but Hancock said they plan to host a community meeting on Dec 4 and will reach out to county’s Architectural Review Board for support in helping to preserve what it can on the existing site the development proposal was slated to be heard by the Board of Supervisors on Nov That consideration now is likely to be on an agenda in late January But the clock is ticking: By law, the planning commission must act on the school system’s rezoning application within 100 days of submission 15 meeting will be the last one available before the deadline hits The proposal to raze the existing Dunn Loring Administrative Center at 2334 Gallows Road and replace it with a new school has drawn concerns from community members about impacts on traffic congestion Speakers at the planning commission’s Oct. 30 public hearing said FCPS hadn’t given enough consideration to saving the existing structure, which is listed on the county’s inventory of historic sites but doesn’t have any specific preservation protections in place The existing, two-story administrative building operated as an elementary school from the late 1930s to the late 1970s before being repurposed as an administrative facility The new school will have four stories and expand to about 118,000 square feet of space It’s intended to support student growth between Tysons to the north and Merrifield to the south The project is being funded by school bonds approved by voters in 2019 and 2021 While current plans don’t envision saving the structure FCPS representatives said at the public hearing that there’s a desire to have a display of items related to the building’s history in the new school Dunn Loring Center in Merrifield has been quiet since Fairfax County approved a redevelopment of the 1980s-era office building more than three years ago Rest assured, though, that the planned apartment building with retail is still in the works, says property owner and developer Elm Street Development which hopes to start construction at 2722 Merrilee Drive in 2025 As proposed in the rezoning plan that the county’s Board of Supervisors approved on Jan Elm Street intends to replace the Dunn Loring Center — a three-story office building constructed in 1984 — with a seven-story 239-unit apartment building with ground-floor retail space essentially no changes have been made since zoning,” Elm Street partner and vice president Nicholas Flanagan told FFXnow “The project will still have its retail component and the parking and outdoor greenspace/amenities have stayed the same.” the 3,875 square feet of retail will be provided in a two-story podium which will also contain 302 garage parking spaces That will include 30 spots reserved for retail visitors but no electric vehicle charging spaces though the garage will be designed so at least 2% of all spaces can get stations installed in the future The site plan features about 20,000 square feet of open space including a plaza with a public art pedestal at the entrance to the retail shops an outdoor fitness area with exercise stations The availability of urban park space on the 2-acre site was a top concern for county officials during the rezoning process Elm Street said it could only fit 0.17 acres offering to find another 0.45 acres off-site or contribute $500,000 to the Fairfax County Park Authority if no possible locations emerged In a July 2023 letter to the park authority Flanagan reasserted the developer’s commitment to finding off-site park space by reaching out to nearby property owners for potential collaborations Elm Street hadn’t received any responses and no other development plans had been filed in Merrifield “that would make sense for a partnership.” “In order to continue to fulfill our proffer commitment we plan to continue to reach out to [the Department of] Planning and Development and nearby property owners on a semiannual basis and we will update you on any developments,” Flanagan wrote the park authority contribution would be made when the county issues its first residential use permit for the apartment building no formal development plans have been submitted and no meetings are scheduled right now on the proposed amendments Elm Street’s other projects in Fairfax County include a condo building in the Reston Midline development that could also start construction next year and the Woods at Occoquan Overlook a single-family housing subdivision in Lorton that’s slated to open a model home in September One of the Shops at Avenir Place’s earliest tenants has left Spice 6 21) after serving customers near the Dunn Loring Metro station for nearly a decade Paper signs posted to the doors said only that the eatery is “closed for today,” but a worker was seen loading boxes from the suite at 2674 I Avenir Place into a Cybertruck when FFXnow walked by yesterday (Monday) The location has also been removed from the company’s website A decline in traffic to the area in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic led Spice 6 to shutter that location, a spokesperson told FFXnow. An outlet at the Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda was also doomed by Covid, its initially temporary shutdown becoming permanent in fall 2020 The restaurant can still be found in D.C.’s Chinatown and Hyattsville Anchored by Harris Teeter, which opened in May 2016 the mixed-use development still has several original tenants Jersey Mike’s and Orangetheory Fitness However, Spice 6’s closure might not be the only departure in store. Roosters Men’s Grooming Center is no longer shown on a site plan for the development’s retail An employee denied that there are plans to close but the barber shop’s 1,181-square-foot space next to Séchoir Beauty Bar is listed as “available.” didn’t return a request for comment by press time Impending arrivals to the Shops at Avenir Place include Japomen, the first standalone location for a Japanese restaurant that can currently be found in Rockville, Woodbridge and Sterling food halls. After previously hoping to open in May owner James Park says the team is now “shooting for early September,” but the timing will depend on how an upcoming health inspection goes According to KLNB’s site plan, Japomen will be adjacent to a second location for Pho Viet Flare rice dishes and vermicelli bowls at Alexandria’s Van Dorn Station Shopping Center Owner Minh Cong confirmed to FFXnow that he has signed a lease for the space on Avenir Place enabling him to fulfill a longtime dream of expanding the pho restaurant his family has been running in Alexandria since 2003 the new Viet Corner restaurant will serve traditional dishes like pho and banh mi boba tea and Vietnamese coffee with an emphasis on fresh He hopes to create a family-friendly atmosphere with menu options for kids and perhaps even items specifically for pet owners which can be ideal for a new restaurant venture,” Cong said A sprawling collection of offices and warehouses in northern Merrifield could someday look more like the newer development around the nearby Dunn Loring Metro station Property owner Link Logistics and an affiliate of EYA Development hope to replace the 41-acre Prosperity Business Campus at 2750 Prosperity Avenue with a resident-focused “walkable urban neighborhood,” according to a development plan submitted to Fairfax County on Friday (Jan which will require the site to be rezoned from an industrial district to residential mixed-use creating a “logical transition” between commercial buildings to the east and the existing Dunn Loring Village townhomes to the west “The Applicant’s proposal presents an exciting opportunity to transform an aging suburban-style industrial office park into a thriving residential community,” Walsh Lubeley & Walsh land use attorney Robert Brant said in a statement of justification for the application the Prosperity Business Campus lines both sides of Prosperity Avenue with Hilltop Road to the south and I-66 to the north It’s about half a mile away from the Metro station and within a half-mile of the Mosaic District a position that makes it “an ideal candidate for redevelopment,” Brant argues in the statement Link Logistics began pursuing a potential overhaul of its property by nominating it for a comprehensive plan amendment in 2022 requesting that the county add an option for mixed-use housing that could allow up to 2.7 million square feet of development With a plan amendment now in the works, as authorized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in April 2023, the property owner partnered with EYA that year and has since been working to refine its initial development concept based on feedback from staff and the community the applicants are seeking two possible development options that would be delivered in phases: the multi-family buildings will include one to two floors with up to 5,000 square feet of non-residential uses and they would top out at 85 feet in height or six to seven stories The proposed townhouses would have four stories with a maximum height of 24 feet The application doesn’t specify whether the multi-family units will be rental apartments or owned condominiums. It states that the developers will meet the county’s requirements for affordable and workforce housing the multi-family buildings will be concentrated on the north side of the property near I-66 and be supported by parking garages with approximately 1,200 or 1,700 spaces depending on which option is ultimately chosen Adding in surface spaces and garages for the townhouses at least 2,287 parking spots are proposed for the overall development The development could bring 5.07 to 5.49 acres of publicly accessible park space Both plans call for a 3.27-acre Central Park on the west side of Prosperity Avenue with an open lawn but the size and location of an additional “gateway park” would vary based on the chosen option “This new open space represents a significant improvement over the existing condition and … fulfills an existing and growing demand for such space in the Merrifield Suburban Center,” Brant wrote townhouse residents will have access to a series of interior courtyards and plazas intended to “further break up the blocks into smaller Link Logistics and EYA are also committing to preserving Long Branch stream valley which runs along the west side of the business park and to making improvements along Prosperity Avenue A proposed landscaped median on a portion of the road would further enhance “the focus on the pedestrian experience,” the application says Fairfax County got some funding in 2023 to design a reconfiguration of Prosperity Avenue with a road diet and bicycle lanes to address safety concerns The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive plan amendment last Tuesday (Jan. 14) that ultimately could lead to the redevelopment of the Alliance Center office condominiums adjoining the Mosaic District in Merrifield Though there’s no current development proposal on the table, the amendment would allow nearly 360 residential units with 60,000 square feet of ground-floor uses on the 3.2-acre site which currently hosts two buildings with 24 aging commercial-condominium units mixed-use development and a Cox Communications facility Postal Service regional facilities are located across Eskridge Road The revised plan more than doubles the density of residential development pemitted on the site increasing the floor-area ratio from 1.25 to 3.0 compares the total square footage of development divided by square footage of the lot Merrifield Town Center and the Dunn Loring Metro station make it an ideal candidate for renewal a land-use consultant hired by Alliance Center Condominiums “This is really where this type of density should be,” Teets told supervisors The property owner nominated the site for a comprehensive plan amendment in 2022, submitting a concept to the county that included two multifamily residential buildings that concept hasn’t evolved yet into a specific development plan “We do not have any plans right now,” he told the supervisors “We right now are just trying to make sense for where additional development should be.” Besides Teets, there were no speakers during the public hearing. When the proposal went before the Fairfax County Planning Commission in December residents of the nearby Mosaic District Townhouses voiced concerns about the impact of any future development on their homes a lack of park space and traffic congestion In response to community concerns, county staff revised the now-approved plan amendment to require road and pedestrian access improvements along Eskridge Road, including at the Strawberry Lane intersection. Noting that it’s unusual for the board to consider a plan amendment without an accompanying development application, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, whose district includes Merrifield, said she expects there will be “a lot of community conversations” whenever a redevelopment plan is filed. Under the revised comprehensive plan, any future project could support both the county’s housing goals and efforts to improve transportation and pedestrian safety in that area. “We’ve spent a lot of time over the past six years looking at Eskridge Road, trying to make improvements,” Palchik said. TRACK RADARMaryland man arrested moments after burglary in Dunn Loring (7News) — A 58-year-old Maryland resident was arrested moments after committing a burglary and being linked to three others in theDunn Loring area of Fairfax County Westray was found and arrested moments later as he attempted to get on the Metro Detectives from McLean's Police District Major Crimes Bureau and patrol officers have linked Westray to three additional burglaries in the Dunn Loring area: Westray was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with Burglary two counts of Burglary with the Intent to Commit a Misdemeanor three counts of Destruction of Property and two additional warrants from another jurisdiction were served He was held with no bond but was released on a secure bond A man reportedly spotted brandishing a machete in Merrifield was arrested yesterday (Tuesday) after five hours of negotiations with police According to the Fairfax County Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of Livingstone Lane in the Merrifield at Dunn Loring Station apartments at 6:13 p.m 7) after a man called 911 to report someone with a machete Based on a description given by the 911 caller officers identified the man as a 35-year-old Merrifield resident who had multiple outstanding warrants from the Vienna Police Department After initially being unable to locate the man officers found him sitting inside a parked vehicle at 11:49 p.m “Officers initially attempted to have [the man] exit the vehicle but he refused,” the FCPD said in a news release “After [he] continued to refuse officers’ directions additional officers from FCPD’s Special Operations Division and Crisis Response Team responded to assist with the barricade.” when Special Operations Division officers managed to arrest the man with help from a K9 unit The man was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after getting bitten by a police dog The man has been charged with two counts of simple assault He was also served the six outstanding warrants from Vienna police who didn’t immediately respond when asked about the charges the man is currently in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond Fairfax County police have arrested a Maryland man who allegedly burglarized multiple homes in Dunn Loring The 58-year-old man was arrested following a burglary that was reported in the 7900 block of Tire Swing Road in the Shreve Hill neighborhood around 10:25 a.m the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release they heard and saw the suspect breaking into the basement window,” the FCPD said and he fled before officers arrived.” Officers soon found the man attempting to get on a train at the Dunn Loring Metro station He was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with burglary two counts of burglary with the intent to commit a misdemeanor and three counts of property destruction The man was also served with two warrants from another jurisdiction detectives have “preliminarily” connected the man to three other home burglaries that occurred in the Dunn Loring area in late May: After initially being held in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center the man was granted a supervised release with a $2,500 bond after a hearing on May 29 according to the Fairfax County General District Court clerk’s office The man is also facing a charge of failing to appear in court in Montgomery County Fairfax County Public Schools needs $2.6 billion over the next decade to address renovations and construction projects already in its pipeline While $428 million is available from past bond referendums, it’s far from enough to cover the school system’s current priorities, which were laid out in a draft Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2026-2030 presented to the Fairfax County School Board on Tuesday (Jan The challenge becomes even greater if FCPS wants to speed up its renovation schedule which has stretched out a targeted 25-year cycle for updating facilities to 41 years the school system is looking at a $14.4 billion price tag to address capital projects and restore a 25-year funding cycle — a figure that doesn’t include inflation “I feel like the board and our community really need to understand: this is what it would take… because of cost escalation and deferring and deferring to actually get back on simply a 25-year cycle,” FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid said The backlog of renovations and maintenance at FCPS has been years in the making, with inflation and supply chain disruptions significantly increasing project costs Also daunting is the sheer size of FCPS’s facilities portfolio FCPS has more than the equivalent of four Pentagons of space,” said Janice Szymanski who oversees the district’s facilities and capital programs are operating well beyond their intended lifespans with critical repairs — such as HVAC replacements and electrical system upgrades — long overdue The current backlog of deferred maintenance has climbed to $244.6 million and continues to grow “Should current resources and funding remain constant FCPS projects the [backlog’s] rate of growth increasing from 8.4% to 10% with a longer renovation cycle and the cost of construction continuing to rise,” Szymanski added “The result is a projected backlog of over $635 million in the next 10 years.” According to the draft FY 2026-2030 CIP escalating construction expenses and competing budget priorities — such as teacher salaries and transportation improvements — have limited FCPS’ ability to adequately address its growing infrastructure needs Szymanski noted that FCPS receives just $8.54 in funding per square foot — less than similarly sized school districts like Prince William County Public Schools and D.C which receive $43.57 and $36.96 per square foot Increasing funding by just $3.58 per square foot — enough to match the second-lowest funded rival school system on the comparison chart — would require an additional $97.5 million in annual bond funding or alternative revenue Right now, the CIP project list is largely unchanged from last year’s approved program as well as modular building relocations to alleviate overcrowding at certain schools New construction projects are part of the plan as well: The Dunn Loring project, projected to cost $85.6 million, got the support of the Fairfax County Planning Commission on Wednesday (Jan The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Feb The Silver Line Elementary School is expected to begin design work in 2031, with an estimated total cost of $93.8 million. Located at the intersection of Frying Pan Road and Sunrise Valley Drive, the future school will be part of Pomeroy Clark I’s “One Sunrise Valley” development near the Innovation Center Metro Station Declining enrollment sparks debate over investments and new construction projects comes even as FCPS projects a decline in student enrollment over the next few years Enrollment is expected to drop from 180,384 students in the 2024-25 school year to 177,778 by 2029-30 The decline is largely due to falling birth rates and an increase in multi-family housing developments which typically yield fewer school-aged children several school board members stressed that declining enrollment doesn’t mean reduced facilities costs why do we need funding for renovations?'” Braddock District Representative Rachna Sizemore Heizer said “Part of that is because it’s not a one-to-one for students in schools There’s a lot of common school spaces that need to be renovated regardless of whether the school’s at 100% capacity and there’s also the impact of the community use.” Kilmer Middle and West Springfield High — are expected to face substantial capacity deficits of 115% or more by the 2029-2030 school year though several others currently are exceeding their capacity or are projected to within the next five years voting instead to review FCPS’ boundary adjustment policy Residents and civic groups like the Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) expressed concerns during the boundary policy update about its potential impact on student stability Those concerns reemerged at a public hearing on Tuesday about the proposed CIP Speakers argued the updated policy lacks transparency and adequate public engagement while questioning the justification for large-scale renovation and construction projects amid projected declines in student enrollment “We acknowledge the challenges facing the school board and FCPS staff in addressing the dynamics of planning for county school facilities,” GFCA secretary and board member Jennifer Falcone said “Because of the complexities involved more time for more careful consideration of a CIP is necessary.” School board members suggest reconsidering Dunn Loring project During Tuesday’s work session on the CIP At-Large School Board Representative Kyle McDaniel questioned the logic behind certain projects the CIP projects a 1,027-seat surplus in design capacity for four elementary schools surrounding Dunn Loring — Freedom Hill Stenwood and Westgate — by the 2029-2030 school year FCPS has projected that the Dunn Loring Elementary School which will replace a former school building currently being used for administrative offices “Simple math shows a 2,000-seat surplus,” McDaniel said “I’m struggling with this… because when I look at these maps showing capacity issues across the county I’m having a hard time justifying $86 million.” Dranesville District Representative Robyn Lady questioned the Dunn Loring project’s prioritization over a Tysons elementary school arguing that ongoing development and demographic shifts in Tysons may warrant greater urgency I’m getting lots of questions about the urgency for a Dunn Loring versus the urgency for a Tysons elementary school,” she said McDaniel suggested further analysis and transparency are needed before committing taxpayer dollars to the project “I’m looking forward to some more information A nearly 3-mile stretch of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail has been out of commission this week but pedestrians and bicyclists should be able to return soon Expected to last through Friday, Nov. 15, the closure has required trail users to take a 4.8-mile detour through mostly residential neighborhoods on Cottage Street in Vienna Signs directing travelers have been posted along the detour route which was approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation on an existing 230[-kilovolt] electric transmission line,” Dominion Energy spokesperson Aisha Khan said “This work is necessary to maintain electric reliability for our customers.” the closed portion of the trail is being patrolled by law enforcement Khan noted that the end date for the closure is “subject to change,” depending on the weather and other “unforseen circumstances” that could affect work on the power line Dominion began work on the transmission line replacement in July but other than the sight of cleared brush to make room for construction staging areas the project hasn’t directly affected use of the popular W&OD Trail until now Additional impacts are possible in the spring when trail users may be temporarily stopped for up to 15-minute intervals or limited to either the gravel or paved paths 5 notice from Dominion’s project team The letter was sent to state and local legislators NOVA Parks and residents who live within a mile of the trail The current work constitutes the first phase of the project focusing on a 2.8-mile segment from the Clark substation at 375 Center Street near Caboose Tavern to Sandburg Street A second phase to address the remaining 1.1-mile segment of the transmission line from Gallows Road to the Idylwood substation at 7701 Shreve Road will necessitate another W&OD Trail closure and detour in summer 2025 that closure will require Dominion workers to cross I-66 I-495 and Metro’s train tracks near the Dunn Loring station “Customer electric service is not expected to be interrupted because of this project,” Khan said “We are committed to working safely and courteously and will restore the area once work is complete.” The utility anticipates finishing the overall project next summer 2024 at 2:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Fairfax County Police believe a Dunn Loring burglary suspect is tied to three other burglaries in the area VA — Fairfax County Police arrested a man they say was breaking into a home's basement window and linked him to three other burglaries in the Dunn Loring area police responded to a burglary while residents were home in the 7900 block of Tire Swing Road in Dunn Loring Police say the residents heard and witnessed the suspect break into a basement window Officers located and arrested the suspect nearby as he was trying to get on the Metro two counts of burglary with the intent to commit a misdemeanor and three counts of destruction of property Police also served two additional warrants from another locality He was held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center but was later released on a secured bond Detectives believe Westray is the suspect in three other burglaries: May 20 in the 8200 block of Bucknell Drive in Vienna and 2700 Block of Elsmore Street in Fairfax All happened in the area surrounding I-66 near the Vienna and Dunn Loring Metro stations Anyone with information about the burglaries can contact Fairfax County Police at 703-556-7750 or submit a tip through Crime Solvers Fairfax County’s plan to add protected bicycle lanes and pedestrian safety features to Prosperity Avenue is moving ahead but a new high-density development along the Merrifield corridor could complicate the design which would reduce the road from four to two lanes and introduce pedestrian safety improvements in front of the Dunn Loring Metro station between Hilltop Road and Gallows Road While county officials expect only minor increases in traffic delays, a developer’s recently submitted plan to replace the aging Prosperity Business Campus at 2750 Prosperity Avenue with a mixed-use development that could deliver 1,500- to 1,800 residential units With their initial proposal property owner Link Logistics and an affiliate of EYA Development say they would remove the bike lane buffers in favor of street parking potentially undoing some of the project’s safety improvements FCDOT officials say they intend to push back against changes arguing that the bike lane buffers are necessary for safety the developer proposed removing the buffers from existing bike lanes and also adding street parking,” Hannah Cacner an active transportation planner with FCDOT “But we plan to work with the developer to keep those bike lane buffers there.” The road diet is designed to close a major gap in the county’s bike network where existing lanes disappear near the Metro station the county plans to install concrete barriers and flexible delineator posts along the bike lanes Two new pedestrian refuge islands will also be added at mid-block crosswalks making it safer to cross Prosperity Avenue someone crossing has to wait for a gap in traffic and all four lanes of traffic that person would really only need to cross two vehicle travel lanes and would have additional buffer space to wait for gaps in traffic,” Cacner said Right turns on red will also be banned at signalized intersections to reduce vehicle-pedestrian conflicts the project would upgrade all four existing Fairfax Connector bus stops along Prosperity Avenue with ADA-compliant boarding areas and improved signage The county is also coordinating with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to relocate two private shuttle stops — used by Defense Health Headquarters (7700 Arlington Blvd) and Inova — that currently block a travel lane near Gallows Road The new shuttle stop locations would be closer to the Dunn Loring Metro station Though the modifications aim to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety Cacner noted that drivers will see a slight increase in travel times A traffic study found that reducing Prosperity Avenue from four lanes to two will add 1.5 seconds of delay at Merrilee Drive and seven seconds at Gallows Road during peak hours FCDOT says the increased wait times still fall well within the county’s “acceptable limits” under the county’s comprehensive plan and could even improve traffic flow by reducing speeding and limiting aggressive lane switching “There are some benefits for drivers that are associated with road diets,” Cacner said it’s easier and safer for drivers turning onto the road from side streets just because there are fewer lanes to cross.” Fewer lanes also help traffic flow by preventing sudden braking by drivers accommodating lane changes which often slows down entire stretches of road FCDOT is currently collecting public feedback on the project through Feb with final design adjustments expected later this year The Virginia Department of Transportation has already reviewed the plans and provided feedback meaning some elements may still change before the project moves to the construction phase the county will need to secure funding for construction It is safe to say that Monday’s snowstorm has impacted every inch of Fairfax County As numerous residents and businesses work to dig themselves out of roughly 6 inches of snow some storefronts have opened their doors to offer various snow day specials Other establishments have opted to shrink their hours or outright close for today the following public services have opted to close or have been impacted by the inclement weather: This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Local residents will get their first glimpse of the planned Dunn Loring Elementary School later this week Fairfax County Public Schools will kick off the public input portion of the project’s design process on Thursday (Nov 10) with a meeting at the Gatehouse Administrative Center (8115 Gatehouse Road) in Merrifield The meeting will take place from 6-7 p.m. in the building’s first floor cafe, where capacity will be limited to 150 people. As a result, a Zoom link will also be sent to those who register in advance Advanced by the Fairfax County School Board in March the capital project will repurpose the Dunn Loring Administrative Center at 2334 Gallows Road as an elementary school expected to accommodate 900 students From a message that FCPS sent to area families: The Dunn Loring Administrative Center was originally built to address the needs of a rapidly growing population Additions were needed throughout the 1940s and 50s as the Baby Boom generation entered elementary school in this thriving community eventually serving FCPS staff as an administrative center we have the opportunity to return the building to its original purpose and support the needs of students in the surrounding community The repurposing of the Dunn Loring Administrative Center will provide approximately 900 students with an elementary school rooted in history and poised to provide 21st-century learning preparing young children for bright futures FCPS supports quality education in ten other schools by relieving the pressures of increasing enrollment growth The planned renovations and additions will result in a 118,000-square-foot facility The engineering firm Samaha Associates was contracted to design the school, which is being funded by $36.8 million in bonds originally designated for a facility in the Fairfax/Oakton area The upcoming meeting will give members of the public their first opportunity to see and weigh in on the future school’s design but “no major changes may be made” at this stage “Small adjustments may be considered,” FCPS said noting that the feedback will be shared with the Fairfax County Planning Commission The McLean Citizens Association, which urged FCPS to drop its plans this past spring, shared a report last week that argued the school system’s student enrollment projections might not fully capture the growth anticipated in the Tysons area FCPS has maintained that the future school’s boundaries remain to be determined “Boundary discussions will begin at the start of construction which may be as early as spring 2024,” FCPS said At least one more community meeting will be held on the school’s design, along with a meeting by a design feedback and engagement committee. Comments for the committee can already be submitted online Those meetings will precede a public hearing before the county’s planning commission No dates have been set beyond Thursday’s meeting but another will soon open in the Shops at Avenir Place near the Dunn Loring Metro station Burger 7 is no longer serving up patties and gyro wraps at 2670-A Avenir Place The doors of the fast-casual eatery were fastened shut with a padlocked chain and the interior looked partially deserted when FFXnow recently stopped by though there was no sign announcing or explaining the closure A Burger 7 employee in Pimmit Hills (7505 Leesburg Pike) confirmed that the Dunn Loring location is permanently closed but they didn’t know precisely when or why it shuttered noting that the franchise has a different owner Emails to the company weren’t answered by press time Burger 7 opened at Avenir Place in 2017, replacing a Smashburger, according to its first Yelp review. In addition to Pimmit Hills, where the business originally started in 2011 Burger 7 can still be found in Alexandria and Arlington The 2,094-square-foot space is now listed as available on the Shops at Avenir Place’s retail site plan The transit-oriented development won’t be down a restaurant for too long signs advertise the impending arrival of Japomen This will be the first standalone location for the sushi and ramen restaurant, which can currently be found in the Pike Kitchen Food Hall in Rockville, EpiQ Food Hall in Woodbridge and Lotte Supermarket’s food court in Sterling “Fairfax County has demographics to fit [the] Japomen concept,” Park told FFXnow Park joined Japomen, which was started by sushi chef Peter Yoo at Pike Kitchen in 2018, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partners expanded to Woodbridge in summer 2022 and to Sterling when Lotte opened there last year Park and Yoo are also behind Tilly Kitchen a small food hall in Chantilly that complements Japomen’s menu with Korean and Vietnamese dishes Expected to open at 2767-J Avenir Place in May Japomen will serve food similar to what can be found at the EpiQ Food Hall ramen and udon noodle soups and rice bowls Park says the team will also “continue to innovate new menu items in catering to Dunn Loring customers.” “We are very excited and look forward to serving the Dunn Loring community,” he said Planning is well underway for a new elementary school in Dunn Loring but some McLean residents argue that Fairfax County Public Schools still hasn’t explained why the project should be prioritized over other needs As part of a resolution on the proposed county and FCPS budgets the McLean Citizens Association’s board of directors urged the Fairfax County School Board last Wednesday (April 3) to “refrain from constructing” the school if officials can’t “provide adequate data” justifying it “What they are expecting to do is spend $80 million-ish and they do not have any data to support the construction of that,” Louise Epstein who chairs MCA’s budget and taxation committee is utilizing 97% of its capacity right now and is projected to reach 98% in 2028-2029 MCA acknowledged that FCPS will face “upward pressures” on enrollment from new residential development but it says the CIP and its own “independent analysis” based on data provided by FCPS don’t show any near-term impacts on elementary schools in Dunn Loring “The School Board’s inclusion of Dunn Loring project in the FY 2025 Advertised Budget is not supported by FCPS 5-year enrollment projections,” MCA’s resolution says “since no elementary school near Dunn Loring has an existing or projected ‘capacity deficit,’ and elementary schools in that vicinity are projected to have an aggregate ‘capacity surplus’ of 789 seats in 2028-29.” Per the CIP, FCPS is forecasting capacity deficits at 20 elementary schools by the 2028-2029 school year, including at Spring Hill, Franklin Sherman and Kent Gardens. Boundary changes in McLean will take effect starting this fall proceeding with the Dunn Loring school contradicts FCPS guidelines that state new school construction should be considered when there are persistent “significant capacity deficits” and “only where surplus capacity or existing school inventory are not available,” the MCA resolution argues an FCPS spokesperson noted that the six elementary schools closest to the Dunn Loring site “have varying capacity status for current programs and growth,” from 80% utilization at Freedom Hill Elementary School to 98% at Stenwood “The Dunn Loring Elementary School Capital Project will relieve the pressure of increasing instructional program needs in a rapidly growing area of Fairfax County,” the spokesperson said adding that the CIP’s five-year projections don’t include developments that are planned but not yet under construction Construction on the Dunn Loring elementary school is expected to start in fiscal year 2026 the project still needs more than $39 million in additional funding for construction The MCA board wasn’t unanimous in its skepticism of the Dunn Loring project with some members pushing to scrap that section of the resolution altogether Kent Holland argued that it’s “wise” to plan and build a facility now to prepare for future population growth in the Tysons area. He recalled opposing a letter that MCA sent in 2022 objecting to the use of bond funds for the Dunn Loring elementary school we’re just tilting at windmills,” he said “We’re opposing a school where one is going to be needed at some point in the future and I think it just looks like people in McLean are saying Another member concurred that the resolution was “unbaked,” lamenting that its “selective use of data” overly emphasizes residents leaving the county compared to those moving in “It is preposterous that we cherry pick and exclude the trend of a substantial influx of immigrant population coming into McLean,” he said Though the resolution passed last week contends that FCPS projections “are likely to exceed actual future enrollment,” MCA previously made the case that the school system underestimates student growth in the Tysons area by not incorporating planned but unbuilt developments in its forecast McLean Police District – Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau have arrested a man linked to four separate burglaries in the Dunn Loring area officers responded to the 7900 block of Tire Swing Road in Dunn Loring for a burglary of an occupied dwelling they heard and saw the suspect breaking into the basement window Officers located and arrested William Westray of Maryland a short distance away as he attempted to get on the Metro and two additional warrants from another jurisdiction were served He was held with no bond but has since been released on a secured bond detectives linked Westray to three additional burglaries in the Dunn Loring area Anyone with information about these cases is asked to call our detectives at 703-556-7750. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE The Dunn Loring Metro station’s new “beerstro” is set to pour its first official brew tomorrow (Thursday) The Casual Pint will throw a grand opening celebration for its Dunn Loring franchise (2676 Avenir Place Festivities are planned throughout the day and supervisors Dalia Palchik (Providence) and John Foust (Dranesville) are expected to attend Franchise owners Jenn Longmeyer-Wood and Derek Adams previously told FFXnow that they hope to create a casual family-friendly gathering spot where local residents can “hang out and just keep it easy.” Residents of McLean, the pair worked at The Casual Pint in Seven Corners — the Tennessee-based company’s only other location in Northern Virginia so far — before deciding to open their own franchise the 1,753-square-foot pub can seat 42 people indoors Outdoor seating is also available in The Shops at Avenir Place’s courtyard which Adams and Longmeyer-Wood hope will host musical performances and other events in the future Here’s more from The Casual Pint on its food and drink offerings: Casual Pint of Dunn Loring’s expertly curated selection of beers includes options from a 22-tap draft beer system as well as single beer cans and bottles available for purchase to drink on-site or take home along with crowlers and growlers available to-go their craft beer selection will always include IPAs as well as at least one cider and seasonal offerings The restaurant also serves a curated range of wines and various soft drinks for a diverse beverage experience Casual Pint of Dunn Loring features a small menu of all-star classic fare including 12-inch handmade German pretzels from woman-owned Prop and Peller the team will begin adding seasonal items and regional specialties incorporating ingredients and items from local butchers and locally owned/small-business specialty items Diners can also take the full Casual Pint experience home with food and craft beer to go Mix-A-Six Packs out of our bottle & can cooler or packaged beer off the dry shelves Kegs are also available for any occasion with advance orders The Casual Pint of Dunn Loring will be open from 11 a.m Community members who attended a public meeting on the future elementary school in Dunn Loring last week appeared to favor replacing the existing administrative center at 2334 Gallows Road with a four-story building One proposal would shift the school further away from Gallows Road onto what’s currently Murphy Field a popular facility for local youth soccer groups The building would be mostly two stories tall with a third story of classrooms on the west side The site would have room for an athletic field by Gallows Road as well as playgrounds but they would be scattered around the property Slated to begin in spring 2024, construction could start sooner with this option, since the Dunn Loring Center building wouldn’t have to be completely demolished first, Samaha principal Tom Lee said at the meeting on Thursday (Nov we’re able to get three site entrances off of Idylwood [Road] one aligning with Greenbriar Way and then two more for the bus loop so you see a complete and independent separation between the kiss-and-ride traffic and the bus traffic with parking on both sides,” he said The other option would construct a four-story building in the existing Dunn Loring Center footprint with play areas consolidated to the west Both options eliminate the site’s current entrance off of Gallows but the four-story one would have a longer kiss-and-ride queue that could accommodate about 50 vehicles compared to the 30 spaces in the other design drivers would have to go back out the way they came in when buses are using the loop at the front entrance Most attendees expressed support for the four-story design in part because it keeps the athletic field away from Gallows Road and has a smaller footprint though a full tree survey hasn’t been conducted yet “That field that’s currently there is used all the time some of the only good green space in the area and to replace it with fields that are right on Gallows Road and have kids playing at one of the busiest intersections in the area is a terrible idea,” one man said to applause “…I think it really shifts the burden of this school on all the people who live there.” Lee noted that a four-story building would be “slightly more expensive” to construct. The project has a $36.8 million budget covered by bond funds that were originally earmarked for a school in the Oakton area The design also leaves no room for an expansion but the school would be constructed with an internal “shell” on the fourth floor that could fit three to four more classrooms “as the need arises,” Lee said Samaha had suggested a third option to a Design Feedback and Engagement Committee that met on June 9 but it retained an entrance on Gallows for a limited kiss-and-ride lot leading to concerns about traffic back-ups That design has now been taken off the table In response to a resident who said turning right onto Gallows or coming left off Gallows onto Idylwood Road “is a problem already,” Lee said he doesn’t see any opposition to adding turn lanes at the intersection but the project team would have to consult with the Virginia Department of Transportation “We just need to get it through the next level of design,” Lee said “…We can show an intent to add those now I don’t think there’s any pushback to that idea.” A new Korean barbecue eatery is now cooking at Halstead Square near the Dunn Loring Metro station Meat Project opened the doors to its new location on the ground floor of The Lofts apartment building at 2727-G Merrilee Drive in mid-January marking its first expansion beyond its original site in Centreville For the soft opening, which was announced on Instagram on Jan Its website suggests the start time will eventually move up to 2:30 p.m Meat Project was started at 5825 Trinity Parkway in July 2020 by owner Sam Kim and his mother, Grace, who also own Rainbow Food Catering and Manoa Bakery Cafe in Annandale Both locations offer all-you-can-eat meats and seafood for $30 per person Kim previously told FFXnow that the Merrifield restaurant would have some additional menu and bar items Rice Culture is now serving taiyakis and ice cream just outside the Dunn Loring Metro station The pop-up bakery, a regular at several D.C. area farmers’ markets, kicked off the soft opening phase of its first brick-and-mortar shop last week on Nov Its location in the Shops at Avenir Place (2672D Avenir Place) had been vacant since Bruster’s Real Ice Cream closed in 2020 “Come through and bring a friend,” Rice Culture said in an Instagram post announcing the opening “We want to extend our thanks ahead of time for everyone’s patience as we get adjusted to our new space and find our footing.” Founder MikkiJo Bayawa started Rice Culture in January 2021 with her fiancé Kevin Tsai after getting delivery requests for her homemade taiyakis a Japanese waffle snack that’s shaped like a fish and stuffed with sweet fillings The business quickly gained traction and moved production to Frontier Kitchen in Chantilly It has appeared at the Mosaic District’s weekly FreshFarm market and The Block in Annandale With its new, permanent space, Rice Culture has expanded its menu to include soft-serve ice cream, which can be purchased by itself in a cup or with a taiyaki on top. The ice cream flavors — ube, black sesame, corn and pandan — can be swirled Inspired by Bawaya’s Japanese and Filipino heritage along with the traditional flavors of traditional red bean paste and vanilla custard Bayawa says a grand opening will be held in January but an exact date is still being determined the shop is operating during limited hours of 4-9 p.m on Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m Fairfax County Public Schools has settled on a path forward for its plan to construct a new elementary school in Dunn Loring A rezoning application recently submitted to the county proposes demolishing the existing Dunn Loring Administrative Center at 2334 Gallows Road and replacing it with a four-level school building that will be accompanied by athletic fields and playgrounds Allowed a maximum height of 65 feet, the four-story building appears to have triumphed over an alternate design that would’ve resulted in a shorter but more sprawling building of two to three stories The two-story administrative center started life as an elementary school in 1938 but it got repurposed in the 1970s after declining enrollment led FCPS to close the school the school system’s legal agent in the case Hunton Andrews Kurth associate Jessica Vara the surrounding community is again in need of a new elementary school in the Dunn Loring area to relieve overcrowded schools in the Dunn Loring/Falls Church/Tysons area,” Vara wrote the new school building will be approximately 125,905 square feet in size and be constructed at the corner of Idylwood and Gallows Road occupying roughly the same footprint as the current building The building’s ground level will include music classrooms a staff lounge and a reception area at the main entrance third grade and special education classrooms first grade and second grade classrooms on the third floor and fourth and fifth grade classrooms on the top floor FCPS has proposed replacing Murphy Field — the soccer field that currently covers the western portion of the nearly 10-acre site — with a dual soccer/softball field that will be supplemented by four playgrounds: Two new vehicle access points will be constructed on Idylwood Road replacing the existing driveway off of Gallows Road The school will have separate drop-off locations for buses and the kiss-and-ride “to minimize the potential for traffic issues,” according to the application The school’s parking lot will have 116 spaces FCPS also plans to construct a new 5-foot-wide sidewalk to connect with the existing concrete path along Idylwood Road The application hasn’t been officially accepted for review by Fairfax County planners yet FCPS estimates the project will be completed in 2027 Read more on FFXnow… Joon has expanded its offerings in Tysons with the addition of a bar and patio Named after a poetic Farsi term for “wine,” May Bar began serving customers inside the… Owners of six Woofie’s franchises in Northern Virginia are hosting a “Paws in the Park” pet adoption event tomorrow (Saturday) at Wolf Trap National Park Participating Woofie’s include Reston/Herndon A Fairfax Connector bus to Tysons (staff photo by James Jarvis) The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has the green light to apply for a federal grant to replace… The country band Delta Spur performs on the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center for the mall’s 2023 summer concert series (courtesy Tysons Corner Center) Fresh produce An upcoming bar and restaurant hopes to turn the Dunn Loring Metro station into a hopping place On track to open in late October next to Quickway Unit F) is envisioned as a family-friendly gathering spot where community members of all ages can relax even as adults 21 and older savor a range of craft beers and wine — and yes “It’s not a sports bar, but we will have sports. It’s not a music venue, but we’ll have music,” said Derek Adams, co-owner of Casual Pint’s new Dunn Loring franchise It’s a casual place to just come in and hang out and just keep it easy.” Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, The Casual Pint describes itself as a “craft beerstro” that serves up local regional and national craft brews in a laidback environment more evocative of a coffee shop than a nightclub The company began in 2011 as a family-owned beer market that focused on selling take-home and packaged beer before evolving into more of a restaurant/bar It has expanded to eight states through independently owned franchises including one near Seven Corners where Adams and fellow Dunn Loring owner Jenn Longmeyer-Wood worked before deciding to open their own location For Longmeyer-Wood, who knows Adams as a longtime friend of her husband, The Casual Pint’s appeal stems in part from nostalgia for a now-shuttered gastropub called Pig & Fiddle that her family frequented when they lived in Minnesota and it was the place to just go and hang out bring your family,” Longmeyer-Wood said “When my husband and I moved back here with our kids when Derek…started talking to my husband about [The Casual Pint] this is the thing that we want to invest in and bring here.” When looking for a site for their franchise, Adams and Longmeyer-Wood were drawn to the Shops at Avenir Place for its proximity to the Metro station, the new I-66 parallel trail and plenty of residences They also landed a space previously occupied by the kabob chain Moby Dick that faces directly out onto a courtyard with outdoor seating The property owner is planning to refresh the space at the end of October with new furniture that will be available to all retail and restaurant patrons though he doesn’t know yet exactly how many seats there will be the 1,753-square-foot pub will have seating for 42 people the Dunn Loring franchise is pioneering a more modern look for The Casual Pint eschewing the wood paneling that dominates in other locations for painted concrete walls and tiles the team plans to bring in craft beers made by small or up-and-coming breweries from Virginia particularly the central and southern regions When encountering breweries while on the road with her son Longmeyer-Wood says she would text Adams to see if they distribute in Virginia “Being able to bring that in here is really great that we can expand beyond just the breweries in Northern Virginia,” she said In addition to beer, The Casual Pint will serve wine, cider, non-alcoholic beer and soft drinks. For food, the menu will be similar to the one in Seven Corners Anticipated highlights will include 12-inch, handmade German pretzels from the baker Prop & Preller and regional specialties such as a crab dip that Longmeyer-Wood is eager to bring over from the Seven Corners franchise The bar will also be decked out with four television screens to broadcast sports and movies Adams says they plan to bring in musicians and work with the landlord to host events in the courtyard “The landlord and the property managers have been great working with us,” Longmeyer-Wood said “They like the concept and the ideas we’re bringing to get people over here and you want to maximize the use and bring people in here.” While The Casual Pint doesn’t have any other Northern Virginia franchises in the works at the moment Adams and Longmeyer-Wood hope to open a second location if the Dunn Loring one is successful — possibly even in their home of McLean “Hopefully [there will be] a full bar of people having fun,” Adams said when asked what he’s most looking forward to about the pub’s impending opening “…I’m actually just looking forward to meeting new people A popular taiyaki pop-up based out of Chantilly is settling down near the Dunn Loring Metro station for its first-ever permanent shop After working the D.C. area’s farmers market circuit since 2021, Rice Culture will start selling the fish-shaped, Instagram-ready Japanese treats out of a brick-and-mortar store in the Shops at Avenir Place — potentially as soon as this October The new location at 2672D Avenir Place will offer an expanded menu with taiyaki ice cream to take advantage of the space built out by Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, which closed in 2020 Rice Culture co-founder and baker MikkiJo Bayawa says “We’ll be serving Asian-inspired soft-serve flavors in the taiyaki and the taiyaki will act as the cone,” Bayawa told FFXnow that’s something that’s going to be new and exciting a menu item that we wouldn’t have been able to serve at farmers markets.” Rice Culture began early in the COVID-19 pandemic out of a similar craving for comfort that spurred a national frenzy of bread-baking A native of New Jersey, Bayawa moved to Northern Virginia about five years ago to work on Amazon’s data centers. Upon arriving, however, she found no substitute for the taiyakis hawked at the Jersey-based Japanese grocery store Mitsuwa — a void that particularly stood out once the pandemic limited her and fiancé Kevin Tsai’s travel away from their Centreville apartment So, she decided to fill the gap herself, buying a machine that could make up to six taiyakis at a time. Though the waffles are traditionally filled with red bean paste or vanilla custard, Bayawa experimented with different flavors, from cream cheese and Nutella to ube jam — a nod to her mixed Japanese and Filipino identity Within a couple of hours of posting some of her creations on Instagram a “complete stranger” reached out and asked if they were for sale I’ll deliver them to you too,” Bayawa recalled dating that first delivery to January 2021 baking and delivering the treats became an all-day affair prompting a search for a professional kitchen and additional staff In March 2021, Rice Culture moved into Chantilly’s Frontier Kitchen it has regularly appeared at farmers markets festivals and shopping centers throughout the D.C including the FreshFarm market at Merrifield’s Mosaic District and The Block food hall in Annandale Rice Culture remains rare in the region for specializing in the desserts and serving a wide variety of flavors “I think that’s really appealing to customers in this market who want to try something new,” Bayawa said “They want to try something different and they want to try also something that is Instagrammable something they can share with their friends and our product definitely meets that market need.” With Rice Culture now successful enough that she could leave her Amazon job Bayawa has big ambitions for where the business could go and even the New Jersey and New York area as potential areas for expansion But the temporary pop-ups will be paused once the Dunn Loring store opens possibly returning in the winter or spring depending on how long it takes to “work out the kinks.” “We’re trying to create a recipe and a process where anyone that we hire can make the taiyakis just as delicious as me and Kevin so that me and him can look at growing and opening multiple Rice Culture stores,” Bayawa said if that means taking a step back from the farmers market that’s something that we might have to do.” Myron Mixon Pitmaster BBQ is officially cooking at the Dunn Loring Metro station The Southern-style barbecue joint launched its new location at 2670 Avenir Place with a soft opening on Dec the restaurant expanded its hours on Sunday (Jan “The response has been overwhelmingly positive so far We’re excited to be in our new home,” Myron Mixon spokeperson Michael Psaltis said While the move was previously framed as an expansion, Dunn Loring is now the company’s only location after the Alexandria restaurant closed in December. As first reported by FFXnow’s sister site ALXnow, the original location was sold to new owners who are rebranding it as Mystic BBQ & Grill “After several years in Alexandria and even though we’d love Old Town we decided it was time for a new location,” he told FFXnow by email “Our Dunn Loring location will be the only place to get Myron Mixon’s award-winning delicious BBQ in the DC metro area.” brisket and salads is similar to what Myron Mixon offered in Alexandria A grand opening for the Dunn Loring restaurant is expected during the week of Jan but an exact plan is still being determined “We’re looking forward to continue to serve our loyal customers in our new home and to serving our terrific food to new customers in our new neighborhood who might not have gotten to our Alexandria location,” Psaltis said Myron Mixon BBQ is the third eatery that the Shops at Avenir Place has added in as many months. The Casual Pint opened outside the Dunn Loring Metro station on Nov. 16, and the taiyaki shop Rice Culture arrived on Nov Planning for a new elementary school in Dunn Loring could begin as soon as the second half of 2022, Fairfax County Public Schools projects in its proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2023-2024 As approved by the Fairfax County School Board back in January the new school will take over the Dunn Loring Administrative Center at 2334 Gallows Road which started as an elementary school before being repurposed in 1978 The building is now being used for some special education and parent programs The project’s estimated $36.7 million budget is already fully funded by money from 2017 and 2019 school bonds that were originally destined for a new school in Oakton High School area Funding for the new school was welcomed by parents at Shrevewood Elementary School which was at 118% capacity in the 2019-2020 school year The CIP says its capacity dropped to 99% this year after an enrollment decline and minor facility modifications the boundaries for the Dunn Loring school have yet to be determined beyond it being “intended to relieve overcrowding in the Dunn Loring/Falls Church/Tysons area,” as stated in the CIP “School assignments for the repurposed Dunn Loring Elementary School will be determined as part of any boundary study for the school,” FCPS said in a statement “The boundary study is currently estimated to begin toward the end of construction in 2026.” The CIP indicates that planning for Dunn Loring Elementary will begin in fiscal year 2023 The project is expected to be complete in FY 2027 Other Tysons-area projects addressed by the proposed CIP include: FCPS staff will present the proposed CIP to the school board tonight (Thursday) The board will hold a public hearing on Jan 2023 at 2:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}World champion barbecue pitmaster Myron Mixon is opening a second Northern Virginia location in Dunn Loring (Courtesy of Myron Mixon Pitmaster Barbeque)DUNN LORING VA — Barbecue won't be gone from the Dunn Loring Metro as barbecue extraordinaire Myron Mixon will open a new location Mixon already has a location in Old Town Alexandria opened in 2016 His restaurant focuses on classic Southern smoked barbecue with smoked meats like brisket The new Dunn Loring location will have fast-casual counter service will beer and wine at the bar "I’ve always found a special home in the DMV area because of the great community here who appreciate good barbeque," said Mixon "It’s very exciting to have the chance to bring even more pitmaster flavor and competition ‘que with this new restaurant in Dunn Loring and I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone through our doors soon." Find out more about the restaurant at www.myronmixonbbq.com