Fairfax County police are investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian on Route 29 in Idylwood yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) German Gomez, 87, of Falls Church was walking along westbound Route 29 near El Tio Tex-Mex Grill at Fallfax Drive when the driver of a 2020 Nissan cargo van struck him the Fairfax County Police Department said today (Thursday) in a press release Police officers and emergency medical units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to the scene at approximately 4:21 p.m Gomez sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital The Nissan driver survived the crash without injuries and remained at the scene Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives believe Gomez had “stepped out” into the westbound lanes of Route 29 when he was hit by the van driver “Alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors for the driver,” the FCPD said “The circumstances surrounding the crash are still being investigated.” Gomez appears to be the seventh person overall and the third pedestrian to be killed in a traffic crash in Fairfax County this year, according to preliminary data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles The county’s first fatal pedestrian crash in 2025 was a hit-and-run on Richmond Highway in January that killed a woman who was walking with her son Image via Google Maps McLean Police District – Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau have arrested a man linked to eight peeping cases in Idylwood after a Crime Solvers tip officers responded to the 2100 block of Evans Court in Idylwood for a peeping call The victim reported she observed a man peeping through her window Detectives from our Sex Crimes Unit were assigned the case to investigate detectives believed the suspect was linked to an additional 7 cases On December 26, detectives received a significant breakthrough when a Crime Solvers tip was submitted regarding these cases. The tipster, who had seen an FCPD press release earlier that month provided information that helped detectives identify the suspect as the suspect and linked him to all eight cases Ramirez was arrested and charged with five counts of Peeping into an Occupied Dwelling He was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and has since been released Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents, to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 3. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers.” Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.   Victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure the victims are receiving appropriate resources and assistance.  Join us on Neighbors by Ring 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.   For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us X, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD McLean Police District – Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau are seeking the community’s help in identifying a suspect linked to eight peeping cases in Idylwood The victim reported she observed an adult man peeping through her window detectives believe the suspect is linked to an additional 7 cases Detectives obtained security footage which shows the suspect involved in the peeping incidents Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers.” Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards 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 Whole Foods Market has set a grand opening date for its new store in Falls Church, which means its 25-year stay in Idylwood is officially coming to an end The grocery store’s last day of business at 7511 Leesburg Pike in Idylwood Plaza is currently scheduled for Monday the timing could change “depending on the store’s in-stock levels,” a Whole Foods spokesperson told FFXnow The closure will precede the opening of a new, 45,000-square-foot store at 103 E. Broad Street on the ground floor of Falls Church City’s new Broad & Washington apartment building on Feb At the grand opening, the first 300 people in line will get a free custom tote bag and a “Secret Saver” coupon card with offers totaling up to $100 off. Complimentary coffee and baked goods will also be provided respectively by D.C.’s 1790 Coffee and the Capitol Heights, Maryland-based bakery Whisked by Jenna In addition, donations of $5,000 each will go to Food for Others, a food bank based in Merrifield, and Share of McLean a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides assistance with food Share of McLean operates a food pantry and clothing room out of the McLean Baptist Church (1367 Chain Bridge Road) Whole Foods in Falls Church will sell more than 700 products sourced from vendors based in Virginia The future of the nearly 30,000-square-foot space that Whole Foods currently occupies at Idylwood Plaza remains up in the air The shopping center is slated to add several dining options this year Quickway Hibachi and the frozen-yogurt shop Happy Froyo A restaurant chain known for its abura soba noodles has begun serving diners in Idylwood Kajiken opened its doors on Monday (Jan 13) at 7505-D Leesburg Pike as the newest tenant at the Idylwood Plaza shopping center The restaurant replaces Bing & Bao, which shuttered in August after four years in the space Kajiken’s menu centers on Asian cuisine Kajiken’s offerings are more of the fork-and-knife (or chopstick) variety as opposed to the handheld food sold at its predecessor Kajiken’s menu currently features 10 different abura soba noodle dishes The restaurant’s homemade thick noodles instead include a sauce that combines soy sauce A variety of traditional ramen dishes are also offered as well as four different options for donburi (Japanese rice bowls) The Idylwood location is Kajiken’s second in Virginia, following a location that opened late last year at Pinecrest Plaza in Lincolnia and it’s the chain’s eighth in the U.S The restaurant’s opening hours are 11:30 am. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to an Instagram post announcing its soft opening this week and Falls Church will never be the same again!” the chain said in the post umami-packed goodness like never before.” The addition of Kajiken is one of many recent and future changes to the Idylwood Plaza shopping center Chicken Salad Chick a chain offering a variety of different chicken salad dishes is among the new tenants to have opened their doors in the shopping center in recent months Quickway Hibachi, which recently opened a restaurant in Burke, is targeting May for an opening inside the shopping center, where it will replace Astro Doughnuts. Breakfast-and-brunch restaurant First Watch is also expected to open an Idylwood Plaza location early this year Meanwhile, Idylwood Plaza’s Whole Foods store is currently preparing to close in early February ahead of a relocation to Falls Church The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) plans to throw a party next month celebrating the latest addition to its system After more than a year of construction play area and fitness zone at Idylwood’s new Ruckstuhl Park are now open to community members The park became accessible as soon as the construction barriers were lifted late last year but the park authority opted to wait for warmer weather for a formal opening ceremony That time is now on the horizon, with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for May 17 at 10 a.m. The event is expected to feature “a short speaking program” with local officials, along with “about an hour of activities” led by the FCPA’s Wonder Wagon team Rolled out last April the mobile nature center brings environmental and educational programs to local parks and schools with a particular focus on “underserved areas.” More details of the planned Ruckstuhl Park ceremony will be released closer to the event “We’re looking forward to a great event,” FCPA Marketing and Communications Division Director Daidria Grayson said Located at 7545 Idylwood Road, Ruckstuhl Park occupies approximately 7.2 acres of a former residential property that belonged to Dr. Lillian Ruckstuhl. When she died in 2008, the doctor bequeathed the land to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust so it could be preserved Efforts to fulfill Ruckstuhl’s wishes began when the FCPA acquired the land for $250,000 in 2011 under the condition that it be placed in a conservation easement prohibiting athletic fields The park authority initiated a master planning process in 2014 that resulted in a vision for a future local park that could both “preserve a sense of the open landscape” and offer “low impact community recreation opportunities.” After voters approved approximately $2.5 million to fund the park as part of a 2020 bond referendum, the FCPA board finalized a project scope in December 2022 Planned amenities included a picnic pavilion Contractor TMG Construction began working on the site in July 2024 and final construction on the parking lot and landscaping wrapped up in December This story was updated to correct the spelling of the park’s name and the address for its entrance First Watch is ready to make its Idylwood introduction The daytime cafe chain, which has been expanding its Northern Virginia presence in recent years will officially open to the general public at Idylwood Plaza (7501 Leesburg Pike) next Tuesday Prospective patrons who signed up for a pre-opening VIP list received emails earlier this week offering a complimentary meal on Sunday or Monday (Feb 16-17) as part of a “friends and family” event but the limited number of available seats quickly filled up Anyone who didn’t snag an invitation can still take advantage of a perk: a free cup of coffee will come with every meal ordered from opening day through Friday Started in Pacific Grove, California, in 1983, and now based in Brandenton, Florida, First Watch has more than 500 restaurants nationwide. The Idylwood location will be its sixth in the Fairfax area, joining cafes in Franconia, Fair Lakes Additional locations in Reston and Groveton — where the chain is respectively taking over a former Carrabba’s Italian Grill near RTC West and a Boston Market in Beacon Center — are still on track to open this spring the 4,000-square-foot Idylwood cafe will seat more than 160 people with a covered patio and an indoor/outdoor juice bar which will roll out in Idylwood this spring First Watch emphasizes its use of fresh ingredients for a variety of breakfast and brunch dishes More from a press release on what to expect: First Watch is widely beloved for its modern take on breakfast and brunch Dishes are made to order using fresh ingredients in a kitchen without heat lamps In addition to familiar favorites like omelets and The Traditional First Watch’s diverse menu – which is available all day – also includes innovative dishes Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and its signature Million Dollar Bacon The Falls Church team will start each morning juicing fresh fruits and vegetables to make their signature fresh juices It also brews its socially responsible Project Sunrise coffee sourced by women coffee farmers based in South America customers who dine in at Falls Church Tuesday February 21 will receive a free cup of Project Sunrise coffee with their meal First Watch offers a revolving seasonal menu that follows the position of the sun to source fresh ingredients The Falls Church restaurant will offer its first seasonal menu in Spring of 2025 This restaurant will employ approximately 30 people while operating on a one-shift a day “No Night Shifts Ever” approach that enables its teams to enjoy their evenings and build a better quality of life Interested applicants are encouraged to apply at careers.firstwatch.com The clock is ticking on Whole Foods Market’s time in Idylwood The grocery store has rolled out signs at its Idylwood Plaza location (7511 Leesburg Pike) announcing that it will relocate “soon” to Falls Church City, where it will anchor the new Broad and Washington development at 103 E Any local residents who need to do some last-minute Thanksgiving shopping can relax The move isn’t expected to take place until February 2025 a Whole Foods employee in Idylwood told FFXnow Though Falls Church officials had speculated that the city’s Whole Foods could “possibly” open before Thanksgiving the Idylwood store employee says the new space is still under construction The existing store will remain open until the new one is ready for workers to move in A Whole Foods spokesperson previously confirmed that the Falls Church location was “under development” but didn’t comment on the company’s plans in Idylwood. The Amazon-owned grocery chain also has a new store under construction in Reston where it intends to relocate from Plaza America to Spectrum at Reston Town Center The Falls Church City Council originally approved plans for developer Insight Property Group’s Broad and Washington project in 2018. The proposal was updated in 2021 to allow more affordable housing Located in the northeast corner of the E. Broad Street and N. Washington Street intersection, the development delivered a 334-unit apartment building called Broad & Washington in August. Whole Foods will be located on the ground floor of that building, along with a new space for the nonprofit theater group Creative Cauldron and other retail Whole Foods signed a lease for the planned 50,000-square-foot grocery store back in 2019 giving it a significant expansion from the existing Idylwood site It’s unclear what will happen with the 29,566-square-foot store at Idylwood Plaza once Whole Foods leaves. The Federal Realty-owned shopping center has seen some turnover within the past year Recent newcomers have included Chicken Salad Chick and Halal Bowl, and the restaurants Kajiken First Watch and Quickway Hibachi are all expected to open either by the end of this year or early next year a frozen yogurt shop called Happy Froyo will occupy about 633 square feet at 7505 Leesburg Pike next to OrangeTheory Fitness according to Fairfax County permits and a site plan for Idylwood Plaza The shop is expected to open in spring 2025 Residents of Alister Falls Church apartment complex in Idylwood have reported several peeping incidents since this spring and police believe the same man may be behind all of them Officers first responded to a peeping call in the 2100 block of Evans Court on April 9 according to the Fairfax County Police Department “The victim reported she observed an adult man peeping through her window,” the FCPD said Sex Crime Unit detectives have connected the unknown man to seven more cases that all occurred in the same block between 5:40 and 6 a.m.: The FCPD shared images from home security footage that it says shows the suspect asking anyone with information to contact its Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800 Local police have finally nabbed a man they believe has repeatedly peeped into people’s homes at the Alister Falls Church apartments in Idylwood A 49-year-old Idylwood man was arrested on Wednesday (Jan 8) and charged with five counts of peeping into an occupied dwelling the Fairfax County Police Department announced yesterday (Thursday) 2024 from a woman living in the 2100 block of Evans Court who said she “observed a man peeping through her window.” Seven more peeping incidents were reported in the same block between April 11 and Dec All of the incidents occurred between 5:40 and 6 a.m. Detectives from the FCPD’s Sex Crimes Unit ultimately determined that the same person was behind all of them The FCPD says it saw progress in the case came after it publicized the investigation on Dec 19 by sharing images from surveillance footage that showed the alleged suspect “On December 26, detectives received a significant breakthrough when a Crime Solvers tip was submitted regarding these cases,” the department said in a news release who had seen an FCPD press release earlier that month provided information that helped detectives identify the suspect.” Fairfax County Crime Solvers is a nonprofit program run by a board of community members and business leaders that solicits tips for the FCPD Tips can be submitted anonymously by phone and email The man arrested for the Idylwood peeping incidents was brought to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center before being released on recognizance with an adjudicatory hearing to follow on Feb The charge of peeping into an occupied dwelling is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia which carries a potential punishment of up to 12 months in jail and a maximum $2,500 fine A new occupant for Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken’s longtime spot in Idylwood Plaza has already been identified Quickway Hibachi, the fast-casual Japanese chain, will open a roughly 1,188-square-foot restaurant at 7511 Leesburg Pike, according to a site plan for the shopping center. Astro Doughnuts vacated the space in July after nearly nine years in business The new restaurant is expected to open in March 2025 Founded by Bob Liang in 2012, Quickway opened its first restaurant in Gaithersburg, Maryland, SouthBmore.com reported when a new Baltimore location launched last October. The chain now has 50 locations across Virginia The upcoming Idylwood restaurant will bring Quickway back to the Tysons area after a location in the Shops at Avenir Place near the Dunn Loring Metro station closed last year The chain is in the midst of an expansion that will bring 15 new stores by the end of 2024 Aiming to provide teppanyaki-style cooking in a quick-service format Quickway offers create-your-own bentos with choices of grilled chicken salmon or tofu as the entree accompanied by mixed vegetables The menu also includes sushi rolls and poke bowls great food without sacrificing quality and taste,” Liang said in a statement and our use of fresh ingredients and no MSG I believe we’ve done that very well.” the Indian restaurant Mumbai Central and the daytime cafe First Watch in the coming months Mumbai Central owner Sunil Bastola, who also serves as executive chef and co-owner of Bollywood Bistro in Fairfax City says he’s targeting an opening around the end of this year or early next year for his new concept The restaurant will replace Jason’s Deli at 7505 Leesburg Pike First Watch anticipates opening in Idylwood before the end of 2024, a public relations manager told FFXnow. Located at 7501 Leesburg Pike, the approximately 4,000-square-foot cafe will include an indoor/outdoor bar, similar to the patio at the Fair Lakes location that opened on July 1 the Falls Church restaurant will feature our core First Watch menu which takes an elevated approach to traditional breakfast brunch and lunch offerings,” the PR manager said “All dishes are made to order using fresh ingredients in a kitchen without heat lamps First Watch is also expected to serve its seasonal menu in Idylwood for the first time early next year The chain offers a revolving seasonal menu five times a year “that follows the position of the sun to source fresh ingredients.” The new year promises to bring at least one sure bet: First Watch cafes will continue to spring up across Fairfax County After opening its largest restaurant yet in Fair Lakes this summer the national chain is expanding to three more locations in the county all of them expected in the first half of 2025 The first opening will likely be at Idylwood Plaza, where, as previously reported First Watch anticipates opening an approximately 4,000-square-foot restaurant with an indoor/outdoor bar the cafe was expected to be ready by the end of 2024 but the company now says it should launch early next year First Watch is also coming to Reston — where it will replace the shuttered Carrabba’s Italian Grill at 12192 Sunset Hills Road near RTC West — and Groveton, where it’ll take over a former Boston Market at Beacon Center (6650 Richmond Highway) Fairfax County issued a permit for the restaurant’s build-out on Nov “Our Reston location will be approximately 6,500 square feet and will feature a covered patio with a total of 179 seats,” the First Watch spokesperson said measuring approximately 3,388 square feet with 136 seats A permit to allow interior and exterior alterations of the freestanding building was issued by the county on Wednesday (Dec First Watch says its Reston and Groveton sites are both expected to open next spring Started in Pacific Grove, California, in 1983, First Watch is now based in Brandenton, Florida, and has over 500 restaurants nationwide, including ones in Franconia there’s a revolving seasonal menu that changes five times a year based on “the position of the sun.” “Reston and [Groveton] are expected to start serving its first seasonal menu in Spring 2025,” the First Watch spokesperson said “Both restaurants will be open 7 a.m A local option for Chinese street food has closed in Idylwood Bing & Bao officially closed its doors at the end of July bookending a four-year stint in the Idylwood Plaza shopping center The restaurant, which began serving customers during the coronavirus pandemic bing and bao dishes — Chinese savory crepes and steamed dumplings are now greeted by a sign that announces the permanent closure after July 31 Japanese noodle restaurant Kajiken appears to be taking over the storefront specializes in abura soba dishes — a type of soup-less ramen featuring homemade thick noodles and other Japan-imported ingredients and the finest ingredients,” the chain’s website says “we create an unparalleled taste experience that defines our brand.” location in 2022 and currently possesses five restaurants nationwide opening up more than 100 locations by 2028 The additional locations include one in Lincolnia, where Kajiken is replacing the popular Foxfire Grill in Pinecrest Plaza The franchise owner told FFXnow in February that they expected to open in six months but didn’t immediately respond to a request for an update A Falls Church man pleaded guilty yesterday (Tuesday) in connection to a fatal shooting and stabbing incident at an Idylwood apartment complex last year Vladimir Garcia Montes faces up to 40 years in prison for a charge of felony homicide, a form of second-degree murder involving an accidental killing while committing another felony, according to state law He entered the plea to the shooting death of one of the victims the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office said When stopping by the Fairfax County Courthouse FFXnow was told there was no complaint or documents related to the plea An attorney for Garcia Montes didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time Police responded to the Tysons View Apartments in May 2023 after a man was reported shot was found deceased in a laundry room with a gunshot wound Responding officers also found three individuals with stab wounds in the apartment’s parking lot. One of them — Braden Deahl, an 18-year-old student at Arlington’s Washington-Liberty High School — was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead The other two stabbing victims suffered injuries not considered life-threatening At the time, Fairfax County police believed the incident to be drug-related, charging Garcia Montes with robbery resulting in death, according to a press release A backpack with narcotics was located at the scene as was a “significant amount of marijuana,” police said He’s now scheduled to be sentenced in Fairfax County Circuit Court on Feb This story has been updated to greater clarify the plea Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken has left Idylwood’s orbit The donut business started by two former Washington Capitals players permanently closed its shop at Idylwood Plaza (7511 Leesburg Pike) after Saturday just a month shy of the location’s ninth anniversary A sign posted to the door encourages customers to visit Astro’s two remaining locations at 1308 G Street NW in D.C and 4001 Campbell Avenue in Arlington’s Shirlington neighborhood Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken co-owner Elliot Spaisman confirmed that the Idylwood shop’s last day of operations was this past Saturday but didn’t elaborate on why the business opted to let that location go “Our lease is expiring and we made the decision not to renew,” Spaisman said in a statement to FFXnow “While we don’t have any current plans to open a new location in Fairfax County we will certainly assess any future opportunities to do so.” However, the business ultimately narrowed its scope back to the D.C. area, closing its Los Angeles and Santa Monica locations “without too much warning” in early March 2020 didn’t comment when asked about Astro Doughnuts’ closure Even after Astro Doughnuts’ departure Idylwood Plaza won’t have a shortage of food options with multiple new restaurants on the way led by Northern Virginia resident Devon Chamberlin and her family The daytime cafe First Watch will open in the long-vacant space next to Thaisons early in the fall after launching its biggest restaurant yet in Fair Lakes at the beginning of July The shopping center is also awaiting Mumbai Central, an Indian restaurant that’s taking the place of Jason’s Deli at 7505 Leesburg Pike which is slated for the suite formerly occupied by Island Fin Pike at 7501 Leesburg Pike while Mumbai Central will likely arrive closer to the end of the year While the available information about Halal Bowl is scant, an Instagram page that might be for the concept promises “authentic Mediterranean halal cuisine,” including gyros and the “finest baklawa in town.” Mumbai Central, meanwhile, will turn its 4,665-square-foot space into a “unique…dining experience inspired by the iconic Mumbai Central Railway Station,” according to an announcement of the leasing deal “Known for its historic ties and bustling energy Mumbai Central connects travelers across north and west India since 1930,” the release said “The restaurant concept brings vibrancy and architectural elegance to your dining table senior vice president of asset management for Federal Realty said the property owner is “thrilled” to be able to welcome the new restaurants to Idylwood Plaza “These additions reflect our commitment to providing diverse and high-quality dining options for our customers,” Johnson said “The upcoming opening of each of these restaurants bring new and exciting flavors with exceptional experiences.” If you live in the Falls Church area and enjoy chicken salad, you’re in luck. Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant, is set to open its first D.C area location in Idylwood in two weeks Chicken Salad Chick will celebrate its grand opening at Idylwood Plaza (7505 Leesburg Pike) on Wednesday offering one free large chicken salad every month for a year to the first 100 guests The very first guest will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for a year The Alabama-based restaurant chain offers more than a dozen southern-style chicken salad flavors, along with fresh side salads, soups, signature sandwiches, and desserts. Founded by Stacy and Kevin Brown in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown rapidly, with over 260 locations spanning 19 states While the new location will be the company’s first in the D.C. region, it will be the seventh in the state and part of a broader expansion into Northern Virginia her father Patrick Cavanaugh and father-in-law Barry Chamberlin plan to add sites in nearby communities like Arlington Springfield and Reston over the next five years “My first Chicken Salad Chick experience happened while I was living in Tallahassee “I was immediately drawn to the customer service the freshness and quality of the food made in-house every day and the welcoming energy of the restaurant Their chicken salad was hands-down the best in the area I knew what was missing was a local Chick!” After working in the mental health field as a social worker at residential treatment centers inpatient hospitals and Fairfax County Emergency Services for 10 years Chamberlin says she was looking for a new adventure “I’ve always dreamed of being an entrepreneur and putting my people skills to good use,” she said “It’s so rewarding to build up others and spotlight their strengths.” and stadium cups with drinks at the upcoming grand opening in Idylwood Chicken Salad Chick also plans to host fundraising events for Inova Fairfax Children’s Hospital as part of the pre-opening celebrations The Idylwood restaurant will be open Monday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m Other dining options coming to Idylwood Plaza, which recently bid adieu to Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, include the daytime cafe First Watch, an Indian restaurant called Mumbai Central, and a Mediterranean concept called Halal Bowl After weeks of negotiations and public complaints, Dominion Energy has agreed to reassess plans to clear nearly all trees near its power lines in the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Regional Park However, the pause won’t bring relief to Vienna and Dunn Loring, where the utility will finish clearing trees and brush along a 4-mile section of trail in conjunction with a transmission line replacement between its Clark and Idylwood substations Dominion Senior Vice President of Electric Transmission Joseph Woomer said yesterday in a letter to the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NOVA Parks) “The forestry work we are currently performing … is vitally important for the safe and reliable operation of the transmission lines along the Trail,” Woomer said of the Clark-Idylwood work which he described as the utility’s first significant tree maintenance in the area in 20 years Dominion had adhered to a voluntary agreement with W&OD Trail owner NOVA Parks that limited cuttings within its easement to trees posing direct risks to electrical lines and committed the utility to replanting eliminated vegetation Dominion says it withdrew from the agreement last year after determining that more sweeping clearings were needed along the trail in Vienna and Dunn Loring to protect power lines and comply with federal regulations Construction on the Clark-Idylwood project began last July and is on track to finish this summer The tree clearings are expected to wrap up by mid-April according to Dominion spokesperson Aisha Khan “We do not have a count on the number of trees removed,” Khan told FFXnow In discussions with NOVA Parks leaders and local officials over the past few months Dominion indicated that it plans to take the same clear-cutting approach to the remaining 29 miles of trail where it has power lines starting next in Reston and continuing from Loudoun County to Falls Church and Arlington In response, elected leaders in the affected localities, including the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors all passed resolutions last week urging Dominion to stop removing trees commit to a more “selective” approach and work with NOVA Parks on a new vegetation management agreement that includes invasive species control and replantings Acknowledging the “significant amount of feedback” from local leaders and the community Dominion now says it will “temporarily pause any additional forestry work” beyond the clearings already underway in Vienna and Dunn Loring “We have not yet determined the scope or timing of the tree clearing that will be necessary along the remainder of the Trail,” Woomer wrote in the letter to NOVA Parks “This will only be determined after we complete a comprehensive review of the remaining trees and engage with the community.” A Dominion spokesperson previously told the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors at its March 18 meeting that the tree cuttings would be paused after “about two more weeks of work.” Dominion said in media statements, including to WJLA and the Washington Post that the clearings would halt once the Vienna-area work is complete but NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert notes that the “five-week reality is still different from the two weeks that were promised.” A spokesperson for Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn told FFXnow that the supervisor is “disappointed that Dominion’s pause doesn’t include the four-mile stretch where they’ve been indiscriminately clear-cutting.” Dominion’s communication efforts questioned Woomer asserted that Dominion had communicated its plans for work in the Vienna-Dunn Loring section of the W&OD Trail “over the last several months” to NOVA Parks trail users and residents through in-person meetings digital advertising and signage along the trail The utility and its engineering consulting firm Dewberry presented the Clark-Idylwood project to the Vienna Town Council in early June 2024 officials said survey teams were still staking out Dominion’s power line easement “The Dominion team of forestry will go through and evaluate for danger trees. Essentially, anything that’s going to fall and get near or hit a line, they have the option to clear in the easement,” Dewberry project manager Andrew Dahlman said after council members cautioned against “aggressive tree trimming.” Dominion also appeared before the Vienna Transportation Safety Commission last July, per its project timeline and Khan says they “hosted several targeted engagements with elected officials neighborhoods and businesses while also sending numerous mailers.” the council and staff that it would plant new trees along the W&OD Trail — something the utility hasn’t agreed to in recent discussions with NOVA Parks about how to address the impacts of the clearings Dominion’s most recent offer from late February included a commitment to planting pollinator meadows in 50 acres affected by the tree cutting but no tree replantings except at the Vienna Town Green “We expect Dominion to keep its word by planting suitable native trees in its regional park easement in Vienna,” Colbert said in a statement to FFXnow “Doing so will help restore the natural resources and wildlife habitat that has already been destroyed and demonstrate Dominion’s commitment to stewardship and corporate community responsibility.” Gilbert maintains that Dominion didn’t explain the scope of its tree removals for the Clark-Idylwood project or terminate its voluntary vegetation management agreement with NOVA Parks until after the cuttings started last November NOVA Parks didn’t learn that Dominion planned to clear trees along all 33 miles of the W&OD Trail with power lines until late February Woomer’s letter from today talks of transparent communications,” Gilbert said yesterday in an email to Dominion “Communications related to the current and planned cutting have been an issue We are hopeful that transparent communications will become the norm in the future.” Staff in Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik’s office say that Dominion never met with her about the Clark-Idylwood project and no public meetings were held in her district The Hunter Mill District Office says Alcorn didn’t have any meetings with Dominion on the project prior to construction but Dominion did organize a conference call on Feb 2024 to inform staff from several Board of Supervisors offices and the Town of Vienna “There wasn’t much information provided other than” what’s on the project webpage, a spokesperson for Alcorn’s office said. “The focus was about the trail detours — tree cutting was definitely never mentioned.” Residents from outside Vienna who contacted FFXnow also described a lack of outreach by Dominion “Impacted stakeholders in the Providence District were not given the same courtesies of town halls and community meetings as the Town of Vienna received regarding this project that I am aware,” an Idylwood resident said by email a Falls Church resident who has experience in wildlife conservation says she hadn’t heard about any public meetings on the Clark-Idylwood project for her neighborhood since 2021 “I’m just so disturbed by the rushed and thoughtless way [Dominion has] handled this work and their lack of communication,” Brigida told FFXnow “While the biodiversity of the region is not making headlines Falls Church and this area do benefit from the variety of native trees They need these canopies to sustain pollinators and other insects Dominion and NOVA Parks are still working to establish a long-term plan for replanting cleared areas with pollinator meadows and “low-lying native species.” The plan will also include “enhanced” management of invasive plants “Our goal is to develop a plan that supports the Trail’s natural habitat and preserves low-growing native species while also protecting the safe and reliable operation of the transmission lines,” Woomer wrote “We’re confident we can achieve both goals.” appears to be running out of patience with Dominion Gilbert tells FFXnow the agency now intends to work with local governments to develop a plan that it will “give to Dominion.” “The plan will include significant habitat restoration on the damaged area and a process for future cutting that is selective and done with the highest environmental standards,” he said “We need a thoughtful approach to the W&OD that honors that value of the park.” Clark-Idylwood project map via Dominion Energy Fairfax Water’s plan to update and expand the water tank that serves much of Idylwood and Pimmit Hills has run into strong opposition from many residents of the single-family neighborhood that surrounds the site Resident after resident testified at a Fairfax County Planning Commission public hearing last Wednesday (July 24) that replacing the existing 700,000-gallon Poplar Heights tank with the 1.25-million-gallon tank proposed by the water authority will irrevocably damage their community and quality of life “It is a community defined by its residential charm with homes lining the streets and large trees providing shade and beauty,” said Alex Podpaly who moved to Poplar Heights from Clarendon “…This water tower project tears that apart Such a project would drastically alter the character of our neighborhood disrupting the residential feel and diminishing the sense of community that we all value along with having a direct financial impact of diminishing property values.” Built in 1952, two years before the Poplar Heights Civic Association was established the standpipe tank at 7407 Tower Street is in immediate need of replacement a Hunton Andrews Kurth lawyer representing Fairfax Water According to Fairfax Water, it identified multiple issues with the tank after acquiring the facility from Falls Church City in 2014 and only about 40% of its water is usable for standard operations requiring regular drainings to ensure enough water is available for emergencies and meet the Virginia Department of Health’s minimum pressure regulations The new tank will deliver more consistent water pressure and have adequate storage for both daily operational demands and an additional 540,000 gallons needed in case of fires there’s no viable water storage in the zone,” he told the planning commission it couldn’t meet the fire objectives that they’re required to meet and obviously want to meet because that’s public health A study commissioned by Fairfax Water in 2016 also looked at sites on Powhatan Street and near Hill Place But it recommended the Poplar Heights site for having “the least perceived impact to the adjacent neighborhood,” since the tank would be similar in height to the existing facility and adjacent to a radio tower According to McGranahan, the Poplar Heights site is also preferable because it’s centrally located and has the highest elevation at 525 feet above sea level so the tower can be shorter than it would need to be at a different site The tank bowl has to be 50 feet above the ground to provide consistent water pressure which has been an issue in the service zone “This maximizes the use of existing infrastructure There’s already piping to the location,” McGranahan said “It doesn’t have to be put in for the first time It is more costly to do one of the other sites than to repurpose this site Fiscal analysis shouldn’t be the only consideration the new tank will have a different design with a 40-foot-wide concrete pedestal topped by an 80-foot-wide steel bowl it will be relocated to the center of a site that expanded from 6,400 square feet to 40,692 square feet with the purchase of four lots currently occupied by single-family homes — two of them slated for demolition Residents have seized on the impending loss of those houses as evidence that the project will harm their neighborhood noting that the displaced occupants were public school employees with children Though McGranahan stressed that Poplar Heights wasn’t chosen solely based on cost the 2016 study noted that the Hill Place site (dubbed Falls Hill) had the highest property acquisition costs The houses set to be demolished have assessed values around $640,000 to $700,000 while the houses adjacent to the Falls Hill tank are in the $900,000 to $1 million range “Allowing utilities to purchase and demolish affordable single-family homes sets a troubling precedent for other neighborhoods creating greater housing inequalities and tarnishing the reputation of both Fairfax County and the utility,” resident Lori Perez said “It not only harms the community and its residents but also undermines the diverse housing needs in the area.” Speakers also raised concerns about the tower’s size and traffic and safety issues during what’s expected to be an 18-to-19-month construction period Most of the speakers said they live on Tower Street which is frequently used by school buses but has no sidewalks leaving little space on the narrow road with parked cars often lining both sides One resident worried the larger tower will exacerbate flooding issues at her mother’s house on Buckelew Drive but Fairfax Water asserted it will actually help by moving the tower farther away from Buckelew and using “modified soils” that will absorb stormwater instead of letting it run off onto other properties and it’s certainly the intent that it will get better,” McGranahan said The planning commission deferred a decision on whether to recommend Fairfax Water’s application to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors until its next meeting on Sept Providence District Commissioner Jeremy Hancock expressed hope the delay will give the utility time to make its project more palatable to the community “We have a water tank that’s there today that we’re not going to put out of service,” he said “We have to figure out how to make water on this site work but part of my commitment to you all in hearing you is that we not rush this that we take the time to make sure your voices are considered in this process.” the design and permitting process could finish in mid-2025 allowing Fairfax Water to install water mains that will help improve pressure levels for residents in the immediate area around the tank The actual tank construction isn’t expected to start until 2026 Fairfax County wants to come up with a new vision for the Idylwood segment of Route 29 one that’s more inclusive of modes of transportation other than cars The Board of Supervisors authorized transportation staff on June 25 to apply for $175,000 in federal grant money to fund the development of an active transportation plan for Route 29 between Hollywood Road and Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) If awarded, the U.S. Department of Transportation funds would be used to study the corridor and identify potential improvements for pedestrians, bicyclists and other travelers as the “first step” toward revising the county’s comprehensive plan which currently recommends widening the four-lane road to six lanes “This expansion no longer aligns with the community’s needs and the County’s objectives,” Fairfax County Department of Transportation spokesperson Freddy Serrano said by email Fairfax County recognizes the need for a comprehensive review and reassessment of the corridor with a focus on creating/enhancing the active transportation network and complementary transit facilities.” In a background summary for the board meeting county staff describe Route 29 as “difficult to cross” and “unpleasant to traverse via walking or biking.” The study’s goal will be to create a more comfortable environment for pedestrians and cyclists while connecting the north and south sides of the road Any recommendations will be coordinated with Falls Church City “The study would allow the County to replan the corridor to determine short-term and long-term active transportation facilities that can be implemented through redevelopment or with public improvement projects,” he told FFXnow FCDOT is also seeking $500,000 from USDOT’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program to study the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, a network of trails that extends from western Pennsylvania down to Northern Neck in Virginia NVRC’s proposed route is just one of three options that FCDOT’s study will evaluate “Potential alignments may build upon recent and future active transportation improvements such as the I-495 NEXT trail Richmond Highway [Bus Rapid Transit] improvements The timeline for both studies depends on if and when funding is allocated Administered by the Federal Highway Administration, the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program was created this year with $44.5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 The program is accepting grant applications through July 17 for trails sidewalks and other projects intended to improve pedestrian Poplar Heights is officially getting a new water storage tank with a capacity of 1.25 million gallons, despite continued objections from many residents of the single-family Idylwood neighborhood Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik acknowledged that it was a “very difficult application” to get to the finish line as the county sought development conditions that they hoped would address community concerns while recognizing the need to address aging infrastructure “This is not an easy one,” she said thanking community members who spoke at the public hearing “We definitely had a lot of sweat with staff to see if there was another site where it could be located and it really became evident that there was not another acceptable site mostly residential part of the community.” Built in 1952 and acquired from Falls Church’s now-defunct water system in 2014 the existing Poplar Heights tank has reached the end of its useful life and is “functionally deficient,” John McGranahan It falls short of Virginia Department of Health pressure requirements and with all 700,000 gallons needed for daily operations there’s no additional capacity to ensure water is available for fires and other emergencies Residents take issue with proposed water tank’s scale  After evaluating possible options for what was initially going to be a 2.5-million-gallon tank Fairfax Water determined the current tank site would be the most appropriate location based on its elevation and central position within the pressure zone including about 12,000 that are directly served by the facility to make room for the larger tank with its 80-foot-wide steel bowl the utility acquired four additional lots currently occupied by single-family houses expanding the site from 6,400 square feet to 40,692 square feet Two residences on Tower Street will be demolished drawing protests from neighbors who say their loss will affect the area’s residential character In addition to calling for the tank to be downsized and moved further back from Tower Street some of the residents who testified at this week’s public hearing suggested that Fairfax Water build a new house or a structure resembling a house in front of the facility to provide a visual buffer “This water tower will hover over our neighborhood like a giant spaceship well beyond our lifetimes It is critical that we get this right,” resident Carmen Smith said “… Making the tower smaller and setting it back from the street behind a home or residential-looking building is a reasonable request to save this neighborhood.” Generally echoing comments made during the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s public hearing on July 24 speakers also voiced concerns about the project’s potential impact on their property values shadows from the tower blocking rooftop solar panels and safety and traffic issues posed by construction which is projected to take about two years you can barely fit a standard sedan through let along a cement truck,” Stephen Miles said of Tower Street “I want to make sure you hear those words so god forbid if something happens down the road [you can’t say] the community didn’t do everything it could to raise awareness about the danger.” the proposed 1.25-million-gallon capacity is the “bare minimum” needed for the facility to achieve Fairfax Water’s goals of providing more consistent water pressure and better water quality as well as ensuring the water supply is sufficient for emergencies He argued that there’s no way to still fit a viable residence in front of the tank unless it’s pushed back toward Buckelew Street closer to where the current facility stands Eight of the nine speakers at the hearing identified themselves as residents of Tower Street The only Buckelew representative shared that her mother’s house regularly floods with rain run-off from the existing standpipe tank Though she worried a larger tank will worsen those conditions McGranahan said the project should mitigate flooding by moving the tank farther back and introducing stormwater controls that currently don’t exist on the site While some speakers dismissed them as “surface-level changes,” Fairfax Water has agreed to a number of development conditions that McGranahan said were crafted in response to public feedback Along with setting expectations for landscaping and tree plantings the utility will allow a sidewalk on Tower Street reduced the number of lights and committed to monitoring vehicle trips during construction including by coordinating deliveries with school bus drop-off and pick-up times Fairfax Water has also separately construct water main improvements that will increase water pressures by at least 15 pounds per square inch (psi) for those customers at the higher elevations within the Poplar Heights Pressure Zone “The price tag of this additional part of the project is $750,000 to $800,000 but it will be better for the community and better for the customers,” McGranahan said Fairfax Water is currently expecting to finish design and permitting work in the middle of next year A fire blazed through multiple units of an apartment complex in Idylwood this morning (Wednesday) prompting a heavy response by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department for what turned into a two-alarm apartment fire “Units arrived to fire showing from the top floor,” the FCFRD tweeted at 9:49 a.m — Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) June 26, 2024 The department announced shortly after noon that firefighters had managed to get the blaze under control The crackle of flames can be heard in a video shared by the FCFRD which also shows pieces of wood falling off the building A firefighter reported that there was still some “residual smoke” at the end of the video The fire department says no injuries have been reported, but NBC4 reporter Drew Wilder said he saw a woman being taken to the hospital on a gurney when he arrived at the scene An FCFRD spokesperson says she was told there were no injuries but could check to confirm An investigation into the fire is now underway This is the second two-alarm fire that Fairfax County has seen this week after one damaged 10 townhomes — but resulted in no injuries — in Kingstowne on Monday (June 24) UPDATE 2700 blk of Hollywood Rd: The fire is under control. Fire investigators are on scene. pic.twitter.com/5NthfbcroC — Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) June 26, 2024 Work on an overhaul of Dominion Energy’s electric transmission line between Vienna and Idylwood is expected to start next month The project will replace the wires — known as a reconductor — that run parallel to a 3.9-mile section of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail connecting the Clark substation at 375 Center Street near Caboose Tavern in Vienna and the Idylwood substation at 7701 Shreve Road The existing line is aging and needs to be upgraded to accommodate growing electricity demand in the area, officials with Dominion and its consultant Dewberry Engineers told the Vienna Town Council during a presentation at its June 3 meeting “It’s a transmission line upgrade they need to replace that conductor for growth patterns and reliability type of needs in the project,” Dewberry project manager Andrew Dahlman said The new reconductor will support the same 230 kilovolts as the existing one but it will have a new design that allows for a higher amperage a construction manager with Dominion Energy likened the replacement to a road widening “I live in Warrenton and there was nothing there Now that the area has grown the way it has It’s like that but for electricity.” The Clark-Idylwood reconductor project will be implemented in two phases starting with a roughly 2.8-mile segment from the Clark substation to Sandburg Street in Vienna The remaining 1.1 miles from Gallows Road to the Idylwood substation are expected to be addressed in 2025 Preliminary work on the first phase is scheduled to start in July and will primarily involve setting up equipment so crews can get access to the transmission line The actual replacement will likely begin in the second or third week of November a time frame chosen to avoid interfering with Election Day “We’re aware the Vienna Community Center is used as a polling place so we’re trying to minimize the impact there,” Dahlman said “We won’t do any work on voting day in that area.” trail users will be detoured around the construction on weekdays but Dahlman says the goal is to ensure pedestrian and bicyclist safety signalized crossings and curb cuts will be included as much as possible crews will remove the temporary construction equipment and restore the lines to normal operations Dahlman said when asked by Councilmember Roy Baldwin which will be next spring-to-summer time frame there will be some impacts to that area,” Dahlman said In light of Vienna’s new tree preservation requirements some council members urged the project team to limit tree trimming and clearing as much as possible Survey teams are currently staking out the transmission line easement and a Dominion forestry team will then evaluate that area for any trees that might fall or run into the power lines “We have a lot of interest in the town in preserving trees to the extent that we can particularly in areas where they’re very visible and enjoyed one area like that is the [W&OD] trail,” Councilmember Jessica Ramakis said there may be opportunities where there’s a judgment call but I would ask that be considered sparingly and only really take down trees that really are a risk to the project and not in good health.” A construction vehicle driver died after crashing on I-66 in Idylwood this morning (Friday) Virginia State Police troopers were dispatched to I-66 West at at the Capital Beltway (I-495) around 7:51 a.m which was initially described by police as a two-vehicle crash with “at least one injury.” 23-year-old Fredericksburg resident Devin G was traveling west in the left general-purpose lane on I-66 when he veered “through the traffic bollards and into the Interstate 66 Express Lanes,” according to the VSP “The vehicle then struck a guardrail and a Jersey wall and then flipped on its side and caught on fire,” the VSP said “The fire also damaged nearby equipment for the EZ Pass system.” The general-purpose lanes reopened around 11:13 a.m. According to scanner traffic on Open MHz there was some initial confusion about the crash’s location after an automated dispatch directed Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units to the Fairfax County Parkway area Human dispatchers quickly clarified that it was near the Beltway that a person in the vehicle “is believed to be deceased” and confirmed they had died at 8:15 a.m. “The crash remains under investigation,” the VSP said Update #DunnLoring: All 66WB general purpose lanes have reopened. https://t.co/ogWDQK07IJ — VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) August 23, 2024 All I-66 Express and general purpose lanes remain blocked Traffic still being diverted onto I-495 (Ex 64) — MATOC Alerts (@MATOC) August 23, 2024 Map via Google Maps Scattered thunderstorms are expected Monday afternoon and evening. Some may become severe with large hail and high winds. TRACK RADARChicken Salad Chick opens storefront in Falls Churchby 7News Staff popular chain restaurant Chicken Salad Chick opened its first northern Virginia store on July 31 The storefront opened in Idylwood Plaza along Leesburg Pike in Falls Church If you're not familiar with the restaurant it serves up different variations of chicken salad SEE ALSO |Burgers@ blends beats and eats for Black Music Appreciation Month They have other locations in Virginia near Norfolk (Updated at 6:35 p.m.) Two people have died and two more have been hospitalized in an apparent shooting and stabbing at the Tysons View Apartments in Idylwood A 20-year-old man had been reported shot in the 2200 block of Pimmit Run Lane, a dispatcher said at 3:37 p.m. on the police scanner When officers arrived, they found a dead man in the laundry room of one of the apartments and encountered another man in the parking lot who had also been shot, Fairfax County Police Department Deputy Chief Eli Cory said at a media briefing The second man was transported to a hospital Officers also found two people at the scene who had been stabbled They were taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening Cory confirmed that one of the stabbing victims was from Loudoun County but the relationship between the people involved isn’t clear yet “We believe that everyone involved came together for a purpose,” Cory said so we don’t believe there’s a threat to public safety but we do want to find out why everyone was here.” Police found a knife and a backpack with narcotics at the scene The police department said earlier that “several suspects were seen running from” the apartment but Cory noted that some people seen fleeing when officers arrived could’ve been community members who were scared one of the victims told an officer that the suspects were wearing masks The dispatcher noted that a helicopter was unavailable for the search due to the rainy weather The FCPD is asking community members who may have information about the incident — which is being investigated as a double homicide — to contact its detectives at 703-246-7800 UPDATE: 2 victims suffered stab wounds considered not life threatening 2 victims were shot and have been declared deceased — Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 29, 2023 on 2/6/2024) Idylwood Plaza is shaking up its retail mix to start 2024 The shopping center on Leesburg Pike in Idylwood will usher in its newest tenant, MIYU Beauty & Wellbeing with a grand opening celebration at 4:30 p.m Falls Church City Vice Mayor Letty Hardi and Councilmember Marybeth Connelly are expected to attend Miyu occupies a 2,545 square-foot space next to Whole Foods Market at 7505-P Leesburg Pike vegan-friendly and cruelty-free manicures and pedicures The business comes from neighbors Zeina Chouman El Eid and Karen Abouzeid who both have experience in the beauty industry and decided to combine their skills to “help individuals tap into their inner essence and bring beauty into everyday chaos,” according to Miyu’s website “We offer a tranquil haven and safe space to empower everyone,” Abouzeid “MIYU’s skilled and experienced staff will guide our clients towards self-realization and unmatched confidence while connecting them with like-minded individuals who share a passion for holistic living.” Later this year, Miyu will be joined at Idylwood Plaza by First Watch, the daytime cafe, and Fairfax County’s first Chicken Salad Chick First Watch confirmed to FFXnow in November that it was looking for a new site in the Falls Church area but the lease hadn’t been finalized at that time The 4,000-square-foot restaurant at 7501 Leesburg Pike was officially announced last week Known for its seasonally rotating breakfast which include items like avocado toast and lemon ricotta pancakes First Watch is expected to open its Idylwood location in late summer 2024 according to public relations manager Hunter Carpenter The cafe will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m First Watch can currently be found in Fairfax City, Chantilly and Bailey’s Crossroads, where it opened in 2021. Additional locations are slated to open this spring in Franconia’s Festival at Manchester Lakes and this summer in the former TGI Friday’s in Fair Lakes After finding success in Bailey’s Crossroads (5880 Crossroads Center Way) First Watch decided “it was about time to bring our experience closer to home for our neighbors further north,” Carpenter said “Though we may be relative newcomers to Fall Church that doesn’t mean we’re strangers to Fairfax County,” Carpenter told FFXnow by email “As we quickly approach two decades in the region we look forward to expanding our presence not only in Falls Church but also in Fair Lakes and Franconia and inspiring a new morning routine for our customers with each new opening.” Started in 2008 by Stacy Brown, a stay-at-home mother in Auburn, Alabama, Chicken Salad Chick announced last May that it had signed a development agreement with Devon Chamberlin and her family who will open eight franchises in Fairfax and Arlington counties over the next five years The first franchise is slated to open at Idylwood Plaza this spring according to Chicken Salad Chick Chief Marketing Officer Tom Carr An Arlington location is also planned FFXnow’s sister site ARLnow previously reported that that site would open this spring but Chick Salad Chick now says the Idylwood Plaza restaurant will be the first to open The 2,717-square-foot restaurant will be located at 7505 Leesburg Pike, Suite 120A, replacing Loyal Companion after the pet wellness chain shuttered all of its local shops last year Chicken Salad Chick sells Southern-style chicken salads made from scratch including six in central and southern Virginia but it has wanted to expand into new regions of the U.S. “The demographics of Northern Virginia and Falls Church and adjacent areas specifically make it well-suited for Chicken Salad Chick and its healthy menu options,” Carr said Plans to build housing in front of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Idylwood have been resurrected After a previous attempt in 2019 sputtered out the church has found a new developer partner to potentially buy vacant portions of its property at 7426 Idylwood Road and transform it with residential development The developer EYA submitted an initial pitch to Fairfax County last summer for approximately 65 to 75 townhouses that would be constructed on two parcels of the roughly 10.7-acre site The church intends to stay and use the money from the land sale to fund an expansion of its building “EYA is interested in the site for townhome development given its proximity to nearby established retail amenities Tysons Corner and the City of Falls Church for work and shopping and a direct bus connection to the West Falls Church Metro Station,” EYA said in a statement “…We look forward to continuing to engage with the community staff and elected officials as we develop our plan for this site.” EYA’s proposal revives a development plan filed in March 2019 by Toll Mid-Atlantic LP Company an affiliate of the Delaware-based home builder Toll Brothers According to that application, St. Paul’s wanted to sell part of its property to pay for a “family life center” that was approved in 2005 but never constructed “due to financial constraints.” The church consists of a main sanctuary with an attached educational building, though it also owns a separate, now-vacant building that once housed Lutheran Social Services Toll Mid-Atlantic sought to replace the empty building and another undeveloped parcel — totaling about 5.85 acres — with 67 residential units which would’ve been a combination of single-family townhomes and two-over-two multi-family units The county’s land use database indicates that the application was scheduled for a public hearing before the Fairfax County Planning Commission multiple times but it ultimately got deferred indefinitely To allow for EYA’s development, the county needs to revise its comprehensive plan for the site which currently designates the entire church property as a future residential development with 16-20 dwelling units per acre With the church committed to remaining at the site, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed county staff on Tuesday (Feb 20) to craft a plan amendment that would reduce the intensity of the housing envisioned for the site “Recognizing that the Church wishes to remain on site and this impacts the available area for development and the design of the site a Plan amendment for residential development at a lower density with suitable conditions related to site design recognizing retention of the existing Church is appropriate,” Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said when introducing the request Recalling the previous attempt to develop the site she added that “transportation improvements and others are key to this development.” The proposed amendment will be added to the second tier of the county’s comprehensive plan amendment work program meaning it will be reviewed concurrently with rezoning and special permit amendment applications EYA’s proposal is still in the “pre-application” stage so it’s unclear when an official plan will be available According to a summary report from the Department of Planning and Development the initial concept tweaks Toll Mid-Atlantic’s earlier design to allow for more open space and tree preservation It also features a recommended sidewalk along Idylwood Road and commits to replenishing landscaping that screens the church from existing townhouses to the south Image via Google Maps Four people — all teenagers — now face charges in connection to a fatal stabbing and shooting at the Tysons View Apartments in Idylwood on Memorial Day (May 29) The Fairfax County Police Department announced today (Monday) that detectives have arrested a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old man from Falls Church as well as an 18-year-old from Vienna as suspects in the double homicide which left 20-year-old Ashburn resident Jonas Skinner and 18-year-old Braden Deahl from Arlington County dead The Vienna teen had already been charged with robbery resulting in death in May he has now also been charged with felony murder and conspiracy to commit robbery “for his involvement” in Skinner’s fatal shooting The 17-year-old Falls Church resident has been charged with second-degree murder conspiracy to commit murder and four firearms-related charges faces the same firearms charges as well as robbery causing death felony murder and conspiracy to commit robbery Back on May 30, the FCPD announced that Vladimir Garcia Montes of Falls Church had been arrested and charged with robbery causing death As the only person who was an adult when the homicides occurred he is the only one of the four suspects who has been publicly named Police have said the incident started as an attempted drug robbery stating that “a significant amount of marijuana” was found near the scene by K9 officers Skinner was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body in the laundry room of the Tysons View Apartments Police then found Deahl with stab wounds in the apartment complex’s parking lot Two other juveniles were taken to a hospital with non-fatal stab wounds The FCPD didn’t immediately respond when asked if either of those individuals have now been identified as suspects All four teens are in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond Image via Google Maps Fairfax County’s plan to develop Ruckstahl Park in Idylwood with new amenities came into clearer focus this month Building off a 2015 master plan, the Fairfax County Park Authority board approved a scope for the approximately $2 million project at its final 2022 meeting on Dec Staff recommended that the 7.2-acre site at 2445 Idylwood Road get a picnic pavilion a “fitness cluster” and vehicle access and parking improvements The project will also fund invasive species management efforts at the park “This is a valuable parcel inside the Beltway that came to us at an exceptional bargain,” Ken Quincy the board’s Providence District representative “The community has been very energetic and engaged throughout the process of defining the vision for the future We’re very excited to move this project forward.” Located just north of I-66, the parcels that make up Ruckstahl Park were previously occupied by a residential farm owned by Dr. Lillian Ruckstahl, who gave the land to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust in her will when she died in 2008 The park authority acquired the property from the NVCT for $250,000 in 2011 The transfer established a conservation easement that prohibits athletic fields Noting that it’s “increasingly rare” to find land suitable for a public park in Idylwood the master plan envisioned Ruckstahl as a mostly neighborhood-serving park designed to “preserve a sense of the open landscape” and provide “low impact community recreation opportunities.” The conceptual development plan shows a trail looping around the park with exits onto Dunford Drive and Idylwood Road the trail could be connected to nearby Idylwood Park and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail with additional pedestrian and bicycle facilities The proposed vehicular amenities include a new parking lot with up to 20 spaces Access would be provided off Idylwood Road in the same location as the former residential driveway The plan also calls for an existing field to be retained as an open space for recreation and community gatherings and intepretive signs about the site’s environment or history Well before Ruckstahl moved in during the 1950s the land had been part of a plantation called “The Mount” that lasted from the mid-1700s to around 1900 when it was broken up and sold off for smaller farms in the Civil War’s wake The property also became one of the county’s first formally recorded archaeological sites in the 1960s after archaeologists found artifacts dating back to the Archaic Period though the master plan says “little can be gleaned from the records about how the site was used.” Funded by the county’s 2020 park bond developing Ruckstahl Park could produce $7,000 in annual revenue for the park authority while costing $4,000 a year to maintain with an estimated lifetime cost of $1 million after 20 years The FCPA says permitting will begin in “the first part” of 2023 and construction could start in the first quarter of 2024 2024 at 3:32 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}MIYU Beauty & Wellbeing is holding a grand opening Friday at Idylwood Plaza which will also welcome two new restaurants later in 2024 (Provided by MIYU Beauty & Wellbeing)FALLS CHURCH the Whole Foods-anchored shopping center between Falls Church and Tysons First to open is MIYU Beauty & Wellbeing at 7505-P Leesburg Pike according to shopping center owner Federal Realty Investment Trust mat Pilates and reformer Pilates classes for all experience levels the new business is founded by managing partners Zeina Chouman El Eid and Karen Abouzeid "We offer a tranquil haven and safe space to empower everyone," said Abouzeid "MIYU’s skilled and experienced staff will guide our clients towards self-realization and unmatched confidence while connecting them with like-minded individuals who share a passion for holistic living." City of Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi and City Council member Marybeth Connelly are expected to attend First Watch is a fast-casual café for breakfast and lunch while Chicken Salad Chic offers scratch-made Southern-style chicken salads Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Detectives have charged a 17-year-old boy with DUI-related manslaughter and maiming in a Nov. 20 crash that killed one teen and seriously injured four others in Fairfax County’s Idylwood area In a news release Fairfax County police said the boy was driving under the influence in a 2003 Lincoln Aviator when he crested a hill on Shreve Road “at a high rate of speed” around 5 a.m The boy struck a tree near Pioneer Lane and the vehicle spun The four other passengers were seriously injured and have since been released from the hospital detectives obtained warrants charging the driver with DUI-related manslaughter four counts of DUI maiming and refusal to take a breath test patrol officers arrested the driver at his Pimmit Hills home He was held without bond at the Fairfax County jail His name has not been released because he is a juvenile (Updated at 5:25 p.m. on 5/31/2023) The double homicide in Idylwood on Memorial Day started as a drug-related robbery Two people — a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old — were charged on Tuesday (May 30) with robbery resulting in death, a Class 2 felony in Virginia the Fairfax County Police Department announced Additional charges are expected in the case which involved a shooting and multiple stabbings Police identified the 18-year-old as Vladimir Garcia Montes of Falls Church K9 officers located a significant amount of marijuana nearby believed to be connected to the homicide,” the FCPD said “All individuals involved are believed to be known to each other and this is not a random act of violence.” The FCPD identified the two people killed as Jonas Skinner, 20, of Ashburn and Braden Deahl, 18, of Arlington County. Deahl was a student at Washington-Liberty High School, which informed the community of his death this afternoon Officers called to the Tysons View Apartments on Pimmit Run Lane at 3:37 p.m yesterday found Skinner in a laundry room of an apartment building He had been shot in the upper body and was declared dead at the scene Deahl was found in a parking lot with wounds to the upper body. He was transported to a hospital, where he died. Though police previously said that both of the people who died had been shot Autopsies to confirm the manner and cause of death will be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner “in the coming days,” police said Two other people — both juveniles — were found in the parking lot with stab wounds to the upper body and taken to the hospital Their injuries weren’t considered life-threatening Image via Google Maps One of the passengers in last week’s SUV crash off of Shreve Road in Idylwood has died Fairfax County police announced today (Monday) Six people — all of them between 14 and 17 years old — were hospitalized with injuries seen as life-threatening after their 2003 Lincoln Aviator careened over a hill and crashed into a tree at the Pioneer Lane intersection on Nov A preliminary investigation indicated that the impact sent the vehicle into a tailspin who police said were not wearing seatbelts the Fairfax County Police Department said in today’s update “Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit are continuing to investigate and working closely with the Office of the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney to determine when charges will be placed,” the FCPD said Police have said they believe alcohol and excessive speed were factors in the crash, initially moving to charge the 17-year-old driver with driving under the influence. However, after consulting with prosecutors, the FCPD decided to wait to file charges a spokesperson for the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office declined to comment since “it is an active and pending matter.” the crash victims haven’t been identified by police the teen who died is the 17th person to be killed this year in a crash on Fairfax County roads that didn’t involve a pedestrian nearly equaling the 19 such fatalities reported in 2022 The 16th fatality for 2023 occurred yesterday (Sunday) in a single-vehicle crash near Cox Farms in Centreville officers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 15600 block of Braddock Road in Centreville Officers and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel found the 2017 Jaguar XF fully engulfed in flames and quickly worked to extinguish the flames of Aldie was pronounced deceased at the scene Detectives are continuing to investigate to determine if speed and alcohol were factors in the crash Image via Google Maps 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 2023 at 12:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A teen driver is being charged with DUI in a crash that injured six teens Monday in Fairfax County VA — Six teens were injured in a crash Monday morning that led to a teen driver's DUI arrest in the greater Falls Church area in the 2600 block of Pioneer Lane in the Idylwood area of Fairfax County James Curry told reporters the vehicle was likely traveling at a high speed when the 17-year-old driver lost control causing the car to spin and eject five juveniles A sixth juvenile was extricated from the vehicle Curry said the vehicle occupants are between aged 14 and 17 Six juveniles were taken to the hospital in critical The driver was wearing a seatbelt and has been arrested for DUI After consultation with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Charges are pending as the investigation continues "What's clear is that speed and alcohol were absolutely factors in this crash and sadly without seatbelts being worn for the occupants that's what likely led to some significant Curry noted police prepare for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to be a time adults will go out drinking But the crash served as a reminder that juveniles could be at risk for underage drinking and driving "It's easy to forget juveniles do partake in alcohol illegally but it's an important reminder that kids need to be responsible parents need to have conversations with their loved ones to make sure everyone's safe," said Curry Anyone with information about the crash can contact the Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543 A major redevelopment has been suggested for Fallfax Center a retail strip anchored by El Tio Tex-Mex Grill on the edge of Idylwood near Jefferson District Park Property owner Schupp Companies has put forward a proposal to replace the existing shopping center with a residential and retail “donut” building Schupp is asking Fairfax County to amend its comprehensive plan to allow multifamily residential uses and increased density on the 4.6-acre property at 7630 Lee Highway, one of 75 sites submitted to the county for a potential amendment in October “Leveraging its proximity to the bus/transit lines and depth/size of the subject property this proposal will replace aging structures with attractive new development that includes robust green space and modern stormwater management controls,” the developer said in a summary of its nomination The proposed 385,000-square-foot building would have 380 residential units with about 6,000 square feet of first-floor retail in a 6-story section facing Route 29 (Lee Highway) A section to the rear would start at five stories and drop to four next to the Lee Landing townhouses to the north and west of the property Both sections would have internal courtyards according to a concept plan included with the nomination They would be connected by a five-story residential structure with an internal parking garage and community swimming pool The development would “activate” Route 29 with a large adjacent patio and landscaped open space and a “natural” buffer would be provided to separate the site from the adjacent townhomes according to a statement of justification from Mark Viani these areas and the open space along Lee Highway will greatly reduce the impervious nature of the Property and the proposed development will also include modern stormwater management controls,” Viani wrote the Fallfax shopping center dates back to 1955 has evidently not been significantly renovated since it was constructed The owner says the one-story buildings “are no longer efficient” and becoming “difficult to maintain.” Current tenants include Settle Down Easy Brewing The brewery could remain with the redevelopment The site also has two industrial buildings — Happy Tails dog day care and a vacant building once occupied by the commercial printer HBP — that are “an occasional source of concern” due to their proximity to the neighboring townhouses “The Nominator’s proposal will address Fairfax County’s need for housing and diversify the type of housing in the area,” Viani wrote noting that a bus stop in front of the property provides access to Merrifield and the Dunn Loring Metro station The Fallfax redevelopment is one of dozens of proposals jockeying for inclusion in the county’s site-specific plan amendment program which considers land use changes to the comprehensive plan for individual properties The process was revised this summer to have a shorter timeline and more frequent nominations countywide over two-year periods as opposed to the previous four-year cycle that alternated between the north and south sides of the county The Board of Supervisors is expected to determine which site nominations to accept for review at its next meeting on Dec Viani wrote that Schupp intends to file a rezoning application for review Photo via Google Maps Monday (May 5) for more than 3,200 seats on city councils The prosecutor reported that Chase Jones was traveling at 112 mph when he crashed into the victims Bob Ferguson says federal funds are needed to address $34 million in damage caused by the storm Residents near Ruckstuhl Park in Idylwood will soon have a trail Active site work to implement the master plan for the 7.2-acre park at 2445 Idylwood Road is expected to begin by early July, the Fairfax County County Park Authority said yesterday (Thursday) The Arlington-based company TMG Construction has been contracted for the project neighbors may experience occasional construction traffic entering and exiting the park via Idylwood Road,” the FCPA said Approved by the park authority’s board in December the planned new amenities include a trail loop a “fitness cluster” and a parking lot with up to 20 spaces The project stems from a Ruckstuhl Park master plan developed in 2015 after the FCPA bought the land from the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust which had acquired it as a donation from former resident Dr The park authority estimates that the project to develop the park will cost a total of $2.5 million which is being covered by park bond sales approved by voters in 2020 “Construction is projected to be completed by summer 2024,” the FCPA said MIYU translates to “you are beautiful.” This translation captures the essence of MIYU’s philosophy of highlighting the intrinsic connection between inner and outer beauty The 2,545 square-foot MIYU is located at 7505-P Leesburg Pike in Idylwood Plaza Co-founded by partners Zeina Chouman El Eid and Karen Abouzeid MIYU features affordable luxury services and self-care activities including non-toxic vegan friendly Classes are designed for all levels of experience “We offer a tranquil haven and safe space to empower everyone,” said Karen Abouzeid “MIYU’s skilled and experienced staff will guide our clients towards self-realization and unmatched confidence while connecting them with like-minded individuals who share a passion for holistic living.” “We enthusiastically welcome MIYU to the Idylwood Plaza,” said Deirdre Johnson “The addition of this innovative concept to our community further emphasizes Idylwood Plaza as a popular dining and shopping destination for Falls Church and the greater Northern Virginia community.” A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Friday City of Falls Church Vice Mayor Letty Hardi and Marybeth Conelly of the City of Falls Church City Council will attend MIYU is the first of several exciting openings coming to Idylwood in 2024 Later this year two restaurants will join MIYU and open at Idylwood: brick-faced center situated just inside DC’s Capital Beltway with close proximity to I-66 This conveniently located center is anchored by Whole Foods and features home furnishings retailer Bassett Furniture as well as an assortment of dining options Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail-based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles Federal Realty’s mission is to deliver long-term sustainable growth through investing in communities where retail demand exceeds supply mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities Federal Realty’s 102 properties include approximately 3,300 tenants © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved A water tank erected in Idylwood around the time of the Korean War is on its last legs “The Elevated Tank is required to provide a more consistent level of water service within the existing distribution system and will improve system reliability water quality and water flow and pressure for many customers in Fairfax County and Falls Church,” Fairfax Water’s statement of justification for the application says Fairfax Water took control of the existing 700,000-gallon tank at 7407 Tower Street in 2014 when it acquired Falls Church City’s water system. The facility was built in 1952, predating the creation of the neighborhood’s civic association The authority says it “identified multiple system deficiencies” in areas previously served by Falls Church including in the Poplar Heights Pressure Zone west of the city The zone extends from Shreve Road to Graham Road Elementary School Issues with the Poplar Heights tank included low water service pressures insufficient storage volume and “water quality concerns associated with the existing standpipe water tank.” Fairfax Water spent five years buying the single-family residential lots around the tank elevated water tank will be approximately 100 feet tall — roughly the same height as the current tank but Fairfax Water staff will visit weekly to conduct maintenance and repairs between 7 a.m The application says “several of the existing mature trees” on the 0.9-acre property will be preserved to screen the tank from other residences supplemented by new deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs and a 7-foot-tall fence around the perimeter In addition to replacing and upgrading the water tank Fairfax Water plans to install new transmission water mains along neighboring streets to connect the facility to the existing system After holding public outreach meetings on the project last year the authority doesn’t anticipate starting construction on the tank until the second quarter of 2025 The application for a special exception and 2232 review — which determines whether a public facility is compatible with the proposed site — is currently being reviewed for acceptance by county staff Jason’s Deli will close up shop for good next month after more than a decade at Idylwood Plaza The last day of business for the sandwich restaurant will be Dec though a separate location at Fair Lakes Shopping Center will remain open “It’s because of business,” said an employee at the Idylwood restaurant Profits have been unable to keep up with rising rent for the over 4,700-square-foot space at 7505 Leesburg Pike A corporate customer service representative for Jason’s Deli confirmed that the location didn’t renew its lease because the landlord was seeking a rent increase “Our policy, out of respect and care for our merchant relationships, is not to comment on their leases and the terms of those leases,” Federal Realty Founded by the grandson of Italian immigrants, Jason’s Deli started in Beaumont, Texas, in 1976 and now has 250 delis in 28 states. It’s known for using “real, clean” ingredients and offering free soft-serve ice cream becoming the company’s first restaurant in the D.C the region will still have Jason’s Deli locations in Fair Lakes and Columbia For residents of the Idylwood/Pimmit Hills area who want to grab a sandwich closer to home it appears the Subway right behind Idylwood Plaza will soon have to suffice 2023 at 2:39 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}One teen has died in the Nov 20 crash that injured five other teens in the Idylwood area of Fairfax County VA — One teen has died in the crash that injured five other teens in the Falls Church area Police provided an update Monday saying a teen passenger has died of injuries from the Nov while other teens involved in the crash have been released from the hospital The vehicle occupants of the crash are between aged 14 and 17 A GoFundMe fundraiser was set up for the family of the teen identified as a Longfellow Middle School student is a McLean High School student and was released from the hospital The 17-year-old driver was arrested for DUI but charges were not initially placed after consultation with the Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney's office Detectives are working with the prosecutor's office to determine charges James Curry told reporters the driver was likely traveling at a high speed and cresting up the hill when he lost control of the vehicle causing the car to spin and eject five juveniles who weren't wearing seat belts A sixth juvenile wearing a seat belt was extricated from the vehicle The six teens were taken to the hospital in serious condition Police had said speed and alcohol were suspected factors in the crash This was the 17th non-pedestrian traffic fatality in Fairfax County this year compared to 19 fatalities by this time in 2022 Detectives are asking for anyone with information on the crash to contact the Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543 Less than two years after overhauling its plan for the West Falls Church Metro station area in Idylwood to allow more development Fairfax County needs to make a relatively limited but critical revision The amendment would also reduce the amount of institutional space proposed for the 7.5-acre property, reflecting changes to developer Rushmark Properties and the construction company HITT Contracting’s plan to expand the campus Plans to redevelop Virginia Tech’s Idylwood campus have been percolating since 2018, when the university received an unsolicited bid from Rushmark. HITT got involved a year later seeking to relocate its headquarters to the site That original pitch also called for a new academic building and a design and construction research center along with an additional 250,000 square feet of office space 500 residential units and 50,000 square feet of retail However, Virginia Tech announced on Feb. 28, 2021 that it and HITT had agreed not to move forward with the project the proposed development was still incorporated into the new West Falls Church TSA plan approved by the Board of Supervisors on July 12 The plan allows 1,720 dwelling units, 301,000 square feet of office use, 48,000 square feet of retail, and 160,000 square feet of institutional use across the TSA, including on the adjacent Metro station property Rushmark and HITT put forward a new redevelopment plan last fall that would replace the existing Northern Virginia Center with a 283,000-square-foot office building The newly requested plan amendment will be considered at the same time as that rezoning application which is scheduled for a public hearing before the Fairfax County Planning Commission on June 7 the use changes won’t affect the 2.5 floor area ratio now allowed on the Virginia Tech site or the overall development limits for the TSA The State Corporation Commission is reviewing whether Dominion Energy could extend a substation project that has frustrated Hearing officer Ann Berkebile said Thursday (June 10) that she will issue a report following public testimony in which residents detailed their frustrations over a project to rebuild the Idylwood Substation on Shreve Road “The first thing I want to note is how disheartening it is to be contemplating construction in our community until December 2026,” said Lori Jeffrey president of Holly Crest Community Association further saying delays and excuses from Dominion have occurred throughout the project and residents have learned to not accept the company’s statements at face value Dominion didn’t respond Friday to a request for comment. Attorneys for the company as well as county and other parties didn’t question witnesses when given the opportunity at Thursday’s hearing Fairfax County didn’t address a media inquiry by press time Approved by the county in 2015 and the SCC in September 2017 and replacing facilities and lines in and around the existing substation Dominion has said the proposed enhancements will “provide seamless the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax and support the energy needs of the Metrorail.” the utility company has cited the complexity of the project as well as lengthier permitting processes than expected and acknowledged that it underestimated parts of the timeline “The Company is cognizant of the amount of time this Project has been in process and the strains the Project has placed on the surrounding community,” Dominion said in a March filing with the state detailing why it’s seeking a six-year extension The 2017 application approved by the state had the ability for an extension — provided it got the SCC’s approval a regulatory entity that has authority over utilities Tensions between Dominion and local interests have been developing with the company proposing a new timetable to finish by Dec The project cost has also increased from around $107 million to $159 million as of February The conflict continued at Thursday’s hearing which will help the three-member commission make a determination Hearing officer reports typically have a 21-day comment period by the formal parties in a case For homeowners like Andrew Laine and his wife Laine said they previously rented their home for three years during the time the project began and construction work behind their home led their family to say they wouldn’t have rented there if they had known about the extent of the project “Dominion has not been upfront with anything,” Laine said The three driving factors of the project are addressing power reliability regulations and maximizing space for potential expansion Dominion notes the project is located at two major overheard transmission corridors “Continuing to terminate lines and add load to the Idylwood Substation with [its current] arrangement would increase the severity of a breaker failure event,” the company said previously The rearrangement’s additional space could “accommodate potential future transmission terminations,” but there are no future transmission terminations and transformation planned at this time the existing Idylwood Station is on a 7.15-acre lot and the “existing equipment footprint” is 3.99 acres The company seeks to reduce that equipment footprint to be around 2 acres the previous president of the Holly Crest Community Association told Tysons Reporter that Dominion presented a project in 2013 with a much smaller footprint than what they were going to do Couto said residents kept pushing for more information and the company wasn’t forthright and honest with the neighborhood She asked the state at Thursday’s hearing to help neighbors in keeping the company accountable arguing that 2026 was too long of a timetable we have lost trust in Dominion’s ability to provide us with anything that is of tangible or valid information,” Cuoto said “They have continuously pushed the agenda they have received various…extensions and they have caused our neighborhood great A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until midnight on Tuesday (7News) — An intersection was closed temporarily as crews worked to repair downed power lines at a Fairfax County intersection Tuesday morning The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said roads were closed at Idylwood Road and Gallows Road and have since reopened New improvements recently completed are designed to make Idylwood Park (7715 Virginia Lane) in Falls Church a little more accessible The park is tucked into the northeast corner of the I-66 and I-495 interchange According to the Fairfax County Park Authority website: The project included fully paving the parking lot which had been comprised of compacted gravel that presented maintenance and accessibility issues Contractors from Southern Asphalt improved the parking lot and drive to comply with [Americans with Disabilities Act] accessibility requirements Additional striped parking spaces were added by reconfiguring the overall layout to be more efficient Renovations started in June 2018 during which the park was accessible only via foot traffic The total cost of the project was $309,732 provided through Fairfax County’s infrastructure project fund Residents will have a new opportunity this summer to express their thoughts on Dominion Energy’s long-delayed effort to rebuild the Idylwood Substation at Shreve Road in Falls Church The State Corporation Commission has scheduled a hearing for June 10 at 7 p.m after Fairfax County requested one in response to a new construction schedule that Dominion proposed earlier this year “My office and Fairfax County have strongly advocated for a new public hearing due to Dominion’s substantially delayed construction schedule,” Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said in a newsletter “This will be an opportunity for the community to convey concerns and frustrations.” Dominion will replace the existing substation that was built in the 1950s with a new “gas insulated substation” that accommodates growth in the area without expanding the substation’s footprint, a Dominion Energy spokeswoman said during a community meeting earlier this year but the timeline for completion has kept getting pushed out “The length of construction time estimated by the company has tripled — from three years in 2017 to now almost nine years in total,” the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors said in a response to Dominion’s application to the SCC for a new in-service date “The ‘end date’ that the residents were looking forward to — the date by which the daily disruption to their lives would be over — has jumped from mid-2020 to the end of 2026.” During the virtual community meeting on Jan the Dominion spokesperson attributed the project delays to the permitting process as well as an adjustment in scope and staffing changes “Since Idylwood Substation is in an important area it is necessary we keep most of the equipment energized while we work to keep reliable power in the Northern Virginia area,” her presentation said we must work in limited space and even temporarily relocate certain equipment at times to install new equipment.” Dominion plans to tackle updating the building and begin construction on the first phase of a permanent brick wall along Shreve Road In its response submitted to the SCC on Feb the Board of Supervisors expressed appreciation for the status updates over the last eight months but said maintains its concerns “about the lack of urgency in the company’s commitment to actually completing this project.” “The disruption and uncertainty of this process has taken a daily toll on the Idylwood community for years in the past and is now projected to continue for years in the future,” the board said “The community deserves another chance to be heard publicly especially given the radically different construction estimation that the company is now requesting this Commission approve.” Here are the details for participating in the upcoming public hearing : Visit: https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting 2022 at 9:09 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Personnel from Fairfax County Fire & Rescue and the Arlington County Fire Department worked together to extinguish a Wednesday morning fire in the 7400 block of Shreve Road in the Idylwood area VA — Fairfax County Fire & Rescue units responded around 4:33 a.m. to the report of a house fire in the Idylwood area south of Tysons according to a post on the department's official Twitter account fire was showing from the home in the located in the 7400 block of Shreve Road With the help of the Arlington County Fire Department Fire investigators were on the scene just before 8 a.m. working to identify the cause of the fire and determine the extent of the damage This is a developing story that will be updated as more details become available Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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