A $650 million Falls Church development project is approaching some key milestones as 400 units of housing are slated to welcome their first tenants in coming months Phase One of the West Falls Development Project, which seeks to redevelop 10 acres of land at the former site of George Mason High School, is nearing completion, Mary Beth Avedesian, Senior Vice President of Development at Hoffman & Associates “This is the largest development to date in the city of Falls Church,” Avedesian said “This 10-acre site will contain an office building ground floor retail throughout all the vertical components and a large commons at the heart of the project programmed for community events.” The Alder has begun accepting applications for one- and two-bedroom apartments and studios 112 of the project’s 400 units are listed as available on the building’s webpage Also new to the development is The Oak, an 11-story, 126-unit condominium building which celebrated a grand opening on Sunday after its condos went on sale in March Six percent of all housing units in the West Falls Development Project are designated as affordable dwelling units The development project wrapped up construction on a set of medical offices and a 362-space parking garage earlier this year. This is all in addition to the 146-room Hilton Home2 Suites hotel which announced its grand opening at 171 W Experience Senior Living plans to break ground on a 215-unit senior living building this fall. The building, called The Reserve at Falls Church, was first announced last year Construction will take a little over two years Restaurants SEOULSPICE, BurgerFi and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls have set their sights on opening in the development’s ground-floor retail bays in the next few months The public-private partnership between the city and Hoffman seeks to turn the land between Route 7 and the West Falls Church Metro station into “an economic development engine for both Falls Church and the neighboring Fairfax County,” Avedesian said The 10-acre site previously contributed no tax revenue to the city As work on West Falls moves forward, development at nearby Founders Row II is slated to conclude by the end of this year. This project is set to bring 280 apartments, 5,000 square feet of co-working space, over 22,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and a parking garage to the corner of West Street and Broad Street, across the street from the first Founders Row The Falls Church neighborhood is getting ice cream a 10-acre mixed-use community in Falls Church is getting several new restaurant options this spring and summer according to developer Hoffman & Associates This new development contains a combination of retail and residential facilities an 18,000-square-foot outdoor gathering space Those offerings will expand this spring and summer with the introduction of four new eateries Apartments at the development’s The Alder are leasing now for immediate move-ins while condominiums at The Oak are selling for summer 2025 move-ins It will also soon have senior living residences and a medical office building Feature rendering courtesy Hoffman & Associates Copyright © 2025 Northern Virginia Magazine WEST FALLS CHURCH — Weather permitting Woodley Lane (Route 2362) between Lewis Place and Manor Road (Route 2361) will be closed to through traffic Monday according to the Virginia Department of Transportation Those needing to reach properties along Woodley Lane will have access; however drivers will not be able to go beyond the work site (adjacent to the property at 7106 Woodley Lane) in either direction Through traffic will be detoured via Woodley Lane Westmoreland Road (Route 1713) and Manor Road back to Woodley Lane Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs Pedestrians will have access via the sidewalk but are asked to use caution when moving through the work zone You can get traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511virginia.org, via the free mobile 511Virginia app or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime.                        Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova Please note that this file is not ADA compliant Shovels are almost ready to dig into Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center in Idylwood HITT Contracting will begin construction in January on its new headquarters at the 7.41-acre academic campus with an official groundbreaking ceremony on Jan the construction firm’s senior communications manager More information about what to expect during construction including the planned truck routes and how it will be phased will be shared during a community meeting at Haycock Elementary School (6616 Haycock Road) from 7-9 p.m In the works since 2019, HITT’s new headquarters building will be six stories tall with 270,000 square feet of space including 40,000 square feet on the ground floor for a Coalition for Smart Construction leased by Virginia Tech the offices will be equipped with a full-service conference center “collaborative work zones” and four floors of workspaces “designed with neurodivergence in mind” to accommodate a variety of work styles according to an earlier HITT press release The entire facility will be powered by a 100,000-square-foot solar panel array on the building’s roof The offices are expected to open in early 2027 While HITT’s headquarters will be the centerpiece the new development will also bring a 13-story 440-unit apartment building with up to 18,000 square feet of retail and 55,000 square feet of urban parks HITT, which is currently based about 3 miles away at Fairview Park, partnered with the developer Rushmark Properties on the mixed-use project, which is one portion of a sprawling plan approved by Fairfax County in 2021 to revitalize over 30 acres around the West Falls Church Metro Station Rushmark and fellow developers EYA and Hoffman & Associates got the county’s approval in summer 2023 to redevelop 24 acres around the Metro station that are currently mostly occupied by parking lots The over 1 million square feet of planned development will include 810 multifamily residential units a 110,000-square-foot office building and up to 10,000 square feet of retail While it’s unclear when construction on that project will get underway there are multiple site plans under county review the townhomes and infrastructure improvements The Metro and Virginia Tech developments will be linked via a new West Falls Station Blvd that will ultimately extend from Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) to the West Falls development under construction in Falls Church City The largest development project in the city’s history, West Falls started welcoming residents to new apartment and condominium buildings earlier this year, and construction began earlier this month on a senior living community called The Reserve By Jordana Rothberg Digital Edition To make a singular building stand out in its efficiency design and impact on the surrounding community is an incredible feat To make each component of a 1.2 million-square-foot mixed-use development do so is exceptional And that’s exactly what Hoffman & Associates accomplished with the West Falls multiphase project in Falls Church The recipient of the 2024 Commercial Property Executive Influence Award for Best Development goes far above and beyond Largely delivered in 2023 and located on almost 10 acres the transit-oriented project includes office “There are a lot of reasons why this is a project to commend,” said one CPE judge West Falls is the largest development in the history of Falls Church and was designed to amplify and accentuate the area’s rich preexisting infrastructure It has since been awarded LEED Gold certifications for almost all of its individual buildings and has been well received by locals “The city and the community have been supportive of the development from the very start as well.” The firm’s goal as master developer was to create a neighborhood that felt familiar Each component of West Falls was designed with its own identity It was just as important for each asset type to be independently characterized as it was to create unity and a feeling of oneness.“You don’t want to make the design so homogenous so it feels like you’re in the same space,” noted Thompson “Each component has its own character and its own feel but we believe that they look great and feel great together.” The piece that ties so many unique elements together The Hoffman & Associates team added a diverse mix of offerings to the ground floor West Falls features a wide swath of quick service restaurants to full service sit-downs “Retail is a key part of the life and diversity of the neighborhood we’ve created,” said Thompson.Another crucial component was the incorporation of a grocer The end result is a project where the community can live The office component of West Falls was another significant part of the overall neighborhood vision the project will feature some 325,000 square feet of office space A 125,000-square-foot medical office building was delivered as part of the first phase of the project.For this component the development team wanted something that supported the family-focused It was designed by Gensler and developed by Trammell Crow Co Originally, the building was envisioned as a traditional office building, according to Duncan Lyons, design director with Gensler. But when the pandemic hit, it was reimagined to target medical practitioners. Now, it meets the demand of patients who are more frequently looking for outpatient care in retail-style locations READ ALSO: Suburban Surge in the Office Market “The redesign was not a challenge as much as it was an opportunity to respond to the needs of practices and their patients for the long term,” said Lyons stone and aluminum window-wall gives the building a unique aesthetic the building remains consistent with the rest of the development while staying true to its function,” he added The vision for West Falls was always to build a premier mixed-use community John Hopkins Medicine is the anchor tenant of the thoughtfully designed sustainable building.The Wellness Center at West Falls is a notable component of the larger a senior vice president with TCC’s Mid-Atlantic team “We view The Wellness Center as a complementary piece to everything else that West Falls has to offer,” commented Schon workers and visitors to enjoy world-class medical services and support from Johns Hopkins Medicine and future medical tenants that want to have a presence in the area.” while certainly visible in each of its individual components This enhances an already vibrant community of people and crafts a gateway to Falls Church at large “I think the fact that its size and scale doesn’t feel overwhelming as you come through is a very important piece of that,” said Thompson “It’s different because there are so many offerings within this one walkable You can spend the day there; it’s very inviting I think that’s what makes it a winner and what makes it attractive to so many people From a mix of retailers to the opportunity to shop and run some errands it’s a project that’s attractive to many different people all at once it’s easy to get in and out via a range of transportation options “People are really looking for that walkability and a live-there “When we look at all of the urban trends that prioritize sustainability I feel like we check the box on all of those things.” READ ALSO: Inside the One West End Redevelopment in Atlanta To create this sense of community and design for continuity each building in West Falls aligns with the same key principles: “Lining the Commons with engaging retail elevating the pedestrian experience on the ground floor and incorporating green design and wellness features that support the development’s sustainability goals,” Lyons said The West Falls project was developed to proactively build upon what was already there It connected the existing transit system and roads in and out of the city to adjacent neighborhoods with walkable Developers were intent on creating a natural flow “The best developments incorporate a variety of uses and having Class A commercial space to complement the retail residential and hotel components of West Fall perfectly complete the vision that the city of Falls Church Hoffman & Associates and TCC had for this development,” said Schon No project the size of West Falls could pencil without some challenges one of the biggest obstacles was financing which was made extra difficult due to the project being planned during the pandemic in a period of mass uncertainty and instability.“We tried to ensure that there was a pretty well-rounded capital structure,” noted Maria Thompson president at Hoffman & Associates.With patience and dedication and an extremely complicated financing structure took form Funds were assembled with some $260 million in construction debt another $107 million or so in equity and other sources and more than $24 million in public financing Partners included an affiliate of Mack Real Estate Credit Strategies The pieces of West Falls that have already been delivered have been exceptionally well received the retail and medical office space has quickly gained occupancy Thompson also noted that the condos are selling well and that the hotel has outperformed expectations.“I think it all goes back to being multigenerational,” Thompson said of the success More structures are still underway at West Falls Some of the site work is in its final stages and retailers are still moving in and crafting their spaces a senior living component broke ground earlier this year Once the senior housing component is delivered and the rest of the first phase of West Falls finalizes Hoffman & Associates could build out a second phase Thompson said that the company wants to make sure it fits with the larger concept and meets future market demand The current vision comprises an office component and another condo building The firm is currently in discussions with the city in planning for the second stage and in its other projects Hoffman & Associates sticks to several core principles a mix of retail and options for a multigenerational audience can be seen throughout the firm’s projects the company has a mix of almost 600 residences and more than 130,000 square feet of commercial and entertainment space at a project called Seabord Station it has a similar common area in the center and double-sided retail for all of the buildings West Falls is also reminiscent of The Wharf project a $3.6 billion mixed-use development along the Washington Channel of the Potomac River in Washington Hoffman & Associates focuses on tying into the existing neighborhood Maybe more CPE Influence Awards are on the horizon Read the April 2025 issue of CPE. The Reserve at Falls Church will feature 215 luxury apartments located in the highly anticipated West Falls mixed-use neighborhood the company's luxury line of senior communities Breaking ground on The Reserve at Falls Church reflects NexCore's steadfast belief in the future of senior living As today's aging demographic continues to grow we are focused on developing communities that meet their evolving needs offering modern spaces that foster independence and connection NexCore partnered with an affiliate of Nuveen Real Estate to capitalize the project This is the third ground-up senior living development project on which both companies have collaborated "The Reserve at Falls Church aligns with Nuveen's focus for developing state-of-the-art senior living communities for the next generation of seniors in high-barrier-to-entry submarkets like Falls Church," noted Andrew Pyke "We are excited to partner again with a first-class developer in NexCore and an operator in ESL to bring this project to the greater DC community." The Reserve at Falls Church offers an unparalleled host of high-end amenities for residents Dining options will feature certified organic ingredients and will be available from multiple restaurants within the community Other amenities include an indoor saltwater pool and spa and an expansive maker space designed for creative expression and lifelong learning The community will also offer concierge services and electric vehicle transportation options "We're excited to bring The Reserve at Falls Church to life and are thrilled to be able to offer our award-winning continuum of care, allowing residents of Falls Church to remain close to their friends and family and enjoy the lifestyle they've grown accustomed to," said Phill Barklow "The Reserve is the pinnacle of luxury among senior communities and offers more than just a place to live—it's a community of connection and purpose where residents can enjoy elevated living and a deep sense of connection to their community." is a nationally recognized leader in both residential and mixed-use development across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast is NexCore's second senior living development in Virginia and expands ESL's operating presence in the state Link to high resolution image: https://www.dropbox.com/t/zMLUEAnGBTBg5qsr NexCore Group LLC is a national healthcare real estate investment and development company that focuses on acquiring and managing purpose-built facilities for medical NexCore has successfully completed over $5.7 billion in real estate transactions throughout 29 states developed and acquired over 16 million square feet of medical and currently manages over $3.3 billion in assets spanning 7.6 million square feet About Experience Senior Living Experience Senior Living is a full-service ESL is reimagining senior housing by leveraging its vast experience to integrate strategic The team at ESL then translates those experiences to create new and inspiring models of care focused on hospitality which are responsive to residents' needs and centered around holistic wellness and engagement with a broader community and their team of dynamic professionals is fueled by their passion for empowering individuals to lead enriching lives at every stage of their journey Experience Senior Living is based in Denver with communities operating or under development in seven states: Colorado Laura Larson, NexCore Group, 1 720-965-1768, [email protected], https://nexcoregroup.com/ Do not sell or share my personal information: and sell or trade your used Lego sets at this new toy shop for builders of all ages You know that sinking feeling when you go to place that last Lego brick on your masterpiece, only to realize it’s missing? With the  Nov. 23 opening of Bricks & Minifigs in The Shops at West Falls Church you needn’t ever have that sensation again Falls Church resident Christian Luik has spent 18 months preparing to open the store with new and retired Lego sets During the one-stop Lego shop’s grand opening Nov shoppers can get a free minifigure torso emblazoned with the store’s name and bricks with the opening date and logo on them Raffles and balloon and airbrush artists will also be part of the celebration a routine visit to Bricks & Minifigs will provide a different experience from Lego stores at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City or Tysons Corner Center his shop has a dedicated non-retail space for events such as birthday parties (look for bookings to open next month for dates in early 2025) Other ideas he’s toying with—see what we did there?—include STEM classes such as Lego Robotics play time for homeschooled children and summer camp the store will feature a roughly 28-foot-long racetrack that kids can trick out with their own freestyle creations “We’re going to have a wall that has a bunch of Lego base plates attached to it where kids can build off the side of the wall and create little mosaics or write their name,” he says “It’s just going to be a lot of free building with Lego Kids getting to explore their creativity and do so with their friends.” create their own minifigs and browse sets ranging from chunky Duplo for the youngest builders to complex creations aimed at AFOLs (adult fans of Lego) “We will have a variety of different sizes at different price points,” Luik says with displays that allow shoppers to cherry-pick the pieces they need I want a bunch of gray pieces,’ or ‘Maybe I want to build a spaceship What cool spaceship pieces can I find here?’” Raising and Educating Our Children During Uncertain Times Bricks & Minifigs will buy them for cash or store credit and then resell them at a fraction of their original prices “Our team will basically validate that all the pieces are there and include the instruction manual,” says the shopkeeper This Luik’s first venture into retail Watching his 4-year-old become a “full-on Lego guy” rekindled his own childhood passion for the plastic pieces When he discovered the Bricks & Minifigs parent company on Reddit “I see it as this marriage between wanting to interact with people on a day-to-day basis while working with something that I really enjoy,” he says of his decision to open the franchise The store is ideally situated, he adds, given that the same shopping plaza is home to several kid-centric businesses: Gold Fish Swim School, Kips Family Gymnastics and Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids Although Luik suspects little ones won’t be his only customers. This area has no shortage of Lego fans of all ages. Case in point: The store’s Instagram page already has almost 1,700 followers a Lego Discovery Center (in the Springfield Town Center) and the BrickFair LEGO Fan Expo which comes to the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly each year As of this year, Lego has produced more than 1.1 trillion pieces. It’s the world’s biggest toy brand reporting nearly $10 billion in revenue in 2023 “A surprising amount of people…when you tell them that you’re opening a Lego store will confide in you that they love Lego,” Luik says “I’ve probably talked to 20 different sets of parents and kids who have come up to the door It’s been a great validation of the general enthusiasm for Lego in this area.” Find Bricks & Minifigs at 7395 Lee Highway in Falls Church Become a digital partner ... About UsContact UsSubscribeAdvertiseWrite for Us Redevelopment projects in Falls Church continue to roll along without any major setbacks or warning signs “Development interest in the city remains steady,” Paul Stoddard He said city officials were dealing with “the usual volume of calls exploring ideas for possible future applications.” It has been a whirlwind decade for Falls Church — before during and after Covid — which has seen a significant amount of mixed-use development Much but not all of the work has been centered on Broad Street (Route 7) the city’s major east-west thoroughfare Next up for city leaders to consider is the proposal by Quinn Enterprises LLC to transform parcels at 350 and 360 S The applicant submitted a site plan in October which is now moving through the review process the proposal will result in 223 senior-living units plus ground-floor retail and restaurant use on a site of 1.85 acres It’s just the latest in a series of projects helping transform the Little City from a bedroom community with aging office and commercial spaces benefiting from a prime location between Tysons and Arlington The influx of new development has filled the city’s tax coffers as the growth has allowed Falls Church to be one of the few local jurisdictions to continue cutting real-estate tax rates to at least partially offset rising housing assessments Among other key projects in various stages of construction: Just over the city’s western border in Fairfax County, redevelopment of the former Virginia Tech/City of Falls Church property adjacent to the West Falls Church Metro station is moving through the development process. The mixed-use development is a joint venture of HITT and the developer Rushmark Properties Whether a strong appetite of city leaders for continued growth continues is an open question During the recent special election for a vacant City Council seat eventual winner Laura Downs said she would prefer city leaders pause and assess the impact of the past decade’s flurry of activity before moving forward again While positioning herself as an economic-development booster, “we need to take a breather,” Downs said at a September candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters and Village Preservation and Improvement Society One person who won’t be part of future discussions is Paul Stoddard He will be leaving at the end of November to join the planning staff of the Alexandria city government Stoddard began his Falls Church career as an intern in 2012 and was tapped as planning director in 2018 In a note to staff announcing his pending departure City Manager Wyatt Shields called Stoddard “responsive empathetic and visionary — a truly effective public servant.” HITT Contracting broke ground yesterday (Thursday) morning on its new headquarters at Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center in Idylwood In development since 2019 270,000-square-foot building will serve as the centerpiece of a $100 million project aimed at transforming the campus into a hub for innovation and sustainable growth with the headquarters slated to open in early 2027 A standout feature of the new headquarters will be a 40,000-square-foot Coalition for Smart Construction hub a collaborative initiative between HITT and Virginia Tech designed to bridge academia and the construction industry The space will house advanced research facilities focused on addressing critical challenges in construction sustainability and technological advancements “This building is so much more than an office,” HITT CEO Kim Roy said at the ceremony “It’s a beacon of what’s possible when curiosity ingenuity and determination create a new vision.” HITT has since grown into a national leader in construction services employing nearly 1,900 people across the U.S The company’s current headquarters is just a 10-minute drive away on Fairview Park Drive near I-495 in West Falls Church The new headquarters will house more than 900 employees and feature a wellness center conference space and a one-acre outdoor terrace The building is designed to hit net-zero energy and carbon goals thanks in part to a 100,000-square-foot solar canopy that will be installed on its roof Virginia Tech Dean of Engineering Julie Ross highlighted the project’s broader educational goals emphasizing the university and contractor’s shared focus on developing new technologies and training the next generation of construction leaders we’re building an ecosystem to drive systemic and sustainable change to be successful,” she said and all of the creative thinkers from academia When we put all of those people in the same room and identify the big problems we can imagine the future of the construction industry and help develop the technology and the talent to get there.” With plans also calling for a 13-story, 440-unit apartment building that will have up to 18,000 square feet of retail and 55,000 square feet of urban parks, the Northern Virginia Center project aims to enhance transit-oriented development and align with the county’s climate action goals including Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman and Rep praised the initiative for its community impact and alignment with the region’s strategies for managing future growth Bierman called the project a testament to Fairfax County’s ability to foster innovation and sustainable development “They are trying to figure out how we build things more efficiently and they’re putting their money where their mouth is,” Bierman said Beyer celebrated longstanding ties between HITT and Virginia Tech, noting that the new headquarters will enhance Northern Virginia’s growing reputation as a hub for technological progress and education. He also shouted out Virginia Tech for its role in attracting Amazon’s HQ2 to the region “This can be yet another feather in the cap of Virginia Tech and another reason why companies around the world want to come to Northern Virginia to locate and to grow our database which is good for everybody,” Beyer said West Falls Church will soon be home to one of the area’s few Lego superstores Bricks & Minifigs is set to open later this month in the Shops at West Falls Church, located at 7395 Route 29, as a one-stop-shop for Lego products — both new and old. The national Lego-reselling chain also opened a franchise in Herndon this past June West Falls Church franchise owner Christian Luik hopes to bring a community aspect to the hobby targeting both those who collect and those who play our goal has been to create a space here in Falls Church that serves as a hub for the local LEGO community,” Luik said by email “… I’d love for our store to be a place where LEGO fans of all types can come to get inspired and meet others who share their passion for this hobby.” The 2,100-square-foot store will offer a variety of sets including both new releases and retired ones Bricks & Minifigs will offer “hundreds of gallons” of individual Lego parts Display cases will be lined with thousands of minifigures while customers will also be able to craft their characters in the shop’s “Minifig Maker” space Custom aftermarket figures will also be available stretching the store’s offerings beyond just the brand’s catalog Luik has collected inventory for 18 months in all stuffing two storage units and his basement with merchandise — enough for Lego fans of all ages to find something to take home and Bricks & Minifigs is a toy store,” Luik said “While the more sought-after collectibles may receive a lot of attention on social media an essential component of what makes the Bricks & Minifigs model successful is the emphasis placed — at all levels — on creating a welcoming environment for the entire LEGO community A grand opening celebration scheduled for Nov 23 and 24 will feature “exclusive offers and giveaways” in store A full slate of new businesses have opened in recent weeks and months at the West Falls development in Falls Church A daycare, dance studio, Chase Bank and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls are just some of the project’s newest retailers — and even more restaurants including an ice cream parlor and a ramen bar Chase has other nearby locations at Bailey’s Crossroads and the Seven Corners Center This D.C.-area nonprofit’s new dance studio takes students from 18 months old to adults is offering music lessons at its new West Falls studio Resources at the new location include a digital piano lab and classrooms for early childhood music education The seafood franchise is still celebrating its grand opening after appearing last month at West Falls This new wellness-themed sauna studio offers treatments with infrared and red light Memberships start at $129 per month for four treatment sessions This daycare and early childhood education center provides kids with Spanish immersion through a curriculum that encourages fluency Ice cream flavors at this popular D.C.-area shop include banana pudding This spring’s rotating seasonal flavor is cherry blossom cheesecake Fast-casual eatery BurgerFi offers nine signature burgers in addition to grilled and fried chicken sandwiches Sides include fresh-cut fries and house-made onion rings This full-service restaurant plans to offer various Japanese dishes Honoo currently has one other location in Richmond inspired by foods at night markets in Bangkok It also hopes to offer craft cocktails and gourmet coffee Photo 1 via The Oak/Facebook When it got approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this fall VHC Health and Intuitive Health’s planned hybrid emergency room and urgent care facility was touted as a clear upgrade for West Falls Church’s Graham Center transforming the aging strip mall with an innovative health care resource and much-needed road safety improvements for the small businesses that in some cases have been housed at the Graham Center for decades the impending redevelopment has brought stress and upheaval as they consider whether to relocate or possibly close their doors for good “I just took over the business a year and a half ago and I had no idea about this redevelopment,” Tim Lê owner of the Vietnamese restaurant Phở Golden Cow and the cold makes moving tough… Any assistance from the landlord would help a lot.” Immigrant-owned businesses ‘integral’ to community Graham Center (7234 Arlington Blvd) is currently home to 10 businesses there’s Biên Hòa Oriental Supermarket The longest-standing business — Modern Shoe Repair & Cleaners — has been operating since 1978, VPC says. The shopping center is also adjacent to Harvest Moon, a Chinese restaurant and banquet hall that opened in the 1980s but permanently closed during the pandemic Though modest, VPC says the businesses at Graham Center have provided “integral” services, products and food to the surrounding community, whose residents are about 38% foreign-born and mostly Hispanic or Asian, per Census estimates According to VPC, which formed in 2021 to advocate for a revitalization plan for Falls Church City’s Eden Center that reinvested in local businesses instead of displacing them some of the Graham Center businesses reported struggles to get building and parking lot repairs which they hoped meant their landlord planned to renovate the shopping center also reported rent hikes over the past year “Within the last year before the closure announcement I feel like they were trying to push us out,” Elviz said Some of the affected businesses have managed to find new locations a small cell phone store that was subleasing from Modern Shoe Repair Pupuseria Mana and Phở Golden Cow are still hopeful they can reopen elsewhere Carina’s Fashion and Modern Shoe Repair are at risk of closing permanently calling Biên Hòa a particularly notable loss as one of Northern Virginia’s longest-standing and last-remaining Vietnamese grocery stores VHC Health and county dispute communication issues which acquired the Graham Center property in July 2023 says it did offer to assist the displaced businesses by connecting them with a broker who could help them find a new location The offer was made in a letter distributed to tenants on Aug informing them that their month-to-month leases would stop being renewed effective March 31 The shopping center needs to be vacated at that time to allow on-site construction activities to begin in time for demolition to start on schedule in the summer VHC Health Vice President of Real Estate Acquisition and Development Adrian Stanton told FFXnow by email no tenants took advantage of this offer,” Stanton said adding that the offer of a referral to a broker remains available According to Stanton, VHC Health first informed tenants and community members of its plans to redevelop Graham Center with a new medical facility in April 2024. The health system had submitted a special exception application to Fairfax County with its proposal in February VHC Health held a virtual community meeting to share details of its plans on May 7 where it provided dinner and child care for nearly 100 attendees It’s unclear whether any of the business owners were among the attendees of either meeting but Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik describes the May 7 meeting as a success thanks in part to child care and translation support from the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services The county notified tenants about the proposed redevelopment on Aug 1 through “their normal channels” as well as website and on-site notifications The special exception was ultimately approved by the Board of Supervisors on Oct “Robust and effective outreach is important,” Palchik said in addition to efforts by the Graham Center owners staff from my office walked the community and went door-to-door to the current businesses at the Graham Center … We would be happy to reconnect directly with the tenants.” VHC Health also denies increasing rents or neglecting requested maintenance and repairs the health system didn’t make any adjustments to the lease agreements that were in place when it acquired the shopping center “VHC Health has performed general improvements and repairs including increased lighting more routine trash collection and filled potholes which were all identified as needs from the current tenants,” Stanton said “VHC Health also performed routine maintenance updates to the building that are included in the tenant’s lease.” Community organizers call for support for businesses VPC says the frustrations it has heard from business owners suggests there were gaps in the county and VHC Health’s communication and outreach efforts noting that the approved redevelopment plan didn’t include any requirements or commitments to assist the displaced tenants “Fairfax County approved this development without consulting the impacted small businesses and without considering how this displacement of the businesses and their workers would affect the community,” Binh Ly “It’s clear that the outreach that’s legally required is neither sufficient nor considerate.” In addition to sending VHC Health a letter urging them to postpone the vacate date reduce rent for the remaining tenants and assist with relocations the grassroots organization says it “will continue to actively explore other avenues to aid the small businesses” and hopes the community will show support before they’re displaced Stanton acknowledged that the Graham Center redevelopment has created difficulties for the business owners but maintained that VHC Health is working to mitigate the project’s impact “We understand that this is a challenging time,” Stanton said “Our commitment is not only to the success of this project but also to the well-being of the people and businesses that make our community vibrant We have been working closely with tenants to find meaningful solutions including relocation support and access to resources to help navigate this transition.” A forthcoming senior living development with 215 apartments has broken ground in Falls Church The Reserve — part of the expansive West Falls development project — will offer both independent living and assisted living, as well as memory care, through operator Experience Senior Living At 15 stories, the project will feature several restaurants including a chophouse, a seafood restaurant, an oyster bar and a cocktail lounge. Other planned amenities include an indoor pool and spa, a fitness center, and a makerspace “designed for creative expression and life-long learning,” a press release says “We’re excited to bring The Reserve at Falls Church to life and are thrilled to be able to offer our award-winning continuum of care allowing residents of Falls Church to remain close to their friends and family and enjoy the lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to,” said Experience Senior Living President Phill Barklow This is the 18th senior living project that Experience Senior Living and Colorado-based developer NexCore Group have undertaken Located near the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Haycock Road the development is scheduled to open in spring 2027 The 10-acre West Falls project — the largest development in Falls Church’s history — has taken some significant steps forward in recent months with the opening of The Alder apartment building and The Oak condominium building A Hilton Home2 Suites hotel also hosted a grand opening in May while a set of medical offices and a 362-space parking garage wrapped up construction earlier this  year BurgerFi and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls are among several businesses aiming to open in the development’s ground-floor retail bays in the next few months An all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant has set its sights on West Falls Church Signage for Sushi Ohayo has appeared in a storefront in the Shops at West Falls Church signaling the brand’s third Fairfax-area restaurant the forthcoming restaurant follows an initial opening in Chantilly and the launch of a Lorton restaurant in December 2023 when exactly the new eatery is expected to open Attempts to obtain additional information from a company spokesperson went unanswered Sushi Ohayo has drawn local acclaim for its variety of menu offerings including both all-you-can-eat sushi and hibachi dishes diners can indulge in as much as they’d like from 110 different offerings That slate includes more than 60 different sushi options and 15 different hibachi diners can take advantage of all-you-can-eat sashimi — thinly sliced raw fish — with 15 different menu options The restaurant will fill a 5,400-square-foot space previously occupied by Saigon 1975 a Vietnamese restaurant that closed in 2020 Though a sign permit was issued by Fairfax County officials late last month no permanent fixture had been installed as of last week It’s also publicly unknown how much of the proposed commercial plumbing and build-out alterations have yet to be completed it intends to be open daily for both lunch and dinner hours according to a permit application filed in November The prospect of a winter of discontent awaits those navigating the area where Haycock Road meets Route 7 in Falls Church but conditions should be better by springtime “Relief is on the horizon, but we still have some pain before we get there,” Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields told the city council on Monday (Oct “We do have to ask the public to bear with us,” he added, estimating that the major transportation project would be completed by late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2025 The nearly $16 million project’s goal is to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety at the Route 7 (West Broad Street) intersection with Haycock and the nearby entrances to Meridian High School Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and the West Falls Church Metro station It also aims to stay ahead of growth that is arriving as the Little City Commons (also known as West Falls) mixed-use development at the intersection approaches buildout According to the city’s project website Efforts are being funded through a grant from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi expressed sympathy at the meeting for community complaints about the improvements not moving quickly enough Construction has been underway since late 2019 “All the concerns expressed expressed by the public are reasonable,” she said “The construction has gone on a long time.” there should be more temporary lighting at Haycock Road and Mustang Drive city staff said lighting is in place but needs to be activated which is expected to happen by the end of this week A resident was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries from a house fire in the West Falls Church area early this morning (Friday) Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to the 2900 block of Lawrence Drive around 1:42 a.m firefighters reported that “heavy” fire was visible and they were told someone was still inside The person was found on the first floor and taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital “Crews are working to bring the fire under control,” the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said in social media posts at 2:33 a.m “One occupant was transported with life threatening injuries.” the fire extended to the house’s attic Firefighters continued to battle fire and smoke for almost an hour The fire’s out,” a commander told the dispatcher at 2:36 a.m Nine people were displaced by the fire, FCFRD spokesperson Ashley Hildebrandt confirmed to FFXnow. However, no updates on the hospitalized person’s condition are available due to medical confidentiality restrictions #FairfaxsBravest are operating on scene of a house fire in the 2900 block of Lawrence Dr. Firefighters arrived with fire showing. Crews are working to bring the fire under control. One occupant was transported with life threatening injuries. Fire investigators are on scene. pic.twitter.com/iWxEPNDJYa — Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 3, 2025 A bank and a Thai restaurant are the latest planned additions to a Falls Church development project’s retail scene Chase Bank and Dok Khao Thai Eatery are expected to join the West Falls development project in April and August 2025 developer Hoffman & Associates announced this month This news comes as Phase 1 of the 10-acre project — which includes an apartment building two parking garages and a hotel — is nearing completion with about 75% of available retail spaces now leased “We’re excited to welcome Dok Khao and Chase Bank to West Falls as we near the completion of this vibrant neighborhood,” Hoffman & Associates President Maria Thompson said in a news release “These new additions highlight our commitment to cultivating a community where people can gather enjoy a variety of dining options and access to neighborhood essentials.” while the restaurant will occupy nearby 180 W Phase 1 of the expansive West Falls project is expected to wrap up in early 2025 The final project includes approximately 142,100 square feet of retail space with buildings slated to be substantially complete in the next month,” she said “Traffic improvements will be substantially complete in March 2025.” Several West Falls businesses are expected to open soon Mason’s Lobster Rolls remains on track to open next month along with Perspire Sauna Studio before the end of the year Meanwhile, Ice Cream Jubilee, SEOULSPICE, and BurgerFi — which were previously announced with fall 2024 opening dates — are now expected to open in spring 2025 Casabella Salon and Honoo Ramen Bar are also slated to open this spring which did not previously have a specific opening date is now expected to open by the end of 2026 Thompson said recently constructed apartments at The Alder will receive their first residents before the end of the year while condominiums at The Oak “have attracted considerable interest from prospective buyers.” Construction on a new senior living building The project’s Phase 2 construction will add a second office building and more condos A start date for the second phase has not yet been announced “I cannot stress how excited we are to see the project come to fruition,” Thompson said “I am so very proud of our project team partners and the invaluable support and collaboration from the City of Falls Church … It’s more than just a place to live or visit — it’s a destination where people can come together Nationally ranked commercial construction company HITT Contracting recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its future headquarters in Falls Church, Va. Designed by renowned architecture firm Gensler, the property is set to incorporate 270,000 square feet of suburban Washington, D.C. office space across six stories Delivery of the project is expected in early 2027 “As we break ground on our new headquarters we’re laying the foundation for innovation “This building is so much more than an office It’s a beacon of what’s possible when curiosity and determination fuse to create a new vision.” With sustainability at the core of its design this project aims to earn a LEED Platinum certification and stand as testament to HITT’s commitment to driving influential change and the partnership between industry and academia the building will include a 40,000-square-foot research lab developed in partnership with Virginia Tech’s Coalition for Smart Construction — a collaboration created to support hands-on research and development addressing challenges in the built environment The cutting-edge facility is slated to become a nationally recognized innovation hub where building practices will be advanced to shape the industry’s future “We are excited to partner with HITT and grow our network of innovation to address the future of smart construction,” said Julie Ross Paul and Dorothea Torgersen dean of engineering at Virginia Tech this space will provide an opportunity to partner with industry in the development of new technologies and approaches that will transform the construction industry while supporting graduate student research and experiential learning we can imagine the future and help to develop the technology and the talent to get it there.” Designed to meet net-zero energy and net-zero carbon goals the new headquarters building will be powered by a 100,000-square-foot photovoltaic solar canopy and wind turbines to offset all of its estimated energy needs One innovative feature debuting at the facility is a HyperWall building envelope system developed with Building Composites Located within a lively community near the West Falls Church Metro station HITT’s new central office location supports sustainable urban development by providing convenient mass transit access for the more than 900 local team members At the start of the year, the Washington, D.C. office market had more than 1.5 million square feet of new office projects in development, according to our latest quarterly national office market report this was the fifth-largest under-construction pipeline among U.S office markets larger than 100 million square feet considering the overall scale of the market this pipeline represented less than 1% of stock Looking to rent office space in Washington, D.C. or other types of real estate for lease in premium markets? Visit the CommercialCafe.com home page to start your search Fairfax County police arrested a man this week who’s believed to have exposed himself in a West Falls Church neighborhood multiple times Officers responded to Fairmont Street and Woodberry Lane in the Tremont Gardens community around 1:22 p.m Though the man left the area before police arrived officers identified the individual as a 22-year-old man from Falls Church the Fairfax County Police Department reported today (Friday) Police say the man exposed himself in two previous incidents on June 5 and June 11 both times in the 2900 block of Fairmont Street The man has been charged with two counts of indecent exposure for the two June incidents and one count of simulated masturbation in public for the Aug He has been released from custody on a secured bond and faces an adjudicatory hearing on Nov according to Fairfax County General District Court records A man who fled the U.S. shortly after being accused of the 1991 killing of his estranged wife in West Falls Church will sit behind bars for the next two decades was sentenced yesterday (Thursday) to 20 years in prison for the stabbing death of Ana Jurado which occurred more than 30 years ago in the 3100 block of Cofer Road who was 28 years old when the slaying took place fled to his native country of El Salvador shortly after a warrant was issued for his arrest He later established a new life in Costa Rica Lazaro Cruz was detained two years ago by Costa Rican authorities Edgar Jurado — the eldest son of Lazaro Cruz and Ana Jurado — told a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge that he had long awaited the day that his mother’s killer would appear in court “I’m glad that he’s here,” Edgar Jurado said “and I believe that we will get justice for this.” Prosecutors sought the maximum 40-year sentence while the defense argued that the trouble-free life Lazaro Cruz has led since the incident merited a lesser punishment “We obviously don’t sentence the crime we sentence the person,” defense attorney Joseph Collins said The defense painted a picture focused on Lazaro Cruz’s troubled upbringing, one that allegedly saw him fight in the Salvadoran Civil War at 12 years old and normalized violence from a young age Lazaro Cruz had worked to overcome an alcohol dependency become a business owner and get active in his local religious community “The court can’t go back in time and punish the 28-year-old who was none of those things,” Collins said Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Clingan alleging that accounts in different court documents didn’t line up with each other Clingan noted that Lazaro Cruz claimed six of his siblings lived in Virginia or Maryland but they were unable to be contacted to verify his background and none of them were present in the courtroom “There is something incogent about what he has told a probation officer … and what he told the court,” Clingan said adding that Lazaro Cruz had “postponed payment of a societal debt Though Virginia abolished traditional parole in 1995, Lazaro Cruz will be eligible for geriatric parole in five years, according to the state code A new fast-casual seafood restaurant opened yesterday in Falls Church serving New England-style lobster rolls and seafood Annapolis, Md.-based Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls is soft opening now on the ground floor of The Oak condominiums on 243 West Falls Station Blvd It’s the first restaurant to open at the West Falls development with more eateries expected later this year Mason’s is open in Falls Church from 11 a.m.-9 p.m Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m Falls Church’s ongoing redevelopment spurt could next focus on 15 acres of mostly industrial land in the community’s West End City leaders have invited a contingent from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to Falls Church for a look at what the city calls its Gordon Road Triangle the W&OD Regional Trail to the south and Shreve and Gordon roads to the west A technical-assistance panel from the organization will spend two days surveying the property interviewing stakeholders and delivering preliminary findings at an invitation-only gathering “We’re really looking forward to that event,” said Gary Fuller, the city’s deputy director of planning, during a Jan. 15 presentation to the Planning Commission Final recommendations are expected to be delivered in about two months’ time The city’s Robert Goff Operations Yard is the largest component piece of the triangular area which also includes private businesses including Beyer Kia One possible outcome of studying the corridor could be an eventual public-private partnership to redevelop the city’s operations facilities Urban Land Institute investigators also have been asked to detail potential ways to improve bicycle and pedestrian access Falls Church official to chair N.Va. Transportation Commission: David Snyder, a member of the Falls Church City Council was elected to chair the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission for 2025 Snyder has served on the commission since 1994 Snyder’s four one-year stints as chair tie him with Lee Rhodes who served as chair from 1966-69 in the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission’s formative years Rhodes had served on the City Council from 1948-76 The event will take place on April 12 in Falls Church Are you thinking of buying your first home Then mark your calendar for the 15th annual Northern Virginia Housing Expo The free event is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be held at Meridian High School in Falls Church next to the West Falls Church Metro station and realtors will be on hand to speak specifically about home ownership and renting in the city of Alexandria Attendees can also sign up for free, one-on-one financial coaching sessions with certified volunteer trainers from local nonprofits. The expo is partnering with Britepaths Spanish-speaking counselors will also be available upon request The NoVA Housing Expo is hosted by the Falls Church Department of Housing & Human Services The department strives to make affordable home ownership and rental opportunities available to residents of all income levels Feature image courtesy Northern Virginia Housing Expo A national grocery chain originally inspired by open food markets in Europe is plotting an expansion in the D.C The Fresh Market has landed deals to open stores at Reston Station and West Falls, the mixed-use development currently under construction on Falls Church City’s former high school campus the Washington Business Journal first reported The grocer’s 27,000-square-foot Reston store will anchor the future Midline neighborhood which will expand Comstock’s development near the Wiehle Metro station to the east side of Wiehle Avenue Construction on the first portion of the Midline project — EYA’s Townhomes at Reston Station — began in September 2020 Approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2018 the plan called for 1.8 million square feet of housing office and retail space on four blocks bounded by Wiehle Sunset Hills Road and the Dulles Toll Road Comstock entered the picture in 2022 when it acquired two vacant office buildings at 1831 and 1861 Wiehle Avenue from JBG Smith the WBJ reported that the developer hoped to tweak the approved Midline plan to reduce the amount of retail and office and increase multi-family residential development Fairfax County records indicate that a site plan was submitted last year to redevelop both properties with a 127-unit independent living facility and a 325-unit multi-family residential building At least one of the buildings appears to include retail space “We are excited to announce The Fresh Market as the anchor of Midline at Reston Station and welcome them to the neighborhood,” Comstock Chief Operating Officer Tim Steffan said in a press release “…We take great pride in delivering top offerings to the Reston Station community and look forward to further enhancing the vibrant retail scene with even more exceptional choices.” The Fresh Market has a deal for 29,000 square feet in an upcoming residential building at the corner of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Haycock Road Developer Hoffman & Associates also opened sales this spring for a condominium complex along Mustang Alley called The Oak That portion of the project is expected to finish in late 2024 Back when West Falls was still in the planning stages, the grocer was described as “like Trader Joe’s” in response to concerns that another grocery store could be redundant with a Giant Food right across the street The tenant’s identity was kept under wraps at the time by a nondisclosure agreement Hoffman Chief Investment Officer Jon McAvoy lauded The Fresh Market for a “commitment to fostering local connections and bringing people together” in a press release fresh-focused grocer will complement the rest of the neighborhood,” McAvoy said “…The Fresh Market’s commitment to fostering local connections and bringing people together aligns perfectly with our vision for West Falls and we look forward to welcoming them to the neighborhood.” The Fresh Market’s new Reston and Falls Church stores are both expected to open “within the next three years.” (7News) — A fence fell off the Washington Boulevard overpass onto eastbound Interstate 66 and the train tracks Saturday afternoon prompting a temporary shutdown of traffic and halting the Orange and Silver Metro lines between Ballston and West Falls Church The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) said crews are fixing damages to the fence along the tracks which will impact service for an extended period of time WMATA arranged bus service for those impacted by the shutdown: Silver: Customers can use Route 28A to travel between East Falls Church Route 1A can be utilized to connect between Ballston and Vienna Route 2A travels between East Falls Church and Ballston Orange: Customers can use Route 28A to travel between East Falls Church Metro will provide an update once the repairs are finished on their X account. A recent online operation conducted by child exploitation detectives resulted in seven arrests including that of a Falls Church High School teacher the Fairfax County Police Department announced this morning (Tuesday) made immediate notification [of the arrest] to FCPS Reid to hold onto that information because Berkowitz was “Divulging circumstances and contents surrounding his arrest during the middle of an operation like this would in essence shut down our operation.” Berkowitz remains in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center Though his arrest wasn’t publicly announced until today FCPS “took internal action” to ensure Berkowitz didn’t have access to any schools immediately upon getting notified of the arrest noting that no FCPS students were affected “to our knowledge.” The FCPD identified the other arrested individuals as men ranging in age from 24 to 50 Criminal Investigations Division Commander Maj One of the people arrested was a 45-year-old man from New York who works as a teacher at Amherst Central High School in Buffalo Taken into custody by the New York Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force he’s being held at the Erie County Correctional Facility where he’s awaiting extradition to Fairfax County the arrests came as part of a “traveler’s operation” where detectives with its Major Crimes Bureau’s child exploitation unit pose as children online to identify people who are looking to solicit illegal sex acts from minors They’re required by law to identify as a child they’re required to talk about specific sex acts,” Davis explained “There’s no entrapment associated with these operations we arrange to meet with a predator and make an arrest.” the suspects initiated “explicit” conversations with the detectives posing as children that included sending explicit images of themselves and asking for explicit images in return The seven arrested individuals are collectively facing 25 felony charges News of Berkowitz’s arrest emerged just days after the department announced that Fairview Elementary School teacher John Barger has been charged with sexually assaulting two students a girl and her mother went to the Fairfax Station school on Friday 17 and reported that she had been sexually assaulted The report was shared with Child Protective Services and the FCPD FCPS put Barger on administrative leave on Jan he was just considered a person of interest and hadn’t yet been charged with any crimes Because of policies limiting communications about personnel matters FCPS doesn’t notify the community of any criminal allegations until an arrest is made and charges are brought but school officials have the discretion to place personnel on leave during an investigation “We have a very tight partnership [with law enforcement],” Reid said at the press confernece “At such point when we are faced with charges or arrests we take immediate action to remove any individual who might not be safe as those investigations take place.” Davis expressed support for FCPS’ process a second girl was identified as an alleged victim and he was ultimately arrested and charged with aggravated sexual battery last Thursday Detectives haven’t found any evidence so far to suggest there were additional victims In a Feb. 7 message to the community about the charges against Barger, Fairview Elementary principal Samantha Goldstein advised any parents with concerns or information to use an anonymous FCPS tipline or call the FCPD’s Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800 “We also understand that this is upsetting news to our community and I’m sorry that we have to report news of this nature,” Reid said at the press conference “We have 40,000 staff that come to school each and every day and work in Fairfax County Public Schools to ensure a world-class education for our students and our commitment to keep our students safe while we’re ensuring that world-class education continues is a paramount priority.” 2024 at 5:09 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Home2 Suites by Hilton Falls Church held its grand opening at the West Falls development on Thursday VA — The West Falls mixed-use development on the former George Mason High School site is starting to take shape Developer Hoffman & Associates announced the grand opening of Home2 Suites by Hilton Falls Church All rooms are suites with kitchens that can serve extended stays Amenities for hotel guests include a 24-hour fitness center complimentary Wi-Fi and complimentary breakfast Home2 Suites by Hilton is accepting guest reservations starting on June 3 "Home2 Suites by Hilton Falls Church is such a meaningful addition to the West Falls neighborhood," said Shawn Seaman “As the largest development in the city's history the opening of the hotel marks a significant milestone for West Falls service-driven place to stay and experience all that this vibrant community has to offer." The Wellness Center medical office building Commons outdoor gathering space and The Reserve at Falls Church senior living Retail planned at West Falls includes Honoo Ramen and Bar Casabella Salon and early education and preschool program Tierra Encantada The community will be close to the West Falls Church Metro Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Falls Church may be known as the Little City but soon there will be nothing diminutive about its grocery options Three different grocery chains are set to join Falls Church’s existing selection of supermarkets in the coming months and years Already home to a Giant, a Harris Teeter and an Aldi, the city is expected to add a new Whole Foods and Grocery Outlet within the next year or so, according to Economic Development Division Chief Becky Witsman. A Fresh Market is also slated to arrive within the next few years The planned Whole Foods, in a new development at E will likely be the first to open its doors It will join a few other Whole Foods locations in the area Then, about halfway through 2025 or later, a Grocery Outlet is expected to open at 500 S The store billed as “the nation’s largest extreme-value retailer” is known for its selection of heavily discounted groceries The new Fresh Market at the West Falls development, near the West Falls Church Metro station, is expected to open within the next three years, according to developer Hoffman & Associates, our sister site FFXnow reported last month The Fresh Market is a smaller, higher-end specialty market founded in 1982 and inspired by European markets that founder Ray Berry thought offered “a more intimate and personalized shopping experience.” Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions Search autocomplete is currently not responding The building completion dates are listed below: A Special Exception Entitlement application was approved by the City Council on July 8, 2019 On August 9, 2021, two applications submitted by the developers were approved by City Council: City Council also approved the creation of the West Falls Community Development Authority for the West Falls District The City is working with the development team and the Economic Development Authority on the required actions and documents associated with issuance of bonds by the CDA to help finance the public improvements.  a third amendment to the Comprehensive Agreement was approved by City Council sets out the business terms of the land transaction development agreement such as the schedule of land payments to the City The following documents associated with the land transaction and CDA are still subject to change and additional documents may be added as they are agreed to in sufficiently final form: Special Exception Site Plan - Block D-1: On February 16 an application was received for a Special Exception Site Plan for Block D1 for the Senior Housing Building The submission materials and additional information can be found below The City received materials for a Special Exception Site Plan (Block D1 – Senior Housing) application on February 16 Application materials and a tentative project schedule can be found below Block D-1 is located in the southeast corner of the site at the intersection of Mustang Alley and West Falls Station Boulevard Application materials state that the 15-story building will contain 22 memory care units and 132 independent living units totaling approximately 260,000 GSF and approximately 7,900 GSF of ground floor retail Approximately 125 parking spaces will be provided in the D-2 parking garage and parking were approved as part of the SEE Henry Zhang, Principal Planner, Community Planning and Economic Development Services Email Capital Improvements Program Project Manager Email Forty Under 40 West Falls Church Metro station will have more than 1M sq ft of mixed use space Metro unveils major Falls Church redevelopment agreement The agreement was reached with FGCP-Metro LLC a joint real estate development partnership involving Bethesda D.C.-based Hoffman & Associates and Falls Church-based Rushmark Properties Plans for the of Metro’s parking lots include adding apartments neighborhood retail and public green spaces It will connect to the proposed mixed-use redevelopment of Meridian High School (formerly George Mason High School) with bike lanes public parking spaces and a secondary grid of streets to alleviate congestion “Building transit-oriented development is an important strategy for managing many of this region’s most pressing challenges housing production and transit ridership recovery,” Metro General Manager and CEO Paul J “The West Falls Church Metro Station is a unique opportunity that will convert underutilized parking lots to provide housing and create a cohesive development plan with the adjacent publicly-owned sites.” Developers can apply to the $2 billion Amazon.com Inc. Housing Equity Fund which provides below-market equity to qualified developers The project results from several years of work between Metro, the development team and to amend the comprehensive plan for the site Metro’s board of directors approved moving forward with a joint development agreement and public hearing held last December The deal is expected to generate long-term revenue for Metro through 99-year ground leases On July 13, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the comprehensive plan to support development of the Metro site and the adjoining Virginia Tech site the joint development team will go through Fairfax County’s rezoning process Metro will also hold a public hearing on the proposed changes to commuter parking and bus facilities Henry County's IDA has signed a deal offering a company the option to buy a 1,200-acre industrial site near Pa[...] and other officials attended a groundbreaking Tuesday for a 100,000-squar[...] Virginia’s Gateway Region Economic Development Organization announced Thursday that its board of directors v[...] is worried about the possibility of the Trump a[...] a San Francisco-based agricultural technology company that counts tech billionaires Jeff Bez[...] When Tennessee-based Microporous officials visited Virginia in 2022 to scout locations for a new plant By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy Meet 28 successful women-owned Virginia businesses Georgia-Pacific will permanently close its Emporia plywood mill President Sands warns NIH cuts will harm research and Virginia Tech’s future a[...] Huntington Ingalls and General Dynamics have been awarded Navy contract modifications worth up to a [...] Meet 40 young leaders transforming Virginia's business landscape Honorees excel in fields like bank[...] The University of Virginia's president received a letter from the U.S Department of Justice's Civil[...] A roundup of monthly business news from regions across Virginia including Central Virginia Virginia passes the APCo Rate Reduction Act cutting electric bills for Appalachian Power customers [...] joining Virginia’s top research universities Amherst County unveils a 45,000-square-foot shell building and prepares new industrial sites to driv[...] Virginia Business is the only publication dedicated to covering economic activity in every sector and every region of Virginia Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions (7News) — No injuries were reported after a fire erupted in a Fairfax County apartment on Wednesday morning Fairfax County Fire and Rescue crews responded to a two-alarm fire in the 2700 block of Hollywood Road in West Falls Church just before 10 a.m officials saw a blaze coming from the top floor of the apartment complex Firefighters are working to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent units No injuries have been reported at this time The cause of the fire is under investigation The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has launched the first phase of its Smart City test bed located near the university’s Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church This initial technology implementation involves modernizing the city's traffic control systems to provide a foundation onto which additional “smart” technologies may be applied The upgraded traffic control systems aim to help improve pedestrian safety reduce conflicts between cars and bike/foot traffic and save the municipality money through better energy and maintenance efficiency "VTTI is proud to be working hand in hand with the City of Falls Church VDOT [Virginia Department of Transportation] and our industry partners to bring modern traffic signal control technologies to the area,” said Mike Mollenhauer the institute’s principal investigator on the project “These systems will allow for more intelligent intersection control that will improve safety and traffic flow through the city's main corridors We look forward to continued cooperation with Falls Church as we help them deploy adaptive lighting and other smart cities technologies in the near future." Originally announced in 2021 the collaboration with VDOT also includes $10 million in support from the state budget The project includes a new road that bisects the Falls Church campus connecting Virginia Route 7 to the West Falls Church Washington Metro Area Transit Authority site VTTI is deploying much of the same smart intersection technology in other locations around Northern Virginia including at the intersections of Nutley Road at both U.S Researchers have also launched another smart intersection test bed just outside of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus at the intersection of East Glebe Road and Potomac Avenue in Alexandria The second phase of the project is scheduled for implementation from winter 2024 to winter 2025 and will include additional traffic signal upgrades and the application of smart intersection technologies the traffic signal system will be able to adapt to changing traffic and pedestrian levels while improving safety through real-time adjustment of signal timing plans and the identification of vehicle-pedestrian conflict areas These capabilities allow the project team to identify appropriate countermeasures to reduce the risks in high-conflict areas Additional future phases of the project will include the implementation of adaptive lighting and smart parking technologies:   Adaptive lighting will utilize sensors installed on roadways to detect varying levels of roadway usage and adjust the lighting to meet visibility needs More road users will result in brighter streetlights while a decrease in road users will result in a decrease in light brightness Adjustments in lighting levels will reduce light pollution in highly populated urban environments while also reducing energy usage Smart parking technologies will allow vehicle users to locate parking spaces through a smart phone application as opposed to driving around in search of a place to park The application will also make it easier for users to pay parking fees and help reduce the excess fuel use and emissions caused by vehicles in search of parking spaces “This is a tangible example of the commitment of the city the region and elected officials to deploy technology to improve transportation for our residents regionally and specifically in the City of Falls Church,” said Dave Snyder Falls Church City Council member and vice chair of the Northern Virginia Transit Commission and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Virginia Tech demonstrates impact as a global land grant – progressing sustainability in our community Get Directions  See All Locations  Contact Virginia Tech  © 2025 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible Reverts to original layout including graphics and images The final report of the West Falls Church Active Transportation Study is now available The West Falls Church Active Transportation Study aims to improve the active transportation network within and surrounding the West Falls Church Transit Station Area (TSA) The study will perform an existing conditions and gap analysis that will identify gaps in the pedestrian and bike network Outcomes of the study include recommending improvements based on the assessment setting priorities in coordination with community who will provide critical input and identifying potential sources of funding The West Falls Church Active Transportation Advisory Group will advise the Board of Supervisors and make suggestions for active transportation solutions In 2018, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors  authorized the consideration of the West Falls Church TSA Plan Amendment to study the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Virginia Tech parcels in the West Falls Church TSA The Board requested that staff consider a mix of uses (office and townhouses) up to an intensity of .96 floor area ratio (FAR) for the WMATA property (Sub-unit A-1) and residential) at an intensity up to a 2.5 FAR for the Virginia Tech property The combined planned land uses for the WMATA and Virginia Tech properties include a maximum of 1,340 residential dwelling units (DUs) the Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to its Comprehensive Plan to support development of a vibrant mixed use community with more than one million square feet of office emphasizing safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian enhancements connecting to the Metrorail station The nearly three-year process leading to the adoption of the plan amendment included community outreach and smaller-scale meetings with various homeowners and civic associations Community members voiced their desire for improvements to walk and bike between the Metrorail station and nearby neighborhoods noting the lack of sidewalks along many residential streets and narrow or otherwise inadequate pathways Several community members also expressed concern about the increased traffic that could result from the proposed developments within the vicinity of the West Falls Church Metrorail Station and the conditions for school children walking or biking to Haycock Elementary School and other area destination On July 13, 2021, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to its Comprehensive Plan to support development of a vibrant a key recommendation of the plan amendment was to develop a Plan to improve active transportation within and surrounding the West Falls Church TSA the Board of Supervisors authorized the consideration of the West Falls Church TSA Plan Amendment to study the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Virginia Tech parcels in the West Falls Church TSA 703-324-7329 Website Accessibility Translate Download Mobile App ADA Accessibility FOIA Requests Website Administrator Fairfax County Public Schools Economic Development Authority Visit Fairfax Council of Governments Commonwealth of Virginia USA.gov The Washington Post is surveying its readers to find the best dive bar in the D.C and the only Virginia establishment to make the final vote can be found in Fairfax County Stressing in a disclaimer that the poll is “nonscientific,” the newspaper has asked respondents to explain why their favorite bar is “more deserving than the others.” The responses could be published in a future story Located in the Jefferson Village Shopping Center at the intersection of Route 50 and Annandale Road, JV’s Restaurant was established in 1947 as the Jefferson Restaurant by Louis and George Dross — the father and uncle of current owner Lorraine Campbell according to a Northern Virginia Magazine profile from 2017 Renamed in the 1960s, the restaurant has evolved from a modest neighborhood diner frequented by soldiers from Fort Myers in Arlington, including singer and actor Eddie Fisher, into an iconic but still-unassuming live music venue. A decade ago, it nearly doubled in size “JV’s is more than just a drinking establishment and diner for regulars like [musician] Vernon Santmayer,” WAMU said in a 2012 story that followed JV’s celebration of its 65th anniversary the restaurant serves breakfast all day on Sundays Image via Google Maps The remaking of Virginia Tech’s campus near the West Falls Church Metro station as a futuristic mixed-use development can officially begin The university and Falls Church City completed a sale of the 7.41-acre Northern Virginia Center site to developer Converge West Falls LLC last week Approved by the Falls Church City Council in August 2022, the $25 million sale required the city to terminate Virginia Tech’s 40-year lease on the property at 7054 Haycock Road Falls Church retains about $8.4 million of the proceeds from the sale with the remaining $16.57 million going to the university according to agreements authorized on July 25 The sale paves the way for the academic center’s transformation into a new headquarters for HITT Contracting a construction company currently based in Fairview Park near Merrifield The development will also include a construction research lab for Virginia Tech and apartments with ground-floor retail “This closing marks an important milestone in a decade-long planning effort initiated by the City of Falls Church,” Falls Church Mayor David Tarter said in a statement “We are excited about having the national headquarters of HITT Contracting and the Virginia Tech Coalition for Smart Construction as neighbors to our West Falls project.” Converge — a joint venture of HITT and the developer Rushmark Properties — submitted a development plan in September 2022 that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved on July 25 In a formal unveiling this week 270,000-square-foot headquarters will emphasize sustainability and serve as a “hub for education and innovation in construction,” while also providing better access to mass transit for its more than 900 local employees Features will include a 100,000-square-foot rooftop solar panel array and 40,000 square feet of ground-floor space for Virginia Tech’s new Coalition for Smart Construction a research center that “will advance building practices and ultimately shape the industry’s future.” HITT says its research and development team already has over 20 projects that it plans to work on at the new headquarters Notable ventures already in progress include a newly patented prefabricated building skin that reduces weight HITT is pioneering the first use of the Caracol Heron AM robotic arm installed in the US for 3D printing aimed to augment traditional construction methods and implementing robotics on-site to support an enhanced experience for HITT’s field team through technology-enabled workflows we have to do better to tackle the challenges of rising costs and our environmental footprint,” HITT Co-Chairman Brett Hitt said “I believe that Virginia Tech will push the boundaries of construction by bringing its brilliant students to a space where they can work alongside our industry’s brightest minds Bringing industry and academia together under one roof will help us effect real change.” Outside the construction world, the project will also deliver a 13-story, 440-unit apartment building with up to 18,000 square feet of retail, 55,000 square feet of urban parks, and a portion of West Falls Station Blvd, a new road that will link the also-redeveloping West Falls and Metro station properties HITT CEO Kim Roy said the company is “ecstatic” that it will “continue growing in Fairfax County “We’re thankful to the City of Falls Church and Fairfax County for supporting our plans to build this cutting-edge development,” Roy said “We’re deeply committed to being good stewards of the local community and the environment.” construction on its headquarters is expected to begin in early 2025 and finish in late 2026 The final piece needed to fully redevelop the West Falls Church Transit Station Area has fallen into place a representative for the development team known collectively as Converge West Falls bestowed a futuristic aura on the plan to replace the university’s existing four-story academic building at 7054 Haycock Road with an updated office building and apartments “This all looks otherworldly almost,” Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross observed before expressing “some qualms” with the location of a kids’ play area next to four-lane-wide Falls Church Drive The play area will be in a 7,908-square-foot Pocket Play Park — one of three publicly accessible open spaces proposed for the 7.5-acre Converge development, according to the rezoning application Those parks will be complemented by walkways landscaping and seating throughout the property along with QR codes that will enable visitors to learn more about the site’s construction the development team’s representative The civic plaza is intended to serve as “the nucleus” of the development with an event lawn and an electronic LED “Cloud Pavilion” whose canopy can be programmed to change color size and design based on the environmental factors “We believe this is going to be an immersive experience that will be a distinctive public art moment for the entire West Falls Church transportation area,” Painter said of the open-air pavilion the developers also wanted to create a “defining architectural statement” with the planned which will house a new corporate headquarters for HITT and a Coalition for Smart Construction run by Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture the building will have a 100,000-square-foot solar panel array on its roof that’s expected to generate between 1,100 and 1,400 megawatts of electricity — enough to power the whole facility “Furniture within this building will be generated with a 3D printer,” Painter said “The façade of the building will be prefabricated to reduce the carbon footprint…Every step of the way we’ll be incorporating those types of sustainability elements in the building.” Apartment building height a sticking point for some residents 440-unit residential building — specifically its height which will reach 145 feet along West Falls Station Blvd and taper down to 85 feet at the corner of Falls Church Drive and Haycock Road While most of the Falls Church Drive frontage will be 85 feet tall or less the building’s northwest corner could reach a maximum height of 135 feet Fearing they’ll be literally overshadowed, residents of The Village condominiums argued at the public hearing that the proposed height violates the West Falls Church TSA’s comprehensive plan which limits “portions of the buildings…directly across from” their complex to 85 feet high “The comprehensive plan accommodates a height limitation…of 85 feet all along Falls Church Drive and 145 feet for the rest of the building to mitigate the visual and aesthetic impact to the Village community and reduce the shadows cast by [the residential building] that will impact those condos directly across from the tower,” The Village Homeowners Association President Holly Wade said county staff disageed that the controversial portion of corner is “directly across” from The Village since it’ll be 250 feet away from the nearest condo units and include a 30-foot-tall podium with up to 18,000 square feet of retail Noting that the Fairfax County Planning Commission fully supported the application when it met on July 12 Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust concurred with staff and expressed confidence that the planned setback and varying building heights will mitigate the risk of negative impacts on The Village “I know people feel very strongly,” he said “I’m sorry I can’t agree with them I’m sorry I couldn’t solve the problem I think this is an absolutely first-class project and needs to be approved.” Some community members and even one man who identified himself as a longtime Restonian expressed support for the project asserting that the added housing and more pedestrian-friendly design will address the county’s affordability challenges and reduce residents’ dependence on cars “The vast majority of my neighbors that I talk to regularly are extremely excited about the developments coming here,” said YIMBYs of Northern Virginia member Aaron Wilkowitz who lives within a half-mile of the Metro station We don’t want to look at an old parking lot and a few mid-sized office buildings We want more density and we’re very excited about it.” The senior living component of Falls Church City’s mixed-use West Falls development has hit a snag even as construction continues on other pieces of the future gateway to the city WF Developer, the development team led by Hoffman & Associates, informed city leaders in April that Trammel Crow had withdrawn from its contract to build the project’s 217-unit senior housing facility, according to a staff report Negotiations are underway with a new developer, but a 13-month extension is needed on the June 13 deadline to transfer the site’s ground lease, Hoffman Senior Vice President of Development Mary Beth Avedesian told the Falls Church City Council on June 12 The council approved an extension that pushed the closing deadline back to July 15 2024 and the deadline for substantial completion of construction from May 13 it’s almost like fake dates,” Vice Mayor Letty Hardi said expressing hope that the senior living building will be finished “well before” the new deadline “…I would hate this to start running into the phase 2 commitments.” WF Developer agreed to several new commitments according to Deputy City Manager Cindy Mester The temporary pedestrian signal is expected to be replaced by a permanent one by the end of this calendar year Approved on Oct. 24, the site plan for the senior living facility envisioned a 15-story 267,700-square-foot building with 140 independent living units 22 memory care studio units and 7,700 square feet of ground-floor retail uses The first phase — which includes two parking garages and an apartment building with the grocery store — is on track to be substantially complete in January 2025 The first structure expected is a parking garage to serve the medical office building Avedesian said the garage should be finished this summer “I think they’re expecting to be done towards the end of this year,” she said of the office building “They’re negotiating directly with tenants and I understand they have a deed on some very good tenants medical tenants that will take a good portion of that building.” The senior living facility was originally included in the first phase of the development but is now being considered “phase 1B,” Avedesian said. Phase 2 will bring additional retail and office space City Manager Wyatt Shields said phase 2 could start in 2029 but Hoffman’s agreement with the city allows it to pay for up to three one-year extensions meaning construction could begin as late as 2032 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