2020: The year in review

What a year! The COVID-19 pandemic dominated our news coverage in 2020, but other things happened, too, including some redevelopment plans, a renewed focus on racial justice, and a critical election. Here are some of the highlights from the Annandale Blog:  

January 

Amazon to start construction soon on HQ2
Amazon’s decision to build a new headquarters at National Landing in Arlington will have a major impact on the region’s economy,

Board of Supervisors approves Chick-Fil-A
A Chick-fil-A drive-through restaurant will replace the now-closed antique shops on Little River Turnpike in central Annandale.

Korean Community Center to be based in Annandale
An office building at 6601 Little River Turnpike will house a Korean community center.

Shoppers wipe out the toilet paper at local stores.

February 

Bowlero grand opening draws big crowd
Annandale gains a major new entertainment venue with a renovated bowling alley and game arcade on Markham Street.

Keep the 3A and 29W Metrobus routes, residents tell WMATA
Annandale commuters speak out against the elimination of bus routes. 

FCPS responds to coronavirus concerns
Fairfax County Public Schools suspends all field trips and visits to and from counties with COVID-19 outbreaks.

Bowlero Annandale opens just before the pandemic shut things down.

March

Fairfax County primary voters go for Biden
Joe Biden wins the Virginia Democratic Primary.

Task force begins review of six major development projects proposed in Mason District
A Mason District task force begins considering whether two development proposals in Annandale and four in Seven Corners should be included in Fairfax County’s work program for amending the Comprehensive Plan. 

Planning Commission approves Pine Ridge police facility in Annandale
A new building housing the Fairfax County Police Department’s Operations Support Bureau will replace its current facility on Woodburn Road.

Fairfax County Health Department announces first COVID-19 death
A man in his 60s is the first Fairfax County resident to die from COVID.

Northam executive order lists businesses that must close
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam bans gatherings of more than 10 people; orders schools, entertainment venues, gyms, and salons to close; and requires restaurants to provide takeout only.  

April

Revised county budget drops tax increases
As COVID takes a toll on the county budget, plans for raising the tax rate and a new admissions tax are dropped.

FCPS apologizes for distance learning failure
Fairfax County Public Schools’ adoption of online learning for all students does not go well. 

People wait in their cars for a COVID test at Annandale High School.

May 

Concerns raised about dropping public hearing requirement for accessory dwelling units
Members of the Fairfax County Planning Commission, as well as local residents, raise objections to a proposal in the Zoning Ordinance Modernization (zMOD) Project on accessory dwelling units.

People wait for hours for COVID tests in Annandale
Hundreds of people wait for hours at a free COVID-19 testing event at Annandale High School. 

Restaurants begin allowing outdoor dining
As Fairfax County moves into Phase 1 of the state’s reopening guidelines, some restaurants put up tents for outdoor table service. 

A rally for racial justice at the Mason Government Center.

June

Hundreds gather for Black Lives Matter rally in Annandale
Community members participate in a march and rally in support of racial justice following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. 

Virginia nursing home with the biggest COVID outbreak is in Annandale
The Annandale Healthcare Center has 156 COVID-19 cases and 51 deaths.  

Connolly easily wins Democratic primary
Rep. Gerry Connolly wins the Democrat primary with 70 percent of the vote, and Daniel Gade wins the Republican primary for the Senate seat held by Mark Warner (D). 

One of many food distribution events to help families hard-hit by the pandemic.

July 

Fairfax County is now in Phase 3
Non-essential retail and restaurants can open at 100 percent capacity with physical distancing required, and outdoor entertainment venues, gyms, salons, and pools can open with capacity limits. 

Fairfax County schools will stay virtual this fall
The school year will start with online learning for everyone, as FCPS drops plans for an in-person option. 

Board of Supervisors approves Annandale townhouse project
A developer gets the green light to build 43 townhouses at McWhorter Place and Markham Street. 

The former Kmart building is renovated, and at least three new tenants have signed up.

August

Problem-plagued Annandale Healthcare Center accepts new patients, prepares for Phase 2
A new report finds the Annandale Healthcare Center failed to prevent the spread of COVID, leading to dozens of deaths.  

New Annandale shopping center will have about 12 stores
The former Kmart building has been divided into a dozen separate storefronts. 

Thrift store moving into old Kmart building
The first tenant to announce plans to move into the old Kmart building is a B-Thrifty store.

The Board of Supervisors approves an innovative live/work concept for these buildings in the Skyline Center.

September

Lidl opens in Pinecrest Plaza
A new grocery store opens in a former Staples storefront. 

Fairfax County supervisors approve incentives to spur economic revitalization in Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads
New incentives will benefit a project to transform three office buildings at the Skyline Center into live/work buildings. 

Mixed-use redevelopment proposed for Big Lots site across from Landmark Mall
A redevelopment project is planned for a site along Route 236. 

Annandale Healthcare Center failed to tell patients’ families about its huge COVID outbreak
Families are unhappy about how they and their loved ones were treated at the Annandale Healthcare Center. 

The Annandale Healthcare Center failed to prevent the biggest COVID outbreak in Virginia.

October

Annandale residents say a large mixed-use development would destroy their neighborhood
Residents of Hummer Woods and surrounding neighborhoods are fighting a proposed redevelopment project. 

Fairfax County board approves townhouses at Graham Park Plaza
EYA Development gets the green light to replace part of a shopping center on Arlington Boulevard with 177 townhouses. 

Rep. Connolly calls for government to address deficiencies at COVID-ridden Annandale Healthcare Center
Rep. Gerry Connolly urges the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Virginia Department of Health to investigate the Annandale Healthcare Center. 

Plans revealed for Justice High School addition
Work will start in fall 2021 on a three-story addition at Justice High School. 

Early voters line up at the Mason Government Center.

November

Community members say Diamond Lounge should be shut down
Friends of a man fatally shot outside an Annandale nightclub say it attracts fights and violence.

Mason District voters favored Biden
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden overwhelmingly beats President Donald Trump in Fairfax County. Sen. Mark Warner, Rep. Don Beyer, and Rep. Gerry Connolly are re-elected. 

Gov. Northam imposes new rules to curb COVID spread
Due to a surge of COVID-19 cases, Northam reinstates restrictions on outdoor gatherings and steps up enforcement for retail businesses.

A massive mixed-use project could replace be developed here.

December

Laws protecting nursing homes from COVID-related liability needn’t stop suits against Annandale Healthcare Center
A new law makes it harder for families to pursue pandemic-related wrongful death suits. 

Planning Commission endorses a revised redevelopment plan for western Annandale
The Fairfax County Planning Commission agreed that a major redevelopment project – with 575 housing units and 256,000 square feet of office and retail uses in Annandale – should be included in the county’s Comprehensive Plan work program for 2021.

The Planning Commission also supports a senior housing project at the First Christian Church in Seven Corners, an expanded storage facility in Annandale, and a community center proposed by the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Seven Corners. 

Fairfax County school board adopts holistic admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School
A new admissions policy is aimed at drawing more students to the elite school from underrepresented groups. 

Fairfax County Health Department to begin COVID vaccine rollout
The Health Department plans logistics for vaccinating the public, starting with healthcare workers.  

Inova to relocate Alexandria Hospital to Landmark Mall site
The City of Alexandria, Inova Health System, and three development companies are planning a new hospital campus and mixed-used urban village on the site of the former mall. 

Good riddance, 2020! Let’s hope for better things in 2021.