Construction to start this spring on Rt. 50 townhouses
An illustration of the townhouse project at Graham Park Plaza. [EYA] The townhouse development at Graham Park Plaza on Route 50 is moving forward. EYA Development LLC has acquired roughly half of the shopping center property from Federal Realty Investment Trust for $20.25 million, the Washington Business Journal reports.
Bailey’s Crossroads car dealership plans major expansion
Radley Acura as seen from Columbia Pike. Radley Acura, the car dealership at 5823 Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads, has big expansion plans. Radley is seeking approval from Fairfax County to constructa 5,400-square foot addition behind the new-car showroom with a waiting room and drive-through lanewhere customers can drop off their cars for … Continued
Northam signs legislation abolishing the death penalty
Northam (right) visits the execution chamber at the Greensville Correctional Center. Virginia Gov. Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation March 23 abolishing the death penalty. Virginia is the 23rd state, and the first in the South, to ban executions.
Board of Supervisors condemns anti-Asian racism and violence
A participant at an event in Annandale March 22 denouncing violence against Asian-Americans. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution March 23 condemning anti-Asian racism and violence. That vote comes a week after six Asian-Americans were murdered in Georgia and the day after a vigil in Annandale to mourn those victims and protest … Continued
Board of Supervisors approves zMOD
An accessory living unit in a basement with a separate entrance. [Sightline Institute] The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on March 23 approved a huge modernization and revision of the zoning ordinance. The two most controversial components of the multiyear effort known as zMOD make it easier for homeowners to have a home-based business and … Continued
Governor eases some COVID restrictions
People check in at the Inova Vaccination Center. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced certain restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID will be lifted on April 1. The changes are possible due to the increase in the number of people getting vaccinated. Approximately one in four people in Virginia have received at least one … Continued
Bus drivers and mail carriers eligible for COVID vaccinations
Gail Zukosky, a school public health nurse, serves as a COVID-19 vaccinator on weekends. [Fairfax County Health Department] Two new groups in Phase 1b – transit workers and mail carriers – can now register for COVID-19 vaccinations through the Fairfax County Health Department. Fairfax County is receiving more vaccine doses, although still not enough to … Continued
When Justice Park was created, Black families were displaced
By Marie Reinsdorf As previously reported in the Annandale Blog, Fairfax County Public Schools and the Park Authority have plans to pave over a portion of Justice Park to build a satellite parking lot for Justice High School. FCPS would construct the parking lot, demolish the basketball/multi-use court to make room for the parking lot … Continued
Annandale vigil honors victims of Atlanta shootings
More than 200 people gathered in Annandale March 22 for a candlelight vigil to mourn the Asian American victims of a mass shooting in Atlanta last week and to speak out against racist and misogynistic violence. The event, at the Peace Statue on Little River Turnpike, drew people from a diverse mix … Continued
Two shooting incidents reported at Annandale apartments
Ethan Allen Lane, Annandale. [Google Maps] There were two shooting incidents on March 20 at the Vistas of Annandale apartment complex, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. “Detectives are investigating whether those cases are related and have increased patrols in that area,” says FCPD spokesperson Sgt. Hudson Bull. Witnesses who may have information on the … Continued
Residents fighting plans to designate small private road as only access point to new housing development
Brooks Place The Virginia Department of Transportation accepted Brooks Place into the state road system on March 11. That’s significant, because it would legitimize Brooks Place as the only way to access a by-right housing development under construction on Sleepy Hollow Road called Hudson Quarter.
New state laws address voting, equity, electric vehicles, and more
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced March 19 that he signed into law over a dozen additional bills passed by the General Assembly, including measures to expand access to healthcare and birth control, promote equity, and more.
School board rejects proposal to close school for four more religious holidays
Despite intense lobbying from families and faith communities, the Fairfax County School Board adopted a 2021-22 calendar that does not close schools on four holidays important to the Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities. Religious groups and individual families had urged the board to close schools on Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 6), Yom Kippur (Sept. 15), … Continued
Explore a Park: Bren Mar Park is a woodsy oasis in an urban area
This article is part of our series on parks in the Annandale/Mason District area. The last piece in this series explored Mason District Park. The 32.4-acre Bren Mar Park is off Edsall Road west of Interstate 395 in a densely populated area of Mason District. Features: There is a playground, trails, picnic shelter, baseball field … Continued
Toxic chemicals found in Annandale drinking water
According to the D.C.-based Environmental Working Group (EWG), Annandale zip code 22003 has the highest levels of toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluorakyl) chemicals in Fairfax County The EWG tested tap water at 19 locations in Northern Virginia at private residences, commercial establishments, and parks.