Editor’s Update: 7-Eleven regional manager confirms that the 7-Eleven on West Street will close at the end of September, confirming information in the community that the 7-Eleven contract have been bought out. Editor’s Note:  While many of us in Falls Church City have been on summer mode, a small cadre of involved citizens have been following the Founders Row project closely; for years.  They’ve attended meetings, taken notes and shared information via email to a list of other citizens.  Thanks to their involvement, many of us know more about Founders Row then we would have.  Now it’s time to tell the Planning Commission and CityRead More →

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Local sources are reporting the developers of Founders Row have filed new paperwork with City Hall.  In summary, they do not have a contract with a movie theater, but are close to one (we have been hearing that for 2+ years).  When they have a signed agreement with a theater, they will come back before the City Council to request a modification to the Special Exception they received, changing the space proposed for a hotel to 72 age-restricted (senior housing) units.  This modification increases the number of rental units from 322 to 394. They hope to begin work on the site by mid-August. If theRead More →

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Editor’s note:  Lisa Varouxis has in depth knowledge of all the iterations and discussions regarding Mason Row.  She attends all the meetings, reviews all submitted documents and submits detailed questions and follows up with the city for answers. Mayor Tarter, Vice Mayor Snyder, Council Member Baroukh, Council Member Connelly, Council Member Duncan, Council Member Oliver, Council Member Sze: I appreciate the changes Spectrum Development and Mill Creek have recently made to address some of the concerns of the adjacent neighbors, specifically the announcement on the 23rd of November they will reduce the height of the building by one floor on the West Street facing side.Read More →

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If you are like me, it is hard to visualize something from a description.  So, I went searching for information I could use to get a true feel for just how large the Mason Row development would be. The Rushmark/Harris Teeter project is a seven story (6 residential over 1 commercial) building on 2.63 acres.  It will include 282 residential units, a 60k square foot grocery store and an additional 3110 square feet of commercial space. The Mason Row proposal is for a six story (5 residential/hotel over 1 commercial) set of buildings on 4.3 acres.  It will include 340 residential units, an 8 screenRead More →

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by Lisa Varouxis As you are reviewing the most recent submission from Spectrum Development, LLC (and any future submissions for other developments), please ask yourself these questions, using the existing Mixed Use Developments (MUDs) as your model:  What is the occupancy percentage of the residential units (both condominium and rental) at the 1 year, 2 year and 5 year anniversaries of the completion of the development? What percentage of the retail/commercial space is occupied after 1 year?  After 2 years?  After 5 years?  (The Broadway has several storefronts vacant, and has for several years.) Are these developments attracting the desired demographics (millennials and retirees) orRead More →

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Council Members and Planning Commissioners:  I attended both the Planning Commission and Economic Development Advisory board meetings the week of August 3 so I could see the presentation of the proposed Planning Opportunity Area 6 (POA) document.  After watching both presentations, and seeing the very different responses by the two bodies, I wanted to take a moment to express my concerns before the document comes to you for approval.  The City spent (and continues to spend) a lot of money to create a The Little City logo for advertising.  I do not know if that logo was supposed to represent the actual physical size ofRead More →

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