May 7 - 13, 2015
Falls Church, Virginia • w w w . fc n p . c o m • Free
Founded 1991 • Vol. XXV N o . 11
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week F.C. School Board OKs Its Budget
Following the adoption by the Falls Church City Council of its Fiscal Year 2016 budget last week, including its transfer amount to the City schools, the Falls Church School Board unanimously approved its FY16 budget. See News Briefs, page 8
Where to Take Mom On Mother’s Day
HITT Construction Unveils Plans for N. Washington-E. Broad Megasite F.C. Council Holds Closed Sessions on HITT, Clark Plans by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Helping to treat Mom right this Sunday, the News-Press offers up a collection of Falls Churcharea restaurants which will do their best to please her palate on Mother’s Day.
Planning Department, and trotted out for some initial feedback from the F.C. City Council at its work session Monday night. With senior planner Paul Stoddard taking the lead, and Planning Director Jim Snyder present for back up, the Council heard the general outlines of a plan that it will be asked to adopt on June 22. According to the U.S. Census “American Community Survey,” the Washington Metro area share
Ah, development! It brings more money wherever it happens, helping to pay for things like schools, which is why this newspaper likes it so much, usually improves the quality of life and choices (sometimes disputed) and assuming it’s not just for a new prison or government bureaucracy, creates jobs and stimulates overall regional economic activity. The City of Falls Church is very busy at it now, and for the foreseeable future. The big new news is that HITT Construction has come forward to City Hall with aggressive plans for the mixed-use development of the 2.68 acres it only recently acquired on the northeast corner of the City’s major crossroads, the intersection of Routes 7 and 29 (Broad and Washington Streets). It was a busy night at Falls Church City Hall Monday night, with the Planning Commission taking public comment on the proposed new 4.3-acre Mason Row project while in two separate “closed” sessions, one with the School Board attending. The F.C. City Council mulled two other major projects in the City, one the Clark Construction plan for development of the George Mason High School campus site and the other the new HITT proposal for the development of the Robertson and adjacent properties at the southeast corner of Broad and Washington. The News-Press has learned that the HITT project that has been submitted in conceptual form to the Council involves a massive new mixed use development to
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See page 11
David Brooks: What is Your Purpose?
Every reflective person sooner or later faces certain questions: What is the purpose of my life? How do I find a moral compass so I can tell right from wrong? What should I do day by day to feel fulfillment and deep joy? See page 14
Press Pass with Last Armistice
The Northern Virginia-based alternative rock band Last Arimistice came together when the band’s lead singer and guitarist Patrick Garvey, Davis and original and former bassist Michael Holly were working together at the Guitar Center in Seven Corners.
AT THE CONCLUSION of a closed session to discuss the Clark Construction plan for the George Mason High School site Monday, members of the F.C. City Council and School Board relaxed for a moment before concluding their discourse. (Photo: News-Press)
‘Bike to Work’ Day on May 15 Highlights Falls Church Bike Plan
See page 25
by Nicholas F. Benton
Editorial..................6 Letters..............6, 30 News & Notes.12-13 Comment........14-17 Sports .................18 Calendar.........20-21
Next Friday, May 15, is another of what has become an annual May tradition of “Bike to Work” days in the region. At the City of Falls Church pit stop, which will be open in the morning and late afternoon hours, the event will highlight the plans now in development stages for the City’s coming bike master plan, which will include special streets encouraging bike use, and bike share capabilities.
Falls Church News-Press
Index
Food & Dining ......11 Classified Ads .....28 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword...........29 Critter Corner.......30
There is little doubt that with the “new normal” economy, millenials and their priorities, and gas prices heading back up, when governments are helping to make use of good old human energy through biking, then the uses can be expected to rise dramatically. And so it has. In fact, the City of Falls Church is playing a little catch up with the rest of the greater D.C. region right now. Thus, the City is developing its own comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan, now being worked out by the City’s