July 11 — 17, 2019
Fa lls Chur c h, V i r g i ni a • ww w. fc np. c om • Fr ee
Fou n d e d 1991 • V ol. XXIX No. 21
Falls Church • Tysons Corner • Merrifield • McLean • North Arlington • Bailey’s Crossroads
Inside This Week Council Proposes ‘Mr. Brown’s Park’
The Falls Church City Council voted Monday on a resolution proposing the name, “Mr. Brown’s Park,” for the newlyrenovated pocket park in the 100 block of W. Broad St. See News Briefs, page 8
‘Best of F.C.’ 2019 Vote is Now Open
The News-Press’s 10th annual Best of Falls Church reader vote is now live with over 70 categories for readers to vote on the best eating, drinking, shopping and more in and around the Little City.
With Latest OK, West End Economic Project Named ‘Little City Commons’ City Staff Reports Bursting in Air Says Net $ May Be $7m Per Year
by Nicholas F. Benton
Falls Church News-Press
Virginia. Now there are close to 250,” Madden said in the post. “The Brewpub business model is a tough one to maintain compared to a Brewery Taproom with little overhead, lower rents and outsourced food trucks. Our draw from the surrounding areas has dwindled in what has become an
Accompanying the Falls Church City Council’s latest unanimous vote to advance the West End Development Project Monday night was the inclusion in staff reports of spectacular prospects for the fiscal yield of the project to the City and the decision by the economic development team to give its 9.45 acres of dense mixeduse development a name: “Little City Commons.” The Special Exception Entitlement approved by the Council, 6-0, Monday is the latest major step forward in the massive project with its many moving parts. It followed on the signing of the comprehensive agreement last month, and comes six months before the Council will be tasked with OKing another special exception, this one for the more detailed project site plan expected to come in January. But with Monday’s vote, the development team of EYA, PN Hoffman and Regency Centers issued a press release Tuesday that for the first time put the name, Little City Commons, to the 1.3-million square foot mixed-use development on the current site of the George Mason High School at 7124 Leesburg Pike. The new name reflects the language used by PN Hoffman founder Monty Hoffman, who referred to the project as a new “neighborhood.” In the latest flurry of documents required for Monday’s vote
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A Cabaret Pianist’s Extensive Music Library A local resident who is once again kicking off the Creative Cauldron’s summer cabaret series also happens to curate one of the most interesting home collections of the Tin Pan Alley era of music. See page 13
Virginia Named 2019 Top State for Business
Virginia has been ranked the “Top State to Do Business in 2019,” according to CNBC. The commonwealth now ties with Texas for most years named top state for business with wins in 2007, 2009, 2011, and now 2019. See News Briefs, page 8
Index
Editorial................6 Letters..................6 News & Notes.10, 11 Comment.... 14,15 Business News.17 Calendar..... 18,19
Classified Ads... 20 Comics, Sudoku & Crossword........ 21 Crime Report.... 22 Critter Corner.... 22
THE CROWD “OOOHED” & “AAAHED” at the fireworks display during the City of Falls Church’s annual Independence Day celebration last Thursday at George Mason High School. Despite the successful show, City Manager Wyatt Shields cautioned the City Council last week that with the now under-construction new high school, future July 4 shows may be in doubt due to laws prohibiting the launching of fireworks too close to public buildings. (Photo: Gary mester)
After 9 Years, Mad Fox Brewing Company Will Close This Month
by Jody Fellows
Falls Church News-Press
Mad Fox Brewing Company, which will celebrate its ninth anniversary on Saturday, announced this week that it will shutter before the end of the month. In a Facebook post Tuesday, Mad Fox founder, CEO and executive brewer Bill Madden said the Falls
Church brew pub’s last day of business will be Sunday, July 21. In the closing announcement, Madden cited the difficulties with the brewpub business model and the rise of breweries in the surrounding area contributing to an “extremely competitive craft beer market.” “When we opened in 2010, there were 40 breweries in