July 13 – 19, 2017
FA LLS CHUR C H, V I R G I NI A • WW W. FC NP. C OM • FR EE
FOU N D ED 1991 • VOL. XXVI I NO. 21
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2 New Large Mixed-Use Projects Inch Toward Starting Line in F.C. A� F.C. C����������
But Council Postpones
Preliminary OK BroadWashington St. Plan
BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
million. That lack stunned some on the Council, including Mayor David Tarter who said that revenue will be a “hugely important” factor in mitigating the cost to taxpayers of the school construction, and called for an estimate of that revenue flow to be developed urgently, and a new assessment of the cost to
Updates at Monday night’s Falls Church City Council meeting to two proposed large-scale mixed use projects that have been before the Council on repeated occasions both moved closer to the starting line. One, already approved, was just a report and the other was a temporarily unsuccessful effort at winning a Council vote for a preliminary approval. Eight new mixed-use projects have been completed in the Little City since 2004 and, according to a City economic development review reported by the NewsPress, are currently generating more new tax revenues to the City as a proportion of total budget than in any other regional jurisdiction. But there are two more eager to add to that, the Mill Creek’s long-awaited Founder’s (formerly Mason) Row project of 4.2 acres at the northeast corner of W. Broad and N. West Street, and the Insight Builders’ more recently proposed 2.68-acre E. Broad at N. Washington plan. Representatives of Insight were hoping the Council would vote for a preliminary OK Monday night, but after a lengthy presentation and discussion, and a lot of comment from citizens living in the neighborhood, the Council deferred a vote until after Labor Day. Disappointed with that were not only the developers, but also the large contingent present from the Creative Cauldron performing arts and learning theater, who just last week inked the deal to move into the project with 5,000 square
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The News-Press’s Best of Falls Church contest is back for an eighth-consecutive year featuring more than 50 categories for readers to vote on the best eating, drinking, shopping and more in and around the Little City. More information, plus all this year’s categories inside! SEE PAGE 9
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1st Stage founding artistic director Mark Krikstan’s goal was to establish the first professional theater company in Fairfax County and showcase the quality of work that exists outside Washington, D.C.’s already thriving theater scene. SEE PAGE 17
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The American health care system has two core problems. It’s the world’s most expensive, and it still leaves many people uninsured. Congressional Republicans have not tried to solve either problem. SEE PAGE 14
INDEX
Editorial.................6 Letters...................6 News & Notes10–11 Comment ....... 12–14 Food & Dining.....15 Calendar .......18–19
Comics, Sudoku & Crossword ..........21 Business News ...22 Critter Corner......22 Classified Ads .....23
CHEERING FALLS CHURCH CITY’S Lou Olom (right) at his 100th birthday party at the Mustang Cafe in George Mason High School last Saturday were Barbara Cram (left) and Tori McKinney. Longtime F.C. civic activist Olom turned 100 this past Monday, July 10. (P����: G��� M�����)
Taxpayer Cost Estimates of GMHS Excluded Tax Yields BY NICHOLAS F. BENTON
FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS
With less than two weeks to go before the Falls Church City Council will be voting to forward a petition to place a $120 million school bond referendum on the November 2017 ballot, the estimated taxpayer cost of a new school has so far excluded any projected tax revenue coming
from the development of 10 acres on the 34-acre school site. This fact came to light for the first time late into the night at this Monday’s Council meeting. Lacking that revenue source, preliminary estimates of the impact of the new school on taxpayers have been projected as very significant, even with the sale of 10 acres of the land to a commercial developer for around $40