Police Give TJ Elementary ‘All Clear’ After Lockdown

By FALLS CHURCH CITY COMMUNICATIONS

July 30, 2010

City of Falls Church Police locked down Thomas Jefferson Elementary School at approximately 9:30 this morning after a pedestrian reported observing a man walking on Seaton Lane wearing camouflage and carrying a helmet and what appeared to be an assault weapon. Officers immediately locked down the school and moved the children and staff inside to a central location. Police swept through the entire building, and searched the school property and adjacent area. Nothing was found and police have cleared the scene. As a precaution, police were also sent to Mt. Daniel Elementary School and the St. James School, both of which are running summer school programs.

Police believe that due to the nature and description of the situation, the man was likely carrying a paintball gun or an airsoft gun, which are used for recreational purposes. The man is described as a while male in his early twenties. Anyone with information about this person is asked to call police at 703-241-5050.

Officers will remain in the area to look out for suspicious activity and the school staff has been advised to keep the children... [Read more...]

Council Defers Vote on Affordable Housing Project Financing

By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

July 30, 2010

Thursday evening the Falls Church City Council voted 4-3 to defer a final decision on a resolution which would change the terms of  the City’s financial commitment to the Wilden affordable housing project.   Vice Mayor Dave Snyder, former mayor Robin Gardner and councilmen Ron Peppe and Lawrence Webb voted in favor of the motion to postpone a vote until August 9.  Mayor Nader Baroukh and new Council members Johannah Barry and Ira Kaylin were opposed.

The vote came after over four hours of debate and discussion during which City Manager Wyatt Shields and City Attorney John Foster both recommended against the proposal to immediately loan $1 million to the Falls Church Housing Corporation (FCHC) and its partner in the project, The Community Builders (TCB).  These entities, collectively now part of what FCHC representative Carol Jackson referred to as the Wilden Partnership, have requested that half of the previously approved $2 million City loan be extended now, lest essential tax credits from the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) be lost.

Prior... [Read more...]

FOOD: Beat the Heat by Dining at La Caraqueña

 

Raul Claros provides the evening's entertainment on the congas.

By ILENE SMITH
Falls Church Times Staff

July 30, 2010

Ok, so the heat is on…..summer is in full swing.  If you find yourself reading this, and you haven’t been to the hottest South American restaurant this side of Caracas, make your reservation soon to experience the hoopla for yourself.  The Washingtonian, Washington Post, Examiner and Guy Fieri from the Food Network channel can’t all be wrong.  And don’t let  its location in the Stratford Motor Lodge scare you away……remember the  old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover”…..rest assured, La  Caraqueña is not your standard motel diner experience !

Just three years in business, La Caraqueña’s chef and owner, Raul Claros, has been cooking up the most sumptuous Pan Latin food without big city prices. Born in Venezuela, Claros moved to Bolivia and began his passion for cooking at a very young age helping mom in the kitchen.  When he turned 17, Claros made “the big move to the USA to check it out.” ... [Read more...]

COMMUNITY COMMENT: Taken Aback by FCHC Request

By RICHARD SOMMERFELD

July 29, 2010

This comment is my personal view as a taxpayer and a voter, not as Chairman of the Long-Range Financial Planning Working Group.

I was more than taken aback by the request from the Falls Church Housing Corporation (FCHC) for the City of Falls Church to bail it out of its current financial predicament.  In no way is this a “minor modification” of the terms set forth by the City Council for the Wilden Project.  It is a major change to the terms and to the project risks.  Anybody who understands real estate development would understand that fact and Mr. Young confirmed it in his interview with the FCT.  What we now have here is an admission by the FCHC that it is financially insolvent because it cannot make payment of its $2.7 million note due on August 7.  To be clear, the definition of financial insolvency is when a borrower cannot meet its financial obligations as and when they come due.  It also admitted that it may have to sell assets at a loss to make good on the note.

The FCHC also admits that it is attempting to help the Sawner estate settle its debt to the City.  It goes on to admit that... [Read more...]

Key Players Provide Comments on Housing Corp Funding Request

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF 

July 28, 2010 

On Thursday night, the Falls Church City Council will meet in a rare special session to consider an emergency request from the Falls Church Housing Corporation (FCHC) for early release of $1 million of a $2 million loan the City Council approved in March for support of the proposed affordable housing project, “The Wilden,” at 350 S. Washington Street.  The request has been made because The Wilden’s sister project, “The McKeever” office building planned for the adjacent property at 360 S. Washington Street, has been unable to obtain the funding necessary to proceed.  In order to continue with the project, the FCHC would like to assist in the funding of the McKeever project by purchasing the underlying property at 360 S. Washington Street, thereby relieving the McKeever developer, Bob Young of Jefferson One LLC, of that obligation and allowing him to continue with other aspects of the project. 

In response to a request from the Falls Church Times, representatives of the FCHC and Jefferson One LLC have supplied comments regarding FCHC’s emergency request... [Read more...]

Crime Report for July 20-26

By FALLS CHURCH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Driving Under the Influence, 400 Roosevelt Blvd., July 20, 2:17 a.m., police arrested a 34 year old Silver Spring, MD man for DUI.

Larceny from Building, 300 N. Washington St., between July 18, 11:40 a.m., and July 20, 9:42 a.m., unknown person(s) entered Columbia Baptist Church, and stole an employee’s wallet that contained cash, several debit and credit cards, and a Virginia Driver’s License.  The suspects are described as follows:  W/M, in his 60’s, 5’10” tall, grey hair, wearing grey pants, a white shirt, and a black coat;  W/F, in her 50’s, 5’8” tall, 200 lbs., wearing a summer dress, and dark open toe shoes.

Driving Under the Influence, N 11th St/Roosevelt St., July 21, 12:45 a.m., police arrested a 41 year old Springfield man for DUI.

Commercial Burglary, 501 N. Washington St., All Tune Auto Repair, between July 20, 7:30 p.m., and July 21, 8:00 a.m., unknown person(s) forced entry into a business, and stole $35 in cash.

Larceny from Building, 500 blk Roosevelt Blvd., between April 15, and July 23, 2:48 p.m., unknown person(s) stole a black Smith & Wesson M&P... [Read more...]

City Releases Documents on Housing Corp $1 Million Request

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF

July 27, 2010

Today the City of Falls Church released a number of documents relating to the Falls Church Housing Corporation’s emergency request for release of $1 million of the $2 million loan the City Council agreed to in March.

Among the documents released is a draft resolution prepared by City staff for approval of the Falls Church Housing Corporation’s (FCHC) request.  The resolution will be considered Thursday night when the City Council meets in special session for the sole purpose of considering the request.  The draft resolution provides confirmation that the FCHC and its partner plan to use the $1 million “as a part of the funding necessary to acquire 360 S. Washington Street (360) from Mr. [Thomas] Sawner’s estate.”

The FCHC’s purchase of the property at 360 S. Washington Street would represent a significant change in its earlier plan.  Under the earlier plan, “Flower Building” owner Bob Young would acquire the 360 S. Washington property and construct the “McKeever” office building and parking garage there, while FCHC and its partner would develop “The Wilden” affordable... [Read more...]

Housing Corp Emergency Request for $1 Million Dominates City Council Meeting

By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff

July 27, 2010

An item not on the published agenda became the highlight of last night’s meeting of the Falls Church City Council – the Falls Church Housing Corporation’s  request for immediate access to $1 million to save the “McKeever” office building and parking garage, which in turn is necessary for “The Wilden” affordable housing project.  

According to those in attendance at last night’s meeting, financing is still lacking for the McKeever project four days before a crucial July 31 deadline.   

The McKeever and Wilden projects were approved in March by the previous City Council as a joint package.  Because of their close ties, if one project fails, the other likely also will fail.  The Falls Church Housing Corporation (FCHC) has told the City Council that unless financing for both projects is secured by the end of this month, the housing organization will miss out on essential federal and state affordable housing monies intended for the Wilden.     

Originally, the Wilden was to be built by the FCHC and its partner... [Read more...]

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