MAN ABOUT TOWN: A Web of Intrigue
August 30, 2010 by George Southern · 8 Comments
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Falls Church Times Columnist
August 30, 2010
Before the days of the Internet, getting “published” wasn’t that easy. Sure, you could pay a vanity press to privately print your work, but that didn’t mean anyone would read it. Today, though, any Tom, Dick, or Harriet can write a blog accessible around the world.
This seems like a useful innovation, but how does one separate fact from fiction? Truth from garbage? That’s one thing not even Google has figured out.
In little Falls Church, news sources are limited. For two years now we’ve had the Falls Church Times, but as a volunteer organization, this online newspaper doesn’t pretend to be able to cover all the local news of import. So we’re still often left with the News-Press, which recently set a record of 1,000 continuous weeks of publication.
Unfortunately, the News-Press, having over the years become accustomed to holding the only key to local publication, recently committed an egregious triple sin: First, it reported as “news” a couple of sentences posted anonymously on an obscure political blog. Then came an editorial bemoaning the “news.” Finally, the editor’s henchman laid out an action plan in reaction to the “news.”
If your reaction is “so what,” allow me to connect the dots. The News-Press editor remains in shock after the election of a mayor he opposed. First he petulantly reported that Mayor Baroukh had declined a request to congratulate the newspaper on its thousandth edition. Then, when it came time for the annual “State of the City” interview with the mayor, he handed the job off to an assistant.
It’s clear that the News-Press editor, along with his henchman, the ex-mayor’s husband, want very, very badly to see the end of Mayor Baroukh. Since Baroukh is a federal employee, and under the Hatch Act is not eligible to run in a partisan election, the ploy is to institute partisan elections for City Council.
CITY MEETINGS: August 30 – September 3
August 28, 2010 by Falls Church Times Staff · Leave a Comment
Monday 8/30: School Board – City Council Liaison Committee, 2nd Floor conference Room, 800 W. Broad St., 7:45 pm.
Tuesday 8/31: School Board Work Session. Central Office Conference Room, 800 W. Broad St., 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 9/1: Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. Falls Church Community Center, 7:00 pm.
Architectural Advisory Board. Council Chamber, 7:45 pm. Agenda.
Thursday 9/2: No meetings scheduled.
Friday 9/3: No meetings scheduled. 
Meeting notices are obtained from the City and School Board on-line calendars and from the notice board at the east entrance of City Hall. Meetings may be subject to re-scheduling or cancellation. Meetings are held in City Hall, 300 Park Avenue, unless otherwise indicated.
FOOD: Falls Church Farmers Market Battles for First Place
August 27, 2010 by Kathleen Nixon · 10 Comments
By KATHLEEN NIXON
Falls Church Times Staff
August 27, 2010
Have you heard the buzz? Falls Church Farmers Market is currently battling for the number 1 ranking in the country for the best medium size farmers market. The battle for first place is with another local farmers market – Historic Lewes Delaware farmers market. How did this come about?
The American Farmland Trust in its efforts to bring awareness to local farms began the contest as part of the No Farms No Food program. The America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest is designed to raise national awareness about the importance of supporting fresh food from local farms and farmers.
Not only do I see our local farmers market as a nationally ranking farmers market, I see it as a vital part of our community and health. While at the Falls Church Farmers Market last Saturday, a neighbor asked me “why would I pay $3 a pound for local tomatoes?” For some reason, the cost of tomatoes seems to be the major bellwether in consumers’ minds. This neighbor knew my answer would be in favor of the local seemingly higher cost farmers’ market tomatoes. I say seemingly as comparing the cost of produce in the local farmers market is not necessarily apples to apples or I should say tomato to tomato.
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The tomato in the grocery store is either organically or conventionally raised on a large industrialized farm probably utilizing immigrant labor. If it was raised conventionally there were pesticides and fertilizers involved. The tomato itself was modified to be picked early so it would stay firm in transport. It was also modified so that it would have the “look” of a tomato – the red globe that it typically associated with a tomato. For the tomato to be grown a large water project was probably developed which involved federal funds or it was raised internationally. The cost of the tomato from the grocery stores also includes the cost of federal subsidized water, subsidizing of services for an immigrant population, international or national transport, and the detrimental affects on the environment. Included in this is also that you are not getting all of the nutrients from the tomato that you would normally so you have to supplement your diet with vitamins. So while it may seem that your grocery store tomato is “cheaper” you have to weigh all the costs into the equation.
This is compared to your farmers’ market tomato. It may be red, green, yellow, purple or zebra as it is an heirloom tomato rather than a modified standard tomato. This adds to the variety of tastes and textures to the tomatoes and allows for the diversity of tomatoes to be saved. You will have to ask the farmer if it was raised with pesticides and fertilizers or not. And this is one of the advantages of a farmers market – you can talk to the person or family that raises your food – not something you can do at the grocery store. The produce was raised and transported within 150 miles of where you are purchasing it and you are supporting the local economy. The positive affects on my taste buds, my health, my community and the environment are worth the cost differential between the local and grocery store tomato.
Farmers markets have grown in popularity over the last decade and have become a vital retail channel for many of the local farms in addition to farm stands and CSAs ( community supported agriculture). But farmers markets also provide a vital component to our community. It doesn’t matter your political afflation, economic standing or family size, we all need food. The farmers’ market provides a way to gather our food, commune with the farmers and participate in our community in a way that not only sustains us physically but fiscally, environmentally and spiritually. I feel truly privileged to have our Falls Church Farmers Market.
Music and Entertainment to make the morning more enjoyable
So back to the national competition – be it that you enjoy the farmers market for its community feel, a chance to slow down, catch up with neighbors, listen to music, watch a chef demonstration, eat a tasty treat or you use the farmers market for your weekly groceries, please take the time to show your community pride in our local community of farmers and our farmers market by voting for Falls Church Farmers Market to be the best Farmers Market ( in the medium category) in the country! Voting ends midnight August 31st!
Kaylin & Barry Deny Receiving GOP Endorsement
August 27, 2010 by George Bromley · 17 Comments
By GEORGE BROMLEY
Falls Church Times Staff
August 27, 2010
City Council members Ira Kaylin and Johannah Barry have denied reports that they received Republican endorsement in last May’s municipal election. They have issued the following statement in response to several articles in the current edition of the Falls Church News Press:
We neither asked for, nor received, an endorsement from any party. Frankly, and to the credit of Falls Church City residents, very few voters cared about national political affiliation.
We received support from those voters who are concerned about the continued independence of our City. We do believe in fiscal accountability. We also believe that we were supported by voters, of both parties, who shared our views, and are deeply appreciative to all those who voted for us on May 4th.
If the editor of the News Press would like to politicize City elections that is his prerogative. We strongly believe that the vision for the City should be non-partisan and that achieving the broadest possible City-wide support should be the objective Read more
Saturday 8/28: Final Cabaret Show at ArtSpace
August 25, 2010 by Gina Caceci · Leave a Comment
Falls Church Times Staff
The last performance of this summer’s The Fourth Wall Cabaret Series presented by Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church (410 S. Maple Avenue) is at 8 pm on Saturday, August 28. Save the Last Dance for Me features Stephen Gregory Smith and Karissa Lynn Swanigan, both veteran musical theater artists who perform at venues such as Signature Theatre in the Washington DC area.
Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue, presented The Fourth Wall Cabaret Series this summer. The final show in the series is Saturday, August 28 at 8 pm
Tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for Students & Seniors, and can be purchased at the box office at ArtSpace Falls Church or in advance online at www.creativecauldron.org. Refreshments will be available a half-hour prior to curtain. Free parking for ArtSpace Falls Church is available in the garages at 410 and 400 South Maple Avenue.
Crime Report for August 17 – 23
August 25, 2010 by (see byline) · 3 Comments
By FALLS CHURCH POLICE DEPARTMENT
Larceny – Theft from Building, 500 blk S Spring St, August 17, 01:24 AM, a handgun and wallet were taken from a residence.
Assault – Simple, 917 W Broad St (El Zunzal), August 17, 01:51 AM, a male victim, 28, was assaulted by multiple suspects.
Underage Possession, 1200 blk W Broad St, August 17, 04:33 AM. Three City of Falls Church males, ages 18, 19, and 19, were arrested for underage possession of alcohol and trespassing.
Larceny – All Other Larceny, W Broad St/N Lee St, between August 16 and 17, a Washington Post paper box was stolen by unknown suspect(s).
Larceny – All Other Larceny, W Broad St/ N Virginia Ave, between August 16 and 17, a Washington Post paper box was stolen by unknown suspect(s).
Robbery, 6799-7 Wilson Blvd (TN Wireless), August 17, 11:30 AM, a gaming machine valued at $1,500 was stolen by two suspects.
Trespass, 310 Park Ave (Cherry Hill Park), August 17, 10:10 PM. Two Falls Church men, ages 46 and 68, a 51 year old Alexandria man and a 62 year old man of no fixed address were arrested for trespassing in a City park after dark.
Damage to Property, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #11A (Hung Anh Beauty), August 18, 01:02 AM, the front window was broken by an unknown suspect, who was described as an Asian male wearing blue jeans and a blue button down shirt.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #21 (Hai Lua Restaurant), August 18, 10:20 PM. A 29 year old Waldorf, MD man was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Smoking Prohibited in Restaurant, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #21 (Hai Lua Restaurant), August 18, 10:20 PM. A 42 year old Arlington resident was cited for permitting smoking in a restaurant.
Underage Possession, 100 blk Falls Ave, August 19, 01:33 AM. Two Vienna residents, ages 19 and 20, were arrested for underage possession of alcohol.
Drunk in Public, 100 blk W Broad St, August 20, 02:45 AM. A 31 year old Arlington man was arrested for being drunk in public.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6757 Wilson Blvd, #3 (Café Nho), August 20, 02:56 PM. A 39 year old Annandale man was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6779 Wilson Blvd, #16 (Café Vy Restaurant), August 20, 03:11 PM. A 55 year old Falls Church resident was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #48 (Hoang Oanh Cafe), August 20, 03:21 PM. A 48 year old Falls Church resident was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Larceny – All Other Larceny, 223 Little Falls St (Community Center), August 20, 05:51 PM, a blue 21 speed Giant bike was stolen by an unknown suspect.
Larceny – All Other Larceny, 223 Little Falls St (Community Center), August 20, 05:51 PM, a gray/black BMX Motorcross bike was stolen by an unknown suspect.
Assault and Drunk in Public, 132 W Broad St (Dogwood Tavern), August 21, 01:57 AM. A 26 year old Joppa, MD man was arrested for assault and being drunk in public.
Assault, 132 W Broad St (Dogwood Tavern), August 21, 02:44 AM. A 24 year old Arlington man was arrested for assault.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6757 Wilson Blvd, #16 (Café Le Mirage), August 21, 11:07 AM. A 52 year old Annandale man was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6757 Wilson Blvd, #16 (Café Le Mirage), August 21, 11:03 AM. A 54 year old Falls Church man was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Smoking Prohibited in Restaurant, 6779 Wilson Blvd, #21 (Café Vy), August 21, 03:10 PM. A 39 year old Falls Church man was cited for permitting smoking in a restaurant.
Assault, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #52 (Café Dang), August 21, 02:47 PM, a male victim, 35, was assaulted by an acquaintance.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #52 (Café Dang), August 21, 04:27 PM. A 28 year old Herndon resident was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #52 (Café Dang), August 21, 06:24 PM. A 40 year old Silver Spring, MD resident was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Smoking Prohibited in Restaurant, 6795 Wilson Blvd, #52 (Café Dang), August 21, 06:25 PM. A 32 year old Springfield residnet was cited for permitting smoking in a restaurant.
Smoking in a Non-Designated Area, 6763-R Wilson Blvd (V3 Club), August 22, 00:29 AM. A 33 year old Arlington resident was cited for smoking in a restaurant.
Shoplifting, 1150 W Broad St (CVS), August 22, 11:01 AM. A 48 year old McLean man was arrested for shoplifting a box of wine.
Driving under the Influence, 600 blk E Broad St, August 22, 09:29 PM. A 40 year old Arlington man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
EDA Chair Says City Must Revitalize Commercial Areas
August 24, 2010 by Falls Church Times Staff · 13 Comments
By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
August 24, 2010
The Falls Church Times recently interviewed Economic Development Authority chairman David Tarter regarding his organization’s role and his thoughts on the state of development here. Tarter’s responses reflect his personal views, not an official position of the EDA.
FCT: Dave, thanks for taking time to interview with us. Let’s start with the basics. What is the EDA?
Tarter: In general, Economic Development Authorities are created and authorized by state code to perform a number of functions relating to economic development, particularly ones that cities and counties are constrained in doing themselves. For example, EDAs can buy and sell land, construct and lease buildings, finance projects, grant development incentives, and do so in creative ways that local governments often cannot do directly with taxpayer funds.
An additional function of the Falls Church EDA is to advise the City Council on proposals and issues related to economic development. Proposed new projects are routinely referred by the City Council to the EDA (and other City boards and commissions) for review and recommendation. In connection with these proposals, the EDA also examines the estimated net fiscal impact of proposed new projects, the impact on the local business community, and many other factors.
The EDA also generally promotes business within the City.
FCT: So how does one become a member of the EDA? And how long is the term?
Tarter: EDA members are appointed by the City Council. Member terms are four years, but positions are often filled to complete unexpired terms. Individuals who reside in the City or an adjoining jurisdiction or who live outside the City but have a business interest in the City of Falls Church may apply to fill an open seat on the seven-member board. There are currently two openings on the EDA. The process requires the completion of an application form that is available on the City web site. Applicants are required to attend at least one board meeting prior to consideration for appointment. The City Council’s Appointments Committee conducts interviews of EDA applicants and makes recommendations to the City Council for new appointments.
FCT: How long have you chaired the EDA?
Tarter: Since 2008.
FCT: What’s your background?
Tarter: I was born and raised here in Northern Virginia. I attended college and law school at the University of Virginia. I moved to Falls Church almost seven years ago and live here with my wife and three children. I am a commercial real estate attorney and work mostly with builders and developers primarily in Arlington. In connection with this work, I have been exposed to high quality planning and development which I think Falls Church can, in many instances, emulate.
FCT: What kind of activities has the EDA been involved in recently?
Tarter: The Falls Church EDA has been active on many fronts. The EDA sponsors a number of events throughout the year designed to attract business and visitors to the City, including First Fridays, Watch Night, Tinner Hill, Creative Cauldron, and the Washington Area Music Association’s annual Wammies award event at the State Theatre, among others. We also co-sponsored the development and periodic update of the City’s fiscal impact model. The EDA has hosted numerous “developer forums” to raise community awareness about issues such as Smart Growth principles, the economics of mixed use and commercial development, retail recruitment strategies, “green” development, the Eden Center, the dynamics of the hotel/hospitality industry, affordable housing, among many other public presentations.
Over the past two years, the EDA has also retained a former senior planner with Arlington County as a consultant to provide guidance with the revitalization of some of the key commercial areas of the city. This effort has led to the involvement of Virginia Tech’s graduate urban planning program in undertaking focused studies of the City’s Eastern Gateway, the N. Washington St./W. Jefferson Corridor, and most recently, the 100 and 200 blocks on the north side of W. Broad Street. This fall, Virginia Tech students will examine the redevelopment potential of the City’s West End.
FCT: How is the EDA funded?
Tarter: Our funding is generally separate and distinct from the City’s general fund and is essentially funded by EDA activities. At present, our income comes predominantly from administrative fees generated by the EDA’s issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds. In the past we have also received money from the rental of EDA owned property, such as the former Two Sisters’ site on Broad Street. In addition, we have a reserve accumulated from prior surpluses which we use to fund special projects such as the EDA’s Branding Initiative.
FCT: Interesting. Property in Falls Church City does not come cheap. Where did the EDA get the money to buy the property? And how much property does the EDA own?
Tarter: The EDA owns the former Podolnick (Two Sisters) property at 255 W. Broad Street, which contains about three-quarters of an acre of land. The City provided the funds for the purchase of the property in 2000 and then transferred ownership to the EDA to land bank and hold for future redevelopment.
FCT: Is the EDA taxpayer funded or not? Are the administrative fees on Industrial Revenue Bonds paid by the taxpayers?
FCT: What is your annual budget generally?
Tarter: Our budget is surprisingly small. Last year, EDA expenditures were approximately $35,000.
Tarter: The EDA is a volunteer group of residents, while the EDO is the City’s full time professional staff. We work closely with each other. The EDO currently has two staff persons, Rick Goff and Becky Witsman, who provide a broad range of services for the City and the EDA, including the day-to-day, in-the-trench work of business assistance and development support.
Business assistance is directed at attracting new businesses and retaining and expanding existing ones. This entails reaching out to prospective businesses, providing information about available space and other opportunities, hosting business development workshops such as the Franchise and Entrepreneur Express, preparing regular reports on the City’s business and commercial leasing and sales activity, preparing business attraction materials such as the City’s restaurant guide, and general business development visits and follow-up work.
Development support involves assistance and promotion of new ventures such as BJs Wholesale Club, the Mad Fox Brewpub, and financing of the Tax Analysts Building. EDO staff analyzes the potential impact and, later, the performance of new City developments in terms of tax generation, fiscal impact, and other criteria.
FCT: Does EDA have any authority over EDO employees or functions? Or are you strictly an advisory organization?
Tarter: The EDO staff assists the EDA, but are City employees and report directly to the City Manager.
FCT: What is the EDO’s annual budget?
Tarter: The EDO’s 2011 budget is approximately $345,000, a 16% decline from FY 2010.
FCT: One recent EDA project was the development of a city motto, which ultimately resulted in “The Little City.” Are you happy with the process and result?
Tarter: I am. The project entailed much more than the creation of a motto, however. The Branding Initiative was generated by a comment at a business roundtable co-hosted several years ago by the EDA and City. The initiative seeks to establish a more distinct identity for the City of Falls Church from the broader Fairfax County area of Falls Church. We retained the Falls Church firm of Smith Gifford to assist us with the effort. We have one of the most affluent and educated communities in America with market demographics that appeal to many retailers and other businesses, yet most people do not realize we are a separate jurisdiction and community. In many ways the wonderful community we have here is one of the area’s best kept secrets. The initiative has also included the creation of a restaurant guide and publicity in connection with a number of City events. I believe the branding effort is catching on and will continue to do so as people become more familiar with it. It is, and remains, a work in progress. I would like to see additional implementation by the City government itself. The branding effort is a small piece in the puzzle.
FCT: What, in your view, is the most pressing problem facing Falls Church City?
Tarter: In my opinion, the most significant challenge for the City is how to revitalize and transform our aging and underperforming commercial areas into vibrant, attractive, income producing ones. Many of the buildings in our commercial areas and main streets are fifty plus years old and auto centered, such as car lots and dealerships, repair shops, car washes, u-haul and other rental, etc. Nearly a million cars pass through Falls Church a month, yet only a small percentage of them stop to patronize our businesses. As a result our tax base is heavily skewed to the residential tax base. We have two Metro stations with our name on them, yet we have not effectively connected and used them for our economic benefit. If the City is to remain economically viable and independent we must create a better balance to the City’s tax base, with the ultimate goal of a balanced commercial and residential tax base. I believe that the first step in this effort is for the City to clearly articulate its own long range vision for these areas and the City as a whole. This requires the City to engage in more detailed long range planning of its commercial areas than has been done to date. The best way to get desired development is to let the development community know what you want.
FCT: So you’re referring to “sector planning”? How does that work?
Tarter: Yes. A sector plan – or an “area plan” — is a detailed long-range plan with a design framework and revitalization/redevelopment plan for a particular area. It generally involves establishing building heights and mass, uses such as mixes of office, retail, hotel, or residential uses, and a myriad of other details such as locations of crosswalks, on-street parking, loading docks, open space, and building setbacks. Sector plans have been used successfully by many communities. Growing up in this area, I have seen Arlington use them to transform areas such as Clarendon, Shirlington, and Ballston from industrial, suburban, and/or auto-oriented areas to walkable, urban villages, which in turn have generated the revenue to provide excellent schools and other services with substantially lower property taxes.
Sector planning does not necessarily mean tall high rise buildings. Quite the contrary, this form of planning requires context and sensitivity to existing neighborhoods. I would argue that there are few places in the City where buildings taller than 5 or 6 storeys would be appropriate.
Good sector planning starts with substantial community involvement to set the economic and redevelopment goals for the area’s future. It is a collaborative effort that includes the Planning Commission, City staff, and others, and may also include changes to the Zoning Ordinance to facilitate and encourage desired development. Once the community vision for an area has been established, and the plan approved, the City Council needs to hold its ground and wait for redevelopment to occur in the prescribed manner. Falls Church will not and should not redevelop overnight. The redevelopment of areas such as Shirlington and Clarendon each took 20+ years. At times we may need to pass up new development that is inconsistent with long-term goals. For example, some years ago, the Arlington County Board rejected a Home Depot that would have brought in immediate tax dollars in order to achieve what are now the Clarendon Market Commons, Whole Foods, and related development.
FCT: Which areas of Falls Church City should be our focus for property development? Which single area would you start with?
Tarter: I believe that there are a number of nodes where redevelopment can occur and provide substantial fiscal benefit to the City and yet have a limited impact on the immediate neighbors. One such area is the Eastern gateway to the City, including the Syms and Koon’s sites. The area is close to transportation such as Route 50, Wilson Boulevard and the East Falls Church Metro station and a portion of this area is buffered from the residential neighborhood by the adjacent cemetery. However, the nearly 7 acres currently occupied by the car dealership generates relatively little per acre tax revenue to the City because almost all sales tax revenue from the sale of cars is sent directly to Richmond. By contrast, the twin First Virginia Bank towers located just outside the City’s boundary would generate approximately 1.2 million dollars in tax revenues, or the equivalent of approximately four cents on the City property tax rate if located within the City. It is unclear whether this type of development would work on any of these sites, but certainly this area could support more intense development.
FCT: What else should Falls Church City be doing to improve its economic development?
Tarter: I talked about sector planning. That’s only a start to the long term revitalization of our commercial core. Without Metro stops immediately within our City, high quality commercial redevelopment is more difficult to attain than it is for some of our neighbors. This means that the City needs to be more creative and nimble than others, but we can do that. The tax sharing agreement with the BJ’s Warehouse Club developer, in which the EDA played a major role, is a good example. The EDA participated in its negotiation and acts as a conduit for the distribution of tax proceeds. The BJ’s deal ended up being the second largest (by square footage) retail transaction in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area in 2009. The return to the City on its investment is tremendous and is expected to increase the City’s sales tax by ten percent. The City also has a Technology Zone tax abatement program that approximately 60 businesses have utilized. Many of our immediate neighbors including Fairfax County do not provide direct financial incentives for business, which can also give us an advantage. New incentives also could include a popular tool used frequently around the nation – tax increment financing – to help pay for special public improvements such as a parking deck financed with the incremental increase in tax revenue from new development investment.
More broadly and longer term, the City should invest in its own infrastructure to make our commercial areas more attractive and accessible, including improvements to the streetscape, pedestrian and bicycle access, and undergrounding utilities, particularly through grants or in connection with new development. Even longer term, the City should plan for and seek to participate in regional transportation improvements such as the streetcar service which is already being planned through Arlington to Skyline. Expansion of this service from Baileys Crossroads to Tysons Corner or to the East and West Falls Church Metro stations seems a natural extension and could provide the catalyst for substantial economic development on a scale appropriate for the City.
FCT: How about business recruitment? How are we doing there?
Tarter: I believe we are doing pretty well in that area but it is obviously a challenging economic time. In addition to the previously mentioned BJs deal, I would point out that the Economic Development Office had a major role in attracting the Mad Fox Brewery which looks like it is going to be a major business success story. Back in 2008, EDO staff came across an article in the Washington Business Journal about a brew master who was seeking to open his own brewpub and restaurant somewhere in Northern Virginia. Staff acted quickly to bring this prospect to the attention of the commercial broker for the Spectrum, who, in turn, began aggressively pursuing the lead.
The EDO assisted in interpreting parking requirements for the proposed use and provided important demographic, traffic count and other site-specific information that helped persuade the business owner of the desirability of this Falls Church location. The City Manager reiterated the City’s interest in the business and let the owner know that the City would cooperative in making the proposed use work in the building. This was an important point in Mad Fox’s site location decision.
Despite the difficult economic climate, Mad Fox signed a long term lease for the prime commercial space that they now occupy. The City estimates that gross tax revenue from this popular new business will exceed $350,000 per year, which is more than the entire annual budget of the EDO, or the equivalent of more than one cent on the City’s property tax rate.
FCT: You’ve given us a lot of information. We appreciate it and look forward to following these issues. Thank you very much for taking the time.
MAN ABOUT TOWN: School Daze
August 23, 2010 by George Southern · 3 Comments
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Falls Church Times Columnist
August 23, 2010
Two more weeks of “freedom” before our children are returned to their educational cages.
Looking back on my 16 years in the public school classroom (including four years spent on the other side of the desk), I can say they were the most stressful years of my life.
But at least I was spared the agony of the current educational fad. Two of my daughters, both graduates of George Mason High School, were not.
I speak of the dreadful “block” schedule. Surprisingly, this form of torture has yet to be instituted at Guantanamo Bay. That it is visited on our children is, I feel, a travesty.
If you are over the age of 30, you may not have personally experienced the “block.” I know it only vicariously, through my daughters’ laments. But as a former teacher (and a former student) I can well imagine the agony.
Young people have short attention spans. We all know that. They are also restless – they need to move around frequently. In fact, the whole concept of confinement in a classroom is unnatural to a young person, which is why we prescribe so much Ritalin.
At GMHS, students have only four classes a day – one normal, 50-minute class, and the rest, grueling hour and 40-minute-long tests of endurance for the students and, no doubt, the teachers as well. Read more
