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FALLS CHURCH, Va. (7News) — The Eden Center is home to 115 businesses, most of them owned and operated by someone from the Vietnamese community. But plans for new development have people concerned about its future.

That’s because the City of Falls Church has been working on its East End Small Area Plan. According to the city’s website, it’s a vision for redevelopment or reinvestment in about 10 blocks of the city.

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“It's a project that's been going on for several months now, and a large part of it is the community conversation about what is the desired future for the east end of the city,” said Falls Church Planning Director Paul Stoddard. “Which obviously includes the Eden Center and thinking about, what is the future of that? And how do we preserve and promote the culture that's there and what are the tools we need to put in place to make sure that that can survive for the long term?”

Denise Nguyen and Victor Nguyen-Long are Vietnamese American and live in the D.C. region. They go to the Eden Center at least once a week and first heard about these plans last year at a community meeting.

“What we realized was that there was a total lack of engagement with the Vietnamese community, which ultimately is the very thing that makes the Eden Center Eden Center,” Nguyen-Long said.

So the two, along with a few others, helped found Viet Place Collective, an organization working on bridging that gap.

“We're very accustomed to translating the outside world for our parents or our grandparents and then translating their world to the outside world,” Nguyen-Long said.

This is kind of a continuation of that, making sure business owners here understand what’s happening and are a part of the conversation. Viet Place Collective has been reaching out to shop and restaurant owners, passing out flyers in Vietnamese and speaking to them about the plan and pop-ups. They’re concerned new development will price out the Vietnamese businesses currently here.

“We don't doubt that the Eden Center sign over there and the archway is going to in tack, said Nguyen-Long. “But what about the Vietnamese businesses that make Eden Center, Eden Center? Because without them, we're just going to end up with Sephora and Safeway and Subway with Vietnamese translations underneath it.”

The city is aware of these concerns that have been brought up through three of the four pop-ups it held. The last one is on Saturday, April 22.

“How can you provide for protections against those kinds of increases? There are concerns about sort of landlord-tenant relations, and so what we're looking at is a suite of things whether they're infrastructure investments, you know, the solving for the basics, lighting safety, security, pedestrian facilities, park spaces,” said Stoddard. “But also can we provide for ongoing business support, whether that's business training, entrepreneur training, can it be marketing to help brand the area and really solidify its position as a little Saigon, in Northern Virginia.”

“As we lose our parents' recipes and our traditions and our language as those things fade,” said Nguyen-Long . "Places like Eden Center and the Vietnamese community are sort of the last remnants of our roots and our heritage.”

In May of 2022, Vietnamese Immigrants were honored at the Eden Center with a historical marker.

“People from all over drive hours and hours and make the pilgrimage here,” said Nguyen. “It means it means so much to so many people, not just in this area.”

The historical marker talks about how this site is the largest source of Vietnamese goods along the East Coast and that rising rent prices in the 80s actually pushed out many of the businesses from Little Saigon in Clarendon to this spot. Denise Nguyen and Victor Nguyen-Long are worried history will repeat itself.

“When development comes, which brings so many incredible amenities,” said Nguyen-Long. “Eventually the people that have been waiting around for those improvements for the longest end up not getting to benefit from it because they get priced out of the area.”

“Everyone wants to parks and clean our sidewalks and more security, but it doesn't prompt you to ask about, well, what does this mean for rent,” urged Nguyen.

Alan Frank is the Senior Vice President of the Eden Center. He’s been here since 1995, and said in a statement:

“Capital Commercial Properties values its 115 small family business tenants, values the cultural significance of Eden Center, and plans to keep Eden Center as a home for the Vietnamese community and Vietnamese small family businesses.”

Frank also said the Eden Center is not going to be redeveloped.

Meanwhile, the City of Falls Church says plans for redevelopment on city property will come from feedback from community members.

“Organize everyone around a single vision and then get everyone pointed in that same direction in terms of investment,” said Stoddard. He said part of the plan now includes considering reinvesting some of the tax revenue generated from the site back into the area. The city council would also consider these factors when reviewing applications for new development.

“Whenever you see a new development proposal, they've got a marketing plan, and one of the things we would ensure is that marketing plan has space for mom-and-pop and independent and local retailers,” said Stoddard.

“It's important that the legacy of the Vietnamese be a priority here,” said Nguyen.

“Intentionally build anti-displacement policy directly into the mission and some plan,” said Nguyen-Long. “Otherwise, it's a non-negotiable.”

You can find out more about the East End Small Area Plan and final pop-up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Eden Center on Saturday here.

FALLS CHURCH, VA — There will be an abundance of artwork to admire or purchase as Falls Church Arts kicks off its All Member Show Saturday.

Over 155 artists are participating in the show, which will happen in two parts. Artists with A to K last names will be featured in the show from April 22 to May 21. Artists with L to Z last names will follow from May 27 to June 25.

An opening reception is planned from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday for the 69 artists participating in the first show. A reception for the second show is planned from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 27.

Find out what's happening in Falls Churchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The show features artwork from new and established members of Falls Church Arts, a nonprofit that promotes the visual arts through education, exhibits and more. The All Member Show will have a range of art, from watercolor, acrylic, mixed media and pastel to fused glass, oil, photography and sculpture.

Along with the April 22 opening reception, community members are invited to visit the All Member Show at the Falls Church Arts Gallery, 700-B West Broad St., Falls Church, VA. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Guests are asked to avoid visiting when they are not feeling well.

Find out what's happening in Falls Churchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

People’s Choice Awards will be given for both parts of the All Member Show thanks to a donation by DuBro Architects + Builders. The People’s Choice Award, which is based on votes from gallery visitors, will be announced for the A-K exhibit on May 14.

Artists participating in the A-K exhibit are:

Brian Aburano, Asia Anderson, Renee Austin, Abinaya Ayyamperumal, John Ballou, Jean Barrett, Ken Beerbohm, Naguel Belouad, Julia Bezgacheva, Joan Bixler, Diana Bozza, Noreen Brunini, Joanne Burke, Donna Byrne, Mari Calai, Irene Chambers, July Chan, Kathleen Conklin, Deborah Conn, Jane McElvany Coonce, Pete Corbino, Manuela Costescu, Dave Curtis, Dennis D’Bayan, Gretchen Damore, Meaghan DeCelle, Kim DiDonato, Joe Ditchett, Vicky Dorn-Fontana, Gaetana Ebbole, Jinling Elliott, Erin Endean, Scott Engdahl, Jan Fairbank, Samantha Lane Fiddy, Brian Flaherty, Mara Flynn, Calina Franzosa, Bob Friedman, Willa Friedman, Yuko Frost, Steena Fullmer-Anderson, Nick Gatz, Bob Gilbert, Miki Nishida Goerdt, Christine Gordon, Ian Graig, Lisa Green, Will Green, Donna Grone, Gregory Harris, Michael Heenan, James Hengst, Patricia Hickey, Susan B. Hillson, Daniel Horowitz, Veronica Howard, Pamela Huffman, Ligia Inra, Noreene Janus, Kiefer Johnson, Chris Kagy, Harriet Kavrukov, Roxanne Kaylor, Rajendra KC, Kim Keller, Julie Krachman, Al Krachman, and Lisa Kuhn.

Artwork may be viewed and purchased online at fallschurcharts.org.

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The long-awaited restaurants at the Founders Row development are starting to open in the City of Falls Church.

Founders Row's two apartment communities, Modera Founders Row and Verso Founders Row, have been open ahead of the development's retail components. Now Patch is learning details of the retail openings from Mill Creek Residential's senior managing director Joe Muffler.

The first Founders Row restaurant to open was Chasin' Tails, which relocated from its spot near the East Falls Church Metro. The location at the corner of W. Broad and West Streets is described as a "seafood social" that offers dining by reservation or walk-in.

The next to open is Ellie Bird from Yuan and Carey Tang, the owners of Michelin-starred Rooster and Owl in DC. The restaurant is having its soft opening and has dining reservations open to the public starting Tuesday, April 18, according to Muffler.

"Our ties to the area are deep. We were both raised in Falls Church, and we held our first hospitality jobs as teens on Broad Street," said Carey Tang when Ellie Bird was announced. "Our parents still reside minutes away from Founders Row, making it a prime location."

Given the reputation of Rooster & Owl, Ellie Bird is expected to have a notable following when it opens. Ellie Bird is a contemporary casual but family-friendly restaurant offering a dinner menu along with Saturday brunch, a children's menu and à la carte offerings. Diners can expect familiar dishes with a new twist such as fried chicken, pork chops and their popular pineapple buns. Dine-in and takeout service are available.

Ellie Bird was completed with help from //3877, which provided architecture and interior design services, from interior graphics to the exterior canopy.

Other openings will add to the Asian cuisine offerings within the city. Roll Play Vietnamese Grill, a fast option for Vietnamese street food first opened in the Tysons area, is already open at Founders Row. A more formal Vietnamese dining option, Nue, is finalizing its menu and operations before opening. The opening is expected in the next few weeks, according to Muffler.

Diners with a sweet tooth will find matcha tea and desserts from Kyo Matcha, which expects to open by the end of April.

Other retail components are in the design and build-out phases with expected openings in the spring and summer, Muffler said. The most anticipated opening is Paragon Theaters, a seven-screen movie theater with at least 600 heated, reclining seats. One of its highlights is a large format auditorium Axis 15 Extreme with a 65-foot screen tilted 15 degrees, laser projection, Dolby Atmos sound and 3D capability. Paragon Theaters will also have a full-service restaurant and bar and arcade bar entertainment options offering delivery to seats through QR code ordering.

Along with Paragon Theaters, other openings expected this year include Club Pilates, Kyu Ramen, Rumble Boxing, 4Ever Young Med Spa and Sparkle & Pop Nail Salon.

As the retail additions top off the mixed-use community, Mill Creek Residential is planning its Founders Row 2" across the street. Modera Falls Church broke ground in March in the former location of the demolished RiteAid and carpet stores. The development of 280 apartments is expected to be ready for the first move-ins during early 2025.

FALLS CHURCH, VA — As Falls Church's Memorial Day Parade and Festival gets closer, the city has chosen a grand marshal to lead the parade.

The grand marshal of the 41st annual parade will be Rebecca Tax, who co-owns Clare and Don’s Beach Shack and Lazy Mike’s Deli with her brother, Dave. She was selected for her community contributions to Falls Church City Public Schools and the Falls Church Homeless Shelter, as well as fundraising for local organizations and other community support.

"Rebecca frequently hosts fundraiser dinners to help local organizations, volunteers every week in the community, donates food for school functions, makes special ice cream flavors for school celebrations including Danny the Hippo's birthday, takes action for causes she believes in and does all of this giving back to the community without fanfare, and often without public recognition," the nomination for grand marshal stated.

Find out what's happening in Falls Churchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In a city news release, Tax explained how giving back is important to her.

"I'm super lucky that my line of work allows me to have the time to help others, the means to help others, as well as the actual goods," said Tax. "We can donate food and services from the business that we do. That's helpful to people in the community, and we're lucky enough to be able to do it. So, I'm happy to do that."

Find out what's happening in Falls Churchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tax will be featured in the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade, set for 2 p.m. on Monday, May 29 on Park Avenue between West Street and Little Falls Street. The parade is part of a festival that day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on City Hall and Community Center Grounds, 300 Park Avenue. It will kick off with a Fun Run at 9 a.m. starting at Great Falls Street and Little Falls Street, a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. and performance by the Falls Church Concert Band at 12:30 p.m.

Last year's parade grand marshal was Chet De Long, a long-time advocate of the Mary Riley Styles Public Library and Library Board of Trustees member. Other past grand marshals in recent years were Lindy Hockenberry (2021), Rob Donovan (2019), Midge Wang (2018), Barb Cram (2017), Kathy Halayko (2016), Kathy and Barry Buschow (2015), Sergeant Steve Rau (2014), Janet Haines and Audrey Luthman (2013), Harry Shovlin (2012), Howard Herman (2011), Edna Frady (2010), and Jessie Thackrey (2009).

Check back for more details on the festival closer to the event at fallschurchva.gov/MemorialDay.

Step outside your home on Virginia Avenue or James Court for a walk in Falls Church’s Winter Hill neighborhood, and you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice. A block to the northeast, you’ll hit Broaddale Village Shopping Center, where you can grab a Starbucks coffee or a bite at the top-rated Liberty Barbecue; another block or so will take you to the charming Mary Riley Styles Public Library and Cherry Hill Park, adjacent to one of the region’s best farmers markets on Saturdays. Head southeast instead, and just beyond neighborhood boundaries you’ll reach a Harris Teeter grocery store and the freshly renovated Big Chimneys Park, with playground equipment, green spaces and walking paths.

Just about seven miles west of the D.C. line, Falls Church City is Virginia’s smallest incorporated municipality at just over two square miles, and it’s the smallest county-equivalent entity in the nation. Winter Hill’s cozy condominiums and townhouses represent an affordable gateway to homeownership in this quaint and commuter-friendly “Little City,” and they offer easy walking access to nearly everything Falls Church has to offer. And residents say the community is growing closer and richer, thanks to new events and gathering opportunities.

The neighborhood dates to the 1940s, when the buildings that now make up the Winter Hill Condominium were constructed as war housing, according to a history compiled by the Winter Hill Council of Co-Owners. Built on land purchased from educator and suffragist Mattie Gundry, the development originally opened in 1947 as Tyler Gardens; the condominium portion opened under the Winter Hill name in 1973. Today, Winter Hill includes 200 condominiums, 194 townhouses and 80 subsidized apartments for eligible seniors and people with disabilities.

Though the townhouses and condominiums are represented by different homeowners’ associations, they share access to the neighborhood pool, located in the condominium behind James Court. Although neighbors say the pool has been underutilized in the past, it’s becoming a hub of social activity.

Katie Martin, a condominium resident, said that the idea to restart the social committee that had gone dormant earlier in the pandemic came about during pool visits with another neighbor while she was pregnant with her 1-year-old son.

“We’ve had a lot of fun relaunching events that people used to enjoy every year, like our pool party and Halloween parade,” said Martin, who moved to the neighborhood in 2019. “And we’re also having fun dreaming up new events.”

Martin now edits the neighborhood newsletter, the Broadside, and she organized a caroling party in December, with hot chocolate at the finish. It happened to coincide with a favorite Falls Church tradition: Santa Claus’s ride through town on a decked-out and clanging city firetruck.

“That was pretty cool,” said Jarryd Stewart, who moved into his Winter Hill condo in 2017 and now serves on the homeowners’ association board. Martin and Stewart, who share a day-care provider, are part of what seems to be a recent wave of young families discovering the neighborhood, joining a still-substantial population of original owners who have lived there since the 1970s.

Stewart said he loves the neighborhood’s convenience to shops and restaurants, but also its inefficiencies: its sprawl and green spaces.

“You don’t really see that nowadays,” he said. “People build vertically, and they try to cram as much as they can into one small area. But when they designed this, they weren’t thinking about that. It makes it enjoyable, almost like its own little town.”

Tori McKinney, CEO of Rock Star Realty Group, lives in Falls Church outside Winter Hill, but she purchased a condo in the neighborhood for a family member in 2017. She commonly sees young families moving into the neighborhood and departing in search of more space as they grow, but she has also noticed a trend of condo residents seeking to upgrade to a townhouse to remain in Winter Hill.

“It’s honestly one of the most desirable areas of the city for the location and the instant sense of community,” she said.

Although detached homes in Falls Church City sell for north of $700,000, Winter Hill’s offerings tend to be more affordable. Of the 10 condos and seven townhouses sold in 2022, the highest sale price was $806,500 for a three-bedroom, three-bath townhouse, and the lowest was $438,000 for a two-bedroom, 1½-bath condo. Two homes are on the market, both under contract: a three-bedroom, three-bath townhouse listed for $690,900, and a three-bedroom, 1½-bath condo for $515,000, McKinney said. One single-bedroom Winter Hill unit was rented last year, for $1,725 per month.

McKinney, who also produces the annual Tinner Hill Music Festival in Falls Church, shares her love of music with Walt and Stephanie Lamore, who live in one of the handful of basement units in the townhouses.

Stephanie Lamore said favorite walkable haunts Clare and Don’s Beach Shack and the State Theatre, which both regularly feature live outdoor music, became invaluable when indoor dining and activities were on hiatus.

“We had things that you could go and do and still feel safe,” she said.

Even during the worst of pandemic isolation, neighbors at Winter Hill found ways to make memories, said James Thompson, a townhouse resident since 2013 and president of the board of the Winter Hill Community Association.

“You’d drive by some of our cul-de-sacs, and you’d see a group just sitting out there on their lawn chairs with the kids running around on a Friday night, just enjoying the time together,” he said.

As the father of four young children with a job in Washington, Thompson said he also loves the neighborhood’s peace and calm.

“I can walk out on a Sunday morning onto our deck, and, for being in a busy area, it’s pretty silent out there,” he said. “So it’s nice to be able to be close to the hustle and bustle, but be able to get away at the same time.”

Boundaries: Winter Hill is mostly diamond-shaped, bounded by West Broad Street to the northeast; Harris Teeter and Big Chimneys Park to the southeast; Rollins Street to the southwest; and Chanel Terrace to the northwest.

Transportation: Metrobus’s 28A Leesburg Pike line has multiple stops along Broad Street; the 2A Washington Boulevard-Dunn Loring bus stops about four blocks south of Winter Hill, at South Washington Street and East Annandale Road. The nearest Metro station, East Falls Church, is 1.5 miles east.

Schools: Jessie Thackrey Preschool (ages 2-5); Mount Daniel Elementary (Grades K-2); Oak Street Elementary (Grades 3-5); Mary Ellen Henderson Middle; and Meridian High.