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New openings range from virtual reality experiences to luxury clothing and jewelry to practicing golf indoors.

While we can’t wait for the region’s new restaurants to open, we are equally excited for all of the new stores coming to Northern Virginia. The new openings in 2023 include luxury brands, boutiques, and virtual reality and movie theaters.

Sandbox VR

This summer, a new virtual reality experience offers guests the chance to step into an action movie sequence. Motion-tracking technology transports players into action-packed scenarios, where they’ll have to work as a team to navigate their journey. The Boro Tysons: 8350 Broad St., Tysons

Lego Discovery Center

The Lego experience is making its way to Fairfax County this summer. Inventive young minds can let their imaginations can come to life as they build, play, and explore inside the 32,000-square-foot attraction. Springfield Town Center: 6500 Franconia-Springfield Pkwy., Springfield

Dior

Luxury continues to arrive in Northern Virginia. This fashion, fragrance, and beauty brand is joining the ranks at Tysons Galleria this year. It accompanies other high-end stores like Chanel, Saint Laurent, and the recently opened Balenciaga. Tysons Galleria: 2001 International Dr., McLean

Panerai, IWC, Breitling

With over 160 years experience and a wide array of styles, these authentic Swiss watches are truly an investment. Stop by Tysons Galleria to browse these high end timepieces. Tysons Galleria: 2001 International Dr., McLean

Kendra Scott

If you or someone you know is a lover of shiny things, this shop is just for you. According to its website, Kendra Scott’s brand focuses on offering quality gemstone jewelry at an affordable price point, with the goal of making style and luxury accessible for all shoppers. Tysons Corner Center: 1961 Chain Bridge Rd., Tysons

Clean Origin

In an effort to combat environmental and humanitarian crises, Clean Origin makes products with real, lab-grown diamonds instead of extracting from mines. That way, you or someone you love can wear innovative jewelry that looks great. Tysons Corner Center: 1961 Chain Bridge Rd., Tysons

Azzurri Kitchen and Bath

Is home improvement on your 2023 to-do list? This soon-to-open kitchen store offers everything you need to upgrade your space with modern, state of the art designs. Azzuri’s brand focuses on today’s interior trends through a traditional European lens, producing sophisticated designs that are made in America. Tysons Galleria: 2001 International Dr., McLean

Range

Brent and Kim Wensel use globally-sourced materials like textiles and décor to create unique, vibrant designs inspired by their travels. This spring, they’re bringing a collection that features handmade goods from Marrakesh, Oaxaca, and Mexico City to Northern Virginia shoppers looking to add a fresh and sustainable touch to their homes. 18 W. Market St., Leesburg

CitySwing

So, you want to learn a new skill. CitySwing takes pride in offering golf for all people, from true beginners to lifelong players. Northern Virginia residents can take a swing at things this year, as the inclusive golf brand opens its first indoor center in the area. It’s open to all levels, so why not try it out? Reston Town Center: 11900 Market St., Reston

LOOK Cinemas

Reston residents can upgrade movie night at this state of the art theater coming this March. Here, going to the movies is truly an experience, offering guests amenities like luxury seating and mobile ordering snacks. Reston Town Center: 11940 Market St., Reston

Leesburg Beads and Studio

Are you itching for a new hobby? Try making your own jewelry. This bead shop and craft studio opens Saturday, February 11. It’s offering a wide array of in-store art supplies, as well as occasional trunk shows featuring bead vendors from around the country. If you’re interested in a hands-on experience, workshops will be available. 12 Sycolin Rd. SE, Leesburg

Feature image courtesy Tysons Corner Center

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The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors officially renamed the Lee District as the Franconia District on Dec. 6. The board adopted the new name following a public hearing at its meeting today. The change is effective immediately, and other county facilities also will be renamed.

“Today’s action is an important statement about our values as a community,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “We can’t change our history, but we can decide what in our history is worth celebrating and what is worth learning from to always do better. Franconia is a recognizable, richly diverse area, an area I have been proud to have lived in my entire life. This new name ensures our county continues to be a welcoming community to all people."

“Franconia has been central to the district’s identity for decades, and the name is synonymous with the community,” said Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk. “During our three renaming town halls, it was clear that the overwhelming majority of participants supported changing the name to Franconia. From the Franconia Governmental Center, Franconia Road, to the Franconia-Springfield Metro, the new name celebrates a place, not a person. Thank you to the hundreds of constituents that contacted my office or participated in this year-long process. I look forward to beginning this new chapter in our community,”

While there is no conclusive historical evidence that the district was named after General Robert E. Lee, many residents perceived that it commemorated one of the most recognizable figures in Confederate history.

Other county facilities and districts that will be renamed include the:

The move to change the district’s name began when Supervisor Lusk launched a community conversation town hall on the potential renaming last March. The renaming process continued through the county’s legally required redistricting effort. After the Redistricting Advisory Committee’s work to recommend new maps for county electoral districts, the board reappointed the group this January to consider which districts should be renamed. The committee suggested that the Board of Supervisors consider a “community driven process that evaluates the names of magisterial districts and precincts to bring greater equity to bear in Fairfax County.” The committee also recommended that the Lee District be changed, although the group was not tasked with coming up with new names.

State law gives the Board of Supervisors the authority to name its districts, and this is not the first time that district names have changed over the years. For example, the Board of Supervisors renamed the Falls Church District as Annandale in 1967, and as a result of redistricting in 1991, the Annandale District was changed to Braddock.

(Updated at 10:45 a.m. on 11/3/2022) Metro is waiving fares on a local bus line and parking fees at several stations starting next month because of upcoming construction.

On Sept. 10, all Blue and Yellow stations south of the DCA Metro station will close for two major projects to complete the new Potomac Yard Station and repair the Yellow Line bridge and tunnel. The closure is expected to last six weeks, until Oct. 22.

The Metro Board of Directors voted late last week to waive all fees for those six weeks at the three stations with parking lots — Van Dorn Street, Huntington, and Franconia-Springfield. This is to allow riders to use the free shuttle service that’s being offered.

At the Franconia station, parking fees for non-riders will be waived until early summer 2023, when the Yellow Line bridge rehabilitation is expected to finish. This is to “encourage use of the Metrobus or Virginia Railway Express, transit alternatives available at Franconia-Springfield.”

(Correction: This article previously said parking fees would be waived at all three stations for the duration of construction.)

The board also did away with fares on the bus rapid transit Metroway-Potomac Yard Line through Oct. 22.

All of this came at the urging of Fairfax County staff, notes the Metro report.

While the waiving of the $4.95 parking fee and bus fare will save riders money, it will cost Metro nearly $611,000 in lost revenue, per the report.

Expected to open to riders in late fall, the Potomac Yard Metro station in Alexandria will serve both the Blue and Yellow lines. In September, new tracks will be constructed to connect the station to the main tracks along with performance and safety testing.

The Yellow Line Tunnel and Bridge rehab project will shut down the line for longer. That work is expected to take eight months, so the Yellow Line won’t operate again in Virginia until at least May 2023.

In June, Metro announced several alternative methods to get commuters where they need to go. That includes free shuttle service and increased Blue Line service for the first six weeks.

Then, on Oct. 22, all the Blue Line stations will reopen, and service will extend to Huntington until May 2023.

FRANCONIA, Va. (7News) — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday afternoon to rename the Lee District to Franconia.

Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk introduced a board matter to start the process to initiate the name change after he spoke with the community.

In a statement, Lusk said: "Over the last two and a half years, my office has held three town hall meetings to hear directly from the community on what the name Lee District means to them. Through these discussions, I've learned that for many of our neighbors, the name Lee District invokes images of the Old Gravel Pits, footsteps along the boardwalk at Huntley Meadows, or pride in the history of Laurel Grove School.

However, for others, the name Lee stands for the most recognizable confederate figure in history, General Robert E Lee. I also learned that the overwhelming majority of those who participated in this year-long process support changing the name of this district."

RELATED | City of Fairfax may change 14 street names because of hurtful ties to Confederacy, slavery

His statement continued: "After considering the feedback that my office has received from the community, the recommendations from the Redistricting Advisory Committee, and after much contemplation, it is my personal conclusion that the time has come to change the name of our district.

This Tuesday, I will be introducing a Board Matter requesting that my colleagues join me in voting to adopt Franconia as the new name of our district. The name Franconia was the overwhelming preference for those who participated in this process.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'Symbols do matter': Debate begins over changing name of Lee District in Fairfax County

Franconia is a name that is synonymous with our community. From Franconia Road, the Franconia Springfield Metro, the Franconia Museum, and the Franconia Governmental Center, the name Franconia has always been central to our identity. It is also a name that memorializes a place and not a person."

Thank you to the hundreds of constituents that wrote letters, sent emails, called our office, and participated in our three town halls. I look forward to bringing this motion to the Board on Tuesday and beginning this new chapter in our community.

READ MORE | Task force votes to recommend name changes for two Fairfax highways named for Confederates

In response to the name change, Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) Chair Bryan Graham said, “Fairfax County is a diverse, welcoming place to call home. Our institutions of government should reflect the values of equity and inclusion, not be named after families with ties to the failed Confederacy.”

Franconia District Democratic Committee Chair Kathy Rhem praised Lusk’s efforts and said the new name reflects a positive future for the district.

“I appreciate Supervisor Lusk’s thoughtful and collaborative process to arrive at this new name. This change comes at a great time for our committee, as our officers and dedicated volunteers have been working hard to redouble our efforts to elect candidates truly committed to liberty and justice for all,” Rhem said.

The County Executive is expected to make sure the name change moves forward and any updates are made.

Voters can expect to see the name change reflected on the ballot when they go to vote for District Supervisor and School Board Representative in November 2023.

Fairfax County will open an additional 13 early voting sites starting Thursday, Oct. 27.

In total, there will be 16 voting locations available across the county until the last day to vote early on Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. Early voting began last month starting with three sites open.

Every early voting site will be open on weekdays from 1 to 7 p.m. — except for the Fairfax County Government Center. Longer hours are offered at this location from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Any voter may cast their ballot early without needing a reason or excuse.

Early voting also will be offered at all locations on two Saturdays, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the second time ever, the county also will offer voting hours on a Sunday: Oct. 30, from 1 to 5 p.m.

In total, 16 early voting locations will be offered until early voting ends on Nov. 5:

Except for the Fairfax County Government Center, weekday voting hours at every site will be from 1 to 7 p.m.

The Nov. 8 election is for the U.S. House of Representatives:

For Town of Herndon residents, the mayor and council are also up for election.

As a result of redistricting, which is a legally required process to adjust election districts every 10 years, voters may find that their congressional district has changed. Before going to vote, double check your district by looking up your voter information on the state’s online portal or call the Office of Elections at 703-222-0776, TTY 711.

Voters in the towns of Clifton, Herndon and Vienna should be aware that the state recently sent a mailing that incorrectly identified their polling places. To correct the state's mistake, the Fairfax County Office of Elections is mailing a letter to these town voters with their correct polling place.

A new state law now allows same day voter registration for anyone who is eligible to vote. To register before Election Day, go to any early voting site during the hours they're open or the Fairfax County Office of Elections to fill out a voter registration application. Same day registration is also available on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8. On Election Day, however, you must register at the polling place for the precinct where you live. Call the Office of Elections to determine your precinct and polling place if you aren't sure.

By state law, voters who register same day must vote a provisional ballot, and the Fairfax County Electoral Board will determine which provisional ballots are counted. (Provisional votes are not included in the election night results, and the board does not consider these ballots until after Election Day.)

For questions or more information, contact the Fairfax County Office of Elections at 703-222-0776, TTY 711, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

More than eight years after Springfield Town Center's emergence, leaders in Fairfax County have high hopes for the area's future following a study highlighting the potential for mixed-use growth and development.

Fairfax County Supervisor Rodney Lusk of the Franconia District requested the Springfield-Franconia market study and told InsideNoVa that a comprehensive plan for the Springfield market area was last completed around 2005. He said the current language in the plan includes high-intensity construction of offices and hotels and very little about residential units.

"And what we've seen over the last few years is that the office market isn't as robust as it was in the past and that we've not been able to have a developer come forward and say they want to execute on that plan language," Lusk said.

According to the study, conducted by consultants HR&A, Springfield has not added any multifamily units in over 20 years. That finding surprised Lusk, who knew there was a lack of residential construction but was unaware of how long it had been.

"I think what this does is allows us to have a conversation with the community so that the community can kind of review the study and understand the findings, but then also for us to think about what do we do differently with the plan language," he said.

Springfield has 978 multifamily housing units, 1,843 hotel rooms, 3.2 million square feet of retail space, and 2.7 million square feet of office space, according to the study, which also highlighted a significant opportunity for mid-rise multifamily development in areas where office space was approved.

Despite the need for more residential units, Lusk said the area is seeing momentum following the region's first LEGO Discovery Center opening in Springfield this summer, the expansion of Inova's Springfield campus and the construction of a commuter parking garage.

"If you look at the mixture of restaurants that we have, it's becoming a dining and entertainment destination. And that's going to be good for travelers as well as workers,” Lusk said.

The study stated that the lack of mixed-use areas would limit the long-term attractiveness of other uses. However, it said shopping centers are performing well in the area and have a low vacancy– a finding that Lusk said speaks to its potential.

"From my standpoint, we have all the amenities that exist in this community. We have the movie theaters, we've got the town center, we've got the metro," he said, adding that those features will help attract younger people to the area.

In the past, the area's affordability attracted regional tourists and business travelers. Still, the report said a decline in business travel would require a stronger focus on tourists to support occupancy.

It also highlighted the area's affordability in comparison to surrounding areas.

"Springfield offers value and more affordable space relative to Arlington or D.C., which it can use to its advantage to attract growth, particularly as there are continued market pressures in central locations," the report said.

Unlike other studies, this report also included an implementation plan. Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of Fairfax County's Economic Development Authority, said they needed direction to move development forward.

"They not only identified the demand, they identified ways of pursuing the demand, which is really important," Hoskins said.

Hoskins also said the authority considers the area a turnaround environment due to the newfound potential.

"The Economic Development Authority obviously was involved in the TSA headquarters, which is not very far away from here, and there is a potential for other tenants like that that can come into the area," he said

Lusk said there are several steps before implementing any of the recommendations, including putting together a group of people from the county's Department of Revitalization, the Economic Development Authority and the Department of Planning and Zoning.

"So we can start to look at the beginning of an implementation strategy plan,” he said, “and we want to start making those recommendations a reality."

Acacia James covers Fairfax County with a focus on affordable housing, access to transportation and other issues affecting underserved communities.

Top news and notes from around Northern Virginia and beyond.

5. Bill dies

A bill to require the cataloging of visual depictions of graphic sexual content available in school libraries passed the Virginia House, but did not pass the Senate.

4. Diverted to Dulles

A Lufthansa flight traveling from Texas to Germany was diverted to Virginia’s Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday evening because of turbulence that left some passengers injured, an airport spokesperson told the Associated Press.

3. Brrr

It’s going to be a chilly, blustery rainy Friday, with high temps reaching about 45 degrees, wind gusts up to 24 mph and a 100 % chance of rain. Click here for your detailed forecast by ZIP code.

2. More retirements

Three additional Northern Virginia legislators announced their retirements from the General Assembly this week, bringing to six the total number of departures from the region's delegation

1. Military spouse hiring

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia wants to give employers an incentive to hire military spouses, calling it an issue of military readiness.

InsideOut

Join ARTfactory and Rooftop Productions on Saturday for an evening of comedy and improv with the Pun-Demics. Doors open at 7 p.m. The ARTfactory is 9419 Battle St. in Old Town Manassas. See InsideNoVaTix.com for tickets and more information.

Of the nine Fairfax County magisterial districts that could be renamed to suit modern sensibilities better, Lee District springs to mind as an obvious choice.

Lee District was one of two (the other being Sully) that the Fairfax County Redistricting Advisory Committee this spring suggested should be renamed and Supervisor Rodney Lusk (D-Lee) on June 28 proposed giving the district the new name of Franconia.

“The name Franconia has always been central to our identity,” said Lusk, citing Franconia Road, the Franconia-Springfield Metro station, Franconia Governmental Center and Franconia Museum.

“It’s a name that makes sense, it’s a name that our community has embraced and it’s a name that memorializes a place and not a person,” he said.

Supervisors unanimously approved Lusk’s motion to have County Executive Bryan Hill formally begin the process to change the district’s name from Lee to Franconia and report back to the board on any administrative changes necessary and possible financial impacts, plus a timeline for the renaming’s adoption.

Supervisors also directed Hill to have county staff conduct public outreach to community groups and businesses that might be affected by the planned renaming and recommend strategies for helping the affected parties during the transition.

The School Board earlier had stripped the name of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a high school in Springfield, renaming the facility John Lewis High School.

For many, the name Lee District “evokes visions of the old gravel pits or the sound of footsteps on the boardwalk at Huntley Meadows or pride in the history of Laurel Grove School or so many of the other things that make our community what it is,” Lusk said.

“However, for many, the name Lee District evokes another set of imagery,” he continued. “Whether design or by accident – and we may never know by which that it is – the name stands as a lasting monument to the most recognizable Confederate figure in history.”

While no one on the Board of Supervisors, or likely anyone in the community, reveres Lee District’s name because of that association, “simply not celebrating the connotation does not erase the echoes of slavery, racism, segregation and discrimination that it evokes in many of our neighbors,” Lusk said.

Lusk attended three town-hall meetings that drew hundreds of residents and discussed the district’s history and etymology, what it meant to the public and possible alternative names. Each meeting kicked off with a presentation by a Virginia Room historian from Fairfax Library.

Lusk said he was impressed by the civil manner in which community members expressed their opinions on the subject and listened to others’ viewpoints. The public overwhelmingly supported changing the district’s name to Franconia, he said.

Supervisor Penelope Gross (D-Mason) called Lusk’s renaming proposal a “very elegant solution.”

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay (D), who long has lived in Lee District and formerly represented it on the board, said the district is highly diverse, opening and welcoming.

The proposed renaming is “recognizing a geographic area that is at the root of the history of that community, instead of tied back to a specific person or something much more controversial,” McKay said.

McKay said he expected the county would come up with a grant program to help those affected by the name change, especially non-profits.

[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.]

Gainesville resident Kara Klaas said her home is located in what was formerly known as Prince William County’s “rural crescent.”

But her neighborhood now sits on the edge of the PW Digital Gateway – soon to be home to 27.6 million square feet of data centers across 2,139 acres along Pageland Lane – which Klaas fears may jeopardize her family’s health if the facilities are allowed to continuously run diesel generators for several hours a day.

“The health, safety and well-being of our children, of our vulnerable populations and us adults who just want a nice place to live are at risk, and for what – for corporate greed,” Klaas said during a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality public hearing regarding a proposed variance that would suspend air emissions rules to allow between 100-150 data centers in Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax Counties to run approximately 4,000 diesel generators to power its facilities in the event of a power grid failure.

On Monday, dozens of residents and nonprofit environmental representatives from across the region descended upon the agency’s northern regional office in Woodbridge to oppose the temporary variance, which would last from mid-March to July 31. Many also demanded answers from agency officials regarding what impact the generators would have on air quality, if officials considered alternative power sources and whether the variance is only temporary or will repeat.

Challenge meeting power demand

Last July, Dominion Energy alerted several stakeholders, including data centers, the Department of Environmental Quality and the regional grid operator PJM it would have trouble meeting the demands for power in eastern Loudoun County – home to the largest concentration of data centers in the world, totaling 25 million square feet – due to strains on the utility’s transmission infrastructure.

Aaron Ruby, media relations manager for Dominion Energy, said the growth of the data center industry, which accounts for approximately 20% of the company’s electricity sales, “accelerated exponentially in 2020-21,” resulting in “transmission constraints in a small pocket of eastern Loudoun,” specifically Ashburn.

Ruby clarified that those constraints do not impact residential or small business customers outside of the area known as “data center alley.”

But he noted to alleviate the constraints, the company has been “accelerating the development of several near- and long-term transmission projects in eastern Loudoun.”

“That includes adding additional capacity to existing transmission lines and expanding existing substations, as well as building two new 500 kV transmission lines and substations,” Ruby said.

The first of those projects, Ruby said, will be completed in July when the variance is scheduled to expire.

Although the issue was specific to Loudoun, the Department of Environmental Quality extended eligibility to data centers in Fairfax and Prince William Counties in anticipation of power grid disruptions potentially affecting other parts of the region.

During the hearing, Josh Levi, president of the Data Center Coalition, a Northern Virginia-based trade association, applauded the variance, arguing it would allow data centers to “continue serving its customer” while maintaining “the integrity of the internet.”

Karen Sabasteanski, a policy analyst for the agency who conducted the hearing, said power grid disruptions are rare and, when they do happen, are “very short-lived” – lasting only a few hours.

“My understanding is that it’s about 17 hours a year,” she said in a phone interview following the hearing. “I understand that last year, [grid operators] called more emergencies than previous years, but in the air quality world, that’s a very small number.”

Air pollution

In addition to harmful air pollutants such as nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur and particulate matter, several opponents noted the generators would also contribute to noise – a concern expressed by many Prince William and Fauquier residents over the last year during public hearings for the Digital Gateway project and Amazon data center proposal in Warrenton.

“I'll tell you, I worked in a couple of data centers – when they fire up those generators, you're going to be getting noise complaints, even from industrial parks, anybody who lives near them,” Kevin O’Neil, director of the Fauquier Climate Change Group, said during the hearing.

About an hour before the hearing, Chris Miller, president of the Piedmont Environmental Council, told reporters outside the agency’s office the variance is “troubling” because the agency has not provided the public with alternative energy sources, such as solar-powered backup generators or battery storage, data centers could use to power its facilities during a grid disruption.

“In one fell swoop with this variant, [the agency] is undoing 30 years of work,” Miller said. “Where are the alternatives? This is a serious question because we have spent billions and decades trying to get beyond the direct public health threat of [air pollutants] to people who live nearby the generation.”

Sabasteanski said that if the variance is issued and data centers choose to utilize it, the generator’s impact on the region’s air quality would be minimal compared to the air pollution caused by traffic.

“Very roughly, about 70% of the ozone problem in Northern Virginia was from traffic,” she said.

But Kyle Hart, a National Parks Conservation Association representative, said during the hearing that the variance would not only violate the department's mission to provide cleaner air for the region but also create a precedent that says data centers are allowed to keep polluting at the expense of nearby residents.

“The [Department of Environmental Quality] must announce whether or not this is a one-time variance or whether this will become the norm,” Hart said. “And I think last, but not least, [the agency] must establish a roadmap for this industry in Virginia moving forward regarding energy use, climate goals and more.”

Sabasteanski said the agency, which began its public comment period on the proposed variance Jan. 27, will continue to accept public comments through March 14, after which it will issue a decision.

Sabasteanski said it would take a "while" before a decision is reached.