Falls Church City Comment Box: #519 (Oldie). Kudos

Submission ID: 519 Date Submitted: 12/31/2012 10:45:31 AM Status: Closed (1/2/2013 12:11:44 PM) Location (if any): Details: I really appreciate the notices from alert_DQ@alert.fallschurchva.gov about the water line break this weekend. The email notices were timely and extremely helpful. Keep them coming!

Submission Updates

Date of Update: 1/2/2013 12:11:39 PM Update Type: Message from CFC Details: Thank you for your submission. I have forwarded the comment on to our Communications Department since they issue the alerts. Note:  This is a freely obtainable matter of public record.

Falls Church City Comment Box: #511 (Oldie). People parking in MY spot.

Submission ID: 511 Date Submitted: 11/27/2012 9:46:43 AM Status: Closed (11/27/2012 10:14:48 AM) Location (if any): Details: There are at least three resident-owned cars with no current City stickers in the 100 block of George Mason Rd. --a greenish van, a black truck, and a dark blue BMW.

Submission Updates

Date of Update: 11/27/2012 10:14:32 AM Update Type: Message from CFC Details: Thank you for your submission. It will be forwarded to the Parking Enforcement Officer for his review and enforcement.

Note:  This is a freely obtainable matter of public record.

Falls Church City Comment Box: #515 (Oldie). Hit and run.

Submission ID: 515 Date Submitted: 12/11/2012 10:34:59 AM Status: Closed (12/11/2012 1:17:32 PM) Location (if any): Details: I was hit by a person driving a white Toyota RAV4 license plate WXX-1620 at 950 this morning near the 495/66 interchange on 495. The driver was a white female who was texting. After she hit the rear of my car I attempted to get her to pull over at 46 to inspect the possible damage and she move to the left lane and left without pulling over. I insspected my car and doesn't appear to have any damage but wanted to ensure you all have the report as she was breaking atleast two laws (Hit and run/Texting while driving.) If you have any questions, please contact me via email or phone in the evenings. Thank you

Submission Updates

Date of Update: 12/11/2012 12:13:54 PM Update Type: Message from CFC Details: Thank you for your submission. The area where the incident happened is in Falls Church, Fairfax County. We will forward your submission to the State Police since they have jurisdiction over both interstates.

Note:  This is a freely obtainable matter of public record.

Falls Church City Comment Box: #514. (Oldie) Ratting out the flippers.

Submission ID: 514 Date Submitted: 12/7/2012 1:56:02 PM Status: Closed (12/7/2012 2:20:24 PM) Location (if any): Details: Hi, the house at 111 W. George Mason Rd. was bought as a flip. A 2-story addition is being built and there is no copy of a permit displayed. I know how important it is to have inspections done to ensure it is being built correctly, so I'm just checking to make sure a permit has been pulled to protect the future buyer of the house. Thank you.

Submission Updates

Date of Update: 12/7/2012 2:20:14 PM Update Type: Message from CFC Details: Thank you for your submission. The Permits Department has confirmed that the builder/contractor has building, electrical and plumbing permits. The builder/contractor will be reminded to post permits in an area visible from the public right-of-way.

111 W. George Mason, shown pre-flip (courtesy Google Maps)

Note:  This is a freely obtainable matter of public record.

The Story of the new Easter Seals building on Hillwood Street

Nice to hear what happened behind-the-scenes to get the new Easter Seals facility built.  

An excerpt from Todd Ray's article in the 3 July 2014 Falls Church News-Press:

The City of Falls Church had a problem. It was renting surplus space to the Easter Seals Child Development Center of Northern Virginia, a much needed social services program, but its growing public school system was in need of the space. 

Ending Easter Seals’ lease meant losing an important community service. As municipalities throughout Northern Virginia become larger and more prosperous, non-profits like Easter Seals are going further afield to find affordable space. The City of Falls Church wanted to keep Easter Seals in its borders. A combination of fast-thinking, altruism, and collaboration allowed Easter Seals to not only stay in the City of Falls Church, but to own a beautiful new facility all its own. 

Easter Seals is a non-profit organization providing services for millions of children and adults living with a variety of conditions, from autism to cancer. The Easter Seals Child Development Center (CDC) in Falls Church provides programs for children, with and without disabilities, from six weeks old to five years old. In the area, it is one of a limited number of organizations serving populations with special needs. 

For James Snyder, Director of Planning and Development Services for the City of Falls Church, keeping the Easter Seals Center in the City was imperative, but there was no new space to house the program. Snyder had an idea.

Read the rest of his guest commentary here.  

Not included in the story are the before and after pictures.  

Before:  blight.

(Photo courtesy Google Maps)

After:  New Easter Seals facility.  Nice.

(This photo is copyrighted by the blog owner.)