Lee District Monthly Newsletter

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Edition 7 
September 2014 
 
The McKay Messenger
  
Springfield Town Center is Almost Here!
Hard Hat Tour--just weeks from the opening of the Springfield Town Center
Hard hat tour--just weeks before the grand opening of the Springfield Town Center

Springfield Town Center: There's a big red X on my calendar, squarely planted on October 17. That's when the Springfield Town Center (we used to call it Springfield Mall) opens. Just about two years ago, I stood in the then-mall's parking lot watching construction equipment take large bites out of the former Garfinkle's and Sports Authority that made up the mall's outer walls. That demolition marked the end of an era and the about-to-be-born Springfield Town Center.

 

Earlier this month, I participated in a hard hat tour of the town center. Wow! This $250 million plus project isn't just a rerun of the old Springfield Mall. The entrance on Loisdale Road opens to a multilevel staircase and a spacious ground floor. There's outdoor patio seating for three restaurants: Maggiano's Little Italy, Yard House, and Chuy's. The 700,000 square feet of new stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and upscale retail are contained in a two-level shopping space with broad, tiled walkways and skylights that flood the interior with natural light. There are areas to sit and relax and stations for recharging cellphones and tablets. There's even a fireplace for open air dining and a play area for kids. I think we've got more than a place to shop-we've got a social space.

 

Springfield Mall has always been more than a random collection of stores. It was part of our sense of place, a cornerstone of civic pride, and a regional draw. As we watched it fail over the years, our sense of civic pride took a hit and we wondered how a property owner could stand to watch such an asset fall apart. But from what I've now seen and what we'll all see on October 17, we can dust off that civic pride because it's going to be bright and shiny again. Springfield Mall, reborn as the Springfield Town Center, is back.

 

This was a project with many moving parts and as I look back on the hours, days, and months of shepherding it through its early planning stages, Board of Supervisors rezoning, and complex permitting process, I'm pleased with the result.

It's the Small Improvements That Make a Difference
South Van Dorn/Telegraph Road Moving Traffic

Two travel lanes in each direction are now open at the Van Dorn/Telegraph/South Kings intersection-and there is already a significant improvement in traffic flow. VDOT tells me that the project should be completed within the next few months.  Once work is completed, the newly widened intersection will help drivers using Telegraph Road reach I-495 via South Van Dorn Street and alleviate the bottleneck just east of the intersection before it splits to Telegraph Road and South Kings Highway. I led the effort to fund this project entirely by the County because of the daily gridlock in the area.

 

Farewell to the Pothole Corridor: The condition of Old Keene Mill Road has generated a  lot of calls to my office. The Virginia Department of Transportation has now begun repaving Franconia Road/Old Keene Mill Road (Route 644) from Elder Avenue to Rolling Road, as well as the I-95/395/495 interstate ramps in the area. The work will be done five nights a week, Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m and is expected to take about three months to complete, weather permitting.

 

In other good news, VDOT has also installed a crosswalk at Loisdale Road and Loisdale Court.  With the Springfield Town Center about to open, this crosswalk is a necessary component of pedestrian safety. This improvement comes at the same time that the mall's developer, Vornado, begins its work to repave Frontier Drive and create bike lanes and improved sidewalks along the mall's exterior.

Important News About Voting and Photo ID

Do you or an older or disabled family member need a photo ID to vote on Nov. 4?

 

The County's Office of Elections encourages caregivers and family members of older adults or people with disabilities to make sure their loved one has a photo ID to vote in the November 4 election.  Absentee by mail voters do not need photo ID, but Virginia now requires everyone to provide acceptable photo ID in order to vote in person on Election Day or at absentee voting locations.  Acceptable IDs include a valid Virginia driver's license, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ID card, U.S. passport, military ID or other government-issued ID. A free photo ID can be applied for from the Office of Elections at the Government Center or at several locations countywide. To find out more, call the Fairfax County Office of Elections at 703-222-0776 (TTY 711). Information about voting and photo ID is online here.

 

Absentee voting at the main Fairfax County Government Center has started for eligible voters for the November 4 general election. Absentee voting at satellite locations (including the Franconia Governmental Center) will begin on September 27. For comprehensive information, including dates and times for in-person absentee voting, as well as what to do if you are absentee voting by mail, click here. 

 

Fairfax County Needs Election Officers!

We need 2,700 election officers this fall. Election officers must be registered voters in Virginia and complete required training and forms. You may choose to accept the $175 payment for a full day, or volunteer your time.  More information is available here For more information, click "Training and Education' here or call 703-324-4735 (TTY 711).

Thank you for subscribing to my monthly e-newsletter. I hope these updates will keep you in the loop with some of the major events in our District.

If you'd like to learn more about something in the newsletter or have an idea for a future edition, please don't hesitate to contact me or my staff.
  
Sincerely,

Jeffrey C. McKay

Lee District Supervisor

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

703-971-6262
Jeffrey C. McKay
 
Supervisor McKay has served on the Board of Supervisors since 2007.  
Did You Know?

Question: I know the Board of Supervisors has a number of advisory boards and commissions.  How do I get on one of them? 

  

Answer: Fairfax County has a long history of citizen participation and our citizen boards and commissions are an essential part of local government. If you are interested in serving on one of these boards, I'd love to hear from you. (Please send a resume and let me know what board or commission you're interested in.) At this time, I have vacancies on the Advisory Social Services Board; Citizen Corps Council; Commission on  Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation; Human Services Council; Oversight Committee on Drinking and Driving; Celebrate Fairfax; and the Childcare Advisory Council

 

You'll find more information, including a list of all the County's boards, authorities, and commissions here.

 

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