Reston and Herndon’s New Hotspots
The future of the area around Wiehle-Reston East is starting to come into focus. A 119-acre stretch of aging office buildings and underused parking lots could eventually become a mix of housing, parks, trails and neighborhood retail. The scale of the Reston East Study makes it worth watching closely, especially as questions about affordability, transportation and public space move to the center of the conversation. Take a look at the five redevelopment proposals and see what could change.
For this week’s outings, the Fairfax County Carnival & Fair at Frying Pan Farm Park is the biggest draw, with rides, fair food, farm animals and 4-H activities running through Sunday. Big Truck Night on Friday is a strong pick for families with younger children, while the Dragonfly Class and Saturday count at Walker Nature Center offer a quieter way to spend time outdoors and learn more about Reston’s natural areas.
Elsewhere in the newsletter, we are asking readers to settle a familiar local argument by choosing the most frustrating intersection in Reston or Herndon. The local news roundup also covers major redevelopment plans, school boundary changes, a notable drop in Herndon apartment rents and several business updates around town.
Feature Story
RESTON EAST REDEVELOPMENT PLANS
A 119-acre stretch near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro could trade aging offices and underused parking lots for new homes, parks, trails and neighborhood retail. The Reston East Study could reshape this part of Reston, but the real question is whether redevelopment will bring enough infrastructure and affordability to support both current and future residents.
Around Town
MOST FRUSTRATING LOCAL INTERSECTIONS
Reston and Herndon drivers know some intersections demand more patience than others. We rounded up several of the area’s most frustrating spots, and now it is your turn to vote for the worst one and tell us which traffic headache we missed.
Quick Hits
IN OTHER NEWS
The Reston Town Center North redevelopment plan has cleared the Fairfax County Planning Commission. The 48-acre proposal could eventually bring roughly 1.6 million square feet of development to the area, because apparently Reston looked at its cranes and decided there was still room for a few more.
Peter Lusk has been named Reston Association’s permanent CEO after serving in the role on an acting basis. The board voted unanimously, allowing Lusk to drop the temporary title and fully inherit the uniquely Reston experience of managing lakes, pools, trails and homeowner opinions.
The Fairfax County School Board has approved attendance boundaries for the new Skyview High School, affecting more than 2,500 students from several western Fairfax County communities. The Herndon-area school will open this fall with opt-in students, while the permanent boundary changes begin with the 2027–28 school year.
Herndon recorded one of the largest year-over-year apartment rent declines in the Washington region last month. That may qualify as genuine good news for renters, although nobody should celebrate until the renewal notice actually arrives.
Andy’s Pizza is taking over the former MOD Pizza space at Plaza America. The award-winning local chain expects to open by the end of the year, giving Reston another place to debate crust, toppings and whether folding a slice is a technique or a personality trait.
Ornery Beer Company is keeping its Herndon location open while closing its longtime Fairfax City pub. The brewery says the smaller footprint will help protect its remaining operations, so Herndon beer drinkers can exhale and return to studying the tap list.
Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner John Carter has retired after nine years on the commission. His successor will help represent Reston and nearby communities during a period when seemingly every vacant office building is being asked whether it has considered becoming housing.
Curated Events
EVENTS IN RESTON, HERNDON, AND BEYOND
Reston and Herndon are packed with family-friendly fun this week, starting with the Fairfax County Carnival & Fair at Frying Pan Farm Park, where rides, games, fair food, farm animals and 4-H activities fill the weekend. Nature lovers can learn about Reston’s “flying dragons” at the Walker Nature Center’s Dragonfly Class on Thursday, then help count dragonflies and damselflies during Saturday’s community survey. Families can also check out Big Truck Night, Parents Night Out, the free Lohr Family Antics show at Reston Town Square Park, National Night Out at Hunters Woods Plaza, and the Young Actors Theatre production of “Imagine a Dragon” at Reston Community Center. Don’t forget to check out the link at the top of the newsletter for all of the concerts!
A Final Note
YOU KNOW YOU’RE FROM RESTON WHEN…
“…you can identify a village center by its grocery store.”
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