Although some of the biggest stories in Fairfax next year will no doubt come as a surprise, many ongoing issues and scheduled events are likely to have an impact on the town.
Happy Birthday, Fairfax
2005 marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Providence, which later became the City of Fairfax. The city has planned a wide assortment of events marking this bicentennial.
Old Town Redevelopment
The actual construction of new features in Old Town Fairfax is expected to begin early in 2005. The Logan-Sipan Site, former home of the Fairfax Post Office along North Street between University Drive and Chain Bridge Road, will receive a facelift. The site will be redeveloped by Trammel Crowe and will include 92,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 43,000 square feet of office space, a public square and a 700-space parking facility.
Construction of that site and the new library is slated to start in the first quarter of 2005 and take approximately 18 months to complete.
After the library is finished, the old library will be torn down and replaced with condominiums.
School Renovations
City voters approved a $86.8 million bond in November, so the renovation of Lanier Middle School and Fairfax High School will begin in March.
Neither of the buildings has had a major overhaul in decades, and both will see increased classroom space and new facilities that better reflect contemporary educational needs.
During the construction, several athletic fields will be temporarily lost to construction, but they are to be restored. The renovations are slated to finish in 2007.
Widespread WiFi
The city is exploring the possibility of providing a wireless broadband service to all residents. The plan would install wireless broadband routers at traffic lights and streetlights across the city, turning the whole place into a wireless hot spot.
The details have yet to be worked out about any potential cost to residents or exactly which form the technology will take. But with an estimated price tag of just $200,000, the City Council will likely hear more about the proposal.
Power Bundling
City residents may have the option to join with residents of other municipalities around the state to purchase their electricity in bulk. The proposal is part of a pilot program being shopped around by Dominion Virginia Power.
Under the program, residents, who could choose not to participate, could buy and pay for their electricity along with others. The total number of participants in a given pilot program would be approximately 30,000.
A potential for big savings exists by buying in bulk. The process has been compared to going to a "warehouse club" store. Since the power is paid for at a set price for the duration of the program, the savings could be higher if the cost of electricity goes up.
However, if the price of power drops, residents may or may not be able to enjoy the cost savings, depending on the structure of the program.
Election Year
Virginia conducts elections in the so-called off-off years, when there are no national elections (president, senator or congressmen) at the top of the ticket to generate voter interest.
This year, however, the state will see a governor's race when the term-limited Mark Warner (D) leaves office. The presumptive candidates are Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine (D) and Attorney General Jerry Kilgore (R).
Also up for re-election will be the entire Virginia House of Delegates, including the seat belonging to Del. Chap Petersen (D-35th), who represents the majority of the Fairfax area. Petersen has announced that he will be running for lieutenant governor, but he may continue as a candidate for his assembly seat, at least through the June 14 primary.
Two-Way Traffic
As part of the redevelopment of downtown Fairfax, the city has plans to change Main and North streets into two-way streets. They were made one-way in 1975 in order to ease traffic flow through downtown.
However, consultants told the City Council that the current traffic pattern would not be able to support the vibrant retail center that is envisioned as part of the redevelopment.
Some on-street parking will be lost to accommodate the plan, which calls for maintaining three lanes in each direction, as there is currently. The city plans a six-month pilot of the two-way streets starting in the spring of 2005.
Boundary Study
A new elementary school is being constructed just north of Route 29 on Dixie Hill Lane in Fairfax County, within the boundary area of Colin Powell Elementary. The new school is expected to draw students from Powell, Fairfax Villa, Greenbriar East and Greenbriar west.
The committee that will make decisions about the boundary area for the new school is expected to begin meeting in the fall.