Fairfax County has experienced a continued improvement in crime over the past 10 years, even with the sizable increase in population. Many different reasons could be the cause of the general safety, but likely all of the above is why we enjoy such low rates. (WashingtonPost)
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MOM’s Organic Market is opening in Merrifield. The family chain will be just one of several new retailers coming to the redeveloped Mosaic District and is opening THIS WEEK! Just another signal that the Mosaic District’s multi-year development is nearly complete and about to be a resident favorite. (NewsWire Press Release)
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Fairfax City schools are getting crowded, in fact a lot of schools in NOVA are well over original intended capacity. Unfortunately capital funds are tough to come by, even more so when most of our tax revenue is sent to Richmond but almost none is returned. #19CentsOnTheDollar (Fairfax Patch)
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Fairfax County is running low in funds for social services programs. The County has contacted Governor McDonnell, as much of the funding should be coming from State sources who have been well funded by Northern Virginia, but the Governor has declined to assist.#19CentsOnTheDollar (Washington Examiner)
Urban Design Concept of the Day
Retail of course works very well when it is located along high traffic walking areas at street level (as proven by lease rates and occupancy rates around the country and in our region), but can retail that is multi-story and reducing footprint be just as successful? In NYC and Chicago where ground space becomes limited, upstairs tenants become good opportunities for retailers who want the street frontage but can’t afford ground floor rates. It allows for less operation costs and often spurs more innovation in the products being sold.