News

Arlington and Falls Church have both ranked as some of the most livable localities in the nation for the second year in the row.

Arlington was at the top of the charts for “large communities” and Falls Church was No. 2 among “small communities,” according to a new ranking of U.S. localities from the American Association of Retired People (AARP).


Around Town

A new spot for bites and brews has opened in Falls Church, replacing a former motel.

Stratford Garden opened yesterday (Tuesday) at the long-vacant Stratford Motor Lodge at 300 W. Broad Street, abuzz with local officials including Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi.


News

A series of public forums celebrating free speech is coming to Falls Church next year in celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday.

Members of the Falls Church250 Committee have tentatively agreed to sponsor a series of at least two dozen “soapbox” forums, giving residents the opportunity to speak about their views on the current state of national and local affairs.


News

Falls Church homeowners may or may not see a dip in real estate taxes next year as property assessments continue to rise.

At a Dec. 3 planning session of City Council members, there was general consensus around the desire to lower the current tax rate to offset expected higher home-assessment values. But doing so was left as a goal, rather than made a requirement, as city staff begins developing the fiscal year 2027 budget.


News

Falls Church city and school leaders head into planning for the fiscal year 2027 budget with many unknowns to contend with.

David So, the city government’s new budget director, sketched out a number of budget scenarios at a Monday (Dec. 1) work session between members of the City Council and School Board. Depending on the scenario, his projections leave a budget gap of between $2.7 million and $5.4 million that will have to be addressed before a final budget is adopted next May.


Around Town

Signage for a new discount grocery store has appeared all over a vacant storefront in Falls Church, breathing new life into the site after more than two years.

Many details about the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market at 500 S. Washington Street remain unclear, including its opening date. As the new location attracts questions and even some early reviews, here’s a look at what is publicly known.


Around Town

A new option for Mexican cuisine plans to open soon at Falls Church’s Founders Row.

Fish Taco will begin serving diners Baja-style dishes, with a particular emphasis on seafood, “within the next two weeks” at 930 W. Broad Street, a spokesperson told ARLnow.


News

The Falls Church city government continues to chip away at its staff vacancies, but faces ongoing challenges with public safety recruitment.

The 8% vacancy rate recorded across all city departments in early November “is, I think, the lowest we’ve been since the pandemic,” City Manager Wyatt Shields told members of the City Council’s government-operations committee on Nov. 26.


Around Town

A French-inspired bakery is hosting its grand opening in Falls Church this weekend.

Paris Baguette has announced plans to begin serving customers at 169 Hillwood Avenue starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday, offering free giveaways to go with its wide menu of baked goods and other breakfast and lunch items.


Around Town

A family-friendly pizza restaurant in Falls Church is shooting to open in a few months, following some delays.

After announcing plans in December 2024 to open at 119 E. Broad Street, Little Beast Cafe & Bistro — known for its storybook-style decor and Detroit-style pizza — has reset its timeline to open in February or March, owner Aaron Gordon told ARLnow.


News

Next year could be make-or-break time for Falls Church officials’ desire to do something big on the affordable-housing front.

The city, through its Economic Development Authority, already owns nine small apartment properties in the Virginia Village community near Annandale Road. At a Nov. 19 meeting between elected officials and staff, discussion turned to moving forward on a consolidated plan for housing the neighborhood.


News

Falls Church leaders have begun talks on a possible tax surcharge on commercial property to fund transportation improvements.

If it’s enacted, owners of non-residential parcels in the city could pay an additional rate of up to 12.5 cents per $100 assessed value each year, similar to surcharges in neighboring Arlington and Fairfax counties.


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