Teen DUI Crash, T-Zones, 20 MPH Limit: Top Falls Church News Of 2023

FALLS CHURCH, VA — There was plenty of news that interested readers around Falls Church in 2023, from development and business news to road safety initiatives.

Readers were following major transportation milestones like the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit on some streets, school zone speed cameras approved, and a traffic signal fixed after a months-long outage.

Some crime stories received notable interest, including a DUI crash that killed one teen and injured five teens. Other crime and safety stories included the conviction for a homicide with a woman's body set on fire, a laundry room double homicide, a carjacking and hit-and-run spree, sexual assault accusations against a student and more.

There was plenty of business and development news too. Some businesses closed, like Liberty Barbecue, Dogfish Head Alehouse, and the mini Target, while new additions include Ellie Bird, The Falls, Jake's Gourmet Popcorn and more. A West Falls Church Metro development got rezoning approval from Fairfax County, while the West Falls has announced details for several parts of its upcoming development. Another major story was the small area plan process for the neighborhood for the Eden Center, which drew concerns and advocacy from the Vietnamese community. Transition zone updates were also approved but did not have unanimous support by City Council members.

In school news, Superintendent Peter Noonan's contract was extended, school start times were tweaked, collective bargaining was approved and electric school buses were introduced.

Here are the top stories of 2023 in Falls Church. Click on each link for more coverage, and be sure to subscribe to Falls Church Patch for more news in 2024.

Business and Development

• West Falls Church Metro Development's Rezoning OK'd In Fairfax County
• Plan Affecting Eden Center Approved After Vietnamese Advocacy
• No Plans To Redevelop Eden Center, But Displacement Fears Remain
• Stratford Motor Lodge Developer Shares Restaurant Vision
• Restaurant Site Plan Approved To Revitalize 'Eyesore' Old Motel Site
• Modera Falls Church Breaks Ground Across From Founders Row
• Ellie Bird, Other Founders Row Restaurants Starting To Open
• Mini Target Store In City of Falls Church To Close
• Restaurants, Retail Announced For West Falls Development
• Condo Details Announced For West Falls Development
• Senior Living Part Of West Falls Development Delayed
• T-Zone Update Approved In Falls Church As Mayor Objects
• Dogfish Head Alehouse At Seven Corners Shutting Down In May
• The Falls, Replacement For Liberty Barbecue, Opens In Falls Church
• Liberty Barbecue Closes, Plans Transition To New Concept
• First 2 Homes Close In Falls Church Affordable Homeownership Program
• Jake's Ice Cream Offers Valuable Work For People With Disabilities
• Jake's Ice Cream Owner Snags Statewide Award Amid New Business Opening
• One More Page Books Stays Afloat With Successful Fundraiser
• Falls Church Named Second Best Suburb for City-Like Living In U.S.
• New Fast Casual Mediterranean Coming To Falls Church Area
• Affordable Housing Converted From Office Planned Near Mosaic District
• New Fairfax County Park Features Pickleball Courts, Community Gardens
• Falls Church Population Rebounds Slightly After Pandemic Drop
• Senior Housing In Seven Corners Gains Fairfax County Approval
• Affordable Teacher Units Extended For 10 Years In Falls Church

Transportation

• 'Quality Of Life Improvement': Falls Church Starts 20 Mph Speed Limit
• Falls Church's First School Zone Speed Camera Heads To Final Approval
• Oak Street Bridge Reopens After Replacement In Falls Church
• How Rent Prices Changed Near Falls Church Metro Stops Since 2022
• Falls Church Traffic Signal Being Fixed After Months-Long Issue
• New Plaza, Intersection Improvements Completed In Falls Church
• Electric Vehicle Charging Fees To Be Added At Falls Church City Hall
• Metro Shutdown Shuttles Cause Commuter Frustrations

Crime and Safety

• Death Reported In Idylwood DUI Crash Injuring 6 Teens
• Eden Center Stabbing Leads To Arrest Warrant In Falls Church
• Drug Overdose Kills Minor, Hospitalizes Other In Bailey's Crossroads
• Man Opened Fire Into Crowd Outside Business In West Falls Church Area
• 1 Dead, 2 Injured In Seven Corners Crash
• $100K In Jewelry Stolen In Falls Church Business Robbery
• Killing With Body Set On Fire In Seven Corners Leads To Conviction
• Laundry Room Double Homicide Leads To Charges For 2 More Teens
• 'Bird Bandit' Brings Parrots To Strong-Arm Robbery In Seven Corners
• Carjackings, Hit-And-Run Leads To Arrest In Falls Church: Police
• Former Falls Church Doctor Tied To Fatal Overdose Sentenced
• Body Found Behind Business In Culmore Area: Police
• Falls Church Sexual Assaults Lead To Charges Against Student
• Pimmit Hills Fire Caused By Candle Displaces 8 Residents
• Woman Followed Home, Assaulted In Bailey's Crossroads: Police
• Cat Killed During Man's 21-Hour Barricade In Bailey's Crossroads
• Thrift Store Peeper In Merrifield Charged By Police
• Crossbow Injures Pedestrian In Bailey's Crossroads: Police
• Son Shoots Mother, Self In Seven Corners; Both Recovering: Police
• Explosion Cause Determined In Bailey's Crossroads
• Falls Church Man Charged In Connection With Rape At Motel: Police
• Pedestrian Struck On Arlington Boulevard In West Falls Church
• Instructional Assistant Charged With Assault Of Special Needs Student
• Jeep Catches Fire, Causing $87K In Damage To Lake Barcroft Home

Schools

• Later Start Time Approved For Falls Church Secondary Schools
• Phil Reitinger Steps Down From Falls Church School Board
• Falls Church Superintendent Peter Noonan's Contract Extended
• Meridian High School Makes AP Honor Roll In 2023
• SOL Standardized Tests 2023: Falls Church Public Schools Above State
• Falls Church City Schools Budget Includes Staff Pay Raises
• Students' Innovative Farming Feeds Fairfax County School's Food Pantry
• Collective Bargaining Rights Extended To Falls Church Schools Staff
• Justice Grad Earns Scholarship Honoring Late Laura Ashley Piper
• Interim Head of Secondary Schools Named In Falls Church City
• Falls Church Elementary Team Problem Solves Way To World Final
• First Electric Buses At Falls Church City Public Schools Introduced

Politics and Notable Figures

• Falls Church Budget Includes No Change To Real Estate Tax Rate
• Overall Property Value Increases Less Than Last Year In Falls Church
• Falls Church Election Results: How Precincts Voted In Key Races
• Falls Church Police Chief Mary Gavin To Retire In Early 2024
• Youngkin Talks Abortion, Education, Business Support At Eden Center
• Falls Church Nonprofit Homestretch's Leader To Retire
• Vienna Figure Skater Completes First Quadruple Axel At Worlds
• Cecilia Suyat Marshall, Widow Of Justice Thurgood Marshall, Dies At 94
• Audrey Luthman, Retired Falls Church Crossing Guard Of 50 Years, Dies
• Clare And Don's Co-Owner Named Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal