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Providence District residents can donate blood, attend three outdoor concert series and follow major county decisions involving housing, transportation and trash collection in the coming months.
The Providence District office will work remotely from June 1 through June 12 because of construction. Staff will remain available by phone and email.
Blood drive scheduled for June 13
Providence District and Inova will host a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 13 at the Jim Scott Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive.
The donation process can take up to an hour, and donors must present identification. Organizers noted that someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds and that one donation can help save as many as three lives.
Three concert series coming this summer
Live music will return to several Providence District locations from June through August.
Nottoway Nights will be held at Nottoway Park from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, July 2 through Aug. 20.
Arts in the Parks will run from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Sundays at Strawberry Park in the Mosaic District, beginning June 28 and continuing through Aug. 9. The series will skip the July Fourth weekend.
The Mosaic Summer Music Series will also take place at Strawberry Park, with performances from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturdays between June 20 and Aug. 15. That series will also pause for the July Fourth weekend. Full performer lineups are expected later.
Board approves 304-home Tysons redevelopment
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning application for 1950 Old Gallows Road in Tysons, allowing an office property to be redeveloped with a five- to six-story residential building.
The project may contain up to 304 homes, including 51 workforce dwelling units. A traffic analysis concluded that the proposed residential use would produce fewer daily vehicle trips than the current office use.
Planned transportation improvements include a road diet on Old Gallows Road, additional bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and a new Capital Bikeshare location. The development will also provide two publicly accessible urban parks.
The board recognized May 18, 2026, as the Day to End Hate in Fairfax County.
Supervisors also scheduled a June 23 public hearing on potential changes to county motor vehicle and traffic rules, including a possible expansion of helmet requirements.
The board authorized the Department of Public Safety to seek approximately $10 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads program. The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board accepted $1.7 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop a youth crisis facility in Chantilly.
County changes course on trash collection
At a May 12 Environmental Committee meeting, county staff recommended stopping work on the Unified Sanitary District model for solid waste collection. The recommendation followed continued community concerns and findings that partial or voluntary versions of the model would have limited effectiveness.
Fairfax County will instead begin shifting customers now served directly by the county to contracted trash collection in fiscal year 2027.
Staff also warned that reserves used to stabilize waste-disposal tipping fees are projected to be exhausted by fiscal year 2028. One proposed response is a countywide Sustainability Fee estimated at about $59 per household each year. Officials said the revenue would support essential disposal services, limit long-term costs and preserve county control over waste destinations.
The Environmental Committee chair supported pausing the Unified Sanitary District proposal but raised concerns about adding another fee for residents. County staff were asked to develop other options for the committee to consider later in 2026.
Housing roadmap addresses 40,000-home need
Deputy County Executive Jen Miller presented Fairfax County’s Housing Roadmap to the Land Use Committee on May 12.
The plan proposes increasing housing construction, streamlining permitting and development reviews, expanding affordable and workforce housing tools and improving coordination among county agencies and the community.
Fairfax County is projected to need at least 40,000 new homes by 2035. District officials said they are working with county staff and supervisors to help people who grew up in the county afford to remain there.
Surveys and expedited building reviews announced
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and Envision Route 7 opened a survey seeking feedback about regional bus priorities and bus rapid transit.
Community input is also being collected for the Tysons Office Designated Areas Planning Study.
Fairfax County Land Development Services has launched a Fast Track Building Plan Review Program that expedites reviews of construction-ready plans for non-complex residential projects.
Recent district outreach included presentations at meetings of the Colonies and Jefferson Village homeowners associations. A visit to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology included a proclamation presentation and a demonstration of an interactive display offering access to archived yearbooks.
Pura Vida also opened at Mosaic, establishing the Miami-based business’s first Virginia location.
Tysons library sale begins May 28
The Friends of the Tysons Library will hold its quarterly used book and media sale from May 28 through May 31.
Thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, puzzles and games will be available. Purchases will support programs and resources at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library.
COPA Tysons launches with soccer watch party
The COPA Tysons Launch and Watch Party will take place Saturday, May 30, at Starr Hill Biergarten at Capital One Center.
Sports broadcasters Dave Johnson and Bruce Murray will host a live viewing of the Arsenal-Paris match. The event will also feature music, fan activities, media appearances and opportunities to connect with regional organizations before a summer of soccer-related programming.
Art contest marks Immigrant Heritage Month
Fairfax County students may enter an art contest celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month.
Participants can create work inspired by one of four prompts: “This is my family’s journey,” “My cultural treasure box,” “Home means…” or “Many cultures, one community.”
Artwork may use any format, but it must be scanned or photographed and submitted online. Each student is limited to one entry, and AI-generated art will not be accepted.
Three winners will be selected in each of three divisions: kindergarten through second grade, third through sixth grade and seventh through 12th grade. Winners will receive prizes and have their artwork displayed in an exhibition.