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Falls Church’s push for more housing, walkable development and a broader mix of businesses earned regional recognition as the city prepared for a summer restaurant challenge, new pedestrian signals and a record-setting high school graduation.
Falls Church Honored for Livable Growth
Mayor Letty Hardi accepted the 2025 Livable Communities Leadership Award on behalf of Falls Church during a May 14 ceremony hosted by the Coalition for Smarter Growth. The event took place on the rooftop of the restored Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C.
The organization recognized Hardi and the city for creating thousands of homes, including dedicated affordable units, while adding retail, restaurants and offices.
In her acceptance speech, Hardi credited current and former city officials, planners, commissioners, employees and residents with advancing the city’s development goals. She also voiced support for federal employees and contractors affected by uncertainty surrounding the federal workforce.
Hardi described smart growth as a long-standing principle in the 2.2-square-mile city. Falls Church has pursued a “15-minute city” model in which residents can reach everyday needs by walking, bicycling, taking a bus or using other transit.
The city expects to increase its housing supply by 25 percent over the next several years, double its affordable housing inventory and accommodate 20 percent population growth, Hardi said.
Falls Church was also an early adopter of cottage housing, allowing it eight years ago. The city later revised its transition zoning, and two townhouse projects are now underway after more than two decades without new townhouses. An accessory dwelling unit ordinance approved in April omitted parking and owner-occupancy requirements.
Hardi attributed the changes to long-term planning, elections, persistent city staff, broader public engagement and decisions grounded in data. She said public input improves projects but argued that officials must reach beyond the most vocal participants and give residents influence without allowing any one group to stop action entirely.
The mayor pointed to investments in a new high school, City Hall, the library, sidewalks, parks and trails. At the same time, the city’s tax rate fell by 14 cents over five years and was scheduled to decline by another penny with the start of the next fiscal year.
She also cited state data showing declining traffic volumes, despite population growth, and connected that result to investments in transportation choices beyond private vehicles.
For a less formal measure of progress, Hardi highlighted the city’s independent coffee shops. Falls Church had one when she first ran for City Council in 2016, she said. It now has six, with three more expected. She described those businesses as gathering places that strengthen social connections and argued that additional residents help sustain the local establishments the community values.
Hardi said the city still faces significant work on housing access, economic inclusion, climate resilience and regional uncertainty. She called on Falls Church and neighboring communities to continue welcoming people with a wider range of incomes and backgrounds while reducing emissions from buildings and transportation.
Food Trek Sends Diners to 12 Local Restaurants
A new Greater Falls Church Food Trek will run from June 1 through Aug. 31, inviting residents and visitors to collect passport stamps at 12 restaurants.
The participating businesses are Borek G, Cafe Kindred, Ellie Bird, The Falls, Harvey’s, Ireland’s Four Provinces, Panjshir, Preservation Biscuit Co., Solace Outpost, Stray Cat Bar & Grill, TeaDM and Westover Taco.
Passports will be available at each participating restaurant beginning June 1. Diners who complete the trek may submit their passports from Aug. 18 through Aug. 31 for a chance to win one of three baskets containing restaurant gift cards and other items.
Organizer Tricia Barba, owner of Preservation Biscuit Co. at 102 E. Fairfax St. and an organizer of the two most recent Falls Church Restaurant Weeks, said the event is intended to showcase the area’s varied dining scene and encourage community participation.
Updates will be shared through the @fcfoodietrek Instagram account and the #fcfoodietrek hashtag.
Three New HAWK Signals Coming to Broad Street
Falls Church planned to activate three High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk signals on May 29 as part of a pedestrian-safety initiative along Broad Street.
The HAWK beacons were installed near Oak, Fairfax and Buxton streets in locations farther from existing intersection crossings. They are designed to help pedestrians cross while limiting unnecessary interruptions to traffic.
Unlike conventional traffic lights, the signals remain dark until someone activates one by pressing the crossing button or waving in front of its sensor.
After activation, drivers first see a flashing yellow light warning that a pedestrian intends to cross. The light then becomes solid yellow, telling motorists to prepare to stop, followed by solid red, which requires a complete stop.
Drivers must remain stopped until pedestrians have reached the opposite sidewalk. When the signal begins flashing red, motorists must stop but may proceed cautiously once the crosswalk is empty. Normal traffic resumes when the beacon goes dark.
Pedestrians should wait after activating the signal until vehicles have stopped and the display across the street changes from “don’t walk” to “walk.” An audible message also announces when crossing may begin, and visual and spoken countdowns indicate how much time remains.
People already in the crosswalk may finish during the flashing-red phase, but pedestrians should not begin crossing at that point.
Meridian’s Class of 2025 Sets IB Records
Meridian High School celebrated 222 graduates in its Class of 2025, including the largest group of International Baccalaureate diploma candidates in the school’s history.
Seventy-two students completed the requirements for the IB diploma and were awaiting results from the international organization during the summer. Another 17 became the district’s first candidates for the International Baccalaureate Career-related Program, which combines IB coursework with specialized career studies.
The class included 99 Valedictory Scholars who finished with cumulative grade-point averages of at least 4.0. Another 112 students received Meridian Scholar recognition, which requires a minimum 3.85 GPA and an advanced academic program spanning social studies, college-preparatory mathematics, laboratory science and IB classes in two disciplines.
Four graduates were National Merit Scholarship finalists.
The graduating class also left a mark outside the classroom. Students created Hands to Hunger, which grew into a national nonprofit with more than 130 chapters and has packed tens of thousands of meals for communities in need.
The Class of 2025 joined the two preceding senior classes in contributing toward a $30,000 gift for a new stadium scoreboard. The school system also recognized its first Sustainability Scholars, who completed 25 hours of service annually and tied their IB capstone work to United Nations sustainability goals.
Valedictory Scholars Adam Belouad and Molly Mostow addressed the ceremony, focusing on community, creativity and kindness. Senior Class Vice President Joseph Kritenbrink welcomed the crowd, and Senior Class Secretary Teodor Abedejos introduced Superintendent Peter Noonan.
School Board Chair Tate Gould congratulated graduates and their families before a crowd of approximately 1,100 people.
The ceremony was also a farewell for Noonan, who planned to retire after eight years leading Falls Church City Public Schools. Every member of the graduating class participated in IB programming during their time in the district.
Falls Church is one of nine school divisions in the United States offering the International Baccalaureate program from prekindergarten through 12th grade. The division serves approximately 2,800 students across five schools.
Graduates’ next steps include college, gap years, military service and employment. Some planned to attend the Air Force Academy or West Point, while others were preparing to compete on Division I athletic scholarships.
Principal Peter Laub and the counseling team presented the diplomas, closing the high school careers of the 222 seniors and marking the final Meridian commencement of Noonan’s tenure.