It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Ashburn Colored School gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Ashburn, VA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always Best Care Loudoun has such a caring, flexible, kind team. Each of the”
“Chris has been fantastic managing and coordinating part-time care for my mothers husband and elevating”
“I am a past client of this provider Chris was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful in guiding”
“I am a current client of this provider The Aids are like family. Chris and his”
“I am a current client of this provider Chris and his staff have been excellent. Their”
“I will highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services . It is the Best company”
“For the last months of our Dad’s life, Carmen was a blessing! She didn’t support”
“Chris was a godsend in my search for senior caregivers for my parents. I was”
“Compassionate, responsive, professional. We highly recommend!”
“I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services. They provide excellent assistance for every in-home”
“Clients have expressed sincere appreciation for getting a call from their phone volunteer. When you”
“Chris and his crew can help your family in so many ways. Keep Always Best”
“Having a sick and failing family member is very difficult, but Chris Kondracki has been”
“Always Best Care (ABC) provided care for my mother for the last 8 months and”
“Very supportive of families taking care of loved ones.”
“Chris Kondracki is extremely knowledgeable and truly cares about his clients. He is passionate about”
“"Always Best Care" is more than the company's name -- it is its promise. Chris”
“"Always Best Care" is more than just the name of the company -- it's the”
“If you or a loved one has an aging family member that may need a”
“I work for the company and I can say that Aleays Best Care really cares”
“I work with Always Best Care and I honestly enjoy working with them. They care”
“I am very much satisfied and happy with all the services provided by Always Best”
“I am a past client of this provider Chris was a godsend in my search for”
“Always Best Care Loudoun has such a caring, flexible, kind team. Each of the caregivers we worked with went above and beyond. They did their jobs effectively and efficiently, but they were also so thoughtful, compassionate, funny and proactive in offering help. Susanna also offered exceptional help from the home office and gave me insights and advice I didn't even know I needed. It's hard to know who you can trust in taking care of your loved one, and I highly recommend Always Best Care Loudoun to do the job expertly.”
“Chris has been fantastic managing and coordinating part-time care for my mothers husband and elevating care to 24/7 on a short notice (emergency). He has put my mom and the both families at ease and very comfortable with the process. Incredible patient service and family support. Would recommend you meet with Chris to customize the appropriate care for your loved one. Absolute professional in his field.”
“I am a past client of this provider Chris was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful in guiding me through the process of caring for my parents and providing me with resources matched to my needs”
“I am a current client of this provider The Aids are like family. Chris and his team are always there to help my Mom. They take her places, help with meals, laundry and keeping Mom safe and happy!”
“I am a current client of this provider Chris and his staff have been excellent. Their attention to details is exceptional. My Mom's caregiver was excellent and provided daily care with passion. My only regret is not calling sooner for care.”
“I will highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services . It is the Best company I have ever worked for. Mr Chris the owner is a very nice person. He cares for his caregivers and most especially for his clients.”
“For the last months of our Dad’s life, Carmen was a blessing! She didn’t support just our Dad but the whole family. She was a fabulous caregiver though she was so much more, she was our Dad’s friend who he look forward to seeing each and every day. If you find you need support for your loved one, you could not ask for a better person than Carmen. We are so grateful to Carmen and Always Best Care for supporting our Dad.”
“Chris was a godsend in my search for senior caregivers for my parents. I was tired of searching and trying new caregivers from different firms every few weeks, but to no avail. My parents were also a bit hesitant about getting care from unfamiliar people. Fortunately, I found Always Best Care's website on the internet. I called them, ready to be disappointed again. But, I was never let down by Chris and his team. They were very understanding and offered the most suitable caregivers for my parents' care. Without their help, I would still be stuck in the painful process of finding caregivers and being disappointed. I would recommend Always Best Care to everyone.”
“Compassionate, responsive, professional. We highly recommend!”
“I highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services. They provide excellent assistance for every in-home care need and have provided support for us in the past which has been exceptional. Much appreciated!”
“Clients have expressed sincere appreciation for getting a call from their phone volunteer. When you are told that “your telephone volunteer makes their day” or “you can hear your loved one laughing with joy in speaking with their telephone volunteer”, you know that another successful contact has occurred. Thank you for offering the Telephone Reassurance Service as it is truly making a difference in the lives of Seniors.”
“Chris and his crew can help your family in so many ways. Keep Always Best Care in mind to help with mom and dad.”
“Having a sick and failing family member is very difficult, but Chris Kondracki has been terribly helpful and supportive to my family. He has provided guidance, suggestions, and even a wheelchair to help my mother get around while we navigate the complexities of a rapidly progressing illness. I so appreciate his help!”
“Always Best Care (ABC) provided care for my mother for the last 8 months and I’m extremely happy with the service ABC provided. Their caregivers are reliable and compassionate. For the service provided hands down they are the most favorable and valued service out there. In my humble opinion, the best affordable/valued quality adult care in the area. Thank you ABC.”
“Very supportive of families taking care of loved ones.”
“Chris Kondracki is extremely knowledgeable and truly cares about his clients. He is passionate about providing the best care possible. As a financial advisor, I consider Chris and Always Best Care Loudoun a great "tool in my toolbox" when working with my older clients and mention their services as something for my clients to know about should the need arise.”
“"Always Best Care" is more than the company's name -- it is its promise. Chris is a kind and caring person whose focus is always on helping others. He will give your loved ones the same care and consideration that he would give his own. Truly a treasure.”
“"Always Best Care" is more than just the name of the company -- it's the company's promise. Chris, the owner, is a kind and caring person whose focus is always on helping others. He will give your loved ones the same care and consideration that he would give to his own.”
“If you or a loved one has an aging family member that may need a little extra help around the house, or perhaps you want to develop a plan for the future, Chris from Always Best Care is the guy to call. He can help you plan for whatever your family needs, whether that's help aging in their existing home or transitioning to someplace with full time assistance, he can help you figure out what is best for your family.”
“I work for the company and I can say that Aleays Best Care really cares about their clients and so do the caregivers”
“I work with Always Best Care and I honestly enjoy working with them. They care about the caregiver and their clients; especially my boss, Chris.”
“I am very much satisfied and happy with all the services provided by Always Best Care. Their caregivers are genuinely concerned about the health of seniors. They are reliable, honest, and always on time.”
“I am a past client of this provider Chris was a godsend in my search for senior caregivers for my parents. I was tired of searching and trying new caregivers from different firms every few weeks, but to no avail. My parents were also a bit hesitant about getting care from unfamiliar people. Fortunately, I found Always Best Care's website on the internet. I called them, ready to be disappointed again. But, I was never let down by Chris and his team. They were very understanding and offered the most suitable caregivers for my parents' care. Without their help, I would still be stuck in the painful process of finding caregivers and being disappointed. I would recommend Always Best Care to everyone. -Jamie Neal”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Trailside Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Eddie Merlot's or visit Historic Ashburn Mill, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Ashburn, VA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Ashburn, VA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Ashburn, VA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
ASHBURN, VA — Just off the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Ashburn, Old Ox Brewery has been serving up its brews for 11 years. Now, the business is preparing to say farewell after an effort to transfer ownership at the current location did not go through.The owners said in a statement that the last day of business will be Saturday, April 5. Supporters of Old Ox Brewery are encouraged to attend the last day to help celebrate the...
ASHBURN, VA — Just off the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Ashburn, Old Ox Brewery has been serving up its brews for 11 years. Now, the business is preparing to say farewell after an effort to transfer ownership at the current location did not go through.
The owners said in a statement that the last day of business will be Saturday, April 5. Supporters of Old Ox Brewery are encouraged to attend the last day to help celebrate the business.
"Together, we’ve made wonderful friendships, supported our community, created some pretty darned cool experiences, and consumed an impressive quantity of delicious beer," the owners wrote. "Everything must end, though and this is our time."
According to the owners' announcement, the business had a lease up at the end of April. Two of the owners are ready to retire, and the other two "have some exciting opportunities outside the brewing world." The owners decided to pursue new owners. About a month ago, they identified "a great buyer" and informed the landlord. However, the landlord indicated a potential new tenant was in the pipeline.
"Unfortunately, the new tenant is a public entity and we simply could not compete with them," the owners shared. "A deal was finalized between the landlord and the new tenant last Friday. They will take over the Old Ox space once our lease is up at the end of April."
The family-owned brewery dates back to 2014. It was named for Old Ox Road, which the brewery's website says originated to connect Loudoun County farmers with markets in D.C. The brewery has a 30-barrel brewhouse and tasting room at its Ashburn location, and it sells its beers in restaurants and stores around Northern Virginia and D.C.
Old Ox Brewery's owners haven't ruled out a future for the brewery. The owners said they are looking for option to continue the brewery in a new space.
"Whatever happens, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the 11 years of love we’ve felt from all of you," the owners said. "We’ve had some amazing times and we’ve created memories that we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives. We appreciate you."
The board endorsed grandfathering for under-review data center applications ahead of action on changes to data center review standards.Patch StaffASHBURN, VA — As the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors prepares final consideration of stricter data center guidelines, a majority endorsed a plan to hold previously-submitted data center applications to be held to current standards.On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors gave its first endorsement to ...
Patch Staff
ASHBURN, VA — As the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors prepares final consideration of stricter data center guidelines, a majority endorsed a plan to hold previously-submitted data center applications to be held to current standards.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors gave its first endorsement to grandfathering data center applications already under review. That means any changes to approval standards for data centers wouldn't apply to data center applications accepted for county review by Feb. 12. The motion by Vice Chair Michael Turner (D-Ashburn) noted that the grandfathering resolution would only apply to proposed data centers more than 500 feet from residential uses with no major changes to the application. County staff will present the grandfathering resolution for final action on March 18.
The board could also take final action on March 18 on amendments affecting data center approval standards. Items under consideration are a comprehensive plan amendment to change data centers to a conditional use in zones where they are a core use or complementary (by-right) use and a zoning ordinance amendment to require special exception approval for data centers in all zoning districts that they are currently allowed by right.
On Tuesday, the board also voted to include special exceptions to legislative data centers applications approved after the Dec. 13, 2023 zoning ordinance update.
"We wanted to go back and grant legislative applications that had been approved, that we had already seen, that we have discussed that are not a surprise, subsequent to the zoning ordinance rewrite," said Turner.
According to a county staff presentation, there are 20 data center applications under review that require Board of Supervisors approval, six of which were approved before the county adopted new zoning ordinance changes. The grandfathering resolution affects another 21 applications that are administrative applications, which means they currently get a staff review but not Board of Supervisors review.
The board voted 5-3-1 to endorse the Feb. 12 grandfathering, with Supervisors Juli Briskman, Laura TeKrony and Sylvia Glass opposed and Chair Phyllis Randall not present. Before the vote, supervisors debated the fairness of allowing a grandfathering resolution for proposed data centers that the county already accepted for review.
TeKrony (D-Little River District) said she didn't support a grandfathering resolution for by-right applications. She believes if applications are not vested through the law, they should be subject to Board of Supervisors review.
"The public has been asking us to improve transparency and to negotiate better standard and minimize impacts," said TeKrony. "There are 21 by-right applications that would be grandfathered with this motion. We don't have to do grandfathering. Most zoning ordinance amendments don't have grandfathering."
Briskman (D-Algonkian) said that the motion would essentially be the county saying yes to the 21 data centers. She noted the board's priority to better regulate data centers since 2021.
"Yes, we did a lot of great work on the zoning ordinance rewrite. Yes, we put some controls. Yes, we appreciate the revenue that's generated. It has been very beneficial to our county," said Briskman. "But our community is begging us. Voting no on data centers does start to stop power lines from coming through here. We do have community members concerned about the pollution. We have fatigue, just general visual fatigue from data centers."
Turner argued that the grandfathering resolution isn't an automatic yes for the applications.
"Voting yes on this ordinance means the 21 data centers will continue with the process they've entered," said Turner. "Voting no on this application simply means the same 21 applications will go through the legislative process where they may or may not be voted down."
Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles) highlighted how the grandfathering doesn't apply to data centers proposed within 500 feet of residential areas.
"There is a simple fairness discussion around when she should actually enact these things," said Letourneau. "If an applicant or a developer has followed the rules that are in front of them at the time and filed an application to that point, it's difficult for me to say then that halfway through they have to stop and go back because we decided to change the rules."
Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) agreed about in-process applications, arguing that the grandfathering resolution is one fair decision amidst a "completely unjustified" process. Umstattd said the data center industry is "almost entirely supporting this county," a reference to the significant data center revenue.
"Making this fundamental of a change to our rules, disallowing by-right data centers where they have been allowed, I think is fundamentally unfair," said Umstattd.
Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) proposed moving the grandfathering date for submitted data center applications to March 18, the action date on the zoning ordinance amendments affecting data centers. That motion failed, with only Kershner and Umstattd supporting.
"I agree with a lot of the visual impacts that are concerns. I agree with being near residential, and those things I think we have addressed in large part, so I understand in part what some of the board members are trying to do," said Kershner. "With that said, I also agree that our data center industry have been tremendous partners over the last 10 years. They are the one industry that has made us the highest per-household income in the nation and quite frankly the wealthiest tax base in the nation."
Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling) proposed excluding applications in the Route 28 tax district from the grandfathering, instead requiring a Board of Supervisors review. That failed with a 4-4 vote with Turner, Kershner, Letourneau and Umstattd opposed.
The Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with two potential early voting sites, expanding access in other areas of the county.Patch Staff|Updated Thu, Mar 6, 2025 at 12:27 pm ETASHBURN, VA — Two Ashburn area sites are being sought as potential early voting sites by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors after a vote Tuesday. The sites would need a public hearing before the board's final approval.The board directed staff to pursue two potential early voting sites — University Center Campus Comm...
Patch Staff
|Updated Thu, Mar 6, 2025 at 12:27 pm ET
ASHBURN, VA — Two Ashburn area sites are being sought as potential early voting sites by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors after a vote Tuesday. The sites would need a public hearing before the board's final approval.
The board directed staff to pursue two potential early voting sites — University Center Campus Commons at 44927 George Washington Boulevard in Ashburn and the soon-to-open Ashburn Recreation and Community Center at 21105 Coopers Hawk Drive in Ashburn. The new Ashburn Recreation and Community Center is expected to open this summer, according to county staff.
Under the motion by Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling), county staff will pursue leases for early voting sites, ideally with lease terms of two to three years. A public hearing and board approval would be required to finalize the additional early voting sites.
The board also directed staff to study the feasability of an early voting site in western Loudoun County, per an amendment by Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin). That would include identifying specific locations for early voting, particularly in Lovettsville and the underserved western part of the Little River District.
The vote follows an October 2024 board member initiative by Supervisor Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) seeking an expansion of early voting sites. Loudoun County currently has four early voting sites — the Office of Elections and Voter Registration in Leesburg and satellite locations at Carver Senior Center in Purcellville, Claude Moore Recreation Center in Sterling, and Dulles South Recreation Center in South Riding. Ashburn is one of the county's most populated communities and lacks an early voting site. Supervisor districts without an early voting site include Algonkian, Ashburn, Broad Run and Little River.
County staff identified potential locations for the districts currently without an early voting site. According to staff, the University Center site in the Algonkian District has a 1,500-square-foot leased space with parking and is located along a Route 7 transit route.
County staff said the Ashburn Recreation and Community Center helps with operational efficiency by having access to the county's fiber network. The center will also have two transit routes to the Ashburn Metro station serving the site.
Other potential sites identified by staff were Loudoun Station in Ashburn near the Ashburn Metro station, a NOVA Parks property at 22377 Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn, a space at Brambleton Town Center in Brambleton, and a space at Dulles Town Center in Sterling. Staff noted that there was no open lease space at Brambleton Town Center available now.
Saines noted that the University Center site is in the Algonkian District but would serve voters in the Broad Run and Ashburn Districts as well.
Supervisor Laura TeKrony (D-Little River) noted the Ashburn Recreation and Community Center location provides closer access to those around Brambleton Town Center. She said voters around Aldie go to the Dulles South Recreation Center early voting site. However, western areas around Middleburg remain a farther distance from early voting sites.
"The only area I would say, if we're going to look at something in the west, I would say we should look at the Little River District in the west," said TeKrony. "But I don't think that's something to do at this time, but that area is unserved in the western part of the Little River District."
General Registrar Judy Brown said the Loudoun County Office of Elections preferred Ashburn Recreation and Community Center as an early voting site.
"It's similar to the sites that we currently use. They have the capacity for us to have lots of voters come through and have a lot of check ins," said Brown. "Being in a county site, we feel we have more security. We have the county network in there, making them easier to do with other sites."
The Office of Elections supported the University Center site as well, which Deputy Director of Elections Richard Keech said would make early voting sites seven to eight miles apart.
Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles) agreed with the elections office's two recommended sites and voiced support for a distance-based approach to selecting sites. He acknowledged the county has struggled with finding an adequate facility in western areas where gaps exist.
"To me, we got to look at, what's the distance for a resident to get one of these sites," said Letourneau. "And if it's not that far, if it's a 10-minute drive, I don't think that's a problem. I think where it's become a problem is for some residents, it's a lot further than that."
The county would be under time constraints to implement the new early voting sites for the November 2025 election. Submissions of new early voting sites would need to go to the Virginia attorney general's office by June 30, 2025. The board must establish satellite early voting offices and have state approval 105 days before an election.
Play Street Museum, a hands-on play space for young kids, has opened to strong interest from the community in Ashburn.Patch StaffASHBURN, VA — There's a new Town Square in Ashburn with a fire station, pet rescue, doctor's office, grocery store, café, apartment, and recycling center all in one place. The only catch? It's made for the little ones.Play Street Museum Ashburn opened March 12 at the Ashburn Village Center (44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza #140). The Ashburn franchise, owned by Jen Fritzeen and her h...
Patch Staff
ASHBURN, VA — There's a new Town Square in Ashburn with a fire station, pet rescue, doctor's office, grocery store, café, apartment, and recycling center all in one place. The only catch? It's made for the little ones.
Play Street Museum Ashburn opened March 12 at the Ashburn Village Center (44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza #140). The Ashburn franchise, owned by Jen Fritzeen and her husband of Reston, and her daughter Emily of Leesburg, focuses on creative, education-based play for children ages 1 to 8. The center, while not a day care, encourages families to play together.
"We very much encourage parent-child interaction," said Fritzeen. "A lot of the stuff really can be a learning experience, and it's fun to see Mom or Dad sitting down with their little one."
Fritzeen said her daughter has three young children and wanted to find a play space that didn't involve ball pits, play tunnels and video games. The family found Play Street Museum, which had no Virginia locations. After scoping out the new Play Street Museum in Severna Park, Maryland last year, the family "fell in love with the concept."
"There are so many families here in Ashburn that are looking for something fun to do, something different," said Fritzeen.
Play Street Museum franchises have a few design options for play spaces, and the Ashburn location chose the Town Square theme. Highlights include a fire station with a model truck in collaboration with the Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department, pet rescue with a real bearded dragon, a recycle truck, café, doctor's office and more. The fire station includes fire outfits, and Play Street Museum is working to get ones that say Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department.
Other concepts in the play space rotate. The discovery rug section changes six times a year — the current construction theme will change to the ocean in April and May, then dinosaurs in June and July.
Play Street Museum also has an art wall rotating monthly with a featured art project, easel painting and craft tables as well as featured activities. The current featured activity is magnets, while Picasso is the featured art for the month.
Rounding out the offerings are daily enrichment activities: music on Monday, creative on Tuesday, science on Wednesday, practical life on Thursday and the enrichment rug theme on Fridays.
All activities are included with admission, except activities with an extra cost such as slime making, pottery painting, bracelet making, and paint-on tie-dye. Along with the play space, Play Street Museum has a retail section with children's products.
Play Street Museum offers play sessions as well as birthday parties and field trip reservations. Weeknight and weekend events like play sessions, seasonal parties and slime events may be offered on occasion. Five-visit play passes are available in addition to individual play sessions, and these can apply to a group with multiple kids.
Fritzeen recommends reservations, as many of the times are filling up in the first days of the business. She says reservations allow the business to monitor the number of kids coming in, as other play places may get crowded with kids.
Fritzeen says the community response has been overwhelming, and play sessions have been booking up, especially on weekends. Birthday parties are already booking out through May.
"It seems people are very happy. I've gotten a lot of complements," said Fritzeen. "There's nothing like this really in the area."
Play sessions are an hour and a half, and the half hour between sessions is dedicated to cleaning. Fritzeen says that is to ensure each session begins with a clean setting.
"I was a pediatric nurse for 34 years...and I kind of pay attention to where they are playing so we can sanitize," said Fritzeen.
The family has an area agreement to open more Northern Virginia locations of Play Street Museum. Fritzeen told Patch they are actively looking for sites in Arlington and Fairfax counties.
"We really want to bring this concept throughout the Northern Virginia area," said Fritzeen. "There will be different themes when we do the other two. If you're in Ashburn, maybe you'll go to the other ones once in a while and do something different."
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The Loudoun Board of Supervisors voted to require a board review process for data centers that would have been by-right. Patch Staff|Updated Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 5:22 pm ETASHBURN, VA — Loudoun County, the world's data center capital, is taking action to restrict by-right development of future data centers.On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors enacted a more restrictive approval process for data center applications that are currently by right. Instead of an administrative review by county staff in areas whe...
Patch Staff
|Updated Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 5:22 pm ET
ASHBURN, VA — Loudoun County, the world's data center capital, is taking action to restrict by-right development of future data centers.
On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors enacted a more restrictive approval process for data center applications that are currently by right. Instead of an administrative review by county staff in areas where data centers have been allowed by right, those applications will now require a legislative review by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
Data centers in certain areas and with applications requiring special exceptions already must go through that Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors review process.
The motion eliminating by-right approvals received support from all supervisors but Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg).
The board also approved a grandfathering resolution, which means the former approval process would apply to applications the county has already accepted for review as of Feb. 12, 2025.
The grandfather provision will only apply to proposed data centers more than 500 feet from residential uses with no major changes to the application. Theresolution received support from Chair Phyllis Randall (D-at large), Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling), Kershner, Umstattd and Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles).
Loudoun County has the world's largest concentration of data centers, notably in an area of Ashburn nicknamed "Data Center Alley." The large presence of data centers has contributed significantly to the county's tax base, which County Administrator Tim Hemstreet said allowed him to recommend decreases to the real estate and vehicle personal property tax rates in the latest budget proposal.
But opponents of data centers have pointed to environmental concerns, a greater demand for electricity and strain on the electric grid, as well as noise issues for facilities near residential communities.
The county previously noted that the Board of Supervisors cannot legally impose a moratorium on new data center applications. Under Virginia law, localities must consider each rezoning or special exception application.
The grandfathering resolution affects some of the applications already in the county pipeline. According to a county staff presentation, there are three data center applications currently under review within 500 feet of residential uses, which means they wouldn't be covered by the grandfathering resolution and would require legislative review.
There are 19 applications under review outside the 500 feet, which means the grandfathering resolution covers them and they will only require a county staff administrative review.
Randall expressed support for restrictions on data centers, including excluding applications within 500 feet of homes from the grandfather measure.
"I've said many times that data centers are a double-edged sword, and all the things they do for our economy have been said and are very, very appreciated," said Randall. "However, homeowners have also spent money on their homes. Homeowners are living in their retirement. We can't simply say data centers bring lots and lots of revenue, and that's what we're going to do."
Supervisor Sylvia Glass (D-Broad Run), whose district includes a large concentration of data centers, said they are one of the topics she hears about most from her constituents. Glass said the data centers have made revenue contributions and assisted nonprofits in the community, but she supports greater review over these developments.
"These changes will help empower us, the board, to make thoughtful decisions regarding with data centers that we build in our communities," said Glass.
Kershner and Umstattd, who ultimately voted against eliminating by-right approvals for data centers, shared concerns about eliminating the by-right option for data centers.
"I'm concerned in general about taking away by-right opportunities for businesses that have invested or for homeowners who have invested," said Umstattd. "We try to treat everybody on an equal playing field. There have been hundreds of millions of dollars invested in the county, and the results we've seen in allowing us to lower taxes."
Letourneau, however, shared an example of a by-right South Riding data center application that he pushed to find a different site for. The supervisor said the applicant would not work with him.
"We have 400,000 some bosses, and they've asked us to do something," said Letourneau. "Every meeting, we hear the horror story of what we're dealing with on the Mars to Golden transmission line. … I'm appreciative of the amazing revenue, and also I've been pretty consistent about supporting data centers in places where they should be. But the reality is, some of them haven't been, and some of them aren't."
Supervisor Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) responded to public comment about board members financially benefiting from data centers, which she said "is completely offensive and completely false."
However, she noted that electricity demand from data centers continues to be a concern, with Dominion Energy estimating it would need 50 more substations based on growth projections.
"It's an industry in our county that has been very successful, and we are very proud of, and it's also an industry in our county that our residents are suffering from fatigue over. They are not happy about the power lines," said Briskman.
Supervisor Laura TeKrony (D-Little River) noted that the county has become overreliant on data center revenue. She expressed shock about the need for 50 more substations and said she would do more research on that.
"I know the data center industry has been great partners," said TeKrony. "I want to support the existing community, but I know that residents are really feeling the impacts with the amount of transmission lines that we have going through this county and also the amount of substations."
Supervisors considered various amendments, and some did not move forward in the grandfathering motion. Supervisor Juli Briskman introduced an alternative to exclude by-right administrative applications from the grandfathering resolution, hoping to get under-review applications a legislative review. But that motion failed 4-5, with only Briskman, TeKrony, Vice Chair Michael Turner (D-Ashburn) and Glass supporting.
"It's basically in my mind and some of my colleagues' mind, it's basically approving 22 new data centers to the tune of I think it's about 61 million square feet of data centers, it's more than doubling our data center square footage in the county," said Briskman.
Letourneau questioned the fairness of having data center applicants a year or two into the process start over with new rules. However, he called the 500-feet from residential standard a compromise.
"What we are trying to do here is to strike a compromise, and the carve-out here on the grandfathering is to get at the exact issue that the residents are most concerned about and that the board hasn't wanted, which is data center residential too close together," said Letourneau.
Another motion by Kershner to move the grandfathering date for submitted data center applications from Feb. 12 to March 18 failed. The later date was intended to grandfather applications up to the point of the board voting on the by-right approval changes. That motion only received support from Kershner and Umstattd.
Tuesday's decision was the end of the first of two phases to update data center and substation policies and standards. The first phase was the result of the Board of Supervisors directing staff in February 2024 to prepare a comprehensive plan amendment and zoning ordinance amendment on the matter.
The second phase will focus on updates to the county's 2019 Loudoun County General Plan addressing policies applying to data centers and substations like land use, site and building design, noise, energy, light and more as well as zoning ordinance amendments for revised standards. The county estimated phase 2 could take 14 months to complete.
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