Susie, a Fairfax native, joined the firm in March 2020 as a member of the firm’s real estate and commercial transactions practice group. Her practice focuses on the preparation of homeowner and condominium association documents, contract drafting and negotiation, leases, and general representation of community associations. Prior to joining the firm, Susie spent more than eight years representing condominium and homeowners’ associations throughout Virginia. She gained extensive experience serving as general counsel to community associations and assisting them with the preparation of amendments to governing documents, land use matters, covenants interpretation and enforcement, contract review, litigation support, and foreclosures.

She has been an active member of the Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute where she was appointed to serve in various leadership positions and was a frequent contributor to the Chapter’s monthly print magazine. Susie obtained her law degree from The George Washington University Law School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from James Madison University.

In this month’s Employee Spotlight we’ll get to know the newest addition to the Real Estate Transactions team, Susie Truskey.

Tell us a little about yourself — where did you grow up? Where do you reside now?

I am a native of Northern Virginia.  I grew up in Chantilly and now live in the City of Fairfax with my husband Todd, and dog, Harper.

​What first interested you in real estate law?  

Prior to law school, I began my career in the secondary mortgage market at Freddie Mac.  I have always been interested in law and my experience working at Freddie Mac started me on this path.  In my first 9 years of practice, I worked mostly with community associations and condominiums in Virginia and D.C. where I particularly enjoyed dealing with land use issues.

Your just joined the team not too long ago. So far, what’s your favorite thing about working at Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh?​

​​The people.  My transition to WCLW was in the works prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus and I must say that starting a new job during the beginning of a global pandemic has been interesting to say the least!  I feel very fortunate I was able to begin working at the firm in late March despite the unusual circumstances.  Everyone I have worked with has been extremely welcoming and supportive.  We are all learning to adapt to working remotely and I can’t wait to meet everyone face to face when we are allowed to go into the office.  I am very proud to be a member of the WCLW team.

What’s something invaluable you’ve learned in the practice of law?

That it is truly a practice requiring continual learning, evolution and growth.   Additionally, another thing I appreciate and don’t take for granted is how collegial the practice of law is, even among competitors.

Outside of work, do you have any hobbies or quarantine hobbies?

My two favorite sports are golf and snow skiing.  Fortunately, golf is one of few recreational activities that hasn’t been severely impacted by the pandemic and I have enjoyed getting a couple of rounds in most weekends.  We spent the first 7 or so weeks of quarantine at home in Fairfax but recently have been getting away on the weekends to Bryce Resort in the Shenandoah Valley.  My husband and I have been hiking with our dog Harper, a 6 year old Vizsla, who enjoys adventures and needs plenty of off leash exercise.

​Favorite place to visit/travel to? 

Lately, it has been Bryce Resort in Basye, Virginia because it is accessible but also truly beautiful.  Under normal circumstances, I may have answered Santorini, Greece but international travel has been the furthest thing from my mind lately.

Favorite sports team? 

Washington Capitals

What is your favorite show or book?​ 

Golden Girls

Thanks for sharing with us Susie!

 

The Tysons Reporter interviewed senior land use planner Elizabeth Baker about the Meridian Group’s plans to turn the former headquarters of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) into an extension of The Boro.

 

[ EXCERPT ]

Meridian Group Looking to Expand The Boro at Former NADA HQ

Catherine Douglas Moran

The Meridian Group is hoping to turn the former headquarters of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) into an extension of The Boro.

The plans would redo the old NADA site and an adjacent property — both currently vacant — into a mixed-use development with residential uses, a continuing care facility and ground-floor retail space, Elizabeth Baker, a senior land use planner for Walsh Colucci, told Tysons Reporter.

“The vision is to extend The Boro development across Westpark Drive and to continue the transformation of Tysons from a suburban office park to an urban center,” she said. Read more

The Virginia State Bar Journal of Local Government Law, Spring 2020 edition, recently featured John Foote’s article on The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Read the article here.

 

[EXCERPT]

The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act in the Fourth Circuit

Why do we still care about the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act? Literally thousands of RLUIPA cases have been decided since the Act was passed in 2000, and it would take more than one article, or this writer, to do them justice. The answer may well be that in almost every jurisdiction where a reader may sit, there is likely to be found an evangelical church bursting at its seams in a neighborhood already resistant to its growth, a new synagogue that cannot find land on which to build, and, yes, a mosque that is opposed because it will “generate too much traffic.” Read more

 

We are pleased to announce that three lawyers at Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh have been named Virginia “Super Lawyers” for 2020. In addition, four of the firm’s lawyers have been named Virginia “Rising Stars” by the lawyer rating service Super Lawyers.

ARLnow reported on the recently approved 175-unit assisted living facility, Artis Senior Living, along Lee Highway which was guided through the approval process by land use attorneys Art Walsh and Nick Cumings.

 

[EXCERPT]

New Senior Living Facility Along Lee Highway Approved

The Arlington County Board has voted unanimously to approve a new, 175-unit assisted living facility along Lee Highway. The elder care center will replace a handful of single-family homes on a large parcel of property at the corner of Lee Highway and N. Taylor Street. In addition to more homes for seniors in need of memory care and assisted living services, the project includes environmentally-conscious features and a new 10,000+ square foot public open space. Read more

On March 14, 2020, the Alexandria City Council approved special use permits submitted by the Tall Ship Providence Foundation which will allow the development of a new pier and maritime center for the Tall Ship Providence. The new developments will be exciting additions to Old Town’s Waterfront Park experience, and will fulfill the vision set forth in the Old Town Waterfront Small Area Plan. The Waterfront Small Area Plan was adopted in February of 2012. The Plan recognizes the important contributions of history and art to Alexandria and seeks to add them to a series of public spaces that comprise the waterfront, making specific mention of The Strand Park located along the waterfront between Prince and Wolfe Street. The Strand is a linear park along the waterfront that residents and staff identified as an opportunity to bring history and art back to the forefront of daily life in Alexandria.

The Plan sets forth various goals to achieve this, including attracting a tall ship to be docked and berthed along a new pier on the waterfront. Tall Ship Providence, an 18th century replica, will achieve this goal and will be docked at a 5,300 square-foot floating pier. The pier will include two 24-by-32-foot cottages to serve as a visitor center, a gift shop, restrooms, and a ticket office; as well as The Tall Ship Maritime Center which will include a theater for historical presentations. The site will finally realize the potential set forth in the plan; providing residents a connection to the City’s history and art scene with various opportunities for education and entertainment.

Land use attorney Cathy Puskar guided the Tall Ship Providence Foundation through the development review process, negotiating with City staff, and conducting significant community outreach.

“We’re very excited to have a home for the Tall Ship Providence. That’s been in the works for quite some time now,” Cathy Puskar told the commission.

All Images Courtesy of HGA