Is One of Reston's Biggest Projects Dead?
A plan to revitalize the area around Lake Anne in Reston may be dead in the water. Lake Anne Development Partners announced to residents last week that there’s a whole host of reasons for freezing the 1.7M SF project, including financing and an inability to assemble the required land parcels.
Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins says the county will start deliberations about next steps, because how and when to proceed are a mystery at this point, according to Reston Now. It’s possible the county will issue a new RFP or pick a previous proposal, says Lake Anne Reston Condo Association president Rick Thompson.
Approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in March, the plan would have brought 1.7M SF of new mixed-use development to a 24-acre site near Washington Plaza. It would have replaced Crescent Apartments, a county-owned affordable housing complex, with two new residential projects with 20% of the units remaining affordable. In total, the project would have added 732 new apartments, 120 townhomes, 78k SF of office and 58k SF of retail, including a grocery store.
The three-phase project to revitalize the 48-year-old Lake Anne Village Center was to start this month and take about 12 years to complete. Crescent has several vacancies related to the redevelopment plans, but will soon start leasing again. It's not known what will become of the land swap deal between Lake Anne Development Partners and Reston Association.
Rick says the community is “deeply disappointed,” yet noted the plaza’s recent renaissance. Its first nano brewery, Lake Anne Brew House, and a new coffeehouse are coming in the next few weeks. Chesapeake Chocolates just expanded and a US Post Office is being added. [RN]
