In The Works: Top 5 Developments Coming To Fairfax County
Fairfax Plaza Shopping Center
Developer: Retail Properties of America
Retail Properties of America is planning to redevelop a low-rise, 1970s-era strip shopping center to create a 1M SF residential/mixed-use community.
RPAI paid $46M in January 2016 to acquire the properties at 2936, 2950 and 2960 Gallows Road. It plans to construct 576K SF of retail, 626 multifamily units and office space on the 12.6-acre site.
RPAI is hoping to capitalize and expand on the interest the vibrant Mosaic District in Merrifield has generated. The Mosaic District town center transformed a relatively sterile area into a burgeoning community combining the walkability of a small town with the storefronts and cosmopolitan vibe of a major city. High-end restaurants and retail began popping up in 2012 to transform the area.
The St. James
Developers: Kendrick Ashton, Craig Dixon and Cain International
Construction of The St. James, a 450K SF indoor sports complex at 6805 Industrial Road, is underway in Springfield, Virginia. The St. James’ co-founders and co-CEOs Kendrick Ashton and Craig Dixon have partnered with private equity firm Cain International to build the D.C. area’s largest 24/7 sports complex.
The developers bought the site for $20M in June 2016, and plan to install a 50K SF fitness facility, a FIFA regulation-sized turf soccer field, two National Hockey League regulation-sized ice rinks, four standard basketball courts convertible to nine volleyball courts, a 50-meter pool, six batting cages and squash, golf, gymnastics and climbing areas.
The complex also includes a 20K SF entertainment center, a water park, a spa, sports-oriented retail and a restaurant concept from an unnamed celebrity chef.
The project held a groundbreaking ceremony last September featuring Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin. It is on track to open this September.
Huntington Club Condominium
Developer: IDI Group Companies
The Huntington Club Condominium Owners’ Association voted with 87% approval to terminate itself, and allow IDI Group Companies to build a more-than-3M SF transit-oriented, mixed-use community in its place.
HCC’s 10 buildings with 364 garden-style condos will be replaced with over 1,000 condos, over 500 apartments, 65 townhouses, 446K SF of office space, a 120K SF hotel and 17K SF of retail.
The 19.5-acre HCC site is adjacent to the Huntington Metro station. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proposed a plan amendment that would increase the allowed density on the 19-acre site and provide for 200-foot-tall buildings.
The developer will either buy out HCC owners or grant them units in the new development, which will break ground in 2019 and deliver in phases throughout the next decade.
Herndon Downtown Development
Developers: Comstock Partners and the Town of Herndon
Comstock Partners is embarking on another transit-oriented venture along the Silver Line, this one a public-private redevelopment in Herndon on a 4.7-acre, town-owned plot. Comstock is the developer behind Reston Station and Loudoun Station, both around Silver Line stops.
The Herndon Downtown Development will be a cultural arts district and multifamily community featuring 281 apartments, 18K SF of retail, an 18K SF arts center, an arts plaza and walkway and a 761-space parking garage.
The town will contribute $3.6M to the redevelopment effort, and Comstock will provide an estimated $12M worth of public amenities. The development is expected to generate significant tax revenue for Herndon and Fairfax County. Groundbreaking is slated for 2019, and project completion is expected in early 2021.
The Promenade at Reston Station
Developer: Comstock Partners
At Wiehle-Reston East, the last stop on the Silver Line in Phase 1, Comstock Partners is planning a 761K SF, multifamily-heavy mixed-use community.
The walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented Promenade at Reston Station will have 500 residential units spread across two mid-rise buildings. Plans also call for 91K SF of ground-floor retail, 178K SF of either office or hotel and a “woonerf,” which is a Dutch word for an experimental large public plaza element.
Comstock plans to unite the Promenade and nearby Reston Station to create a large, cohesive neighborhood. The developer plans to break ground on the Promenade mid-2019.
CORRECTION, JAN. 31, 6:10 P.M. ET: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Streetsense as a developer for the Huntington Club Condominium project. Streetsense is a planning consultant. The story has been updated.
