Apartment building planned for Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads
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| 5600 Columbia Pike |
Carlin Springs Road is going to be torn down and replaced with a six-story
apartment building. The new building is expected to be completed in 2018.
a sense of place” and serve as “a gateway to Bailey’s Crossroads,” said Scott
Adams, a land use attorney with McGuireWoods. Adams gave a presentation on the
building with Dick Knapp of Foulger-Pratt, the developer, at the Feb. 18
meeting of the Bailey’s Crossroads Revitalization Corporation.
Adams hopes to file a rezoning application with the Fairfax County Planning Commission next month and a proposed amendment to the Fairfax
County Comprehensive Plan by the end of the year. The building, at 5600 Columbia Pike, has been vacant
since the Defense Intelligence Analysis Group vacated it as part of the Base
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.
the property would be of more use if repurposed—and rezoned—for residential use. The
project would be marketed to what he calls “young aspirants,” professionals age
24-39 moving to the D.C. area for jobs but not yet ready to buy a house. He
also it would attract older people who want to move from single-family
homes to a more walkable community.
planned for Columbia Pike, which has already led to lots of new multifamily development
in Arlington, and would be a catalyst for future development farther south on
the Pike.
would have one bedroom, and 10 percent would be studio apartments. Knapp
expects the rents would range from about $1,700 for a studio to $2,500 for a
two-bedroom unit.
housing option, as they would be larger than the 500 square-foot minimum for
RSUs and would have market-rate rents. About 6 percent of the units would be below-market-rate “workforce housing” as defined in a Fairfax County ordinance.
To offset the additional expense of increased public school
enrollment, Adams said the developer would contribute $10,000 per school-age
child expected to live in the building as required by the county, although he predicted most tenants won’t
have children. The number of projected
children would be based on a formula used by Fairfax County Public Schools. The building is located in the school attendance area for
Glen Forest Elementary School, which is already way over capacity.
The existing above-ground, 400-space parking deck would be
retained, and about 60 to 90 underground parking spaces would be added. Adams plans to ask the county to allow fewer than the required number
of parking spaces. He said that would
work because the building is on a bus line with service to Metro and is within
walking distance of stores. He also proposed a Zipcar facility on the site.
Planned amenities include a swimming pool, lounge, cyber café,
fitness center, and theater. Foulger-Pratt plans to include streetscape improvements
and a public plaza.
4 responses to “Apartment building planned for Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads”
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Just wondering. The local school is already overcrowded… And in Annandale, the bowling alley is to be replaced by a high-rise apt. building. And yes the local schools are overcrowded. Wonder when the School Board will react. Their recent history suggests not until it's a crisis (see their track record on redistricting Annandale not once but twice in three years.)
This new apartment building would be the perfect candidate for adding several efficiencies dedicated to the population that would qualify for RSUs, that is, 60% AMI and below. Instead of allowing developers to build an entire building (RSUs) dedicated to low income residents, all income levels should be allowed and encouraged through developer incentives to live together. Lower income levels should be included in the already created zoning ordinance, Affordable Workforce Housing ordinance. It has been proven over and over again that building a building for mostly low income people does not work and is a disaster – the projects. Fairfax county staff and the BoS should not approve a special use zoning ordinance amendment for RSUs. There are better ways to help lower income individuals than housing them all together.
In addition, our schools must be better planned for. Allowing developers to give only $10,000 for an “expected school-age children” is ridiculous and who will make that determination. The formula the county uses is out of date and does not allow for real planning. Developers will not count or anticipate children not yet born. People will have children whether or not the County wants admit it. Our schools have not had real planning since at least 2006. We must insist that the Board of Supervisors and County Planners do smart planning instead of spot development!!
Our schools are filled to the brim and our children have out grown their schools. Our children are currently in trailers and mega trailers. When are we going to fix our school issues first before allowing all the new infill and rezoning?
Additionally, putting our kids in a converted office building with no ball fields, playgrounds and no gym for basketball is not a real solution.
Our County is neglecting their citizens who pay taxes.
This building was a hotel back in the 70s. Does anyone else remember that or have pictures?