Buyer sought for Annandale property
There is a lot of interest in the vacant property on Columbia Pike next to the Giant parking lot. But don’t expect anything to happen any time soon.
The 1-acre site is available for a ground lease or sale for $3.5 million, says Craig Cheney with KLNB. The property is zoned C-8, which means it’s suitable for various commercial uses.
Related story: Fairfax County sues owners of burned buildings on Columbia Pike
Four buildings on the site had been destroyed by a fire in March 2023. They were demolished last spring after Fairfax County filed suit against the owner. The two remaining buildings are vacant and boarded up.
Cheney says he’s gotten “a bunch of calls for a lot of different uses,” including a fast-food restaurant, carwash, bank, and auto parts store.
“Going through the county approval process for a new development is costly and time-consuming, often lasting years,” he says. “Despite many prospects being interested in the location, many do not have the stomach or means to go through the painstaking process to get the necessary approvals for their intended use.”
Related story: Demolition underway on remains of burned buildings in Annandale
Thank you for reporting on the current status of this vacant land in the heart of Annandale. I understand from your reporting it will take time before some new use is made of this site.
As other commenters have noted, it would be nice if something could be done to “beautify” the site while it remains in its present state. However, I acknowledge not knowing whether the current owners can be forced to do (or pay for) the beautifying.
I don’t think Fairfax County Government should pay for it because, as noted in other columns, the County should be careful in how it spends its revenue.