Facade improvements proposed for Annandale
Could a few simple aesthetic fixes improve the appearance of central Annandale? That’s the idea behind the Fairfax County Office of Community Revitalization’s (OCR) proposed façade improvement pilot program.
The program would encourage business owners to make improvements like landscaping, painting, awnings, flower boxes, planting trees, screening dumpsters, and installing more attractive signs.
OCR planner Laura Baker told members of the Annandale Central Business District Planning Committee (ACBDPC) May 12 that the county would provide some funding, and property owners would be asked to contribute matching funds. The program would be based on a similar façade program operated by the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation for businesses along Richmond Highway.
If adopted for Annandale, the pilot program would focus on a stretch of Columbia Pike between Evergreen Lane and Tom Davis Drive. Several properties on that road are fronted by large expanses of concrete that could be improved by adding some greenery and other tweaks, Baker says.
Several members of the ACBDPC said what’s really needed to make that stretch of roadway walkable is a sidewalk. Funding for a new sidewalk there, however, isn’t expected to be available any time soon.
After reviewing pictures of businesses along Columbia Pike, committee members selected three top properties for improvement: the collection of shops between 7201 and 7211 Columbia Pike (Beauttie Total Fashion, Imm Thai Cuisine, the AT&T Uniq Mobile store, Gloria Fashion Outlet, and the To Sok Jip restaurant); the shopping center at 7115-7127 Columbia Pike (Café Tu Ah, Gaboja restaurant, Jang Uh Si seafood restaurant, Big Bite Pizza, and On Hair); and the Annandale Service Center at 7029 Columbia Pike.
12 responses to “Facade improvements proposed for Annandale”
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What happened to putting all the utility wires underground? Seems like they did a little strip and then stopped. That would greatly improve the look of Annandale.
IMM Thai is perfectly nice on the inside.
Agreed! Food is quite good as well.
Gaboja is really good too! It's a nice little group of restaurants, some external polish would help their traffic.
How do developers get away without building sidewalks? These are basic to any neighborhood, they reduce traffic by making it safe to walk, and should be a no-brainer in any central business district. We need to make sidewalks part of any development or redevelopment plan, along with bike lanes. This will provide a better community and reduce traffic congestion.
"Several members of the ACBDPC said what’s really needed to make that stretch of roadway walkable is a sidewalk. Funding for a new sidewalk there, however, isn’t expected to be available any time soon."
Annandale's phobia of sidewalks continues. If Annandale really wants to become a walkable, and safer community, sidewalks through residential and commercial areas are a must.
Finally this is what the Mason District Council, a couple of Board members in the Bailey's Crossroads and Seven Corners Revitalization Corporation, and many residents have been asking for years — a pilot project to improve the facade of the businesses and roads. This is fabulous and it should be piloted in Seven Corners area too. Just doing this type of thing will upgrade old, downtrodden areas and will encourage other businesses to follow suit.
Putting lipstick on a pig doesn't change the fact that it's a pig.
Annandale's a dump in a death spiral.
trolololololoooooo. Don't feed him people.
We can't fund schools or build decent ones. Yet the county wants to fund this? Sorry Annandale will never be walkable, no need. Park at the place you want to shop/eat in and leave. I still get angry at the waste of pavers on sidewalk and the on the roads. What a waste of money that was.
Yes, let's not fund improving things that actually put money back into the coffers, like businesses. You crazy education hawks want to tear down all structures and replace them with schools.
Not a crazy education hawk. Why should tax dollars go to improve business owners property? The county does not mow my grass or plant my flowers, if they did I could work more and pay more taxes.