Mason land use committee endorses Markham Street apartments
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| An illustration showing the new site design for the Markham project. |
The Mason District Land Use Committee unanimously endorsed a
rezoning application July 22 for a 12-story, 308 unit apartment building on the
site of the AMF Annandale Lanes bowling alley on Markham Street in Annandale. The project is a joint venture of Southern Management, which
owns The Parliaments, and the Webb Cos.
rezoning application July 22 for a 12-story, 308 unit apartment building on the
site of the AMF Annandale Lanes bowling alley on Markham Street in Annandale. The project is a joint venture of Southern Management, which
owns The Parliaments, and the Webb Cos.
The L-shaped building would have one and two-bedroom
apartments and about 36 efficiency units. There would be space for a
6,000-square foot restaurant on the first floor and a plaza with a swimming
pool for residents on the fourth floor.
apartments and about 36 efficiency units. There would be space for a
6,000-square foot restaurant on the first floor and a plaza with a swimming
pool for residents on the fourth floor.
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| An aerial view of the project with Markham Street on the left. |
The architect, Faik Tugberk of Architects Collaborative Inc.,
explained some tweaks to the design of the project made at the request of
Fairfax County planning staff. The building was moved a bit further back from
Markham Street creating a linear park in front, and the urban park at the rear
would be smaller and would be eventually converted to another public use, such
as additional parking.
explained some tweaks to the design of the project made at the request of
Fairfax County planning staff. The building was moved a bit further back from
Markham Street creating a linear park in front, and the urban park at the rear
would be smaller and would be eventually converted to another public use, such
as additional parking.
The building would include a semi-underground parking garage
with 40 spaces for restaurant patrons, 30 spaces for general by the public, and 496 spaces
(1.6 per unit) for residents. Instead of including the required affordable “workforce
units” in the building, Southern Management agreed to provide 90 larger,
affordable units at The Parliaments.
with 40 spaces for restaurant patrons, 30 spaces for general by the public, and 496 spaces
(1.6 per unit) for residents. Instead of including the required affordable “workforce
units” in the building, Southern Management agreed to provide 90 larger,
affordable units at The Parliaments.
The Annandale Central Business District Planning Committee
endorsed the project in January. Committee chair Greg McGillicuddy told the
MDLUC July 22, “It’s a great project. It will be the centerpiece of Annandale
revitalization and will spark more revitalization.”
endorsed the project in January. Committee chair Greg McGillicuddy told the
MDLUC July 22, “It’s a great project. It will be the centerpiece of Annandale
revitalization and will spark more revitalization.”
MDLUC member Stephen Smith acknowledged the issue of overcrowded
schools but said if the project doesn’t get built, “you lose tens of millions
of dollars of investment.” The building is expected to draw 33 school-aged
children, according to Fairfax County Public Schools estimates.
schools but said if the project doesn’t get built, “you lose tens of millions
of dollars of investment.” The building is expected to draw 33 school-aged
children, according to Fairfax County Public Schools estimates.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission has scheduled a public
hearing on the proposal for Sept. 10.
hearing on the proposal for Sept. 10.
21 responses to “Mason land use committee endorses Markham Street apartments”
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308 units and only 33 children? YEAH RIGHT! Try 150…
Yep, glad my kids are out of AHS.
Those kids would be outside the AHS boundaries. But you might be able to see the lights of AHS from the top floor.
They would go to Falls Church HS, right? What about elementary? Mason Crest?
That's right, they get to attend the decaying Falls Church High School !
http://annandaleva.blogspot.com/2014/07/school-board-split-on-accelerlating.html
" Instead of including the required affordable “workforce units” in the building, Southern Management agreed to provide 90 larger, affordable units at The Parliaments."
Wow!! I wonder how that benefits the Parliaments residents? Sounds like they are being dumped on by the county and the developers.
The developer in this instance is their own landlord. Which has the right to do with those units what they want. They can raise the rents, or they can use some of the units to meet affordability requirements for the new building (which BTW will probably mean lower rent increases for the market rate units at the Parliaments) Sorry folks, you do NOT have property rights in an apt you rent, not in Virginia. Your landlord can tear down your unit, can raise your rent, can evict you and keep it vacant. Whatever they please. That they can also cut a deal like this with the County does NOT mean that County is dumping on you. Any more than its dumping on you when the allow your landlord to raise your rent.
The manager at the Parliaments said there would be a bowling alley included. What happened to that?
After reading the South Management Co. "reviews", I wouldn't believe anything that is said!.. This building is much to large for the space. The size needs to be reduced as well as the number of apts. More green space is needed. The top to floors should be set back from building and have private terraces! Building is basically ugly as planned!
> The urban park at the rear would be smaller and would be eventually converted to another public use, such as additional parking.
> public use
> parking
Is it just me, or is it effectively being disclosed now that the STATED PLAN OF THE COUNTY is to bait-and-switch future inhabitants of this building? "Smaller and eventually converted to another use?" Sounds an awful lot like "We're all for pedestrian-friendly as long as it doesn't cost us any parking spaces."
Combine that with the raw deal of the Parliaments and it sounds like Southern Management is quite the county sweetheart …
I'm no big fan of parking, but given that there will SOMEDAY be a bunch of new development there, the fact that park might SOMEDAY become a public garage seems like a reasonable option, and not a sweetheart deal to the developers.
308 units and only 33 children?
Why don't they use their formula and estimate how many children should be at Bailey's ES and see how far off they are from reality?
Take a look at Architects Collaborative website! Buildings are massive and massive looking. Not very pedestrian-friendly to me….only one development the "Village" looks like a great option to me.
33 children sounds about right for 308 units…families aren't going to be moving into this building…its going to be marketed (and priced) for single young professionals (aka college grads) or young childless couples plus the few kids that will move into here will being going to FCHS (which is below capacity) NOT Annandale HS…so pipe down.
And this goes for the developments planned for the Seven corners area…its not going to the same as the existing apartments there now with 10 people crammed into a tiny unit. Both projects are good for the community.
We know the equation for estimating student yields from apartments doesn't compute in Seven Corners – just look at the massive overcrowding in the schools there.
There is nothing to prevent multiple families from pooling together to live in any new apartment building in Annandale or Seven Corners.
The thing that prevents that is the market. Only poor people would do that, and they would not pay the premium for a new hirise with amenities, when their is much cheaper housing in old buildings, esp old low rises. The only exception is places like McLean with very good schools. Annandale is not that.
You must not be from Mason District where there are plenty of newly built mcmansions packed with multiple families.
Obama needs somewhere to place all the illegal immigrants he's letting over the border. Guess Annandale will house some of them.
THNAKS OBAMAA
No doubt, lots of new Democrats looking for a handout, coming across the border. The media never talks about the truth of the matter.
6000 sq ft restaurant…Perfect location for Annandale's first brewery and pub . Finally.