New preschool planned for Annandale church

A new preschool is planned for Hope Lutheran Church on Ravensworth Road in Annandale.

The church had hosted the Hope Montessori School, a preschool, for nearly 50 years but it closed in July when enrollment dropped to fewer than 20 students, says Stanley Moore, property chair for Hope Lutheran.

The church now plans to lease space to My Baby Steps Academy, which is currently based in a private home in Annandale. Moore says it could open as early as April or May.

To make that happen, however, a special permit for the new school has to be approved by the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals. The BZA is holding a hearing on March 11.

According to Moore, a new permit is needed because the previous permit was specifically for the Hope Montessori School.

No major renovations will be done to the church building, and its footprint will not be changed, he says, although the new tenant might make some cosmetic improvements, such as painting.