New Seven Corners complex aimed at ‘yuppies’
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| An illustration of the proposed complex next to the existing office buildings |
New details emerged on the proposed 195-unit
residential/retail complex for Arlington Boulevard in Seven Corners at a recent meeting of the Bailey’s Crossroads Revitalization Corporation.
residential/retail complex for Arlington Boulevard in Seven Corners at a recent meeting of the Bailey’s Crossroads Revitalization Corporation.
The project would be located on the sliver of land between
Route 50 and South Street, next to the two 13-story office towers. On the other
side of the new development, an eight-story hotel, a Hampton Inn and Suites,
has already been approved.
Route 50 and South Street, next to the two 13-story office towers. On the other
side of the new development, an eight-story hotel, a Hampton Inn and Suites,
has already been approved.
The five-story project will have 180 apartments above 18,000
square feet of retail facing Route 50. There would be 15 three-story townhouses
along South Street facing the single-family homes across the street, says
Elizabeth Baker, a senior land use planner with Walsh, Coluci, Lubeley Emrich,and Walsh.
square feet of retail facing Route 50. There would be 15 three-story townhouses
along South Street facing the single-family homes across the street, says
Elizabeth Baker, a senior land use planner with Walsh, Coluci, Lubeley Emrich,and Walsh.
The proposal is expected to go before the Planning Commission this fall, then to the Board of Supervisors. If the approval process
goes smoothly, construction could start in late 2013, Baker says.
The property is zoned PDC (planned development commercial). The
original plans approved by Fairfax County in the 1970s called for three office
buildings on that site but only two were built.
original plans approved by Fairfax County in the 1970s called for three office
buildings on that site but only two were built.
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| The project would include townhouses facing South Street |
That property, owned by JBG Cos., is in the Providence
District but is also in the Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization District, which is
mostly in Mason.
District but is also in the Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization District, which is
mostly in Mason.
Baker says the retail will probably include restaurants and
services like dry cleaners targeted to both the residents of the complex and
employees of the adjacent offices.
services like dry cleaners targeted to both the residents of the complex and
employees of the adjacent offices.
JGB prefers fast food restaurants because
the county requires fewer parking space for them than for sit-down restaurants. JGB has requested a special exception to have a fast food
restaurant in a residential setting. Baker says the county defines fast food as
any restaurant with disposable utensils, and the company’s plans call for places
like Panera, Corner Bakery, or Starbucks, rather than McDonalds.
the county requires fewer parking space for them than for sit-down restaurants. JGB has requested a special exception to have a fast food
restaurant in a residential setting. Baker says the county defines fast food as
any restaurant with disposable utensils, and the company’s plans call for places
like Panera, Corner Bakery, or Starbucks, rather than McDonalds.
The company
also requested approval to have just 1.45 parking spaces per seat, rather than
the required 1.6, because the existing parking lot serving the office buildings
are usually only two-thirds full.
also requested approval to have just 1.45 parking spaces per seat, rather than
the required 1.6, because the existing parking lot serving the office buildings
are usually only two-thirds full.
There would be minimal surface parking on the service road
along Route 50. Residents would park in a two-level underground lot. There would be a public courtyard with a water feature
inside the complex that could be used for outdoor dining and a private
courtyard restricted to residents.
along Route 50. Residents would park in a two-level underground lot. There would be a public courtyard with a water feature
inside the complex that could be used for outdoor dining and a private
courtyard restricted to residents.
Sixty-five percent of the apartments would be one-bedroom
units, says Tom Sebastian of JGB Rosenfeld, part of the JGB Group. “We think
there is an untapped market of young professionals [also known as ‘yuppies’] looking for rental housing,”
he says. The project would be marketed to 25 to 35-year-olds.
units, says Tom Sebastian of JGB Rosenfeld, part of the JGB Group. “We think
there is an untapped market of young professionals [also known as ‘yuppies’] looking for rental housing,”
he says. The project would be marketed to 25 to 35-year-olds.
Five percent of the units would be affordable and 7 percent
would be workforce housing, he says, which would be in keeping with Fairfax County’s
requirement that 12 percent of the units fall into those categories. The
townhouses could either be for sale or rent, depending on market conditions
when the project is completed.
would be workforce housing, he says, which would be in keeping with Fairfax County’s
requirement that 12 percent of the units fall into those categories. The
townhouses could either be for sale or rent, depending on market conditions
when the project is completed.
The developers plan to run a shuttle bus to the East Falls
Church Metro station. “Conceivably someone could live here and work downtown
without a car,” Sebastian says.
Church Metro station. “Conceivably someone could live here and work downtown
without a car,” Sebastian says.
6 responses to “New Seven Corners complex aimed at ‘yuppies’”
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Kudos to Annandale Blog for giving us information about what the plans are for the sliver of land between Route 50 and South street.
This will bring in somewhere between 500 to 1000 more cars to the Seven Corners area, who knows really. According to the Law firm that is representing the developer. They plan to alleviate the problem of traffic by having a shuttle to and from the metro–big whoop-that takes care of that–NOT. This is where proffers should come in and be negotiated. The developer must put in proffers for infrastructure and to redesign the Seven Corners traffic intersection.
I wonder what Falls Church City thinks about this. We do not live in two different countries. Are we not working together or is the developer telling everyone what they can and cannot do? We know the Fairfax Board of Supervisors' main focus is to generate as much tax revenue as possible by allowing as much development as possible.
Quote: We know the Fairfax Board of Supervisors' main focus is to generate as much tax revenue as possible by allowing as much development as possible.
certainly, this has always been Penny Gross's aim.
I am just hoping to add some nice folks around here. COME ON YUPPIES. COME ON !!!!! (As opposed to illegals)
BUT across from the houses on South St.???? Oh my. That's terrible.
Rental apartments in the shaddow of 13 story office towers on Rt 50, with nothing cool around…no there will not be any Yuppies moving in…they want amenities and entertainment and a cool neighborhood.
I'm not sure a single development can pay for the complete redesign of Seven Corners. Thats why its imperative to quickly get a comprehensive plan in place.
And of course generating more tax revenue is important.