Residents oppose multifamily housing on Little River Turnpike
Residents of Willow Run and nearby neighborhoods filled a conference room at the Mason Government Center on May 6 to confront the developer of a proposed 120-unit multifamily building at 6675 Little River Turnpike in Annandale.
The residents complained that such a large building is inappropriate for the property, which is currently the site of Pro Computers and the Miracle Garden Center between Randolph Drive and Columbia Road.
They charged that such a large building would exacerbate traffic congestion, pose a threat to pedestrian safety, and result in overflow parking on narrow streets.
Too big for the space
Last June, the Board of Supervisors agreed to consider the proposal by developer George Hong as a Tier 3 project in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Work Program after it had been recommended for rejection by county planning staff.
In 2023, the Planning Commission rejected Hong’s proposal for a 105-unit building on that site, which also generated strong community opposition. Now, county officials are considering Hong’s proposal for an even bigger project.
Mark Viani, a land use attorney with Bean Kinney & Korman who represents Hong, told the audience at the community meeting that it’s not a done deal. It still has to go through lengthy comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning processes.
And because it’s a Tier 3 project, it won’t be considered unless Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez submits a resolution to the Board requesting it be added to the work plan. “It’s on the shelf until the board approves a resolution,” said Viani.
Related story: Supervisors add redevelopment proposals to Comprehensive Plan Work Program
Jimenez did not attend the community meeting; he told us earlier in the day that he had a family event that evening.
Hong wasn’t there either. In fact, he never met with residents in all the years since the project was on the table – even after the Planning Commission urged him to engage with the community.
Randy Noranbrock, who lives on Randolph Drive, questioned why Hong came back with a proposal for 120 units after the 90-unit project didn’t get approved. “Now you’re trying to get buy-in from the community for something worse than was already presented two years ago,” he told Viani.
No retail
Several residents said they want the site to be developed and preferred townhomes or a low-rise office building rather than a high-intensity multifamily building.
According to Viani, the project will most likely be a condo, rather than rental apartments. It will have underground parking with 190 spaces, a stringent stormwater management system, and buffering and transitional screening. There won’t be any surface parking.
There will be just one access point, on Columbia Road. Existing access on Little River Turnpike and Randolph Drive will be closed.
The building also won’t have any retail; an earlier version of the project indicated ground-floor retail, but Viani said the community opposed it.
Ava Helm with KGD Architecture said the building will be designed to look like townhouses. It will have four stories along Little River Turnpike and will step down to two stories in the rear. A six-foot-high wall will be built along the back of the 1.89-acre property.
Traffic and parking problems
Both Randolph Drive and Columbia Road are narrow with no sidewalks, no room for street parking, and a ditch on the side of the road.
As a result, residents noted, people walk their dogs and the Thomas Jefferson High School track team runs in the street, which will become more dangerous with more traffic. Also, there are backups on Columbia Road caused by people trying to get to the Pure gas station on Little River Turnpike.
Transportation consultant Will Johnson with Galloway & Company displayed a slide showing that traffic during peak hours would be much less with the multifamily building than it would have been with an office building, as previously proposed. A large multifamily building, however, would generate much more traffic than if the property weren’t redeveloped at all.
Residents also questioned where Amazon and FedEx trucks will park. Johnson said the plans call for a loading area and short-term delivery parking next to the parking garage entrance.
“We already have parking problems. The roads are not safe. There’s no room for current vehicles. This is totally out of step with our neighborhood,” said Randolph Drive resident Cathy Liss. “Enough is enough.”
The neighborhood “has poured a lot of energy into this,” said another resident. “It’s tiresome and frustrating to be at another meeting with no change and no response.”
It’s all about the ROI
Julie Strandlie, a former member of the Planning Commission, suggested the only reason the proposed plan amendment was approved by the Board of Supervisors was because it included an alternative option for townhouses, as well as multifamily housing with a range of 75-125 units.
The board also directed the plan to be further refined through engagement with the community and an analysis of the impact of traffic on neighborhood streets, pedestrian safety, and parking.
“We support housing, but this is the wrong place for it,” said Strandlie. A major multifamily building like this is better suited for a commercial site, like the Annandale Giant, she said, urging Viani to “go back and do the townhouse plan.”
Related story: Planning Commission advances multifamily proposal in Willow Run neighborhood
“Does George Hong care about our community?” asked Neil McLeod. “Since he bought the property in 2021, he never said one word to us, despite the Board of Supervisors telling him in 2024 that he needs to engage with the community. That’s a guy who wants to get his money and get the heck out.”
McLeod noted that a medical office building had previously been approved for the property and was ready to go, but it was dropped when the financial crisis of the late 2010s halted new development.
The previous owner listed the property for sale in 2010 for $2.8 million, but got no offers at that price for 12 years, he said. Then Hong showed up, offering $2.8 million “without thinking of the ramifications or doing any studies.” he said.
According to McLeod, Hong didn’t have any experience in developing or managing residential properties. “The bottom line is, now we have to pay the price so he can develop the property and get his money back.”
Several people questioned why Jimenez didn’t come out against the project when the entire community opposes it. The answer, suggested one resident, is political; Hong’s associate Kevin Yun contributed $20,000 to his election campaign.
When the neighborhood voted for Jimenez, McLeod said, “We thought he would have our back. Clearly, this voting block is going to see things a lot differently next time.”
Related story: Planning Commission rejects development proposal for Little River Turnpike