Seven Corners Task Force to vote on Sears redevelopment plan Sept. 9
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| The Sears site on Route 7 in Seven Corners |
The Seven Corners Land Use and Transportation Task Force, at its Aug. 26 meeting, deferred
a scheduled vote on a redevelopment plan for the Sears site on Leesburg Pike until
Sept. 9. The task force had planned to select one of three options spelling out
the amounts of multifamily housing, townhouses, retail, and office uses for the site
currently occupied by a Sears store and two office buildings.
a scheduled vote on a redevelopment plan for the Sears site on Leesburg Pike until
Sept. 9. The task force had planned to select one of three options spelling out
the amounts of multifamily housing, townhouses, retail, and office uses for the site
currently occupied by a Sears store and two office buildings.
Task force co-chair John Thillman presented a fourth option,
calling for 110 townhouses, 50,000 square feet of office space, 34,000 to
134,000 square feet of retail, and 315 to 415 apartment units. The number of
apartments would depend on how much retail there would be.
calling for 110 townhouses, 50,000 square feet of office space, 34,000 to
134,000 square feet of retail, and 315 to 415 apartment units. The number of
apartments would depend on how much retail there would be.
Option 1 recommended the least amount of housing with more
retail and office uses. Options 2 and three don’t have any office space at all.
Option 2 has a lot of retail and but more apartments, while Option 3 has more
townhouses and fewer apartments and less retail.
Under the fourth option, the retail would be facing Route 7
on the ground floor of two six-story buildings and in another smaller building.
The townhouses would be at the back of the property, closest to the existing
residential neighborhood.
on the ground floor of two six-story buildings and in another smaller building.
The townhouses would be at the back of the property, closest to the existing
residential neighborhood.
None of the four options would extend Juniper Lane to Leesburg
Pike, which is a crucial issue for local residents.
Pike, which is a crucial issue for local residents.
At the request of City of Falls Church officials, the task
force’s transportation plan calling for a “ring road” around the Seven Corners
intersection has been revised to eliminate a proposed section of road in Falls
Church that would have connected Hillwood Avenue across Route 7 to Roosevelt
Road.
force’s transportation plan calling for a “ring road” around the Seven Corners
intersection has been revised to eliminate a proposed section of road in Falls
Church that would have connected Hillwood Avenue across Route 7 to Roosevelt
Road.
Thillman and Kris Morley-Nikfar of the Fairfax County Department of
Transportation both insisted at the Aug. 26 meeting that the Falls Church section
of the ring road was never considered essential to the project. They said that not
having that piece wouldn’t disrupt the flow of traffic through the
intersection. “We never had control of what’s in Falls Church,” Thillman noted.
Transportation both insisted at the Aug. 26 meeting that the Falls Church section
of the ring road was never considered essential to the project. They said that not
having that piece wouldn’t disrupt the flow of traffic through the
intersection. “We never had control of what’s in Falls Church,” Thillman noted.
One key issue that will need to be addressed when the
redevelopment of Seven Corners gets under way is the extent to which affordable
housing will be incorporated into new projects—primarily in the area between Route 50
and Wilson Boulevard where so many lower-income people currently live.
redevelopment of Seven Corners gets under way is the extent to which affordable
housing will be incorporated into new projects—primarily in the area between Route 50
and Wilson Boulevard where so many lower-income people currently live.
Thillman says the task force plan calls for the replacement
of affordable housing on a one-to-one basis with additional requirements for
new affordable units. The exact number of units would be negotiated with developers.
of affordable housing on a one-to-one basis with additional requirements for
new affordable units. The exact number of units would be negotiated with developers.
The county uses a formula based on 60 to 120 percent of area
median income to determine if housing is
considered affordable. Task force member Jim Edmondson, whose company, E&G
Group owns the Seven Corners Apartments, argues that many of the households
currently living in the area have incomes well below 60 percent of AMI and that
redevelopment could lead to 90 percent of residents being displaced.
median income to determine if housing is
considered affordable. Task force member Jim Edmondson, whose company, E&G
Group owns the Seven Corners Apartments, argues that many of the households
currently living in the area have incomes well below 60 percent of AMI and that
redevelopment could lead to 90 percent of residents being displaced.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak at
the Seven Corners task force’s Sept. 9 meeting. The comment period will take
place after the regular meeting, so local residents will be able to respond to
the task force discussion. Mason Supervisor Penny Gross will give a
presentation on the task force to the Falls Church City Council on Sept. 15.
the Seven Corners task force’s Sept. 9 meeting. The comment period will take
place after the regular meeting, so local residents will be able to respond to
the task force discussion. Mason Supervisor Penny Gross will give a
presentation on the task force to the Falls Church City Council on Sept. 15.
The task force’s final regular meeting will be Sept. 23,
during which it plans to approve a proposed amendment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan. An additional task force meeting has been scheduled for
Oct. 1 to consider implementation issues, such as zoning and the site plan
process.
during which it plans to approve a proposed amendment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan. An additional task force meeting has been scheduled for
Oct. 1 to consider implementation issues, such as zoning and the site plan
process.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission is scheduled to hold
a public hearing on the Seven Corners plan amendment on Oct. 23.
a public hearing on the Seven Corners plan amendment on Oct. 23.
2 responses to “Seven Corners Task Force to vote on Sears redevelopment plan Sept. 9”
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"The task force’s final regular meeting will be Sept. 23, during which it plans to approve a proposed amendment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan."
Don't they have to vote on it?
Yes, they will vote at the Sept. 23 meeting.