Supervisors approve judicial annex

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 3 approved a major redevelopment of the county’s Judicial Complex.

Phase 1 includes a new four-story 150,000-square-foot office building with underground parking, sustainable features, and integrated open spaces.

The Judicial Annex will house 11 programs, including evidence storage for the police and fire departments, the commonwealth attorney’s office, Circuit Court file storage, and court-related programs and services.

The project also includes demolition of the Historic Courthouse’s non-historic wing. Traffic and pedestrian safety enhancements within the Judicial Complex and along Chain Bridge Road are also planned.

Phase 1 construction is set to begin in late 2025, with completion anticipated in 2028. Future phases will require additional planning, rezoning, and community input.

Future plans call for a diversion and community re-entry center to provide alternatives to incarceration, support those re-entering the community from jail, and resources that lead to long-term stability and success.

Other projects could include an expanded courthouse, affordable housing, a child care center, renovations of the Historic Courthouse, improved pedestrian and bike connectivity, and redesigned public plazas and lawns.

The redevelopment is part of a long-term master plan approved in January 2021 to address the county’s growing public safety and judicial needs.

The Judicial Complex is a 48-acre portion of Fairfax County surrounded by the City of Fairfax.