Tag: land use

E-loft projects offer flexible units for living or working
A unit in the e-loft building in Alexandria furnished as an office. An e-loft building, offering flexible spaces for people who want to live or work there, is now open for leasing in Alexandria’s West End. For far, four tenants have signed leases and plan to move in in November. The former office building, at … Continued

Lawmakers, residents call for more regulations on short-term rentals
Panelists discuss the Airbnb law (from the left): Mason Hills Citizens Association President Mike Rioux, code compliance official Elizabeth Perry, zoning administrator Leslie Johnson, Del. Kaye Kory, and Sen. Dick Saslaw, Local residents who attended a meeting on short-term rentals Oct. 5 raised concerns about homeowners filling up their homes with transients, leading to declining … Continued

Federal Realty plans to bring apartments to Graham Park Plaza
The plan for revitalizing Graham Park Plaza. Arlington Boulevard is across the top. The white box at the bottom right is Giant. The Mason District Land Use Committee tentatively endorsed a comprehensive plan amendment Sept. 27 to facilitate the redevelopment of Graham Park Plaza, pending a favorable report by Fairfax County planning staff. Federal Realty … Continued

Planners share design details for new town center on Beauregard Street
An illustration of the town center for the West End in Alexandria. Representatives from a couple of architectural firms presented their plans for the development of two blocks in Alexandria’s West End Sept. 26 to the Beauregard Design Advisory Committee (BDAC). The City of Alexandria had approved the Beauregard Small Area Plan in 2012. JBG … Continued

Community meeting scheduled on short-term rentals
This guest bedroom in Annandale is available on Airbnb for $50 a night. Local residents are invited to attend a meeting on the growth of short-term lodging/rentals, such as Airbnb, in local neighborhoods. The meeting, hosted by the Mason District Council of Community Associations, is Oct. 5, 7-9 p.m., at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School, 3333 Sleepy … Continued

Withdrawal of AvalonBay means Southeast Quadrant won’t be developed
The Southeast Quadrant on Columbia Pike. The withdrawal of AvalonBay from the land swap previously approved by the development company and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors means the Southeast Quadrant of Bailey’s Crossroads will remain undeveloped for the foreseeable future. “The land swap was negated when AvalonBay withdrew,” says Mason Supervisor Penny Gross. “It’s … Continued

County drops plans for temporary homeless shelter
A new homeless shelter will be built on this site. The Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter will not be temporarily relocated to a field behind the Lincolnia Senior Center, a plan bitterly opposed by residents who live near that field. “The temporary relocation is no longer necessary because the county recently bought land for a new … Continued

Work underway on infill housing opposed by Malbrook residents
The site of an infill housing project at the end of Brooks Place. Work is under way on an infill housing development between the Lake Barcroft and Malbrook communities, even though Malbrook residents charge the project is in violation of their subdivision’s covenants. Malbrook residents’ lawsuit to block the development was denied a hearing by … Continued

TD Bank coming to Pinecrest Plaza
Gas station will be replaced by bank. [David Siegel] The Exxon station at Pinecrest Plaza in Annandale is being demolished to make way for a new TD Bank. The project was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2014. “We’re targeting a late 2017 opening,” says Lisa Sawicki, TD vice president and corporate … Continued

Mixed-use development proposed for Beauregard corridor
A concept plan for JBG’s project at the Beauregard Town Center. [Cunningham Quill Architects] The JBG Cos. submitted a revised proposal for a Beauregard Town Center to the City of Alexandria calling for 577 multifamily housing units and more than 109,000 square feet of retail development. The project would be the first effort to redevelop … Continued

County purchases site for permanent homeless shelter
Fairfax County is purchasing this former animal hospital as the site for a new homeless shelter. Fairfax County is going ahead with plans to relocate the Bailey’s Crossroads homeless shelter to a field behind the Lincolnia Senior Center, even though the county has found a permanent site for the shelter. The Planning Commission approved the … Continued

Urban design experts recommend short-term fixes for Annandale
Columbia Pike and Tom Davis Drive: Picture a “pop-up” plaza here. Short-term fixes to make central Annandale more inviting could include a plaza for community gatherings, streetscape improvements to promote walkability, and a new nonprofit organization to implement revitalization strategies. Those are some of the recommendations of a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) convened by the … Continued

Supervisors approve plan to replace fire station
The design for the new fire station. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a rezoning application July 12 to allow Fairfax County to replace the Jefferson Fire Station in Falls Church. The existing fire station, at 3101 Hodge Place, was built in 1953 and is too small for newer, larger firefighting vehicles. The station also … Continued

HOA files suit to block relocation of homeless shelter to Lincolnia
The entrance to Stonegate at Landmark on N. Chambliss Street. The Stonegate at Landmark Homeowners Association filed a lawsuit July 12 against the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in an attempt to halt the county’s plan to temporarily relocate the Bailey’s Crossroads homeless shelter to the backyard of the Lincolnia Senior Center. The suit, filed … Continued

Panel will recommend Annandale revitalization strategies
A sea of concrete along Columbia Pike. What are some short to medium-term fixes that can revitalize Annandale’s downtown core? A panel of urban design experts will meet July 20-21 to study the community and offer their recommendations. The group is convened by the Washington chapter of the Urban Land Institute. The panel will conduct an … Continued