Tag: redevelopment

Huge spa planned for Mason District
This would be the future home of Spa Forest. There are plans to transform a vacant four-story office building in an industrial-zoned area in Mason District into a huge health spa. Spa Forest, as it will be known, will have several soaking pools, saunas, an indoor swimming pool, an infinity pool on a rooftop deck, … Continued

Board approves land swap allowing apartments and county office building in Bailey’s Crossroads
The current land ownership in the Southeast Quadrant of Bailey’s Crossroads. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a land swap with the Weissberg Corp. at the same site in Bailey’s Crossroads where a similar deal with AvalonBay fell through last year. The agreement, approved March 1, paves the way for new housing, “a future … Continued

More details emerge on new Bailey’s Crossroads homeless shelter
A conceptual sketch of the new shelter. Fairfax County staff shared more details on the new Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter at a meeting of the Mason District Land Use Committee Feb. 28. The 21,000-square-foot, three-story building, with a full cellar, will be on a half-acre site on Seminary Road, close to the intersection with Columbia … Continued

Issues for the Lincolnia Task Force to consider
Landmark Plaza on Little River Turnpike and Beauregard Street. By Nazir Bhagat The charge before the Lincolnia Planning District Study Task Force is to create a vision of a more distant future that will guide development of the area in the next decade or two. I expect the task force to eventually produce some broad … Continued

Task force to focus on future of Lincolnia
Traffic congestion at the Beauregard Street/Little River Turnpike intersection on a weekday evening. The key issue for the newly formed Lincolnia Planning District Study Task Force is to determine whether a “community business center” (CBC) should be established in Lincolnia and, if so, where it should be. In a CBC, the focus is on mixed-use … Continued

Café/hookah bar coming to Annandale
A Lebanese restaurant and hookah bar called Fumée Café is set to open at 7250 Columbia Pike in central Annandale. The co-owners, Khali Dib and Hussein Zein, hope the place could open by April 1, although it looks like there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done inside. Hussein Zein (left) and Kali … Continued

New apartment building on Route 50 in Seven Corners could open this spring
The Loren as seen from Arlington Boulevard. [Photos: Weinberg & Harris] “The Loren,” the apartment building under construction on Arlington Boulevard in Seven Corners next to the new Hampton Inn & Suites, is scheduled to open in late spring 2017, reports marketing consultant Roger Mecca of Weinberg Harris & Associates. The townhouses along South Street. … Continued

Demand strong for commercial office space, yet vacancy rates remain high
The Lee Building in Bailey’s Crossroads. The commercial office market in Fairfax County remained strong during the first half of 2016, according to a report released by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. The majority of new leasing activity was in Tysons, Reston, and Chantilly, however, with minimal activity in the Annandale/Mason District area. The direct … Continued

Landmark Mall revitalization project going forward
A rendering of “Landmark Corner.” [Howard Hughes Corp.] The Howard Hughes Corp., which plans to redevelop the site of Landmark Mall has acquired an 11.4-acre site that includes the Macy’s store and parking lot, the company announced Jan. 9. Macy’s Inc. is closing 68 of its stores nationwide, including the one at Landmark, as part … Continued

‘Flex-tech’ facility going up on Port Royal Road
The huge building under construction visible from the Beltway near the Braddock Road exit, is the first of two 62,000-square-foot work centers. While the brochure for the building refers to it as a “one-story office/warehouse,” it’s more of a “flex-tech” facility suitable for technical work such as labs, says Edwin “Bill” Lynch, a founding partner … Continued

More details emerge on St. James sports complex
Demolition under way on a former Washington Gas facility to make way for a huge sports complex on Industrial Road. Work has started on the huge St. James Sports and Wellness Center in an industrial area in the Mason District. The 435,000-square foot complex, being developed by the St. James Group, will have several indoor … Continued

2016: The year in review
Here’s a look back at some of the major events in the Annandale/Mason District area covered in the Annandale Blog during the past year. January The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles decides not to relocate a customer service center from Arlington to Barcroft Plaza, a move that had been strongly opposed by local residents. A major … Continued

The Block almost ready to open
Snowcream Company is already open. The eateries in The Block are getting to ready to open, although one of them, the Snowcream Company, has had a “soft opening.” The Block, the new food court-like establishment next to Kmart on John Marr Drive in Annandale, features six food vendors, including a few that originated as food … Continued

Gross outlines highlights of 2016 for Mason District
Supervisor Penny Gross (left) hands out door prizes with chief aide Fran Tunick. “Overall, 2016 was great year in Mason District,” said Supervisor Penny Gross at the annual Mason District Holiday Gathering Dec. 12. Gross presented a review of the past year and a look ahead, while Christmas music by the Bonnie Piano Quartet, door … Continued

Supervisors approve e-Loft project in Bailey’s Crossroads
The office building in the center would see new life as flexible e-Loft project. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a rezoning application allowing the conversion of a vacant, 10-story office building at 5600 Columbia Pike into an innovative, “e-Loft” concept with flexible units. Tenants could use their units as a residence, work … Continued