Tag: redevelopment
Columbia Pike animal hospital annex will house boarding and grooming services
The annex to the Columbia Pike Animal Hospital in Annandale will be open “within the next six months, hopefully sooner,” reports Alex Walz, a manager at the veterinary clinic. The new building, facing Columbia Pike, will house grooming and boarding services, while the existing building, at 4205 Evergreen Lane, will be used purely for medical … Continued
New Westlawn Shopping Center to open on Annandale Road in 2014
A rendering of the Westlawn Center The old, run-down Westlawn Shopping Center on Annandale Road by Arlington Boulevard is gone, but the new retail center isn’t expected to be completely finished until sometime in 2014. The site plan should be approved by Fairfax County within the next 60 to 90 days, says Shane Murphy, an … Continued
Annandale can do more to attract investments
Gerald Gordon, president of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (EDA), says older, commercial areas of Fairfax County—like Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads, and Seven Corners—can attract investments by “marketing their natural assets,” like proximity to Washington, the Pentagon, and National Airport and cheaper rents than other areas. Speaking to members of the Bailey’s Crossroads Revitalization Corporation … Continued
Ballot question on eminent domain could increase redevelopment costs
If Virginia voters approve a constitutional amendment on eminent domain, efforts to revitalize Annandale would be more difficult and “significantly more expensive,” says state Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37). “It will slow down the whole process.” The amendment, a priority of the Tea Party, as well as Gov. Bob McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, both … Continued
Decision on Columbia Pike streetcars expected by the end of July
Streetcars scheduled to start running in DC next summer The fate of the proposed Columbia Pike Transit Initiative could be decided within the next couple of weeks. The Arlington County Board will vote on Monday, July 23, whether to adopt the streetcar as “the locally preferred alternative” and authorize the county manager to file a … Continued
Burying utilities in Fairfax County: prohibitively expensive
The intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Chain Bridge Road in McLean, where the wires will be buried. The most recent storm—and extensive power outages—in Annandale have gotten people wondering why we can’t bury the power lines here.s “amazingly expensive,” says W. Todd Minnix, chief of the Transportation Design Division in the Fairfax County Department … Continued
‘Annandale Arbors’ proposed for sprucing up streetscape
Little River Turnpike, not the best place for walk. Have you ever walked around downtown Annandale? Strolling down Little River Turnpike isn’t all that pleasant. There are a ton of cars whizzing by and a lot of open parking lots in front of and between the buildings—and good luck trying to cross the street. Jeffrey … Continued
Construction on Annandale Walgreens to start in September
Construction on the new Walgreens in central Annandale is expected to start by mid-September, if all approval processes go smoothly, Elizabeth McKeeby of Walsh and Colucci told members of the Annandale Commercial Business District Planning Committee July 10. The new drug store will occupy a key position in central Annandale, bordered by Little River Turnpike, … Continued
Movie theatre to open in September in Merrifield
An artist’s rendering of the new theatre. The eight-screen Angelika Film Center and Café is slated to open in September at the Mosaic development in Merrifield. According to Reading International, the company that operates the Angelika theatre chain, the new cinema “will showcase the best in independent, foreign, and specialty film in auditoriums featuring plush … Continued
New Seven Corners complex aimed at ‘yuppies’
An illustration of the proposed complex next to the existing office buildings New details emerged on the proposed 195-unit residential/retail complex for Arlington Boulevard in Seven Corners at a recent meeting of the Bailey’s Crossroads Revitalization Corporation. The project would be located on the sliver of land between Route 50 and South Street, next to … Continued
Seven Corners residents explore vision for future redevelopment
The Seven Corners Shopping Center Seven Corners residents and business owners at the second “visioning workshop” last night were thoroughly engaged in the process to form a long-term plan for redeveloping the area, yet there was quite a bit of frustration over the need for immediate action to clean up the appearance of the area. … Continued
Merrifield offers model for redevelopment
The Mosaic District at Merrifield shows what could be happening in central Annandale if developers and property owners could get their act together. The first store to open at the Mosaic development will be the Target, set to open in October. The Angelika Film Center is slated to open in spring 2013. The other stores … Continued
Land use experts weigh in on revitalization strategies for Seven Corners
The pedestrian bridge over Arlington Boulevard With Fairfax County in the earliest stages of exploring redevelopment possibilities for Seven Corners, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) issued a brief report in May outlining how land use experts think the area can be improved. Fairfax County’s efforts for dealing with Seven Corners began with a “visioning exercise” … Continued
Residents want Seven Corners safer for walking and biking
The map of Seven Corners illustrates the lack of connectivity. When residents and business owners were asked at a “visioning exercise” May 21 how they feel about Seven Corners, several common themes emerged: Make the area safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Provide mass transit or otherwise alleviate the traffic congestion. Preserve the diverse population and … Continued
Public urged to take part in clean-up effort planned for Seven Corners
Leesburg Pike at Seven Corners A lot of people complain about Seven Corners—the traffic congestion, the lack of good design, and the trash all over the place—but Nancy Vorona and Kay Cooper are actually taking steps to improve it. They are organizing efforts to get rid of the litter and illegal signs. The two Lake … Continued