Route 1 Infrastructure Improvements – In December 2011, the Government Accountability office rejected a second bid protest by one of the unsuccessful contractors bidding on the Mulligan Road Phase II project.  Following the GAO ruling the project is back on track and construction is expected to resume in early 2012.

A separate study is underway by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for widening Route 1 to six lanes between Telegraph Road and the intersection of Mount Vernon Memorial Highway and Old Mill Road.  The project has received $180 in funding from the Department of Defense , and the Federal Highway Administration is expected to complete its Environmental Assessment on the proposed expansion by mid-2012.  There will be future opportunities/meetings for public review and comment on preliminary design alternatives and impact assessments.

Transit Studies – Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) are collaborating on studies to address existing and future infrastructure possibilities for Richmond Highway. The DRPT study will examine new transportation elements that can be implemented within the next two to five years on Richmond Highway, from the Capital Beltway to Fort Belvoir. Included in their scope will be the feasibility of a dedicated bus rapid transit lane on the corridor. The target date for completion is fourth quarter 2012.

As part of the countywide Transportation Study by Fairfax County, the FCDOT scope will include a full transportation alternatives analysis for Richmond Highway, to include the feasibility of light rail and Metro rail.  FCDOT will include findings from the aforementioned DRPT study and results from the FHWA Environmental Assessment.  The targeted completion for this study is 2013.

HUNTINGTON/NORTH GATEWAY

Huntington Reserve – KB Homes is nearing completion of this 85-unit townhouse development located at Huntington Avenue and Foley Street, less than 0.5 miles from the Huntington Metro station.  Sale prices for these units are in the $500,000-550,000 range, and many are already occupied.  The community should be built out in 2012.

VSE building – MRP Realty plans to tear down this 40-year old office building located immediately adjacent to the Huntington Metro on Huntington Avenue and replace it with a 346-unit high-rise residential building and a 366,000 SF office/hotel structure.  The development plan was designed to comply with the comprehensive plan for the Transit Development Area.  MRP submitted a rezoning application in July 2011, and a decision is expected by March 2012.

Huntington and Biscayne Avenue - A&R Development is proposing a mixed-use redevelopment project at the corner of Huntington Avenue and Biscayne Drive near the Huntington Metro station.  The project proposes 173 multi-family units with ground-level retail on an underutilized site in the Transit Development Area.  A&R has secured the approval of the Huntington Community Association to advocate for updating the Huntington Conservation Plan to allow the plan to accommodate revitalization projects along Huntington Avenue.  Once this amendment is complete, A&R will file a rezoning application for this project.  

PENN DAW

Penn Daw Special Study – Fairfax County has convened a nine-member (including SFDC) task force to develop a Comprehensive Plan amendment for a 15-acre area where three separate developers have already proposed new mixed-use projects with more than 700 multi-family units.  The amendment will lay out a vision and guidelines for helping the area transition into a higher-density, mixed-use node.  The task force convened in December 2010 and has begun to craft its recommendations.  A public forum will be held in January 2012 and the task force is slated to complete its work by April 2012.

Kings Crossing – The new 80,000 SF “urban prototype” Walmart store opened in October 2010 along with 25,000 SF of in-line space.  Phase II will include 20,000 SF of pad retail space and is in active lease-up with groundbreaking expected in early 2012.  Phase III plans call for a mixed-use development with multi-family housing and retail.

Fast Eddie’s Site – A partnership has been formed between the current property owner and a local developer to redevelop the “Fast Eddie’s” site at the northwest corner of Richmond Highway and North Kings Highway.  The development team has created preliminary plans for a mixed-use retail and residential project and is planning to request a Comprehensive Plan amendment in early 2012.

BEACON/GROVETON

Fairfield Inn & Suites – There is a site plan under review for a three story hotel on the site of the current Fairview Hotel property at 6421 Richmond Highway.  The hotel will have 108 rooms and will be 47,800 square feet.  The property was sold to the Hersha Group, a Pennsylvania hotel developer.  They are in the process of receiving approval for the proposed site plan, which will be followed by approval for their construction permits.  Following approval, clearing the site for construction is tentatively scheduled for early 2012.

Title Max – The building of the former Ranch House has been renovated to be a Title Max Car Loan and is now open for business.

The Beacon at Groveton - Construction on Phase I of this project, which will consist of 290 upscale apartments and 10,000 SF of ground-level retail, began in March 2011 and is expected to be completed in mid-2012.  This development represents the first new market-rate rental development on Richmond Highway in more than a decade.  Phase II will include additional retail and a 50,000 SF office building, but no start date has been announced.

Memorial Heights – Applicants have requested a rezoning of parcels in the northeast quadrant of Richmond Highway and Preston Ave in the Groveton neighborhood.  The rezoning plan calls for 6,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.  The site is a former home to a Dairy Queen and is across the street from the Beacon of Groveton development.  The Board of Supervisors approved the application at the public hearing on September 27^th. The Applicant must proffer to provide a right taper from northbound Richmond Highway onto East Lee Avenue.  A site plan is being created to include the original proposal and the proffered turn lane.

The Residences at North Hill Park – Phase II of the North Hill project has 67 units of manufactured housing planned on a portion of the 33 acres known as "North Hill" owned by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA). A major portion of the remaining land was approved by the Fairfax County Park Authority as a passive community park directly north of the new community.  FCHRA is reviewing VDOT comments received this summer concerning left turn access at Dart Drive and Route 1.  The Fairfax County Park Authority does not currently have funding available for the development of the community park.  

HYBLA VALLEY

Mount Vernon Plaza – Over $1 million has been invested in renovating office space in the Mount Vernon Plaza shopping center.  A new spec suite was added and lighting fixtures are equipped with motion sensors to conserve energy consumption.  Approximately 15,000 square feet is available for lease.  The office is located at 7868 Richmond Highway and can be found between Michaels and Capital Discount Merchandise.  

The Mount Vernon Plaza office in Hybla Valley is located in one of the two designated HUBZones in Northern Virginia.  The HUBZone Program is an initiative from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to promote job growth, capital investment and economic development in historically underutilized business zones by establishing preferences for government contracts in those areas.  For more information about HUBZones, visit the SBA website at http://www.sba.gov/hubzone/.

Costco – In May 2011 Fairfax County approved an application to build a 143,416 square foot Costco store on the site of the former Mount Vernon Multiplex Cinema.  Costco estimates that the $24 million project will bring 250 jobs to the area.  Costco anticipates obtaining all permits and closing on the property in January 2012, after which the demolition and new construction will begin.

Inova Mount Vernon – The hospital plans to spend $43.6 million and expand its campus.  The 65,000 square-foot renovation is scheduled to begin in 2012 pending regulatory approval.  The project will add a new patient tower, two new operating rooms, and space for future growth and infrastructure upgrades.  Medical surgery, orthopedics, joint replacement and rehabilitation services will be specifically enhanced. 

On July 20th, 2011, the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors for the Special Exception Application (SEA) for Inova Health Care Services.  The Board of Supervisors approved the multi-phased expansion on July 26.  A contribution amount has been agreed upon by the applicant and FCDOT for future improvements within the area of a traffic impact study.   VDOT and FCDOT met with the New Gum Springs Civic Association on September 14^th regarding the effect of hospital’s expansion on traffic on Sherwood Hall lane and surrounding roads and to update the association on Route 1 transportation initiatives.

Mount Vernon Gateway at Buckman Road – Landmark Atlantic Holdings has been working to assemble 17 acres of land along Richmond Highway between Buckman Road and Janna Lee Avenue that is mostly comprised   of poorly maintained, older residential and retail structures.  Original plans called for 435 mixed-density housing units and 80,000 SF of commercial space, but a lack of market demand has led the developer to alter its plans to remove the commercial piece and increase the residential component to 475 units.  The plan is under review with a ruling expected in early 2012.

Stony Brook Apartments – This aging garden apartment complex on Buckman Road reopened in October 2011 after undergoing a $33 million renovation.  The green-oriented complex features solar water heaters, energy efficient fixtures and a green roof on the community center.  Stony Brook is now also home to a new job, language, and financial training center aimed at serving immigrant families living in the complex and in surrounding neighborhoods.

Woodlawn

Candlewood Suites – The former $29.99 Shoe Store at 8847 Richmond Highway, the ground has been cleared, and construction is under way for a new 60-room Candlewood Suites hotel.  The site was originally planned for a Comfort Inn and was changed to a different hotel brand by the parent organization International Hotel Group (IHG).  The anticipated opening date for the hotel is spring 2012.

IMP Building – JK Investments has signed a franchise agreement with Mariott, for a Staybridge, Extended Stay Hotel on their property located at 8850 Richmond Highway. The Board of County Supervisors approved a request from JK Investments for a Special Exception permit to build to hotels on the current site.  They have hired a new architect to help with the new design and placement of the hotels.

FORT BELVOIR AREA

Accotink Village – A concept plan has been developed for a 27-acre mixed-use revitalization plan for historic Accotink Village, located along Richmond Highway between Fairfax County Parkway and Fort Belvoir’s Tulley Gate.  The county has approved a comprehensive plan amendment for walkable, mixed-use developments for ground floor retail with housing above.

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital – The BRAC-related expansion of Fort Belvoir is nearing completion.  There are now has more than 26,000 employees working on post, eclipsing the Pentagon as the largest single-site employment center in the Department of Defense.  The expansion’s centerpiece, the $1 billion, 120-bed Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, opened in August 2011, providing Fort Belvoir with a state-of-the-art medical facility that is triple the size of the now-closed DeWitt Hospital.   The new hospital has 3,200 employees and will serve 85,000 active-duty and retired military personnel in the region.  Other BRAC-related projects include the Missile Defense Agency HQ and the Wounded Warrior Transition Complex, both set to open in 2012. The transition unit will support 276 wounded warriors and 130 administrative staff, and will include a family kitchen, children’s play space, recreational areas, classrooms, learning center and a business center.  This is part of Operation Enduring Care, the United Service Organization’s (USO) $100 million campaign to support wounded serviceman and their families.  The Army has also officially announced that the National Museum of the U.S. Army will be housed at Fort Belvoir near John Kingman Gate, which is planned for a 2015 opening.