One question: What is the occupancy rate of the hotels we already have along Route 1? I cannot fathom anyone would want to stay anywhere along Route 1. I live here and I wouldn't.

The first paragraph is just a little misleading in that it sounds like the hotel would go where Daks actually was, i.e., right across the street from MV Plaza and now the site of the Walgreens. They then tried to re-locate to this site but never got it done.

And, remember, Dave and Dustin, if you build it, they will come...... or not

To lovely and inviting Route 1?

The article lacked the names of the other 3 Baywood Hotels on Route1. Are they among the run down ones or the newer ones?

Do any of the Hotels serve local residents or business needs like local receptions, banquets, proms or reunions?

Mr. Flanagan,

The three Baywood Hotels are among the newer ones. SpringHill Suites and Holiday Inn Express across from Montebello Condos just opened in the last year or so. The Candlewood Suites currently under construction in the Woodlawn Area, next to the Hampton Inn Fort Belvoir, is the third.

And you're correct, Ron. The bank-owned site which being looked at by Baywood right now was the proposed site for Daks to relocate to a few years back, but ultimately the plan did not come to fruition.

Thanks for the clarification, Ron and Tony.

Readers: we're working on a series about the Route 1 corridor—including a story on hotels down the highway—(both the "run down ones" and "the newer ones" to use Earl's nomenclature)

Will Route 1 ever be more than a string of hotels? I hope not. If it is to be, then require them to include affordable housing and/or SROs for those who are the working poor or are homeless.

SFDC is seeing strong interest for all types of development along Route 1, with active proposals for residential, office, and retail projects up and down the corridor. The recent hotel developments, including Baywood’s latest project, have been concentrated in two small areas: the northern end near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and in the Woodlawn area near Fort Belvoir. We are not seeing demand for hotel development in the corridor’s middle sections.

Once again: What are the occupancy rates of the hotels we already have along the corridor? If the occupancy rate is under 40% building another hotel wouldn't be very smart.Where they are located makes a little difference, but not much.

Unfortunately, Fairfax County cannot just come in and "get rid of" sleazy hotels, the 7-11's, etc. After all, there are still property rights in this country and a lot of the less desirable developments (autozone, e.g.,) have been put in by right. As for the hotels, it comes down to good ole capitalism. The owners think they will have enough business from BRAC. They'll find out soon enough if that's true.

Meanwhile, I want to welcome Tony Fontana to our group, the new ED of the SFDC if I understand correctly. It's encouraging to hear about the interest in Route One and, if you really think about it folks, there has been progress (Mount Vernon Plaza). And, Tony, you could really put SFDC on the map if you could get us one decent book store down here!!!!

Thank you Ron, but I am actually the Marketing Manager for SFDC. You're right, there has been quite a bit of progress, with even more potential on the horizon.

Tony - please discuss the potential on the horizon.

Dave -
Why not?

Jeri - I would be happy to discuss the potential offline where it would be easier to go into greater detail. I invite you to consider attending the SFDC seminars we hold, usually one every four months or so. The experts we have on our panel at these events draw comparisons and present information on how Richmond Highway stands out across the region in different market segments. We've recently focused on the retail and multifamily sectors, and we are in the process of planning topics for 2012.

I commend Baywood Hotels for their vision and helping clean up this section of Fairfax County. We all should be very happy that a company is investing all this money to help the grouth of this corridor. With this happening I can only imangine that nicer things will follow.
Peter.

If my perception is correct then there is no demand for more hotels in the 5 miles that is the MV Route 1 Corridor. Therefore, there has to be a better answer than building another hotel.

Until they bulldoze 90% of the land between the Beltway and Belvoir and come up with a comprehensive plan to address both residential and traffic issues. This hotel is just another shiny, dressed up, trashcan.

Jessie, Good article and thanks for the heads up to the community! Two things you missed though. I believe its going to be a limitied service hotel, meaning guests will have to drive to find restaurants along the corridor, and that the main entrance will be off a side street, Woodlawn Court, with no entrance on Richmond Highway. If a hotel owner wants to take on the risk of building a operating a hotel, then Im sure hes done his research. My concern is the future traffic damage this hotel will create without significant traffic improvements at the intersection. There is no left turn lane onto Woodlawn Court from Richmond Highway going north and no traffic light. Currently, only a small number of 12-15 residents live on Woodlawn Ct. If the hotel is planning on most of its 94 guests being related to Ft Belvoir and tourism like Mt Vernon, then the hotel and its guests will turn Richmond Highway going north into a one lane highway as they wait to turn left against the daily bumper to bumper traffic going south on Richmond Highway from 3-7pm. Even if there is a small turn lane created, I believe Fairfax County and VDOT are saying that a light cannot be put in. I wonder what traffic improvements Fairfax County and VDOT are going to put in place?

The last thing we need is another Kings Crossing with a small backed up turn lane turning Richmond Highway into a one lane road going north during busy times. The hotel, instead should move its entrance to the end of the access road in front of the Woodlawn Shopping Center, where an existing stop light is located, allowing the guests to not block traffic, turn left at a light, and enter the hotel.

I can not speak for the other hotels on the Highway, but ours is thriving and we are forecasting additonal ADR and OCC for 2012. We're running just over 70% Occ for the year, up 10% from last year, with forecasting an additional 5-7% increase for 2012. Additionally, Our ADR is up 10% as well, with an additional projected increase of 7% for 2012. These increases in the industry are phenomenal.
Please feel free to personally reach out to me as it's my favorite topic to discuss!

Tamara Wichelns
Director of Sales
Hampton Inn & Suites Mt. Vernon/Belvoir/Alexandria