SFDC Mount Vernon Area Construction Update

Each month, the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation provides an update on construction and development on Richmond Highway. Here are some of the July highlights in Mount Vernon:

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. In April 2012 Landmark Atlantic obtained approval from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to amend the Comprehensive Plan to remove commercial uses from its plans and permit about 500 residences, including 350 multi-family units and 150 townhouses. A rezoning application is expected soon.

Candlewood Suites: Baywood Hotels has completed a 57-room Candlewood Suites hotel at 8847 Richmond Highway and it opened for business in July 2012. This property marks the fourth new hotel to open on Richmond Highway since 2010 and is the first extended stay property in the corridor.

Towne Place Suites: Baywood Hotels has acquired a property at the corner of Richmond Highway and Woodlawn Court, adjacent to the Woodlawn Shopping Center, with plans to develop a 92-room Towne Place Suites by Marriott, an extended stay property. Baywood is in discussions with Fairfax County regarding what transportation improvements would be necessary to support the project, and has submitted a rezoning application.

Accotink Village: A development partnership including The Bainbridge Companies and Eastwood Properties has submitted a rezoning application for a mixed-use revitalization project on a 6.6-acre piece of historic Accotink Village, located along Richmond Highway between Fairfax County Parkway and Fort Belvoir’s Tulley Gate. The application calls for 283 housing units and 24,000 square feet of retail space. The county recently approved a comprehensive plan amendment this area that calls for walkable, mixed-use developments for ground floor retail with housing above. The proposed development is designed to reinforce this vision.

Fort Belvoir: The BRAC-related expansion of Fort Belvoir is complete and the new Fort Belvoir Community Hospital is up and running. There are now more than 26,000 employees working on post, eclipsing the Pentagon as the military’s largest employment site in the DC area. The Army is now working on upgrading its on-site lodging facilities, and has entered into a contract with InterContinental Hospitality Group (IHG) to renovate one building as a Holiday Inn Express and to demolish other structures and build a new Staybridge Suites on post. The Army is also proceeding with plans for the National Museum of the U.S. Army, that is planned to open in 2015 near the Kingman Gate.