Proposed Association Drive offices redevelopment could support future Soapstone Connector

A duo of Reston office buildings built in 1973 and 1980 could soon be the home of four residential buildings.

Developer JLB Realty has filed a development plan to build a five-story residential building with 400 units and three four-story buildings with 39 apartments in total on across roughly 6.7 acres of land on 1900 and 1920 Association Drive. If approved, Toll Brothers could build the triplex buildings.

According to the Dec. 14 application, the plan would redevelop “under-utilized office buildings with much-needed housing opportunities near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.”

If the project moves forward, Fairfax County would have to rezone the property from industry uses to a residential-mixed use district. It could also help address a lingering connectivity issue in the area.

A grid of streets between Wiehle Avenue and the Soapstone Connector is planned, bridging a major transportation segment in the area and what local Restonians have dubbed the “road from nowhere.”

In September, the county approved a likely path for the connector, a $237 million link planned between Sunrise Valley Drive and Sunset Hills Road.

“Although other parcels will be needed to implement these connections, the Applicant is committed to providing connections for the future grid of streets in coordination with Fairfax County and adjacent property owners,” the application states.

The applicant has also committed to setting aside a minimum of 13% of the total number of residential units and either workforce housing or affordable housing units.

The proposal is in the early planning phases and has not yet been accepted for review by the county.

As part of the nearly 485,000-square-foot development, roughly 1.7 acres of urban park area is proposed. Possible uses include a playground, athletic turf activity areas, lawn space, seating and exercise areas, according to the application.

‘The Proposed Development represents a significant opportunity to provide for the redevelopment of outdated, under-utilized office buildings with much-needed housing opportunities near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station,” the applicant states.