A six-floor office building in Annandale could grow two stories taller and add about 50 housing units under a new development plan.
Located at 7620 Little River Turnpike, the office building eyed for residential conversion by Alexandria-based Nicholas Development was built in 1971 and is now “largely vacant and out-of-date,” according to rezoning application materials dated May 28. The building is apparently just 8% occupied.
“As has been the situation with many suburban, non-transit-oriented office parks, the market for this type of space has continually declined, predating the pandemic and the current distress in the financial markets,” a statement of justification for the application reads.
First reported by Annandale Today, the proposal would keep the Wells Fargo bank housed in 7620 Little River Turnpike in place.
Two other buildings on the property — a nine-story office building at 7630 Little River Turnpike and a two-story industrial building — would also remain, but the office building would have expanded retail on the ground floor, and the industrial building would be converted to retail use.
The redevelopment plan also outlines 1.75 acres of open space. That would include a rooftop area on the residential building with grilling, seating and other amenities.
A plaza between the converted residential building and remaining office building would feature a fountain, and the developer has plans for a park space on the east side of the property. Plus, it intends to reduce the number of public car-accessible entrances to the site.
The property is situated within the Annandale Community Business Center (CBC), a downtown area of approximately 200 acres along Columbia Pike and Little River Turnpike between Heritage Drive and Evergreen Lane.
The Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan describes the area as “highway-oriented strip-commercial development, individual stores, older houses converted to commercial use, neighborhood shopping centers, and medium- and low-intensity office buildings.”
But the plan also envisions the area becoming more than that, with a focus on “high-quality, pedestrian-oriented development.” In its May 28 rezoning application, a representative for the developer, Wire Gill partner Kenneth Wire, says its proposal will meet that mission.
“We believe the Proposal represents the best opportunity to advance the overall mixed-use vision of the Comprehensive Plan’s Annandale CBC, while maximizing the site’s potential in contributing to the County’s need to increase multifamily housing production and to help spur the revitalization of the Annandale CBC,” Wire wrote in the statement of justification.
