Some Reston residents may soon get a survey about the Reston Community Center (RCC) in their mailbox.
Launched on Wednesday (July 24), the survey will be conducted by the University of Virginia’s Center for Survey Research (CSR) to gather public input on the community center’s facilities, programs and services to guide future planning.
“The survey will be sent to selected Reston addresses that represent a statistically valid and demographically aligned pool of respondents,” RCC said in a news release. “Residents should watch their mailboxes for the questionnaire and return instructions.”
Residents who don’t get the survey in the mail can still give feedback to RCC by emailing RCCContact@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Results from the needs analysis will inform RCC’s next strategic plan, which is updated every five years. The community center last enlisted CSR for a survey in 2019 that also solicited opinions on a future performing arts facility in Reston Town Center.
RCC then launched another survey in 2021 as a “temperature check” to determine if any priorities and concerns had changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to generally asking about how residents use RCC facilities and their recreational, arts, culture and leisure interests, this year’s survey will specifically gauge public sentiments about the Lake Anne facility at 1609-A Washington Plaza.
Opened in 1999, RCC Lake Anne houses the Jo Ann Rose Gallery, a 3D gallery and fitness, wellness and art and ceramics studios. It also has space that can be rented for events and meetings.
“The present lease expires in 2039 and use of our current facility is more than maxed out,” RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon said by email. “We want to understand the community expectations for facility development or expansion as a result.”
Gordon confirmed the survey doesn’t include any new questions about the planned performing arts center, since “the 2019 survey answered our key concerns regarding community expectations on that front.”
Reston Town Center developer Boston Properties offered to reserve up to 60,000 square feet for the arts center in its Reston Next development, which is expanding the town center south of Bluemont Way. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted on Jan. 24, 2023 to accept Block J as the facility’s location.
“Further action depends on the development calendar,” Gordon said.
With the first phase of its expansion nearing completion, Boston Properties recently submitted an updated plan for the next phase, proposing an increase in office space.
For Block J, the application raises the maximum building height from 150 feet to 319 feet to allow 405,000 square feet of office, up from the previously approved 118,000 square feet. It also proposes 4,000 square feet on the ground floor for an alternate commercial, civic or service use but doesn’t mention the proffered arts center.
The application does create a new Block G2 that would have 60,000 square feet of “commercial, ground floor, and/or civic uses” permitted under the original development plan approved in 2018.
Boston Properties didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time.
