The haze around Lake Anne Village Center’s future may soon begin to clear.
Fairfax County expects the final phase of its economic visioning study to conclude this fall with a final report and community meeting after a study conducted this summer looked at the Reston neighborhood’s residential market and potential to support new cultural facilities.
Shared at a July 31 community meeting, the report recommended a mix of low-rise, garden-style and mid-rise multi-family units. It also found that adding arts and culture programming to the Washington Plaza Baptist Church site isn’t feasible without significant county subsidies or donations.
Consultant Streetsense’s residential market analysis noted that mid-rise offerings would diversify and modernize the housing options for higher income areas, while new low-rise options would “outcompete the existing old product in the submarket.”
Townhomes represent “one of the strongest development opportunities” for the Lake Anne area — even though hundreds are already under construction, including 36 townhomes near the recently re-built Lake Anne House, according to the report.
Streetsense recommends a mix of mid-range, traditional townhomes that appeal to young families, luxury traditional townhomes at higher price points, and two-over-two townhomes that appeal to less affluent individuals.
Roughly 14% of high-earning renters — defined as households that make more than $150,000 per year — represent potential future owners.
For-sale condominium inventory is more limited than multi-family housing in the greater Reston area, but the analysis found that there’s some opportunity specifically in Lake Anne to bring a for-sale “high-quality boutique condo” that appeals to young professionals and downsizing singles and couples.
Even at Lake Anne, though, condominium demand is “tempered” by other developments in the pipeline, including 96 condos at The Flats at Woodland Park Station, 93 condos in the JW Marriott hotel being built at Reston Station, and roughly 114 units at Halley Rise, according to Fairfax County development data. All those units are set to be delivered in early 2025.
The report identified Lake Anne’s sense of community and natural surroundings as its unique attractions, suggesting that future development could improve outdoor recreational amenities, use retail and modern amenities like co-working spaces to attract young professionals and add a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the lake.
A cultural assessment spearheaded by Jon Stover & Associates Economic Development Consulting (JS&A) focused on the future of Washington Plaza Baptist Church, a three-story church built in 1968 that owns an undeveloped parcel to the south of the building.
The church faces a dwindling congregation, and annual contributions have dropped so much so that maintaining the church has been difficult, according to the assessment.
Additional on-site arts and cultural uses are unlikely to sustain the church without significant support from the county or philanthropic community — or revenue from selling the existing church property, the study says.
“Willing partners exist to help connect the church to the arts community, but no potential users have expressed an interest in occupying the site,” the report said.
The church’s design — including its historic designation and lack of ADA accessibility, nearby parking and sanctuary-level restrooms — would also present challenges for arts programming. Several of Reston’s 15 churches are better suited for arts and cultural uses, according to the asssessment.
Fairfax County hired Streetsense in late 2022 to conduct the Lake Anne Economic Visioning Study that could guide development in the area. A concept finalized in summer 2023 called for new housing, a park with an amphitheater, improved waterfront access and amenities, and a cultural anchor or an expansion of Reston Community Center’s facility.
During the second phase of the study, which kicked off last August, interviews with individual property owners suggested support for “exploring strategic partnerships that would make development of strategic parcels more attractive,” according to the county.
However, stakeholders also feel that the Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association (LARCA) bears a “disproportion burden” when it comes to the maintenance of public areas.
A report commissioned by the county in 2021 found that Lake Anne Village Center needs over $37 million in repairs. LARCA began work on a restoration of Heron House, a 15-story condominium building, in July to prevent water leaks that have affected some units.
The county expects to announce the date of a final community meeting for the visioning study this fall. It will include yield studies that examine potential redevelopment scenarios for select properties, including the number and type of units that can realistically fit on the land and how that would affect property owners.
“After the community meeting, the county will discuss the potential next steps depending on the feedback and needs of the Lake Anne community,” the county said.
