Fairfax County has two pieces of land that it hopes will eventually host affordable housing, but first, it needs to find developers who can turn that vision into a reality.
Earlier this month, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority began advertising a 2.93-acre parcel at 5827 Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads and a 9.6-acre parcel at 13500 Dulles Greene Drive just north of the Innovation Center Metro Station in Herndon as opportunities for affordable multifamily housing.
Using a process laid out by the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (PPEA) that resulted in the recently completed One University project, among others, the housing authority hopes to partner with private developers that can plan, design, build and operate the future residences.
The Columbia Pike site
Dubbed the East County property, the Bailey’s Crossroads site was proposed as an option for residential development last year by then-Mason District supervisor Penny Gross, who requested that the parcel be transferred to the FCRHA along with one at 2859 Annandale Road in West Falls Church.
Located near the intersection of Columbia Pike and Leesburg Pike, the property is mostly vacant after an existing office building known as Bailey’s International Center got demolished in December 2018, though a portion along Columbia Pike was turned into Crossroads Interim Park in 2019.
Given its proximity, development of the site could build on the Alta Crossroads apartments, which began construction in March 2023, to help transform Bailey’s Crossroads “from an industrial zone to a mixed-use, residential hub,” FCRHA and the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development said in their request for proposals (RFP).
The county’s pitch envisions a 180,000-square-foot, 90-foot-tall residential building with approximately 160 units that would be reserved for households with low to moderate incomes. The ground floor must include non-residential space that will benefit the future residents, such as public uses, office, retail, restaurant or a fitness center.
In October, the county held a community meeting to get ideas for possible amenities that it now says the developer should consider incorporating into its project.
“These priorities include the integration of recreational and shared community spaces, health and wellness facilities, and/or a childcare facility,” the RFP says. “Developer should consider amenities that promote pedestrian safety and traffic management, such as improved sidewalks, crosswalks, and additional lighting, to ensure accessibility and safety. The result should be a high-quality development in terms of site design, building design and materials, and appropriately sited open space.”
FCRHA will offer an optional virtual conference on the RFP on Jan. 30, setting a deadline for submissions of March 28, 2025.
The Dulles Greene property
While mostly undeveloped, the Dulles Greene site is home to a regulation-sized cricket field maintained by the Capital Cricket Premier League. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the property’s transfer to the FCRHA in November 2023, but the authority says it will allow the cricket field to be used until financing is closed for the future housing development.
The RFP also notes that construction is underway on an asphalt shared-use path and bridges to create a pedestrian connection between existing residential neighborhoods at Farougi Court and Apgar Place. Work on the Innovation Station North Neighborhood Access project is expected to finish in fall 2025.
The prospective development should “deliver a minimum of 250 rental units for low- to moderate-income households,” FCRHA said in a press release.
Unlike with the Bailey’s Crossroads site, the Dulles Greene RFP doesn’t specify a desired square footage or height for the building, but it does say the height “should minimize adverse visual impacts to the adjacent low-density residential neighborhoods.”
The developer will be expected to construct the pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Dulles Greene Drive included in the county’s multimodal system plan for the Innovation Center Transit Station Area. They’re also advised to coordinate “early” with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to find locations for “a potential east-west connection on the site” to Centreville Road.
“The project shall be integrated into the surrounding neighborhood, complementing its existing character while enhancing community connectivity,” the RFP says. “Priority will be given to improving mobility, including pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and sidewalks that support active transportation options such as walking and biking.”
Though the county isn’t requiring non-residential space to be included in this project, the RFP says “opportunities for unique features, such as playscapes or community amenities, should be explored.”
Opened on Dec. 20, the proposal solicitation period will close on April 11, 2025. FCRHA will hold an optional virtual conference on Feb. 6.
