Onelife Fitness might morph into the next residential development in Tysons.
The Arlington-based developer Paradigm Companies recently submitted a rezoning application to Fairfax County proposing to replace the gym’s low-lying building at 8250 Greensboro Drive with a pair of residential high-rises.
The envisioned redevelopment would be “significantly more in-keeping” with the county’s vision for Tysons, delivering up to 651 new multi-family homes and expanding the area’s network of urban park spaces, Robert Brant, a land use attorney representing the developer, said in a statement for the Feb. 27 application, which was first reported by the Washington Business Journal.
“The proposed rezoning of the property will help to implement the Comprehensive Plan’s vision for Tysons … by infusing additional residential density that is proximate to Metro, retail and dining opportunities, and employment centers,” Brant wrote.
Located in an office-heavy area near The Boro, the nearly 2.4-acre property is currently zoned for commercial uses, but the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a plan in 2014 that would’ve turned two buildings to the southwest into a 485,000-square-foot mixed-use development known as Greensboro Park Place.
Though that project’s two residential high-rises, retail, public recreational facility and public parks have yet to materialize a decade later, Paradigm designed its proposal for the Onelife Fitness building to be compatible, according to Brant.
If approved, the Onelife Fitness redevelopment would be constructed in two phases, starting with a 23-story building with up to 338 residential units and a lobby, leasing office and approximately 2,500 square feet for a public facility on the ground floor.
“This building is oriented toward Greensboro Drive, thereby establishing a strong presence along the Property’s street frontage,” the application said.
The second phase would consist of a second building with 22 stories and up to 314 residential units.
Across both buildings, a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments are proposed, with 85 of them, or 13%, being designated as workforce dwelling units (WDUs) intended for low and middle-income residents.
The county updated its WDU policy last year to target households earning 100% of the area median income (AMI) or lower, removing an existing 120% AMI tier. As of 2024, the maximum income limit for a household of four at 100% AMI was $154,700.
As part of the development, Paradigm has offered to make improvements along Greensboro Drive, including the addition of an 8-foot-wide sidewalk, a bicycle lane and on-street parking.
Two publicly accessible park spaces are proposed: a 26,772-square-foot green space on the ground in between the two buildings and an approximately 9,964-square-foot elevated space on a second-story terrace for the first-phase building. Possible amenities include:
The at-grade urban park will include elements such as a dog park, exercise equipment, an open lawn with seating areas, separate play areas for older and younger children, and opportunities for public art. The urban park area on the second story terrace — which is accessible via both a staircase and an elevator — includes elements such as areas for gaming, a flexible activity lawn which can be used for exercise classes or outdoor movies, fire pits, and other features.
“These spaces will provide the public and future residents with a variety of outdoor amenities in an area that is currently lacking of such features,” the application said, noting that residents will also have access to private amenity spaces.
Since the buildings will be constructed in phases, they will each have their own lobby, mailroom and loading area, but they will eventually share a three-level, underground parking garage. A total of 652 vehicle parking spaces, 191 bicycle parking spots and four loading spaces are proposed.
For now, Onelife Fitness says it has no immediate plans to relocate or close its Tysons gym, which includes a sauna, an indoor running track, basketball and racquetball courts, and yoga and cycling studios.
“While Onelife Fitness can’t speak for developers and partners, we acknowledge that plans and permits are years in the making and are often subject to change,” the company told FFXnow by email. “For the foreseeable future, Onelife Fitness is staying right where we are in Tysons; connected and committed to our members in this community. We are focusing on delivering the best value in fitness at every one of our 70 locations up and down the east coast.”
Noting that development plans and permits can take years to get approved, Onelife Fitness has been expanding in the D.C. region with locations opening near Baltimore and Annapolis in Maryland.
It also recently acquired two former 24-Hour Fitness gyms in Fairfax (12300 Price Club Plaza) and Falls Church (1000 East Broad Street), which will join existing Fairfax County locations in east Tysons (1800 Old Meadow Road), Burke, Reston and Bailey’s Crossroads.
A Merrifield location might be in the works, though Onelife Fitness declined to confirm any plans. A zoning verification letter request sent to the county in January suggests the business may be looking to open a new fitness center at the Mosaic District.
“You’ll be sure to hear from us if we are planning further growth and expansion in the area,” Onelife Fitness said.
