After years of planning, the West Falls Church Metro station’s transformation into a mixed-use neighborhood is officially underway.
Developers EYA and Rushmark Properties joined officials from Metro and local governments to break ground today (Wednesday) on a project that will ultimately add up to 1 million square feet of residential, office and retail space on land currently covered by parking lots.
Collectively known as the Falls Church Gateway Partners, Metro, EYA and Rushmark will start construction first on a number of infrastructure improvements in and around the property, including an extension of West Falls Church Blvd and new internal street grid.
As a condition of Fairfax County’s approval of the project, the developers also committed to providing:
- A shared-use trail on the north side of Haycock Road over I-66
- Pedestrian crosswalks, pedestrian-initiated signalization, and modifications to the existing median, including an eastbound left turn lane, on Falls Church Drive
- An exclusive left-turn lane and a single shared through/right-turn lane in each direction along Haycock at the Great Falls Street intersection
- A right-turn lane along Grove Avenue at the Haycock Road intersection
The rest of the development will be implemented in three phases, starting with townhomes from EYA expected to open in the second half of 2027 and a 305-unit apartment building from Rushmark coming in the second quarter of 2028.
Subsequent phases will include a second, 266-unit apartment building slated for delivery in the second quarter of 2029, followed by another multifamily residential building and an office building on the portion of the 24-acre property closest to I-66.
In total, the project will bring up to 810 apartments, 82 townhomes, up to 110,000 square feet of new office space and up to 10,000 square feet of retail. The development will be supported by six publicly accessible park spaces, including a dog play area, civic plazas and pocket parks.
The development will replace 600 parking spaces, including the Metro station’s south lot, but more than 1,400 spaces will still be available for future residents, workers, visitors and commuters, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
The transit agency says the new street grid will also require a reconfiguration of the station’s bus bays and Kiss and Ride spaces.
With construction still going on the West Falls neighborhood in Falls Church and HITT Contracting’s new headquarters on Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center campus, the influx of development drew objections from some area residents who fear it will worsen existing traffic congestion and safety challenges.
However, proponents have argued that the West Falls Church Metro station is a prime spot for development, highlighting its status as one of the system’s least-used stops.
At today’s groundbreaking, Metro General Manager Randy Clarke predicted that the redevelopment will open “an exciting new chapter” for the nearly 42-acre West Falls Church Transit Station Area.
“With the Silver Line’s arrival, these [parking] lots became underused, creating an opportunity to build a community steps from the station,” Clarke said. “When we build more housing near transit, the entire region benefits — from growing ridership to reducing traffic congestion to creating better quality of life opportunities and more access to jobs and entertainment.”
The developers, Fairfax County leaders and Rep. Don Beyer, whose 8th Congressional District includes Idylwood and Falls Church, similarly expressed excitement about the coming changes in WMATA’s press release:
“Today is not just about breaking ground, it’s about laying the foundation for the next generation,” said Neal Kumar, Vice President of Rushmark Properties. “We are proud to improve this land and build homes and offices where families will grow, businesses will thrive, and communities will connect for decades to come.”
“This moment has been more than a decade in the making, beginning with an Urban Land Institute’s Technical Assistance Panel that reimagined how this area could grow,” said Evan Goldman, Executive Vice President at EYA. “With the redevelopment of the Metro parcel now underway, we’re completing a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood that reflects true public-private partnership — delivering housing, infrastructure, and public spaces that strengthen our region for generations to come.”
“This project will bring so many benefits to the local neighborhood, and I am thrilled to see WMATA break ground on it,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Enhancing accessibility and making use of underutilized spaces at the station will be a great boost for the local neighborhood and Metro riders. I look forward to realizing the promise of these and other transit infrastructure improvements.”
“This groundbreaking marks an exciting step forward for Fairfax County, reinforcing our commitment to vibrant, connected communities,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay. “Projects like this help build a more inclusive and accessible Fairfax County, providing spaces where neighbors can thrive and our local economy can grow.”
“By transforming 24 acres of Metro-owned land into a vibrant, walkable, mixed-use neighborhood, this community will have a new place where people can live, work, and connect—without needing a car for every trip,” said Metro Board Member and Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn. “This redevelopment – with new homes, offices, retail, and public spaces – shows what’s possible when Metro, Fairfax County, and our partners unite around a shared vision for smart, transit-oriented growth that benefits our residents, our economy, and our region.”
“Congratulations to Metro and Falls Church Gateway Partners on kicking off their redevelopment project in the West Falls Church transit station area,” said Fairfax County Board Supervisor James Bierman Jr. “This transformative project will deliver a dynamic new neighborhood that takes advantage of the access to the one of the busiest rail systems in the country and will provide enhanced pedestrian and bicycle connectivity for the broader community to access the station area and new amenities and open spaces.”
