A longtime destination for local golf enthusiasts will soon give way to Kingstowne’s newest residential neighborhood.
Developer EYA anticipates breaking ground this spring on Banner Heights, bringing 174 townhomes to a 17.4-acre site on South Van Dorn Street that once hosted Topgolf’s original facility.
“Banner Heights will feature distinctive new townhomes in a well-established community in close proximity to Kingstowne Towne Center,” EYA said in a statement to FFXnow. “This thoughtfully designed neighborhood will offer outdoor gathering spaces and community-focused amenities, creating refined modern living in a park-like setting.”
Sales of the townhouses are expected to launch around mid-March, with prices starting in the $800,000 range. All units will feature brownstone-like exteriors, two-car garages and all-electric utilities, and buyers will have the option to add a private elevator and a rooftop terrace.
The development was approved unanimously by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in March 2024 after nearly a decade of planning discussions and despite lingering, albeit diminished, opposition from some community members.
The property owner at 6625 South Van Dorn Street began exploring the possibility of turning the site into housing in 2015 after Topgolf announced that it would terminate its lease early, citing conflicts with residents over noise levels at the recreational and dining facility.
Topgolf ultimately shuttered its Kingstowne location after 25 years in January 2020, consolidating its D.C.-area operations at newer venues in National Harbor and Ashburn.
As community concerns about the project’s density and traffic impacts slowed progress on a redevelopment plan, the site was temporarily revived as a golf driving range and restaurant when Rudy’s Golf and Sports Bar opened in early 2022.
A comprehensive plan amendment to allow housing on the former Topgolf site gained new momentum later that year after undergoing numerous revisions, including a reduction in the number of allowed dwelling units from 275 to 174 and the elimination of a retail component.
EYA’s approved development plan called for 174 side-by-side townhouses — 18 of them designated as affordable dwelling units — with 112,725 square feet of recreational open space. Proposed amenities included a community park with a multi-use lawn, a putting green, and play and fitness areas; a pollinator garden; and a linear park with trails along South Van Dorn Street.
According to EYA, Banner Heights will be part of the Kingstowne Residential Owners Corporation, giving residents access to swimming pools, tennis and pickleball courts, fitness centers and other amenities offered by the homeowners’ association.
Rudy’s Golf closed permanently in October in preparation for the start of construction on the new homes.
