The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) is moving forward with plans to transform two mostly vacant sites into affordable housing after identifying potential partners for both projects.
The authority approved an interim agreement at its Jan. 22 meeting with True Ground Housing Partners allowing it to commence “pre-development activities” for a 9.6-acre property at 13500 Dulles Greene Drive near the Innovation Center Metro station in Herndon. The process will include a physical site review, community engagement and a financial feasibility assessment.
The vote came just over a month after the FCRHA took the same step on Dec. 18 for a 2.93-acre site at 5831 Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads, where NHP Foundation and the consulting firm Gibson Spyre have been selected as partners.
“Site specifics … will be determined as the project planning continues,” the FCRHA said in both cases. “… The development timeline remains to be determined and is expected to take several years.”
The Dulles Greene project
Mostly undeveloped with a temporary but still-open cricket field, the county-owned property on Dulles Greene Drive was nominated for a Site-Specific Plan Amendment in 2022 by the developer Peterson Companies, which sought to consolidate the site with its own adjacent, 1.5-acre parcel for a 500-unit affordable apartment complex.
After evaluating three different development offers, an FCRHA team chose True Ground as its preferred partner. Previously known as the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, the nonprofit’s other work in the area includes the Exchange at Spring Hill Station project under construction in Tysons.
In its proposal, True Ground noted that it’s already under contract with Peterson Companies and would combine the privately-owned and county-owned parcels to provide “a more generous buildable area” for the new development.
Split into “north” and “south” phases, the project would consist of two seven-story buildings with underground parking and one or two private courtyards. The approximately 435 housing units would range from one to four bedrooms, targeting households that earn up to 30%, 50% or 60% of the area median income (AMI).
Eight units in each building would be reserved for the county’s Project Based Voucher program, which provides rental assistance, True Ground said in its submission.
“Each building will offer resident-centric amenities and programming, including onsite resident services, onsite management, business center, package rooms, community lounge, multipurpose rooms, fitness center, playrooms, and two private courtyards which will include playground equipment, grilling stations and turf areas to allow for active and passive recreation activities,” the developer wrote.
According to FCRHA, the exact number of apartments and affordability levels are details that will be worked out as planning for the project progresses, but the proposed 435 units are being treated as a starting point.
The development team has also committed to exploring how best to take advantage of the site’s proximity to the Innovation Center Metro station and the neighborhood access trail completed last fall.
“In order to enhance the trail experience, our proposed development will also provide amenities and features that will enhance the trail, including landscape improvements, improved lighting, and work out stations along the trail,” True Ground said.
A provided project schedule estimated that the first phase — Dulles Greene North — could finish construction in April 2030, though that was based on an interim agreement getting approved by the end of October 2025, almost three months before FCRHA actually voted.
The Columbia Pike project
Over in Bailey’s Crossroads, the team of NHP and Gibson Spyre are proposing to deliver 160 apartment units available to households earning up to 60% AMI. The seven-story “Columbia Crossroads” building would focus on “family-sized housing,” with two or more bedrooms in 75% of the units.
The housing would be provided on top of a two-story podium with garage parking and various indoor and outdoor amenities, including a 5,900-square-foot nonprofit service center, according to the submitted proposal.
Envisioned as a permanent home for local organizations like Second Story, which is currently based in Dunn Loring, and Neighborhood Health, which has clinics in Fairfax City and the Route 1 corridor, the center would provide health care, support services and youth programs to both residents and the general community.
Planned open spaces could include elevated courtyards for Columbia Crossroads residents, a dedicated dog park and a “shared green mews” connecting the project to the adjacent Alta Nova apartments.
The NHP Foundation and Gibson Spyre have also offered to underground utilities fund and construct the full build-out of Seminary Road from a new “Street A” to Columbia Pike.
Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Plan for Bailey’s Crossroads (page 62) calls for Seminary Road to be realigned with a signalized intersection at Columbia Pike, providing a “better” connection than the existing interchange at Route 7 (Leesburg Pike). The road would include four travel lanes — two in each direction — as well as on-road, 5-foot-wide bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both sides.
“These enhancements will significantly improve neighborhood mobility and safety, transforming this key corridor into a people-centered, multimodal connector that supports the County’s long-term vision for Baileys Crossroads,” NHP and Gibson Spyre said in their proposal.
According to FCRHA, community discussions about the potential development have been underway since 2024 and will continue as the planning process advances. Aspects of the project still under evaluation include the idea of a nonprofit service center and ways it could contribute to broader efforts to revitalize Bailey’s Crossroads.
“This includes improving walkability for safer, pedestrian-focused streets; ensuring inclusive affordable housing for older adults, families and residents; and creating open spaces such as outdoor gathering spaces, play areas, and green spaces,” the housing authority said.
In their submission, the developers said they were targeting March 2027 for submitting the project for federal low-income housing tax credits, allowing them to close on financing in early 2028 and complete construction in early 2030. However, they had also projected finalizing an interim agreement with the county last summer, something that didn’t happen until the Dec. 18 FCRHA vote.
The housing authority says community members can monitor its website for updates on future engagement opportunities for both projects.
