The parking lots at WillowWood Plaza in Fairfax City may become the site of a future mixed-use development — a familiar storyline for parking nowadays.
Capital Real Estate, a Colorado-based real estate investment firm, is seeking the Fairfax City Council’s permission to redevelop existing surface parking with a 282-unit apartment building, 2,100 square feet of retail, 64 two-over-two apartment units, and a 375-space parking garage for existing offices.
If approved, construction would proceed in two phases: the first phase (10306 Eaton Place) would include the seven-story apartment building, retail and a 644-space parking garage. The second phase (10300 Eaton Place) would include the two-over-twos with 128 parking spaces and a 375-space parking garage.
WillowWood Plaza was developed in 1987 with four buildings owned by two different companies.
The developer needs a special use permit to proceed with the residential building, along with special exceptions for density and height. The project was discussed before the city council on May 10 in a pre-application briefing.
At the meeting, Councilmember Thomas Ross noted that the addition of housing would bring a significant number of people to the area, requiring additional traffic analysis for the development.
“The fact is that this is an area that doesn’t have a lot of housing,” Ross said, adding that there may be a need to signalize areas in and out of Eaton Place.
Councilmember So Lim said there may be additional opportunities to build more commercial space at the development, particularly since hundreds of units are planned.
“I think they could definitely offer more retail space,” Lim said.