Fairfax County has ambitious plans to renovate the Centreville Regional Library and combine it with a new affordable housing development.
But before that project can move forward through a public-private partnership, the county needs to transfer ownership of the property itself: from the Board of Supervisors to the county’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA).
Authorized 9-1 without discussion at its meeting on Aug. 25, the board will hold a public hearing on the proposed transfer of 4.34 acres of land at 14200 Saint Germain Drive to the housing authority on Sept. 29, at 4 p.m.
The project is ultimately expected to offer 180 multi-family units and community space alongside a newly redeveloped library, according to board documents.
“The existing Centreville Regional Library will continue to be operated and maintained by County agencies, pursuant to a lease of the property from the FCRHA back to the County, until such time as the developer, the FCRHA, and the County are ready to proceed with construction,” the board agenda states.
“If the FCRHA no longer pursues the project, the Board may direct the FCRHA to transfer ownership of the property back to the Board pursuant to the memorandum of agreement with the FCRHA approved by the Board on January 15, 2025.”
The library building, constructed in 1991, has experienced flooding in staff areas, recurring issues with the HVAC system, and has inadequate electrical wiring for customers to charge their laptops and other devices.
A redevelopment of the library alongside the housing project is expected to cost $37 million, paid for through Economic Development Authority bond financing in fiscal year 2029, according to the county’s adopted capital improvement plan for fiscal year 2027.
Before a design is finalized, the public will have additional opportunities to comment on the project.
The county is exploring a similar concept at the Chantilly Regional Library and technical operations facility that’s projected to cost $53 million. The facility, built in 1993, has roofing issues and inadequate electrical wiring for customers’ device usage.
Faced with rising housing costs, a number of local localities, from New York City to D.C. to Baltimore, have sought to combine libraries and affordable housing in recent years. The Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization, found last year that since 2000, at least 23 such projects have been completed in the U.S.
The Centreville library and housing proposal is also part of a larger, decades-long vision for the Centreville area, recently approved by the board. That framework for growth and development includes a defined, walkable central area, more mixed-use housing, and enhanced public transit.
