Fairfax County is seeking business tenants for The Commons Mount Vernon, while partnering with the Southeast Fairfax Development Corp. (SFDC) to offer free business promotion along Richmond Highway.
The county recently put out the call for tenants to occupy 13,100 square feet of space at the campus formerly known as the Original Mount Vernon High School.
Fairfax County is spending $120 million to redevelop the 22-acre campus into a 149,000-square-foot space for business and community programs. Construction is expected to be substantially completed by early next year.
Two commercial spaces, which can be subdivided, are being marketed. The first is roughly 4,000 square feet in a separate building near the campus entrance. It has its own dedicated entrance, high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and an adaptable industrial-loft layout.
Another space on the building’s lower level is 9,100 square feet with concrete floors, exposed ceilings and a flexible configuration.
According to the SFDC, the base rent for the Annex space would be approximately $8,333 per month, while the larger, lower-level space starts at around $7,583 per month. The rent can be negotiated based on the tenants’ actual business plans and fit-out costs.
Constructed in 1939 on a property at 8333 Richmond Highway that was once part of George Washington’s estate, the building was home to a high school until it switched places with Walt Whitman Intermediate School in 1973. Walt Whitman then closed in 1985 and the property was occupied by the Islamic Saudi Academy.
The academy relocated to Herndon in 2016 and rebranded as King Abdullah Academy, which closed its doors last year. That property was sold to Fairfax County Public Schools for the newly opened Skyview High School.
The county started exploring options to reuse the building after the Islamic academy left. A master plan finalized in 2019 called for converting it into an accessible public facility with teen and senior centers, a gym, and early childhood programs as well as educational programs to support workforce development, business incubation spaces, visual/performing arts programs, and event spaces.
The school was listed on the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register in 2017 and the National Registry of Historic Places the following year. As part of the redevelopment, which started construction in fall 2024, the existing school building is being restored.
The leasing announcement comes as Fairfax County and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corp. promote their ONE Richmond Hwy program.
Emerging out of a “Faces of ONE” initiative focused on public art, the campaign offers free marketing opportunities to businesses in the corridor through professional photography, videos, stories, digital advertising, social media and community partnerships.
“Supporting local businesses means helping them find the right place to grow while also making sure customers know about the excellent businesses that call Richmond Highway home,” JoAnne Fiebe, division manager for Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, said in a press release.
“The Commons and ONE Richmond Hwy approach that goal from different directions, but they share the same purpose: creating more opportunities for businesses and strengthening the Richmond Highway corridor,” she added.
Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck said The Commons will provide opportunities for new businesses, while the ONE campaign helps existing ones build a strong foundation ahead of an anticipated transformation of the corridor, spurred by a widening of Richmond Highway and the introduction of bus rapid transit (BRT) service.
“The Faces of ONE campaign showcases the people, businesses, restaurants and tourism destinations that make our community the best place to live, learn, work and play,” he said in the release. “As Richmond Highway continues to evolve and prepare for ‘The ONE’ Bus Rapid Transit system, we need to support both the businesses already here and create opportunities for new businesses to put down roots and grow here.”
Construction on The Commons is currently on track to finish by the end of 2026, Fairfax County says on its project page.
