Reston residents will have an opportunity to weigh in tonight (Monday) on a potential redevelopment of the former T-Mobile office park near the Herndon Metro station.
Representatives for developer Stanley Martin Homes are slated to host a community meeting at 6 p.m. in Reston Association’s conference center (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive) on the proposed “East Link” project, which would turn the currently vacant, 36-acre office site into a residential neighborhood.
“Representatives from the developer’s team will be in attendance to provide an overview of the project, answer questions, and hear feedback from community members,” RA said in a newsletter sent to members on Friday (Oct. 23). “This is an opportunity for members to learn more about the proposal and engage directly with the project team.”
In its most recent plan, Stanley Martin proposes replacing the three existing office buildings on the approximately 36-acre property at 12500 Sunrise Valley Drive with 1,074 homes, including 881 multifamily residential units and 193 attached and stacked townhouses.
The multifamily units, which would be a mix of apartments and condominiums, would be spread across four buildings, including one with 147 units exclusively designated as affordable housing. The developer is also committing to providing 108 workforce dwelling units.
While the submitted plan primarily focuses on an all-residential development, Stanley Martin is also seeking Fairfax County’s approval of an alternative option with 868 homes and a seven-story office building.
In both cases, an existing one-story amenity building on the site would be retained and converted into a recreational facility — a change from the community center that the developer proposed in its initial rezoning application submitted to the county in December 2025.
“The recreation facility will be dedicated to the Fairfax County Park Authority to further serve as a focal point for residents and neighbors to provide for year-round active recreation opportunities,” a statement of justification dated Sept. 7 says.
The development would feature approximately 3.3 acres of publicly accessible parkland, including the future recreational facility.
In an Oct. 14 memo, county staff with the Department of Planning and Development’s Community Design Section expressed support for some tweaks made by Stanley Martin, including its “ongoing efforts to incorporate additional sidewalks and crosswalks into the proposal, and the widening of pedestrian connections between the park spaces.”
However, they also pointed to some issues that still need to be addressed to bring the proposal closer in line with the county’s comprehensive plan and Reston Design Guidelines. The staff recommendations include:
- The addition of multifamily buildings on Block A so the tallest buildings would be closest to the Metro station
- Provision of pedestrian connections to the Fairfax County Parkway intersection and the Herndon Metro station
- Facade improvements for the townhouses and multifamily building 2 “to provide visual interest”
- Relocation of stormwater sewer lines under the pavement to allow street trees
- Improved screening for the parking garages serving the multifamily buildings
- A commitment to providing “adequate” pedestrian circulation and streetscapes in the first phase of the development
“With continued coordination and attention to these elements, the application can more fully achieve the design goals and recommendations outlined in the Plan and Reston Guidelines,” DPD Community Design Section Director Suzie Battista wrote in the memo.
A final staff report will be released before the East Link project heads to the Fairfax County Planning Commission, which is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Dec. 9.
