housing | FFXnow

County board allows denser development on site near Mosaic District

Published January 21, 2025 at 1:15PM

The Alliance Center property in Merrifield (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive plan amendment last Tuesday (Jan. 14) that ultimately could lead to the redevelopment of the Alliance Center office condominiums adjoining the Mosaic District in Merrifield.

Though there’s no current development proposal on the table, the amendment would allow nearly 360 residential units with 60,000 square feet of ground-floor uses on the 3.2-acre site, which currently hosts two buildings with 24 aging commercial-condominium units, surrounded by surface parking.

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Fairfax home sales, prices went up from 2023 to 2024

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 15, 2025 at 9:00AM

A row of townhouses in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s homes market saw year-over-year upticks in sales and prices in 2024.

A total of 11,787 properties changed hands during the year, according to preliminary figures reported by Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.

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Proposed housing projects near Jermantown Road win planning commission support

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 13, 2025 at 11:15AM

A&A Flint Hill development proposal (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission gave its blessing last Wednesday (Jan. 8) to two proposed projects that could replace aging commercial buildings with housing on adjacent Oakton parcels.

The proposals to redevelop Redwood Plaza (10600 Arrowhead Drive) and a portion of the Flint Hill Office Park (10530 Rosehaven Street) will now go to the Board of Supervisors. A similar request for a parcel immediately to the north is in the pipeline and will be considered later this year.

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Fairfax lawmakers propose legislation on abortion, gun control and election reform

By James Jarvis

Published January 9, 2025 at 11:15AM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

State legislators representing Fairfax County are taking the lead on major issues in the Virginia General Assembly’s 2025 session, filing proposals addressing reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, gun control and election reforms.

Originally slated to begin yesterday (Jan. 8), the legislative session has been delayed by water service issues in Richmond stemming from the snowstorm on Monday (Jan. 6). Lawmakers will now convene on Monday, Jan. 13 and remain in session through Feb. 22.

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2025 housing forecast projects more sales, higher prices in Fairfax

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 20, 2024 at 9:45AM

Northern Virginia Association of Realtors 2025 preview (via NVAR)

Potential economic and political headwinds are unlikely to derail sales and price increases Northern Virginia’s 2025 housing market, industry experts believe.

That’s good news for prospective sellers, but purchasers, especially first-time homebuyers, could face continued challenges, according to a 2025 housing market forecast publicly unveiled on Tuesday (Dec. 17) by George Mason University researchers and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR).

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The Virginian developer urged to improve outreach on plan to add cottage housing for seniors

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 19, 2024 at 2:30PM

The Virginian is proposing to add cottages to its community in Mantua (via Fairfax County)

A plan to build 24 cottage-style independent living units on The Virginian compound along Arlington Blvd in Mantua have taken a key step forward.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 11 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the new facilities at 9229 Arlington Blvd on the south side of Route 50 between Blake Lane and Nutley Street, just east of Fairfax City.

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Design approved for first mixed-use redevelopment near Herndon Metro station

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 19, 2024 at 11:15AM

The residential building at 555 Herndon Parkway will include ground-floor retail space (via Hord Coplan Macht/Town of Herndon)

Though Herndon’s downtown revitalization push has stalled, a key piece of the town’s vision for development outside its Metro station reached a milestone last month.

The Town of Herndon Architectural Review Board (ARB) gave its approval on Nov. 20 to architectural and landscape design plans for the first phase of Fairfield Residential’s 555 Herndon Parkway project, a multifamily residential building with retail that will later be complemented by an office building.

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Planned Reston senior living facility advances to county board

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 18, 2024 at 9:45AM

Rendering of The Canopy, Silverstone Senior Living's proposed senior living facility at 10819 Leesburg Pike (via Fairfax County)

A proposal that would bring 131 independent-living, assisted-living and memory-care units to a parcel along Route 7 in the Reston/Great Falls area is advancing to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended approval on Dec. 11 of the facility planned by Silverstone Senior Living at 10819 Leesburg Pike, across from Riva Ridge Road and west of Baron Cameron Avenue.

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Proposal to redevelop Commons of McLean apartments wins Planning Commission support

By Scott McCaffrey

Published December 17, 2024 at 2:30PM

The proposed McLean Crossing redevelopment and its surroundings in Tysons (via LCOR and Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission gave its support last week to a mixed-use development dubbed McLean Crossing in Tysons.

The proposal for redeveloping the Commons of McLean apartments at 1640 Anderson Road will now be considered for final approval by the Board of Supervisors in the new year. Ultimately, as many as 5,000 people could call the property their home.

Countywide

Fairfax County ramps up efforts to support manufactured home communities

By Scott McCaffrey

Published November 29, 2024 at 11:15AM

The Harmony Place mobile homes front office in Hybla Valley (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County officials are working to get to know roughly 1,750 residents of the area’s eight manufactured homes better.

“We are really hoping to understand the needs,” Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development Affordable and Manufactured Housing Program Manager Ivana Escobar told the Board of Supervisors housing committee at a Tuesday (Nov. 26) meeting.