Imagine a place where “the academy and commerce meet, resulting in a creative marketplace of goods and ideas,” what the Greeks called an “Agora.” This is the vision of a development proposal for the northwest corner of Falls Church.
Covering 34 acres, the property is bounded by Leesburg Pike (West Broad Street in the city) and Haycock Road. Flanking the area is the West Falls Church Metro Station, I-66 and its access roads and a pedestrian overpass to the Northern Virginia Center for UVA/Virginia Tech. Included within the study area are Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and George Mason High School. There is currently no commercial or residential development at this location, which is not currently zoned by Falls Church.
     
The development opportunity came about one year ago as a result of an historic boundary adjustment between Falls Church and Fairfax County.  When Falls Church turned over its water system to Fairfax County, the county ceded the 34 acres to Falls Church. Under the terms of the agreement, slightly more than 10 acres can be used by the city for commercial development. That will help support the cost of a new $100 million high school campus to be built on the remaining 24 acres.

"The new development would also create a “western gateway” into Falls Church on Broad Street, coming east from Tysons."

To assist in the planning for the new development, the City of Falls Church turned to a nine-member technical assistance panel of the Washington Urban Land Institute. The panel is directed by Robert Wulff, head of George Mason University’s Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship. 
       
In the panel’s report to the city last fall, its vision was to use a large public plaza to physically link the 10-acre commercial development to the new high school campus. The report is available on the city’s website at fallschurchva.gov.
The new development would also create a “western gateway” into Falls Church on Broad Street, coming east from Tysons.
 

The panel recommendations include a high-quality commercial mixed-use development, including a fitness center, movie theater, restaurants and retail at the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Haycock Road. A street grid would provide access to general and medical commercial offices, as well as nearly 800,000 square feet of multifamily residential development and a small limited-service hotel. 

Behind the commercial buildings, the plan envisions a new 320,000 square foot high school, including a four-story “academic tower” for an anticipated 1,500 students. The nearby middle school would remain untouched and share common amenities with the new high school. Construction would begin with the new high school in 2020. 
In March, the city and the Falls Church City Public Schools received an unsolicited offer from Clark Construction, a developer that participated in the public-private partnership that built Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School 10 years ago, for the construction of the 34-acre parcel.   
     
According to a March 19 city press release, a joint task force established one year ago by the City Council and the School Board will evaluate the Clark proposal.
Dating back to the 1600s, Falls Church was developed along two Native American Indian trails where “the Falls Church” was established in 1734. Both George Washington and George Mason were among its early parishioners. Over the years the trails evolved into Leesburg Pike and Lee Highway, intersecting near the still functioning church and creating the main intersection for the community. Falls Church spans a little more than two square miles with a population of roughly 12,300. 

"Falls Church and Fairfax County are considering how to develop an 'eastern gateway,' where Leesburg Pike intersects Route 50 and Wilson Boulevard at Seven Corners."

Providing less than 300 acres of commercial and industrial zoned land within its boundaries, the city is known for its commercial strip developments clustering along the main arteries, its school system and its high-priced homes.
     
Falls Church has not developed an overall comprehensive plan, but city planners and economic development staff have encouraged numerous “small parcel” plans for the past several years. As a result, various office and retail properties have been redeveloped along the two main arteries. Learn more about these projects at fallschurchva.gov/1491/New-Developments. 
     
With the “western gateway” planning underway, Falls Church and Fairfax County are considering how to develop an “eastern gateway,” where Leesburg Pike intersects Route 50 and Wilson Boulevard at Seven Corners. Development at this location is complicated, because most of the commercial property and major streets there are in Fairfax County, rather than Falls Church. 
     
Commercial development within the city near Seven Corners is largely limited to the current Koons Ford dealership and the Eden Shopping Center. Lining East Broad Street, historical residences welcome visitors into the Little City’s downtown intersection with Lee Highway.

Frank Dillow is past chair of NVAR’s Realtor® Commercial Council and is a vice president in Long & Foster’s commercial division.