Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC)

Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation

Monthly Newsletter 

In This Issue
Route 1 Widening
Real Estate Roundtable
Citizen of the Year
Mixed-Use Revolution
Farewell, Lindsey
Mark Your Calendar

 Business Roundtable Speaker Series

 

Session 5: Real Estate - Have I Outgrown My Home Office?

 

Friday, May 9, 2014
8:30am - 10:00am
SpringHill Suites
6065 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22303 
New SFDC Video

 

View our videos on YouTube 

 

Early History of Southeast Fairfax County Part II  

Did You Know?

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, one of the biggest employers in the Richmond Highway corridor, employs

1,100 people

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May/2014

                     

 

Welcome to the May edition of SFDC's monthly newsletter. To learn more about the latest developments along Richmond Highway, check out "What's Happening" at www.sfdc.org.

 

Route 1 Widening Begins
Groundbreaking Ceremony Held at Fort Belvoir
 

On Monday, April 28, 2014 representatives from Fort Belvoir and elected officials from the state of Virginia and Fairfax County officially broke ground for the Route 1 Widening project.

 

3.5 miles of Richmond Highway (between Mount Vernon Memorial Highway and Telegraph Road) will be widened from four to six lanes with accommodations for transit, bicycle, and pedestrian access. The project is scheduled for completion by 2016. Learn more.

 

Delegate Sickles, Melisa Ridenour, Delegate Surovell, Supervisor McKay, Congressman Connolly, Chairman Bulova, Supervisor Hyland, Congressman Moran, State Senator Puller, and Colonel Gadson

 

 

Real Estate Business Roundtable 5/9
Have I Outgrown My Home Office?

 

Home office vs. commercial space - which is right for me? How do I legally operate my business from home? Interested in finding space for your business, but not sure where to start? Learn the ins and outs of home occupancy permits and commercial real estate, and network with others who can offer advice and useful tips!

 

Panelists include Frank Dillow, Long & Foster, Ed Cave, McEnearney Commercial, and Heath Eddy, Fairfax County Zoning Administration. Coffee and light breakfast will be served. This event is free and open to the public. Hope to see you there!

 

RSVP Today

 

Friday, May 9, 2014
8:30am - 10:30am

SpringHill Suites
6065 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22303

 

SFDC Board Member Named Citizen of the Year
Congratulations, Bruce Leonard!
 
At the 26th Annual Mount Vernon Gala on April 26, the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens' Associations (MVCCA) named Bruce Leonard the 2014 Mount Vernon District Citizen of the Year. Bruce is the Managing Principal of Planning & Architecture at streetsense, a design/architectural firm located in Bethesda, Maryland. Bruce serves as Treasurer of the SFDC Board of Directors and helped the MVCCA craft its Area Plan Review (APR) nomination for the North Gateway Plan Amendment. His participation in the APR process brought substantial improvements to the MVCCA's submission. SFDC is grateful for Bruce's dedication and support of the redevelopment and revitalization of the Richmond Highway corridor. Way to go, Bruce!   

The Mixed-Use "Revolution"
New development trend, oldest concept around
 

The "grandfathers" of modern mixed-use development were gathered together in April. They appeared on a panel at a Bisnow Real Estate event. *

 

When the Kentlands community in Maryland opened twenty-five years ago, it was lauded as an example of neo-traditional design. Kentlands is horizontally integrated mixed-use, but it harkened back to earlier times, when people lived in cities, where residential and commercial uses were mixed together.

 

As they developed more projects in such diverse places as Brooklyn, New York, Atlanta, Georgia and Reston, Virginia, more lessons were learned by the panelists about what to do (and what not to do).

 

New mixed-use projects can be created to fit into the existing fabric of a community. It is important for the success of the project that it be authentic to its surroundings. For example, although it might be tempting to lease to a "credit tenant" like a national chain, it is usually better for long-term sustainability to find more local and unique retail tenants.

 

The building's ground level becomes the "living room" for the residents or office workers above. From an architect's point of view, David Kitchens said he has learned that the design of the spaces between the buildings - the open, public spaces - is often more important than that of the building interior. "If you don't have a great gathering place, retailers aren't going to come," he added.

 

Infrastructure is also important. In condominium projects, the legal framework must be crafted to protect all parties while maintaining the viability of the mix of uses into the future. In construction, commercial and residential must have separate entrances and utilities. Stephanie Williams stated that, while residents may love the idea of the bar or restaurant downstairs, they do not want to smell food frying or to hear bar noise into the wee hours.

 

The panelists' experience has shown that mixed-use developments attract a cross-section of both the millennial and baby boom generations. With some planning and forethought, these projects can create new vibrancy and enhance existing communities.

 

 

* The eight panelists were: Jim Abdo (Abdo Development), Richard Lake (Roadside Development), Peter Johnston (Boston Properties), Antonio Marquez (EagleBank), David Kitchens (Cooper Carry), Stephanie Williams (Bozzuto Management Company), Steven Grigg (Republican Properties Corporation), and moderator Roger Winston (Ballard Spahr).

 

Penn Daw Plaza, coming soon to Route 1

 

Marketing & Communications Position Available
Farewell, Lindsey! 
 

SFDC's Marketing & Communications Manager, Lindsey Doane, will be joining the staff of Chairman Sharon Bulova of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors later this May. We are looking for a new hire to join the SFDC team. If you are interested in applying, please send a resume and cover letter to edythe.kelleher@sfdc.org.

Thank you for reading! In addition to our website and monthly newsletter, you can find SFDC on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Feel free to contact our office by calling us at (703) 360-5008 or emailing us at info@sfdc.org with any comments or questions.
  
Sincerely yours,
  
Edythe Kelleher, Executive Director