FAIRFAX CITY, VA — The Fairfax City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to advance the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center, ending months of fiscal deadlock over the $127.1 million joint project with Fairfax County.
The 6-0 vote authorizes a construction contract with The Christman Company for a 100,000-square-foot facility at 3750 Blenheim Blvd. The center will consolidate health and human services from the county’s Joseph Willard Health Center with city-run recreation programs from the aging Green Acres Center.
The approval marks a reversal for Councilmembers Tom Peterson, Stacy Hall, and Rachel McQuillen, who previously opposed land-use requests for the project in October 2025 due to cost concerns. The project’s future had been in doubt because the city charter prevents the mayor from breaking tie votes involving funding.
Councilmember Tom Peterson said his support followed a "redesign of the financial approach" rather than the building itself. He noted that refined operating assumptions and cost recovery plans reduced the projected tax impact from 9.7 cents to 4.33 cents.
"Today, the tax impact, again, has dropped," he said. "It's a 55 percent drop. "The project before you today is not the same project that was originally presented. It is more affordable, more efficient and less burdensome on taxpayers".
Councilmember Stacy Hall, who previously called the numbers "difficult to support," credited a new cost-recovery model for her "yes" vote.
"We now have a cost recovery approach that significantly reduces the projected shortfall and even has the potential for positive revenue," Hall said. "I am now able to support moving forward".
Councilmember Rachel McQuillen emphasized that her past opposition was intended to "signal concern" about long-term sustainability.
"I can support it now, because those concerns have been addressed, and the outcome is more responsible," McQuillen said. "Asking questions early is not an obstacle, it's how we identify risk [and] improve outcomes".
The project cost is shared, with the city responsible for $53.7 million and the county covering 58 percent of the building costs. The council also approved a $22 million revenue bond issuance to finance the city’s portion.
The council opted not to proceed with a $4 million optional renovation of the performing arts space at the existing Sherwood Community Center at this time.
Construction is expected to begin this summer and continue through 2029.
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