Falls Church's Railroad Cottages Win Development Of Year Award

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The Railroad Cottages community along the Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Falls Church scored an award from the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association.

The City of Falls Church received the Red Clay Award for Development of the Year for the Railroad Cottages project. The award was presented virtually at APA Virginia’s Annual Conference on Tuesday.

As described by the Virginia APA, the Railroad Cottages development has ten small houses and a guest house for common use. Each unit is around 1,500 square feet, and the common guest house is the same size. The cottage housing development opened in 2019 after receiving approvals from the city in 2017.

The design factors in environmentally-friendly elements: photovoltaic solar cells on the roof of the carport, geothermal heating as renewable energy and building upgrades to reduce harmful chemical emissions, and pervious pavers and native plants for more natural stormwater management. Other design elements are described as providing "greater accessibility for all residents and guests."

The development's location was also touted in the award announcement. The development is next to the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, which provides access for pedestrians and bicyclists. It is also a five-minute walk from the nearest bus stop and is close to a Metro station, grocery store, and multiple public schools.

"APA Virginia salutes the hard work done by both Falls Church staff and the developer in creating a vibrant community the likes of which are rarely seen in the Commonwealth," reads a news release from APA Virginia. "The Railroad Cottages will serve as an inspiration to other communities for how to build quality, well designed housing in high cost residential areas."