Developments, New Trail, Tourism: What's New In Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, VA — From development news to the Bus Rapid Transit progress, Supervisor Dan Storck shared updates on the Mount Vernon District over the last year at the annual Mount Vernon town meeting.

The 35th annual Mount Vernon Town Meeting was started by former Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland. Storck, who was first elected in 2015, continued the tradition of the town meeting to provide updates from local and federal representatives.

One of the meeting highlights is a virtual flyover tour overviewing updates in the Mount Vernon District, which has about 133,000 residents. The virtual tour showed happenings at landmarks, development sites, and other locations, from North Gateway and Belle Haven to Gum Springs, Mount Vernon and Lorton.

"I'm pleased to continue working with you to see the changes we want in our neighborhoods and ommunity," said Storck in the presentation. "We are indeed fortunate to live in a vibrant area where all can live, learn, work and play."

The virtual tour began at George Washington's Mount Vernon, a notable landmark and namesake for the district. In 2022, tourism branding for South County called Potomac Banks was launched at Mount Vernon. The initiative highlights the historic, cultural and recreational attractions in southern Fairfax County as well as breweries and wineries.

Mount Vernon will also be a partner in Storck's annual Tour de Mount Vernon in 2023. This bike ride highlighting sites through the district will be held in October and prompt a temporary closure of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Fort Hunt Park was the location of the 2022 Mount Vernon District Environment Expo hosted by Storck and the National Park Service. The free event featured exhibitors, workshops, live music, live reptile and owl programs, electric vehicles, nature walks, the NPS Junior Ranger Program, recycle right, touch-a-truck, CCTV robot demonstrations, the purple glass monster for glass recycling, giveaways and more. The 2023 event will again return to Fort Hunt Park on Earth Day, April 22.

Hollin Hills, a neighborhood of hundreds of mid-century modern homes designed by architect Charles Goodman, was another highlight on the tour. Developed between 1949 and 1971, Hollin Hills was one of the first planned communities with mid-century modern architecture in the DC region and is on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2022, a historic overlay district was approved for Hollin Hills by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, adding protections over the regular zoning regulations for the historic area.

"This community-initiated process provides regulations over and above regular zoning requirements to better protect the unique areas, sites and buildings and exemplify its original and mid-century modern architecture," said Storck.

Hollin Hills was also the site of the completed Paul Spring stream restoration and reopening of the Goodman and Brickelmaier Parks in November. The $3.6 million county project addressed severe stream bank erosion and removed invasive plants, replaced infrastructure and improved water quality, according to Storck.

Another restoration effort is happening at the Dyke Marsh in Belle Haven, a nearly 88-acre marsh that is the largest freshwater tidal wetland in the area. Storck said two phases completed in November provided buffers against storms and stream erosion. Dyke Marsh was also the site of Storck's First Hike hosted on Jan. 1.

Residents who use the Mount Vernon Rec Center know the facility closed at the end of 2022 for a two-year renovation project. The expanded facility, expected to have a 2025 completion, will have a 75,000 square-foot addition, two NHL-sized ice rinks, a two-level fitness area, an elevated indoor track, swimming pool, climbing wall and multi-purpose rooms.

Near the Mount Vernon Rec Center, Belle Haven Estates is a new infill development of single-family homes. Storck said the community is a by-right development, which means it is permitted in the zoning district without county review. Storck said he convened an infill development task force to inform about options for changing the by-right infill development process at the county and state levels.

In the North Gateway area south of the Capital Beltway, development activity is taking shape. County staff are reviewing a proposal for the Brookside Motel site into a multifamily residential development. Due to the location near a stream, the environmental impacts are being analyzed.

Riverside Apartments is conducting renovations, which includes adding 767 units that the county approved in 2017. Across the street at Fort Hunt Road and Richmond Highway, Huntwood Plaza is approved to have a restaurant tenant, while Ethos Veterinary is opening next to the Ourisman car dealership.

Nearby at the Sunoco site, Storck said there is no development activity planned. However, by-right development would be allowed if the property owner pursues it.

Not mentioned in the presentation was the opening of Beyond/Hello, a medical marijuana dispensary.

In the area of the future Kings Crossing Bus Rapid Transit station, the 466-unit Alexandria Crossing development was approved in 2022. The site previously hosted Evolution Home, which relocated to the City of Alexandria.

Across the street, the South Alex development has 400 apartments, 41 townhouses, and ground-level retail. The development's anchoring Aldi grocery store will open in March.

The Belhaven, another multifamily residential community with 350 units, is leasing and will have a ribbon cutting in March. Adjacent to that site, the Alexandria motel was demolished as part of the Bus Rapid Transit right-of-way acquisitions.

Even more development activity has been happening near the Huntington Metro station, which will be the first stop on Fairfax County's planned Bus Rapid Transit system for Richmond Highway. In December, the Board of Supervisors approved a plan amendment for the Huntington Metro station site that would allow "mixed-use, transit-oriented development," according to Storck. The plan amendment was initiated through the county's Site-Specific Plan Amendment process.

Residential openings or redevelopments are underway near the Metro station. In January, affordable housing developer Wesley Housing opened The Arden, a 126-unit affordable housing community. The Aventon, a 379-unit multifamily community, plans to lease in 2023. Rezoning of the Huntington Club was approved by the Board of Supervisors in late 2021, and phase one development plans were approved in November. Rezoning is also being sought by the owners of The Parker and 2560 Huntington to allow additional residential units.

At the future Beacon Hill Bus Rapid Transit station, Stork said there is the "greatest urban redevelopment potential." There are already plans for a relocated Penn Daw fire station co-located with emergency and supportive housing. Formerly the site of the Hybla Valley Nursery, it will provide a new location for the Eleanor Kennedy Shelter on Fort Belvoir land.

At the future Lockheed Bus Rapid Transit station, the North Hill development is nearing completion. There will be 216 affordable multifamily units, 63 affordable senior independent living units, 175 market-rate townhouses and a 12-acre park. A ribbon cutting is expected in May.

For the two stations south of Lockheed, the historic Black community of Gum Springs pushed for name changes. The station beyond Lockheed will be the Gum Springs station, while the next will be Hybla Valley.

The historic Black community of Gum Springs community founded by West Ford has seen recent improvements, including a historical marker, Martin Luther King Jr. playground renovations and future Little Hunting Creek trail. However, there have been community concerns about the number of lanes envisioned in the Virginia Department of Transportation's Richmond Highway widening project. With advocacy from Storck, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk and Chairman Jeff McKay, VDOT agreed to reduce intersection lanes in most areas.

At the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, stormwater management drainage and native plantings improvements have been made. The center is also home to a new Be the Good little food pantry with nonperishable foods.

In May, the late Dave Evans will be honored for his contributions to Fort Hunt youth, particularly girls softball. Evans was also on the boards of United Community, Good Shepherd Housing, and Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce. The Whitman Middle School softball fields will be dedicated as Dave Evans Memorial Fields.

At the Hyland Center Bus Rapid Transit station near Gerry Hyland Government Center, $93 million is being invested to re-envision the Original Mount Vernon High School. In the first phase, the facility will be renovated for uses like child care, childhood education and college education, professional theater, recreation, life skill training, business incubation and more. Completion is expected in 2025.

In the meantime, the facility has temporary uses like a relocated teen and senior center, a Fairfax County Public Schools registration site and a satellite Fire Marshal’s Office for the South County.

Nearby, Ray’s and Engleside mobile home parks were sold to Pacific Current Partners, an investment firm that manages 27 manufactured housing and RV communities. Storck said the new owner committed to keeping them as mobile home communities.

"This surprise quick sale created great community alarm and provided only limited opportunities to consider the kinds of options provided in the Manufactured Housing Task Force report completed last year while continuing to work with mobile home residents housing advocates to ensure no one is left behind," said Storck.

The area around the Woodlawn Bus Rapid Transit station is more dense than the northern areas of the Richmond Highway corridor. The Woodlawn Fire Station opened in February 2022, and Ourisman KIA opened in 2022. A new 7-Eleven is expected to open this year at Lukens Lane.

At the George Washington Rec Center in Mount Vernon, pickeball courts were added last year.

In Mount Vernon, Storck said one of his visions has been creating a Mount Vernon cultural corridor to draw more visitors. A Mount Vernon Memorial Highway trail connection from Woodlawn to George Washington's Mount Vernon is underway with a ribbon cutting anticipated this spring.

"Future goals for this area include a full-service hotel, fine dining, entertainment, and new recration," said Storck.

A returning event in Mount Vernon will be the Ides of Bark, an event for dogs and their humans on March 26 at Grist Mill Park.

The last Bus Rapid Transit station is Fort Belvoir. Storck said there is a vision for extending Bus Rapid Transit down to Lorton and Woodbridge as well as extending Metro down the Richmond Highway corridor.

In Lorton, a highlight was the recent opening of the Lorton Community Center, Library and Park. The new Lorton police station and animal shelter are expected to open in the summer. At the I-95 landfill site, the county is evaluating the public-private partnership proposal for Fairfax Peak, an indoor snow sports facility with a ski slope.

Site-Specific Plan Amendment process

The Site-Specific Plan Amendment process, which allows nominators to submit land use changes for individual sites, has eight current nominations in the Mount Vernon District. One other nomination was withdrawn.

In the Gateway area, land use changes to allow additional residential units are proposed at the Days Inn, Moon Inn and Cityside Huntington sites.

In Gum Springs, a nomination at Richmond Highway and Sherwood Hall Lane calls for townhouses. Storck said he would not support land use changes in Gum Springs until a heritage resources study is completed. The study is expected to take one year to gather resource on significant buildings and sites.

In the Woodlawn area, multifamily units are being proposed at the IMP building site.

In Lorton, 68 townhouses are being proposed at Laurel Highlands, while the Lorton Valley shopping center could get a standalone Starbucks with a drive-thru.

The Workhouse Arts Center, a cultural highlight of Lorton, is expected to see Bunnyman Brewing open in the fall. A restaurant is also being sought for the site.

Along with Storck, speakers at the meeting included Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, County Executive Bryan Hill, Reps. Don Beyer and Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Police Chief Kevin Davis, Mount Vernon District School Board representative Karen Corbett Sanders and FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid. Col. Joseph Messina, the new garrison commander at Fort Belvoir, also provided a video message.

The full Mount Vernon Town Meeting video is available on Storck's Facebook page.