Redevelopment Plan For Huntington Condominium Paused

HUNTINGTON, VA — Redevelopment plans for a condominium community in Huntington are not moving forward at this time.

Developer and IDI Group Companies and the Huntington Club Condominium Unit Owners’ Association announced it no longer plans to end the condominium in fall 2023 for redevelopment into a mixed-use community. The redevelopment, pursued by the condo association, had been years in the making.

Huntington Club is currently a community of 364 garden-style and townhouse-style condominiums on 19 acres near the Huntington Metro station. The redevelopment was proposed to have about 200 stacked townhouses, 1,300 multi-family residential units, 270,000 square feet of senior living, 210,000 square feet of office space, 80,000 square feet of hotel space, and 27,000 square feet of retail space. Before the redevelopment was paused, the four land bays for the first redevelopment phases had been under contract with builders. However, the builders are not able to secure financing before a December deadline for the community to be closed for redevelopment.

The condo association and developer cited economic factors in the redevelopment pause.

"We have all reached the conclusion that despite everyone’s best efforts, we’re not able to move forward with our redevelopment at this time," said Lloyd Tucker, a retired Air Force officer who is president of the Huntington Club Board of Directors. "For us to terminate our condominium by December 15, as our termination agreement calls for, many pieces would need to be in place that simply cannot happen in today’s financial environment."

IDI Managing Director Enrico Cecchi added, "We’ve worked tirelessly and creatively for more than five years now to address all of the inherent complexities in a project of this nature, with its many stakeholders, phasing, and other unique challenges. But the pandemic’s impact on commercial real estate, the current interest rates and recent bank failures have combined to essentially freeze the credit markets.

Tucker indicated the redevelopment could happen at a later time. A comprehensive plan amendment for the site, as well as a redevelopment plan agreement, rezoning, and development plan are already approved.

"Unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to have to wait a little longer for this vision to be realized," said Tucker. "When that happens, we will be eager to move forward with IDI and build on the progress that has already been made."

Huntington Club's condo association has been exploring redevelopment for over a decade and announced redevelopment plans in 2017. The community originally opened as Telegraph Hill Apartments in 1967 and transitioned to condominium ownership in 1979. In 2005, the community's leadership explored redevelopment possibilities as the 40-year-old units needed maintenance and the location near Huntington Metro had become more desirable.

With support from condo owners, the association did traffic, engineering, economic and architectural studies and presented a redevelopment plan to neighboring community associations. A majority of condo owners voted to end the community and support the redevelopment. Fairfax County approved a comprehensive plan amendment for the site in 2013 allowing increased density. The following year, IDI Group Companies became the development partner.

When the redevelopment does move forward, the developer says it will increase transit use around the Huntington Metro, be a catalyst for the county's Bus Rapid Transit system, increase tax revenue and boost affordable housing.

"We are especially grateful for Fairfax County’s recognition that this redevelopment is of strategic importance to the County’s goals to encourage transit-oriented development and increase transit usage," said Cecchi. "The redevelopment will also significantly increase real estate tax income to the County. We fully intend to continue this important development when market conditions improve."