Franconia Governmental Center Development Proposals Being Reviewed

FRANCONIA, VA — After Fairfax County put out a request for proposals on the redevelopment of the Franconia Governmental Center, proposals are under review.

Fairfax County plans to relocate the Franconia Governmental Center to a new Kingstowne facility, leaving the 3.26-acre site as space for potential affordable housing development. The Board of Supervisors authorized the transfer of land to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority in March 2021.

The request for proposals for a potential affordable housing development at the Franconia Governmental Center was announced earlier in 2022. Now that the request for proposals deadline has passed, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority is reviewing proposals, according to the Office of Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk.

As noted in the project overview, the affordable multifamily housing facility would have a maximum 120 units and four stories considered for the property. The developer must also make 20 percent of units available for the Fairfax County magnet housing program, which is open to qualified police, fire, teachers, and medical employees.

The supervisor's office told Patch in email a development proposal is expected to be chosen later this summer. Once that happens, an interim agreement will be drafted for approval by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority as soon as fall. The developer would then begin public outreach, land use and design processes.

The development of the new governmental center at Kingstowne is a separate project. According to the project website, design has been finalized and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved rezoning. Advertisement for project bids is expected in spring or summer, followed by construction starting in summer or fall. The estimated completion date would be 2025.

The estimated date for services vacating the Franconia Governmental Center is summer 2024.

County government is moving the governmental center to Kingstowne due to the Franconia facility having space limitations, outdated mechanical and structural systems and limited parking. The current Franconia Governmental Center at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, is 28,000 square feet and houses the Lee District Supervisor's office, Franconia Police Station and Franconia Museum.

The new Kingstowne facility on a vacant county-owned site between Beulah Street, Silver Lake Boulevard and Interparcel Road would be about 90,000 square feet. Aside from housing the Lee District Supervisor's office, Franconia Police Station and Franconia Museum, the Kingstowne facility will include the Kingstowne Community Library, active adult center, new childcare facility and community meeting space. The Kinsgtowne Community Library would make up 30,000 of the space and become a regional library.