Reston Performing Arts Center Town Hall A Chance To Provide Feedback

RESTON, VA — Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn and Fairfax County staff members are hosting a town hall Tuesday night about the proposed 60,000-square-foot arts center being considered for Reston Town Center.

The town hall will take place at 7 p.m., at the South Lakes High School auditorium, which is located at 11400 South Lakes Drive in Reston.

As part of the next phase of development at Reston Town Center (Block J), developer Boston Properties has a proffer agreement with the county to provide a space for the performing arts center.

Tuesday's town hall will provide the public a chance to provide feedback on the proposal, so that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors can make an informed decision.

The county has two choices for how Block J can be used, according to a June 13 release from Alcorn's office:

• One athletic field that could be located elsewhere – either on Park Authority property (Option 1), on top of the “Freedom Garage” also owned by Boston Properties (Option 2), or to give the Park Authority funding to build a field somewhere else in the Reston area (Option 3). All of these sub-options are detailed in proffer 34. Or,
• A community-based performing arts facility to serve Reston and Fairfax County of up to 60,000 gross square feet in “Block J” of the approved development on Sunset Hills Road, as detailed in proffer 36.

On June 28, the Reston Community Center presented its Reston Arts Feasibility Report about the project.

At Alcorn's request, Boston Properties agreed to extend the deadline for a decision by six months. The original deadline was July 31, so now the deadline is Jan. 31, 2023.

Alcorn asked for the extension so that members of the public had more time to provide feedback on the proposal before the Board of Supervisors makes a decision.

"I'll be holding at least one town hall meeting on this topic in the fall," Alcorn said, in July. "I want to review all the materials from RCC and other sources and other materials provided by community members on the potential arts center."

For questions about the town hall contact Shruti Nallappa on Alcorn's staff.

Related:

• Reston Performing Arts Center Decision Delayed 6 Months: Alcorn
• How Much Will Arts Center Cost Reston Taxpayers?: Letter To The Editor