Public Parking Garage Planned For Future Vienna Building

VIENNA, VA—Vienna Town Council voted 6-1 Monday night to purchase the second floor of a proposed mixed-use building for public parking near Church Street.

The second-floor garage would provide 121 parking spaces at 223-241 Mill Street NE, around the corner from Church Street and about a block to Maple Avenue.

The $4.6 million purchase comes as the Town tries to bring more parking to the historic commercial area. A mix of grants and loans could cover funding. The Town has applied for a Northern Virginia Transportation Authority grant to cover half of the costs. In return, half of the spaces would be reserved for Metro riders, bikers and carpools for at least part of the day.

The Town's finance director Marion Serfass said the Town will receive a refund if the project is not completed as planned. It must also pay annual "condominium" and maintenance fees of around $50,000 to $100,000. In this case, condominium refers to the structure of the purchase—there are no residential units proposed in the building.

Mill Street Development One is proposing the four-story building for industrial and commercial use by LLC. Public parking would be provided by the Town on the second floor with privately owned rental storage space on the third and fourth floors as well as retail and parking on the first floor. Additional retail parking will be provided below grade.

“We’re excited that this project will allow for ‘park once, shop prolifically’ opportunities in downtown Vienna and we’re pleased to make good on our commitment to Church Street merchants to provide additional, needed public parking spaces," said Planning and Zoning Director Cindy Petkac in a statement.

Plans for the building will likely go through more hearings in the Town Council and Planning Commission, according to Inside NOVA. The project is anticipated to be completed in 2020.

Image via Winstanley Architects and Planners, courtesy Town of Vienna