Fairfax Council Reviews 2 Major Redevelopment Plans In Northfax, Old Town

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — The Fairfax City Council spent much of its Tuesday work session reviewing two major redevelopment proposals that could reshape parts of the city, offering early feedback on a townhouse project in Northfax and a revised mixed-use redevelopment of Courthouse Plaza near Old Town.

Neither project received a vote. One was presented as a pre-application briefing before a formal land-use application is submitted, while the Courthouse Plaza proposal has already entered the city's development review process and returned to the council for a post-submission work session. Mayor Catherine Read opened the meeting by explaining those distinctions and emphasizing that work sessions are intended to provide guidance before projects move to public hearings.

Northfax Proposal Would Replace Aging Office Buildings

The first proposal, from Network Realty Partners, would redevelop 3541 Chain Bridge Road, replacing two aging office buildings with a mixed-use development featuring 37 for-sale residential units, including 29 townhouses and eight two-over-two condominium-style units, along with a 2,730-square-foot retail building. The proposal also includes 88 parking spaces, a linear park, additional open space, new sidewalks and a private street connecting Chain Bridge Road to University Drive.

Applicant attorney Robert Brant told council members the existing office buildings, constructed in the early 1970s, are nearing the end of their useful life.

"We thought that introducing opportunities for home ownership here were appropriate," Brant said, noting the project would diversify Northfax's housing stock with ownership opportunities rather than additional rental apartments.

Council members generally praised the site's pedestrian improvements, green space and homeownership focus but raised questions about the proposed reduction in commercial space.

Councilmember Tom Peterson expressed concern that replacing approximately 16,600 square feet of office space with just 2,730 square feet of retail could undermine the city's broader economic development goals.

"I think the conversation is a little bit one-sided," Peterson said, calling for more information about the city's long-term commercial development strategy before the project advances.

Councilmember Stacey Hardy-Chandler asked about existing tenants and was told the buildings are about 40 percent vacant and expected to be fully vacated within 18 to 24 months because maintaining them is no longer economically feasible. She also asked how the proposal would diversify housing options in Northfax, an objective the applicant said drove the concept.

Councilmember Stacy Hall, who lives nearby, said she was "pleasantly surprised" by the proposal, praising its walkability, sidewalks and open space while suggesting the stacked townhomes be relocated farther from Chain Bridge Road to reduce the building's visual impact.

Planning staff said the project would eventually require a rezoning, special use permit, general development plan and architectural approvals before public hearings could be scheduled.

Courthouse Plaza Returns With Major Revisions

Council members also reviewed a significantly revised proposal to redevelop Courthouse Plaza at 10300 Willard Way and 3922 Blenheim Blvd.

The proposal calls for a two-phase redevelopment that would ultimately replace portions of the existing shopping center with two six-story mixed-use buildings totaling 630 apartments while retaining a grocery store anchor and ground-floor retail. Phase 1 would construct a 315-unit building with 12,500 square feet of retail, while Phase 2 would add another 315 apartments and 50,000 square feet of retail.

The applicant told council members the latest version addresses concerns raised after a similar proposal was denied in 2025.

Also See ...

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Changes include rezoning the entire property, adding a detailed second phase, redesigning the architecture with more red brick, widening sidewalks, increasing open space, preserving and renovating the existing Safeway during the first phase, reducing building height at the University Drive and Democracy Lane corner, and creating additional parks and pedestrian connections.

Applicant representatives said the proposal follows the vision established in the city's 2020 Old Town Fairfax Small Area Plan, which envisioned the shopping center evolving into a mixed-use district with residential development while maintaining a grocery anchor.

Planning staff identified several issues still under review, including retail retention, tenant relocation, loading areas, streetscape dimensions, traffic circulation, sidewalk locations, bike parking, open space, tree canopy and transportation demand management commitments.

The staff report also notes the proposal seeks a rezoning to Planned Development Mixed Use along with special exceptions for building height, sidewalk widths and parking, plus several zoning modifications.

No action was taken on either proposal Tuesday.

Both projects will continue through the city's development review process before returning to the Planning Commission, Board of Architectural Review and City Council for public hearings and formal votes.