County Dusts Off Town Center Plans at Tech Park

By the end of this month, Prince William County officials will have completed a conceptual plan for a new town center development on 106 acres across from George Mason University off of the Rt. 234 Bypass that at buildout could have 900 housing units, two hotels, shopping and offices in Manassas.

By April 30, the county will also have the data it needs to show developers that this project will succeed and create jobs for Prince William County at the Innovation @ Prince William technology park.

The Board of County Supervisors voted 8-0 last month to an agreement with two private landowners to spend $50,000 each on new real estate market analysis before a request for proposals is issued to the general public.

The two private landowners are listed as MJV Associates and Parcel A LLC. MJV Associates is Howard Libby, an attorney in Rockville, and Russell Libby of McLean. Parcel A is supposed to be named PWC-Parcel A, which is owned by David A. Lawrence, of Fairfax County. The county and the other parties will have to amend the agreement to inster the correct name for the other landowner.

When the Innovation Sector Plan was adopted in 2005, supervisors identified land for a mixed-use center adjacent to GMU. In 2008, GMU and the two private property owners signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a master plan for a mixed use center. A concept plan for the town center was created by Cooper Carry Inc. and a real estate assessment was conducted.

When the economy fell into recession, the project was placed on the shelf.

But when the Economic Development Task Force listed this project as a major economic development project for the county in 2010, the pans were dusted off and put back into action. The landowners believe that the town center's proximity to the technology park will help attract additional economic development and jobs.

On Jan. 18, supervisors watched a presentation about the project and took steps to initiate an amendment to the county's growth guide, called a comprehensive plan, to add the town center plan to the 2005 plan. The project was promoted then as having lodging and rental condos with a huge selection of shopping. The town center would become a place where students, faculty and employees would live and gather for entertainment.

Now that the project is coming back to life, GMU officials have told supervisors that although they are supportive of the project, they are not ready to become an official partner.  The college is in the process of expandings its own campus.

The town center was proposed under three scenarios or phases. The first phase would end in 2015 with as much as 50,000-square-feet commercial, 100 condos, 50 townhouses and 150 rentals. By 2020, there would be as much as double the commercial space, a town center office park, 300 condos and 400 rentals with a hotel. By 2030, the project would have more than 200,000 square feet of stores, a big-name anchor store, more growth at the town center office park, 400 condos and 500 rentals with another hotel. The project could be as small as 300 housing units or as big as 900 units.

Old plans mention that a new interchange would be needed at University Boulevard and the 234 Bypass bordering the project and connecting University Boulevard with Wellington Road through the project. The road would be four lanes wide with parallel parking and the project would support pedestrian friendly, multi-modal transportation options.

When developers were interviewed about this project a few years ago, they all said it could work but there would need to be some additional changes. Those changes included the need to deal with only one landowner, a long-term commitment form the landowners and flexibility to meet the market changes. The developers also mentioned that the county should consider creating a taxing district, such as a Community Development Authority, to finance a parking garage.

The supervisors will likely review the updated plans and take a vote this summer.