Houston … is landing in Tysons, at least that is what the Tysons area is being compared to once the massive development plans are finished.
By Lynn Norusis
The Tysons area will be the powerhouse of the future, at least those are the plans that are in place right now. With four Metro stops now open in Tysons, residential development has begun and continues to grow. By 2050 Tysons will be home to up to 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs. In 2010, a new comprehensive plan was drafted as the guiding document of how to transform Tysons from a work center to an urban community. Eight neighborhoods have been designated for the area, four of which are on Metro stations: Tysons West will be an arts and entertainment district; Tysons Central 123 will be mixed-use with luxury condos and shopping; Tysons Central 7 will have more of a civic focus with offices, services and restaurants; and Tysons East will hold an urban park surrounded by mixed-use development.
Moving forward with this plan, 23 developments are already underway (see below), and four projects are under consideration.
UNDER CONSIDERATION
The View, a five-building complex that will house a 615-foot tall “Iconic Tower” that will house retail, hotel and condos, is being proposed to take the place of a current car dealership and service area along Spring Hill Road and Route 7. The applicants are also proposing a performing arts center, civic plaza and four other buildings for residential, retail and office space. This would be in the art hub section of the overall plan for Tysons.
The Mitre Campus has put forth plans to demolish one existing building and replace it with five new office buildings, a visitor center and parking structure.
What is being called The Mile will be 13 buildings for mixed-use purposes to include residential, retail, office, hotel and storage. Currently seven office buildings reside on the property.
Along Route 7, a half-mile south of the Spring Hill Metro station, there is a proposal to build a residential building to house 1,400 workforce dwelling units to be called Evolution. The land, currently, has a seven-story commercial building.
ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT
There are 23 active developments taking place in Tysons. Here are some highlights:
The Highland District will be a big turn for Tysons going more residential. The focus for this development is primarily residential with some retail. Development will also include roadway improvements along Old Meadow Road, eight off-site public parks and access to a new fire station and athletic field that is part of the Scotts Run Station South development.
Along Jones Branch Drive vacant office space is being redeveloped into residential space to hold almost 400 units. Roadway improvements are being implemented and there are plans for a dog park, common area and pathways.
Scotts Run North, which is currently a parking lot for the Metro, will be turned into a mixed-use development with residential and office space with ground-floor retail. Roadway adjustments for access to the Capital One site and access to the Toll Road are also part of this plan.
The Boro is moving along quickly and is comprised of 12 buildings that will be added to three current buildings. This campus will include residential, office, hotel and a movie theater and grocery store along with public parks . Major roadway projects include a new grid system for the area to include Park Avenue, which will be a major thoroughfare through the entire north side of Tysons.
The current Capital One campus will expand to mixed-use, office building and conference center will remain with 14 buildings being added for office, hotel, retail, residential and community center along with on-site parks and small athletic field.
At Tysons Central, where Clyde’s Restaurant currently resides; plans call for a high-density future with mixed-use development to include office, hotel, residential and retail. Two options are on the table: one focuses more on residential while the other has an office space focus. Plans also call for plazas and sky parks.
Arbor Row is a major development that is currently underway with the Nouvelle residential building open, The Monarch under construction and The Mather, a two-tower senior living complex, moving forward. Initial plans also call for an urban plaza, retail and the Hanover site, a future elementary school site.
Other developments include:
Georgelas: office, residential, hotel, retail, fire station, public parks (half basketball court, skate park, playground, track and putting green)
International Place: mixed-use for office, retail and residential
Sunburst: mixed-use for office, retail and residential
Dominion Square East: mixed-use for office, retail, hotel and residential
Dominion Square West: mixed-use for office, retail and residential to include athletic field and two elevated sky parks
Westpark Plaza: residential, hotel and retail
Greensboro: residential with ground-floor retail
Scotts Run Station South: office, hotel, residential, retail and on-site parks
The Commons: residential, parkland and athletic fields
Tysons West Promenade: residential, office and retail to coincide with the existing Sheraton Hotel, Walmart and fitness center
Towers Cresent: office, residential and ground-floor retail to include pedestrian crossing over Fashion Boulevard
Parkcrest: residential with ground-floor retail to include a grocery store
Tycon: hotel to be added to office space
Tysons II: addition of eight office, hotel and residential buildings and large park area surrounding Tysons Galleria
Tysons Overlook: office space with ground-floor retail and child care center.
