Lorton has been humbly on the mind of many in the area for what the future of southern Fairfax County could look like since Lorton Prison closed in 2001. But more recently, county staff and community members are pushing it to the forefront with a task force to helm the Lorton Visioning Study that will develop, through community feedback, what Lorton will add to Northern Virginia by 2040.
By Lynn Norusis
Keeping in line with the National Historic Preservation Act, the federal government entered into a legally binding Memorandum of Agreement with Fairfax County and other interested parties to preserve the historically significant buildings and structures on the Campus in a manner that favors adaptive reuse. Taking this vision into account, developers Alexander Company and Elm Street Development, Inc. put forward and are moving along with plans for the renamed area of Laurel Hill. The overall plans for Laurel Hill include 165 apartments, 83 townhomes, 24 single-family homes, a clubhouse, a swimming pool and, eventually, retail and commercial space as well.
Liberty residential units are already available and still being built. The shopping center is underway with some tenants signed and other storefronts still available.
But there is more to be tapped into for the area. In 2021, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the consideration of a comprehensive plan amendment to recommend a town center concept near the Virginia Railway Express station, along with gateway locations and residential areas at a mix of densities. A community task force has collaborated with the county to begin work on the study, which will wrap up in the winter.
Close by amenities, new and proposed, that add to the allure of Lorton are the new Lorton Community Center and library, proposed Fairfax Peak/Alpine-X facility and proposed Overlook Ridge Park.
Lorton Community Center and Library
The project includes a complete renovation of the existing 10,000-square-foot library with 6,000 square feet of new additional library space. It will also include a new 30,000-square-foot single-story community center building. The facility will include space for the LCAC and will also serve as the new home for the Lorton Senior Center.
The construction began in July 2020 with completion anticipated in early fall 2022.
Fairfax Peak/Alpine-X
In 2018, a proposal was submitted to build a 450,000-square-foot snow sports facility with a planned 1,700-foot ski slope. The facility could include multiple ski slope, an area for skiing and snowboarding with ramps, jumps, and rails; luxury hotel; a gravity-powered, mountain coaster that will slide from the summit to Occoquan Regional Park ; a gondola to ferry riders from the park to the facility’s base; a water park, a ropes course, and recreation areas.
The project is contingent on several factors, including land use entitlements, state regulatory requirements, and other considerations. In October of last year, the county’s Board of Supervisors voted to extend the negotiation period on the project until December 2023.
At the site of the closed Lorton landfill, a proposed park would house the highest point in Fairfax County, hiking trails, picnic areas, an amphitheater, bathrooms and bird sanctuaries.
If the planning process moves forward, the park would open to the public as early as 2025. The application has to clear several more steps before official approval, including a site plan.
For more information on development happening around Northern Virginia, check out our development updates page. We focus on a different area in Northern Virginia each month.
If you have any questions about Northern Virginia real estate, reach out as we are happy to help.
