The past year in Merrifield, Virginia has been a time of huge changes and patient anticipation being paid off by a project which has garnered attention from not only neighboring D.C., but even New York City. We were there on the opening weekend of the Angelika Theater when it was a yet to be discovered new amenity to the cross roads of Gallows and Route 29. Early pioneer shops like MOMs Organic Market must have felt anxious as the adage “if you build it, they will come” was yet to be proven. Some were very cynical that the once industrial space could ever be reinvented to a place that people would want to go. The success of the concept in 2012 has left critics silent since.
The ambitious concept has proven to be a magnet for shoppers and restaurant goers, especially after the opening of the Target. It has been shocking just how much has changed each time I visit. It isn’t limited just to the Target when it comes to new shops. Every week there is something new showing up. Recent additions include Matchbox Pizza, Ah Love Oil & Vinegar, and Sweetgreen (which has a fun outdoor bar seating area for days with great weather like we had this weekend). The area has certainly had more than a superficial face lift, and with time new spaces will become neighborhood anchors.
The quiet streets and ample parking are now a store openers dream, with hundreds of potential customers taking a look at what’s new. It has also been very good to homebuilder EYA, who has been selling the very popular (and in short stock) 4-story townhomes (with rooftop patios) overlooking the mixed use development. The model homes are open and impressive. Dual-sided fireplaces in a free-formed entertainment space connect to an ample rooftop lounge.
Since the last time I visited Mosaic a lot has occurred over by the old tower, where Avalon has not only broken ground on the new mixed use, street level retail, apartments but has most of the buildings skeleton constructed as well. Avalon’s construction sign indicates delivery and leases starting this year. Across the street a temporary lay down area for construction has been all but cleared and it could mean more mixed use mid-rise and townhomes coming soon, an inherent consumer base for local shops to add to the already sufficient destination shoppers.
All of this signals a strength in the mixed use feasibility of Fairfax County, specifically in existing corridors with significant residential presence but limited retail options. The diversity of Mosaic is what has really created the unreal interest from developers, prospective occupants, and the surrounding neighborhoods. It is truly a mosaic of varying sized apartments (studio, 1br, 2br, 3br) for rental while across the street high end townhomes and condos are up for sale. Stores like Target and Anthropology coexist with small operations like Freshbikes Cycling and Four Sisters Vietnamese Restaurant.
The next steps for Mosaic look poised to surpass the already great first steps. As the area becomes more stabilized and established, and residents begin joining shoppers on the thoughtfully designed streetscape, Fairfax County will have a better idea of what role Merrifield will play. With Exxon Mobile’s long time campus soon to be open for lease, and possibly a future home to the FBI, the town could go from a bedroom community of DC to a commercial hub of its own needing additional consideration for bus service, bike lanes, and integration with the surrounding Gallows corridor. 2012 was only the beginning for Mosaic. There is certainly more to come from this project two decades in the works.