It has been a long journey for the CARS redevelopment group looking to reinvent the dealership laden southern portion of Route 7 in Tysons into a mixed use community. After splitting the project into several pieces to help the process along, Dominion Square (East) and Sunburst (a parcel that bifurcates the east and west properties) was up for approval at the Board of Supervisors. The project had split for a few reasons, including infrastructure complications, and final coordination with VDOT, but notably the biggest obstacle was the location of a Rec Park along the future extension of Boone Boulevard.
The location of the proposed park was originally inset into a portion of a preserved forest that divides Tysons and Vienna. Although no high rise (or any) buildings were being proposed in this space, the removal of portions of the forest to build the rec fields was seen as detrimental to many of the near by Vienna residents. Much of the issue revolved on the future routing of Boone Boulevard, the geometry of which originally had forced the conflict. It appears those issues have now been resolved, and the field is located in a more beneficial manner, which garnered approval from staff and from the Planning Commission.
With the final approval of the Board of Supervisors, the project can begin the less painful process of submitting final construction plans, which typically are processed much quicker. The result of any development on these parcels will be a major improvement to the existing vast swaths of underused parking lots which cause stream bed damage and harm walkability. The final project, now reunified from under three separate rezonings, will result in over a dozen mid rise and high rise towers, some of which will exceed 300 feet. The project could push for retail early given the nearby residential neighborhoods that already exist, and the success of other near by mixed use, such as Tysons West, which recently opened up a District Taco. I’m looking forward to seeing excavation and tower cranes show up on the south side of Route 7, a sign that Tysons is experiencing more even growth in all of its regions.
Renderings from rezoning application, prepared by VIKA, WDG, and LandDesign.