A little over one year after LCOR Commons of McLean received zoning approval for their redevelopment of several hundred low rise apartment buildings into over 2,000 mid-rise and high-rise apartment units, ground has broken for the first phase. The initial development of 319 apartment units is being undertaken by Hoar Construction, for Building 1 of 7. The first building will include two towers of 13 and 15 stories which will be connected by a cantilevered skybar at the 10th floor, which should make for a unique addition to Tysons’ existing architecture.
The project is going to be excavating for a long time as the existing site sits over 25 feet above the adjacent road elevation on top of a hill. Residents within this part of Tysons East have had problems with disruptions to the sidewalk network, currently a construction mess due to Cityline’s adjacent apartment building at the Garfield parcel. Anyone who has had to drive through this particular region in the morning has likely run into the long queue of dump trucks which have caused significant damage to Anderson Road as well.
Thankfully major earthwork at the Cityline project is coming to a close which will reduce the number of truck trips. Unfortunately, it is just in time for more dump trucks and other construction vehicles taking their place at the Commons of McLean project. We have been petitioning Fairfax County to enforce temporary pathways for pedestrians around the site as many residents are being blocked from Metro at McLean Station, but the county has yet to address the ongoing problem.
There are, of course, great things that will come after these projects are completed. What might be the most anticipated change is the connection of Chain Bridge Road from Anderson to Colshire, which will help pedestrians and cars avoid Route 123 when going to McLean Metro station. There will also be significant improvements to Anderson Road itself, including wider and safer pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, and landscaping. The project will also include a new recreational field and several pocket parks.
Before then, however, residents along Anderson Road and Chain Bridge Road will have to continue dealing with the daily headaches that come with large scale redevelopments.
