More Meetings On Washington And Broad Proposal Coming Up

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A proposed development at Broad and Washington Streets in Falls Church will undergo additional review from boards and commissions after a Falls Church City Council vote on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The mixed-use development proposed by Insight Property Group LLC would include a seven-story building with ground-floor retail, a theater, up to five levels of multifamily residential units, a Whole Foods Market and an underground and above-grade parking garage.

The site where the development is proposed covers four parcels: 100 North Washington Street, 127 East Broad Street, 131 East Broad Street, and a city-owned public parking lot on Park Place. Those parcels are the site of businesses at the corner of Washington and Broad Streets, a now-vacant Applebee's restaurant, a medical office building and public parking lot t the intersection of E Broad and N Washington Streets, an Applebee's restaurant, a medical office building at the intersection of E Broad and Lawton Streets, and a public parking lot behind Clare and Don's Beach Shack and Thompson Italian.

Last Tuesday, City Council voted 5-0 to refer the projects to city boards and commissions for final review. A final vote could be expected in January 2021. Councilmember Letty Hardi said in her latest newsletter that if the project is approved and the site plan and permitting happens on the earliest timeline in 2021, groundbreaking could be expected in 2022 and an opening could be expected in late 2024.

One part of the proposal that drew concern from residents was the issue of developing the city-owned parking lot on Park Place. While there would be dedicated public parking in the final development, there were concerns about removing the parking that serves Clare and Don's and Thompson Italian customers. The Oct. 13 presentation to City Council outlines an interim parking plan with alternate public parking options between the time when the Park Place lot would be removed and when the public parking would be open in the new garage.

The proposal is considered under review because several rounds of city review and approvals must happen for developments of this scale. The next meetings related to the project will be on Oct. 21. The Planning Commission will hold a virtual work session at 7:30 p.m., and there will be a Board and Commission Town Hall from 8:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the meeting.

For more upcoming meetings and information on the proposal, see www.fallschurchva.gov/1648/Broad-Washington-Project.