It's Official: Tall Oaks Village Center, As We Know It, Is Kaput

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a proposal that would totally redevelop the struggling Tall Oaks Village Center into a residential area.

The retail center at 12000 North Shore Drive has had a vacancy rate of 86 percent and has struggled mightily ever since Giant left years ago, unable to handle the competition from other Reston shopping centers. Jefferson Apartment Group, which purchased the property in December 2014, is pushing forward with a plan to redevelop the area to include mostly residential and very little retail space, turning it into 156 residential units along with 8,584 square feet of retail and 5,809 square feet of office space.

"Built in 1974, Tall Oaks was once a vibrant and successful Center that was supported by the community," reads a statement from the Board of Supervisors on the decision to approve the proposal. "When the anchor store, Giant, closed in 2007, it started a path of slow decline. It has been over eight years and while other anchors have come and gone, the vibrancy never returned to the Center."

Added Board Supervisor Catherine Hudgins: "This is my Village Center and I too regretted the loss of our Giant and have missed the supporting services. I hope the Jefferson Development does the trick.

"While I acknowledge that some of the residents are not happy with the end product, I believe once the area is fully built out with the new residential community and amenities, they will grow to appreciate the new development," she continued.

Image via Reston Association