The year 2003 saw a multitude of physical changes in the local area. Most noteworthy were two, new facilities constructed in Chantilly: The National Air and Space Museum Annex and the Sully District Governmental Center.
* The $311 million Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center opened Dec. 15 and houses historically significant aircraft that are too large to fit into the Smithsonian's Washington, D.C., Air and Space Museum. It also contains an education center for students and is expected to draw 3.5 million visitors a year.
* Before the new museum opened, a new interchange, Air and Space Museum Parkway, was constructed off Route 28 for direct and easy access.
* The Sully District Governmental Center is on Stonecroft Boulevard and houses both the Sully District Supervisor and the newly created Sully District Police Station. Several civic and community organizations hold their meetings there, as well.
* Fairfax Corner, a $150 million, 1.16 million-square-foot, mixed-use, entertainment complex is now open for business off Monument Drive, near the Fairfax County Government Center. It's on 48 acres in Fair Oaks and contains shops, restaurants and a 14-screen, 3,600-seat movie theater. Reminiscent of the Reston Town Center, it was developed by The Peterson Cos. of Fair Lakes.
* An Extended StayAmerica hotel is currently under construction at 5920 Fort Drive in Centreville, behind the McDonald's off Route 28. The six-story, 95-room hotel is 75 feet high and will join the Extended StayAmericas already operating in Chantilly and Fair Oaks.
* The $14.1 million Colin Powell Elementary became Centreville's newest school, opening its doors on Sept. 2. It's on 17 acres at 13340 Leland Road, next to Arrowhead Park and west of old Stringfellow Road.
* Construction related to the massive renovation of the old Centreville Farms community neared completion. Now renamed Fair Crest, it lies between I-66 and Route 29 and is bordered by Walney Glen, the realigned Stringfellow Road and The Woodlands. Pulte Home Corp. and Winchester Homes built some 1,338 units there, including townhouses, single-family detached homes, apartments and condominiums.
* Olympus Gym built a new, $7 million, 35,000-square-foot facility in the Albemarle Point Office Park in Chantilly. It opened in December under the name, Olympus Athletic Club.
* Chevy Chase Bank finished construction of a new branch in Centreville and opened for business. It's on the northwest corner of the Burger King lot at Route 28 and Old Centreville Road.
* Community Bank of Northern Virginia also opened a new branch at 13986 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly. It joins the bank's other location in Centreville.
* Chantilly Baptist Church constructed a 13,000-square-foot sanctuary near the intersection of Route 50 west and Route 28 in Chantilly.
* The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints added a one-story, 3,000-square-foot addition to its facility on Upperridge Drive in Centreville.