* Fairfax Corner: With an ambiance similar to that of the Reston Town Center, a multi-faceted, pedestrian-oriented, new shopping center called Fairfax Corner burst onto the scene last year and became an instant hit. It's off Route 29, along Monument Drive, near the county Government Center and features upscale shops, restaurants and a multiplex cinema. This $150 million, 1.16 million square-foot, mixed-use entertainment complex occupies 48 acres south of I-66 in Fair Oaks.
It was developed by The Peterson Cos. of Fair Lakes in a traditional, main-street style. Although pretty much all of the stores and restaurants are up and running, new ones keep opening, from time to time. Nest Egg opened a couple months ago, as did Rio Grande restaurant. Another new restaurant, Coastal Flats, is under construction. Fairfax Corner also contains offices and apartments, and a hotel and Metro station are planned for the future.
* East Market: Part retail, part residential, East Market at Fair Lakes will come to fruition on 34 acres between Galyan's and West Ox Road, in the southwest corner of the Fair Lakes Parkway and West Ox. Developing it is The Peterson Cos. of Fair Lakes. It's a three-part project, and here's what's planned:
* A retail center oriented to a street, with parking behind it. Proposed near the I-66 side of the property are an anchor grocery store and small, supporting shops — such as a couple restaurants and a coffee shop, along with a plaza where people may sit and relax.
Across the street and fronting on a new street called East Market Drive — connecting from the front of Galyan's to the Fair Lakes Parkway — would be a pedestrian-oriented area with a Main Street feel.
* An eight-story, residential condo building with elevators and underground parking. The approximately 200 units would come with one, two or three bedrooms.
* Some 200 "stacked townhouses" — which are actually two-story condos built above other two-story condos. Also part of the project will be 13 affordable dwelling units (ADUs).
If all goes well, Peterson would like to have the project open in early to mid 2005. The developer will also make some needed road improvements. It will add a second, left-turn lane on the Fair Lakes Parkway, eastbound, for motorists going north on West Ox. At the same location, it will also lengthen the right-turn lane.
A traffic light will be installed at the project's entrance from the Fair Lakes Parkway, and several other turn lanes around the property's frontage will either get lengthened or be added. Peterson will also construct a large, noise barrier on I-66 to shield its project from the highway sounds.
* Pender Campus: A new, mixed-use development is being proposed for Fair Oaks. To be called Pender Campus, it would contain offices and retail in an upscale, village square/town center-type concept. The nearly 35 1/2-acre site is at Route 50 and Fair Ridge Drive, on the Dominion Virginia Power site, just west of the Exxon station and the Hilton Garden Inn.
The project is envisioned as being 2/3 office use and 1/3 retail. Possible commercial tenants might include a Fresh Fields grocery store, a pharmacy, a fitness center and, perhaps, some small restaurants. The idea is that residents in the surrounding neighborhoods and people working in the offices could walk to the retail uses.
* Shops at Avion: A new shopping center with an attached, drive-through Wendy's is being proposed for the corner of Route 50 and Airline Parkway in Chantilly. It would go on 3.5 acres of currently vacant land in front of the Meadows of Chantilly community, with an entrance off Airline Parkway.
It's being developed by the McLean firm of Stout and Teague, and two buildings with some eight to 10, neighborhood-serving tenants are planned. Possibilities include a day spa, small restaurants, cafes, a photo-processing place, a coffee place, carpet/home furnishings store, electronics shop and other everyday services.