The Lewinsville Center will be replaced with two buildings including 82 units of senior housing. Connection file photo
At a Glance
1965: Lewinsville Elementary School constructed
1985: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors assumes ownership
1985: Senior center, adult day care, and 22 residential units open
1994: Board first approves special exception for potential renovations
1998: Board Executes 90 year ground lease with county Redevelopment Housing Authority
2012: Board and County Redevelopment Housing Authority seek public/private partnership to increase senior housing and replace outdated building
2013: County selects Wesley Hamel to design new building
2014: Special exception application submitted
Jan. 29, 2015: Planning Commission recommends approval; public comment period held open for 30 days
March 3: Board of Supervisors scheduled to vote
Fall/Winter 2015: Site Plan Permit
Spring 2016: Building Permits Issued/Construction to Start
Spring 2017: Residential Construction Completion
Fall 2017: Leases Finalized, Seniors Move In
See www.fairfaxcounty.g… for updates.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the long-planned renovation of the Lewinsville Center on March 3, 2015.
"Our seniors deserve a better senior center."
— John Foust, Dranesville Supervisor
"The existing facility needs to be replaced; it's very old and our senior citizens deserve a better senior center," said Dranesville Supervisor John Foust.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the plan unanimously on Jan. 29, 2015.
Plans for the renovation to the county-owned facility have been in the making for more than 10 years, with proposals for the 8.66 acre property dating back to 2003.
THE LEWINSVILLE CENTER currently consists of 22 units of affordable senior independent housing, known as the Lewinsville Senior Residences. It is operated by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Additionally, there is a senior center, an adult daycare center and two child care centers at the former Lewinsville Elementary School.
When completed, the new Lewinsville Center will consist of two new buildings. Wesley Hamel will build 82 units of independent housing in the residential building and the county will renovate the senior center, the adult day care, and two childcare centers, according to Fairfax County documents.
"There is a tremendous need for this type of housing in our communities," Foust said. "Improving the senior day care center will be important.”
CONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE 18 months and will tentatively begin in Spring 2016, according to Fairfax County documents. Planners hope for residents to move in during the Fall of 2017.
Planners, architects and the McLean community have been meeting the past two years, Foust said.
“I think they are generally very supportive,” he said.
Fairfax County documents show power slides from the last meeting with McLean Citizens Association on Dec. 16, 2014.
On Jan. 27, 2015, the Board extended the public comment period for 30 days until its March 3 meeting.
“There’s been a push to try to get this completed so the applicants can file in a timely fashion for state tax credits within the 2015 window,” said Dranesville Planning Commissioner John Ulfelder.