Tall Oaks Shopping Center is 86 percent vacant, according to Planning Staff member Mary Ann Tsai. Photo by Ken Moore.
The closing of Giant in 2007 started a slow decline of Tall Oaks Village Center, “once a vibrant and successful center that was supported by the community,” said Hunter Mill Supervisor Catherine Hudgins.
“It has been over eight years and while other anchors have come and gone, the vibrancy never returned to the Center,” according to Hudgins.
“Of the five Village Centers in Reston, Tall Oaks Village Center is the smallest with approximately 18 acres of land. It has been in decline without a stable grocery store anchor tenant since 2007,” according to Mary Ann Tsai, with the county’s Planning Staff. “It is approximately 86 percent vacant.”
The Board on Tuesday, July 26 approved Jefferson Apartment Group’s proposal to build a total of 156 residential units consisting of 44 townhomes, 42 multi-family units that have the exterior appearance of townhouses and 70 multi-family units in two buildings; the applicants also propose 5,809 square feet of office space and 8,584 square feet of retail.
“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,” said Hudgins. “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.”
This proposal is to permit the redevelopment of the Tall Oaks Village Center with a mix of residential and commercial uses and to permit Category 5 special exception uses fast foods and quick-service food store uses. The Center is located at 12000 and 12054 North Shore Drive, Reston.
According to the Food Marketing institute, the median size of a grocery store in 2013 was more than 46,000 square feet.
The Planning Commission approved the application unanimously with one abstention on Thursday, July 21.
Last week, Tammi Petrine, of Reston 20/20, said JAG’s application “is not ready for prime time.”
“The Tall Oaks Village Center plan as presented now is neither a village center in spirit nor design,” she said.
Lynne Mulston, of Reston Citizens Association, said “we feel it is very important to preserve what little is left of retail.”
“We do have to applaud the changes they have made over time but feel there can be continued improvements,” she said.
Many others raised concern about traffic around failing intersections by Tall Oaks.
The Jefferson Apartment Group purchased the Center in 2014.