Inside Phase 2 of RTC Next at Reston Town Center
- The Reston Letter Staff
- 10 minutes ago
- 2 min read
By Gene Powell, Staff Writer
The next phase of Reston Town Center, including a proposed community arts center, has been approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
The newest version of the 22-acre “RTC Next” project, approved Nov. 18 on a 9-0 vote, now includes:
An increase in office space from more than 640,000 square feet to 930,000 square feet, and about 86,000 square feet of retail space –changes from plans originally presented to the county in 2018 by developer BPX (formerly Boston Properties).
An estimated 1,400 residential units in three areas within the project
Relocation of a 60,000-square foot art facility from land facing Sunset Hills Road to a tract facing what a BPX representative termed “community space” along Visionary Way
A “central park” area open to the public between Visionary Way and Navigator Way, from the Washington and Old Dominion regional park path to Sunset Hills Road
A pedestrian bridge connecting RTC Next with the Town Center Metro Station, to be built over Sunset Hills Road
Bike lanes – originally planned along Sunset Hills Road, that now will be included in an off-street, 14-foot wide “shared use” pathway
Construction of the first phase of RTC Next, west of Visionary Way, is complete. It includes the 40-story Skymark apartment building – the tallest residential high-rise in the Capitol area, several retail and restaurant spaces, office buildings occupied by Fannie Mae and Volkswagen, a Marriott AC Hotel and a Residence Inn.
The next phase of RTX Next occupies a tract to the east of the completed first phase. It is bounded by the W&OD regional park trail on its north side, Reston Parkway on the east, Sunset Hills Road on the south and Visionary Way on the west. Some existing office buildings within the project’s overall area will be demolished. An existing office building and a parking garage will remain.
During the brief hearing, BPX presented preliminary drawings of the proposed arts center, which the company representative said were done at the request of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn. The BPX representative said such drawings will assist the county in finding potential donors to help fund the center. One person spoke at the public hearing, by telephone, in favor of the latest plan.
Alcorn told his fellow board members that the RTC Next project will be a landmark, high visibility project benefiting Reston and Fairfax County, given its visibility to the Dulles Toll Road and Metro’s Silver Line.