Reston should embrace redevelopment to realize Simon’s plan

by Matt Reider, Reston Resident

Reston National Golf Course from above. Photo by Benjamin Burgess

Change and growth is inevitable, especially in Reston. Redevelopment near the Silver Line will happen. Rather than attempt to stop all new development, the community should aim to ensure that redevelopment within Reston benefits existing neighborhoods and addresses the need for housing in the area. Due to the efforts of the community over the last decade, the current redevelopment plan outlined for the Reston National Golf course does strike this balance, permanently setting aside 80 acres for public recreation and open space while adding a mix of housing. It also provides investment money and new members to the Reston Association (RA) for maintenance and improvements. The transfer of ownership of 80 acres to Reston or Fairfax County will make the open space available for all (not just golfers), and put an end to the constant, repetitive planning battles that recur every few years.

Recent developments in Fairfax County, including previous plans for the same golf course, did not address local residents’ concerns. Development will bring additional vehicular and pedestrian traffic and eliminate open space– and developers and the county must prioritize the funding and solutions to these problems. If 800 homes are built, and the RA charges $10k for each home, the proposal includes a “one time” fee of around $800,000 to RA and 800 new, annual fee-paying members. Reston has decades of deferred maintenance it needs to address, and has not added a significant number of new members for many years.

Certainly, the details matter. How many houses, of what type, and what starting prices? Who will acquire and oversee the new common space and what amenities (fields, lights, playgrounds), if any, will it have? How much will RA charge in fees for these new homes to join the association? Will the county also receive proffers and then prioritize and build the turn lanes, sidewalks, traffic lights, and perhaps the new bridge over the toll road that will be needed once these homes are complete and populated? These details must be communicated before final approval.

The rule of supply and demand applies to real estate. While many established residents enjoy seeing their home values increase, they do so at the expense of living in a vibrant, diverse, family-oriented community– as younger citizens and families are unable to move in and contribute. High demand and low inventory for homes can only be addressed by increased supply: through a combination of resale by those departing the community and the creation of additional housing. Since a wave of existing home sales seems unlikely, Reston needs new housing.

One of Robert E. Simon’s original seven goals stated that “the town would provide housing for a variety of needs and incomes, and inhabitants would be able to spend their entire lives in the development.” An individual or family could “live, work, and play” inside the confines of a walkable, amenity-laden community. The idea was that younger, or lower income residents could start off life in Reston in an apartment or condo, then as needs or finances grew, could move to a townhome, perhaps start a family and acquire a single family home. Afterward the kids leave, “empty nesters” could move back again into apartments or condos.

Demand in Fairfax County has made such mobility unlikely. According to Realtor.com, the average home price in Fairfax County is $750,000. Many current owners lament that they could never afford the house they purchased years ago. Often children who grew up in these townhomes and single family homes return to Reston, but few are able to purchase homes here due to the lack of new or affordable housing.

Without the addition of new housing, Reston will continue to be a haven for the wealthy few– a far cry from the original plan. In the 1960’s the vision was a new kind of walkable suburban community that integrated citizens across racial, economic, and religious divides. With the continuous increase in even “entry level” home prices, Reston’s dream remains unfulfilled.

Finalizing the details of this plan are important, but adding to the number of people that can live in our planned community, while contributing to its open space and filling the coffers of our underappreciated HOA should be celebrated.