'Grand Opening' Ribbon-Cutting for West Falls, Sept. 25

Despite drizzly weather, the red ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by keynote speaker Mayor Letty Hardi, developers, investors, builders, and City officials and commissioners past and present, was marked by expressions of joy, pride, relief, and camaraderie. 

Beneath an expansive tent on the Commons of the West Falls Development, Thursday, Sept. 25, the “Grand Opening” of West Falls, a nearly 10-acre transit-oriented mixed-use neighborhood, marked the largest and most complex development in the City’s history. 

The Falls Church Independent attended and we spoke to several participants at the celebration. 

All around, stakeholder groups were assembling to take celebratory group photos near the festive fall pumpkin and foliage decorations (placed in preparation for West Falls’s Fall Festival, Sunday, Sept. 28.) A fancy West Falls coffee bar, with delicious pastries from Northside Social was also set up for guests.

The West Falls project was over a decade in the making, with the earliest explorations of the concept beginning as many as two decades ago, as the City’s School Board began to consider how to refurbish the City’s high school (then George Mason H.S., now Meridian H.S.) without burdening City residents with tax increases. 

The smart-growth idea of linking school construction with income generating mixed-use development soon took hold among City leaders and School Board officials. But navigating jurisdictional boundaries, shifting economic trends, community pressures, and a global pandemic with its supply chain disruptions, meant many years of herculean effort were required by the project’s many stakeholders to see West Falls to completion. 

Now, the West Falls neighborhood is home to “a nearly 10-acre mixed-use, transit-oriented neighborhood,” according to the project’s developer, Hoffman & Associates. The new development is designed with the concept of being the “Gateway of Falls Church,” with its close proximity to the West Falls Church Metro Station as well as I-66 and I-495.

The new neighborhood features “526 new homes at The Alder apartments and The Oak condominiums, 123,000 square-feet of retail space made up of restaurants, shops and more, as well as The Commons, an 18,000 square-foot public green space. The neighborhood is also home to a Home2 Suites by Hilton Falls Church, The Reserve at Falls Church senior living and The Wellness Center, a medical office.”

Designed with Community in Mind

According to Hoffman, the green space of The Commons will enhance community in the neighborhood with “seating, retail, flexible gathering areas and a fire pit, which hosts free community events year-round.” West Falls also offers “neighborhood-serving retail, featuring a thoughtful mix of local and national retailers, as well as community-enhancing personal care and fitness concepts, neighborhood shopping and dining options, entertainment concepts and a daycare.” 

And there’s more development in store for West Falls Church. The West Falls ribbon-cutting celebrated the near completion of Phase I of three mixed-use development projects envisioned by the City spanning from W. Broad St. to the West Falls Church Metro Station.

Mayor Hardi’s Keynote

“What a milestone day for the City of Falls Church,” Mayor Hardi said before the ribbon-cutting. “...And this is the Little City growing up….  Today, we cut the ribbon, not just on new buildings, but on a bold vision for our future, finally come to life…. “

“The West Falls Project is the largest and most ambitious development in our City’s history,” the mayor said. “Standing here today, we see the results of [all of the stakeholders’] hard work, a vibrant mixed-use destination which will bring new homes, new jobs, shops and restaurants, and gathering places to Falls Church. This project represents the very best of what we can achieve when we dream big and work together.”

“It started with a challenge. How are we going to replace and modernize Meridian High School without burdening our tax payers? And the answer was bold. Pair the school construction with redevelopment of this 10-acre land so that new private investment could help make possible the financing of a state-of-the-art high school for our students,” the mayor said. “And now that vision has been realized. And today our students learn in one of the most modern high schools in Virginia because of the success of this project….” 

“This moment belongs to every one in our community, the residents, the advocates, the City Staff, the School Board, and the many civic leaders who worked through those late nights and tough compromises,” the mayor said. “This opening is proof that the Little City can think big and deliver. As you look ahead, the West Falls Project is not just about buildings, it’s about opportunities. It’s about creating a new economic engine for our City, strengthening our schools, attracting new businesses and jobs, and creating vibrant, walkable places that bring new neighbors together to thrive…. It really sets a high bar for what great transit-oriented development across the region should be. This is one of the best 'win-win's' around.”

“On a personal note, especially in times like this, I think government should be about solving problems and delivering results, leaving it better for the next generation,” Hardi said. “I can’t think of a better testament to that ideal, between education, housing, and economic opportunity than where we stand today. So today, let’s celebrate that achievement. Let’s take pride in what we’ve built together. And let’s forge that new energy and growth that West Falls will bring to the Little City for generations to come.”

Excitement at the Chamber of Commerce

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, we asked Executive Director of the Greater Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, Elise Neil Bengtson what made the occasion special for her. “Can we add another ‘Greater' to Greater Falls Church?,” she asked. “I don’t know, but we have brought life to this section of the City. You can’t leave the City for Tysons without seeing this. There is a lot going on in Falls Church. And this is evidence of it. Businesses, restaurants, and residents want to come here. We’re close to the Metro. We’ve got two Metro stops. I mean, who gets to have all that?”

“And, this event is special because it marks the conclusion of at least Phase I of West Falls Development,” Bengtson continued. “A lot of our businesses are already open and a lot of them are already Chamber members. And now we’ve got people living here, in the Alder and the Oak.” Soon, the Reserve will be hosting seniors as well.

Bengtson then handed me a “City of Falls Church 2025 Restaurant Dining Guide.” “Come on down to Falls Church!,” she wanted to say to our readers. “Even though we have so many restaurants, the amazing thing is they will partner with one another. I mean, who does that? We’re one of the friendliest communities in the DMV. We don’t have to compete. We partner, the businesses do. And we connect people. So, you’ll see a lot more action here.”

Chair of the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, hotelier David Crance recalled how little there was of commercial interest or vibrancy in this part of the City 10 or 15 years ago. “I have driven Broad Street now since 1997 on somewhat of a daily basis. I would drive it and I would have Red Lobster on my right and a Burger King on my left, but very little in town, before Hilton Gardens, or any of these developments came up.”

But, many residents were worried then about large scale projects coming to town. “There was a point, even when they built the Hilton Gardens when [people] were saying, ‘You can’t have a hotel by a school. It’s dangerous.’ And there was a lot of that sort of feeling,” Crance recalled.

“But I am extremely, thoroughly impressed with the City of Falls Church. I’m impressed with the Council, the government. This project started back – I mean, with what Mayor Hardi has completed today – and even previously with what David [previous City Mayor, David Tarter] did in the role for years, their vision is amazing to me. I would never have imagined this strip has turned into what it has. And every single member of this City’s leadership deserves accolades for that. I have never seen – I couldn’t even visualize it – I’m very proud to be here and see what they've accomplished.”

“It was that vision for developing the City, visualizing that walkable community, even before we had the sidewalks,” Crance continued. “And expanding the sidewalks and developing it the way they did and then going to the current Council. I mean it’s just done an outstanding  job. And it’s so great to have it in the neighborhood…. And the way they’ve done it at a reduced cost to the citizens. That’s probably the biggest impact…. to be able to do this, to execute it, provide that school for the students, build all this, and keep the costs off of our tax payers, I can’t speak highly enough.”

The Developer Praises the City

President of Hoffman & Associates, Maria Thompson also enthused with us. “We feel like West Falls as a development is the Gateway of Falls Church,” she said. “We’ve always believed that, and that was the vision for it. So, today is a culmination of all the partnerships, and all the work and all the challenges that have gotten us here today. So, we’re excited to sort of unveil it to the world and to the City of Falls Church.”  

Asked what role Hoffman plays as the “developer,” she quipped, “Soup to Nuts.” Basically, they oversee the whole project, in all its complexities, in partnership with the City.

"What makes West Falls special?," we queried. Thompson responded, “We felt like this location was ideal, just its proximity to all the multi-modal transit, and just the connectivity as a future vision of West Falls’s connectivity to the Metro. So we wanted it to be a transit-oriented development, but we really wanted it to be like a neighborhood with its own feel. And we feel like we’ve accomplished that.”

What Stage is Phase II in?

And what progress has been made thus far on the upcoming Phase II of the planned West Falls neighborhood development? “We’re really in the formative stages for that, given everything that’s happening in the economy right now," Thompson said. "We want to make sure we make some smart choices.” So, while Phase II has “not launched,” it’s in the conceptual stages,” right now.

Thompson highlighted the diversity of offerings at West Falls, giving it a “neighborhood feel,” including the Levine School of Music and City Dance. “You have the stage there, all the restaurants, it’s very exciting. And it’s very intentional, the curation of all of these retail spaces.”

She also praised the City Council and City Staff for “lots of support and lots of collaboration.” Thompson added, “It’s always great when people hold good intentions and are able to work through the many challenges. So, the City Council, Wyatt Shields, the city manager, and his team have just been incredible, Mayor Hardi –  I mean you couldn’t ask for better people and a better jurisdiction to work with.”

Historical Background

We asked retired City Council member Phil Duncan to give us a little background history on the West Falls project. How long has it been in the works?

“My son was in elementary school when we first started talking seriously about an expanded or new George Mason High School,” Duncan said. “And our son is now 33 years old. So, the answer to the question…. is about 20 years. Because until we decided that we could go vertical with the school and therefore tear down the old outmoded, sprawling, one-level school, we didn’t even have this land to be able to work with. Once we resolved that we could go up with the school and still have a very fine building, then our eyes opened to the possibility of all the good things we could put on the empty land. So, there we are.” 

Though the time-frame is hazy, Duncan believes he was serving on the Transportation Committee when the idea of refurbishing the high school began. So, this was long before he served for 12 years on the City Council, “from July 2012 to December of 23 [through] 12 budget seasons,” he said.

The New Urbanism

Asked what makes West Falls unique, Duncan didn’t hesitate to say, “This development is our first true, built-from-scratch, example of the new urbanism, where you actually can reasonably live, shop, eat, and work in a community where everything is within walking distance. And then you have access to mass transit over at West Falls Church which opens up the possibility of getting anywhere in the metro area by Metro, and therefore, not needing a car. You can truly live a car-free life here. Once the grocery store comes in – though, of course you already have a Giant there now [at Birch & Broad] – but, you’ll have two groceries, within easy walking distance, multiple restaurants, entertainment, just everything you need within one walk.”

Asked which restaurants at West Broad Duncan likes, he joked that he has recently been spending lots of time dining out in order to complete his Greater Falls Church Foodie Trek passport. But, he said he has enjoyed Mason’s Lobster and is looking forward to trying Burger Fi when it opens, “It seems to be getting close.” Asked if he enjoyed Jubilee Ice Cream, Duncan joked, “Yes, well – you ratted me out! I don’t want my doctors to know! [Laughs]. But, we did actually come here sort of late one night, it was almost 9 o’clock, a beautiful night, my wife and I, and had an ice cream after we’d had dinner somewhere else, and it was very pleasant. The fountains were bubbling and the weather was nice.”

City Manager Wyatt Shields, was also delighted by the ribbon-cutting. He said, “This is the culmination of at least 10 years of work in economic development to try to create a really vibrant, retail-oriented place with civic uses, serving broad members of our community, and we’re very excited about this milestone, of this brand-new opening.”

Shields then helped guide us down the historical rabbit-hole of the earliest days of the West Falls project’s inception. “You have to kind of go back to 10 or 15 years ago when this [land] was part of Fairfax County. So, it began with a boundary adjustment associated with the resolution of the sale of the Fairfax County water system. So all of that is important foundational history,” he said. “Working with the City Council and the School Board – this was School Board property. So, getting the School Board on board with the idea of raising funds to build a beautiful new high school through commercial development. In fact, this was an idea that some original members of the School Board originated. It was very helpful that the School Board came up with very creative thinking about how we could meet school needs and also grow the tax base to help pay for those school needs.”

The School Board's Unique Role

“Kind of unique really,” Shields continued. “And then we worked with the Economic Development Authority, the City Council, and the School Board, and we laid out a plan together. And it was the schools sort of operating on one track and then, on a parallel track, we had a solicitation to get market competition for ideas on how this property could be developed. Hoffman/EYA – but really Hoffman was at the center of it – won that competition,” Shields said. “Then we went through a long negotiation on the deal terms for a 99-year ground lease. That’s what this is. And that was arduous and difficult. So, hat’s off to Hoffman for their perseverance, for their vision, and their execution in doing what they promised they would do. And that’s what we’re here to celebrate today.”

Asked what is special about the West Falls Development, Shields said, “Well, it’s an evolving space. But, it’s a place where people can live, where they can work, where they can shop, where they can have access to great food, a place where they have wonderful civic uses with the Levine School [of Music] and City Dance, and a great common space, where people can all mix and mingle. So, what we’ve tried to do is to create a space where people would want to be. And where they’d want to hang out and to connect with one another…. So, people of all ages. You’ve got seniors who’ll be joining this community. It’s bringing diverse peoples together who are doing interesting things and living full lives in this space. And that’s what cities are all about. ”

Vice Mayor of Falls Church, Debbie Hiscott gave us some insight into the School Board’s early thinking as the West Falls Project germinated. “I am super-excited,” she began. “This is the culmination of more than 20 years of work that I was a humble participant of 20 years ago, talking about facilities in Falls Church City Public Schools and planning for the high school. And then I was involved with about four other people in running the PAC to support the bond referendum to have the high school built. So it passed, obviously, and we spent $120 million to build that new high school. And part of the reason I ran for City Council was to ensure that this development was created and able to support that $120 million bond because that was the original deal. So, it’s incredibly exciting to be here and have this ribbon-cutting today and see all this vibrancy and to see how successful it has been as it was paid for by that $120 million bond.”

The Mayor's Vision

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, we asked Mayor Hardi how she was feeling about the celebration. “It’s really exciting because this has been so many years in the making,” she said. “It’s been a community project for over 10 years. And then to finally see it coming out of the ground and to be celebrating with the ribbon-cutting! We had a huge turnout when we did the ground-breaking two years ago. So, it’s always amazing to see something you’ve worked really hard at really come to life.”

We asked Hardi whether West Falls embodies many smart-growth themes she embraces, such as walkability, vibrancy, sustainability, and community. “Yes, this end of Falls Church certainly needs more transit-oriented development,” she said. “We’re literally next door to West Falls Church Metro. So, the fact that this project of 10 acres is a catalyst for about 30 more acres to go, so between the HITT headquarters site and then the WMATA Housing Development this will really transform this end of the City. It’ll create new housing and economic opportunities and really create a great community.” 

Not only will more residential and retail density enhance walkability by making attractive destinations closer, thereby enhancing sustainability, but major infrastructural improvements will accompany the development, Hardi suggested. “There was certainly nothing to walk to or nowhere to walk around until here, right?,” she asked. “I mean, we [now] have the [new] high school. And, frankly, the intersection of Route 7 and Haycock is getting a bunch of upgrades because of this. And that’s important. We’re not only investing in this project, but investing in all the infrastructure around it to make it easier to walk and bike here as well.”

Asked how she might respond to critics of “too much recent development in the City,” the mayor showed some empathy. “Well, first of all, I can really understand that as someone whose partner has lived here his whole life – and my in-laws still live in town – I can see how this feels like a big change, after some 40 years. That said, however, I’m always a believer that you either have to grow and change with the times or change can happen to you. I think we’ve chosen very deliberately that we could grow our way to better services, better infrastructure, and better schools, or whether we could tax our way there. And I think, clearly, the fact that we’ve lowered taxes 15 or 16 cents [per $100 of assessed property value] over the past three years and built all of this amazing stuff, is we’ve chosen to build our way to it to help offset the economic impact for our tax payers and build great places – and great schools as part of it.”

Linking Development to Community

Vice Chair of the Economic Development Authority (EDA), Jim Coyle was also most please with the day’s ceremonies. “Oh, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “This process was started so many years ago. And they had to be very creative to get the job done because the City wanted to sign a 99-year lease, which is standard practice, but the Council can’t do that under state law, they can only have, I think it’s 25 years, so the EDA was able to get the land from the City and then we signed the lease to the developer. So it’s just wonderful to see all that complication come to fruition. And it’s a beautiful development. This is going to be a great gathering place, once all this construction is completed. And that’s what the City really wanted, a place where the community could really come together.”

Asked to elaborate on the relationship between “development” and “community,” Coyle said, “Well, the thing about development is it’s basically everything from the bottom up, which is, ‘How do you create a community for people?’ So, the economic development part of it helps you support people, through housing, schools, playgrounds, houses of worship, commercial businesses. That’s the community you’re looking for. And [West Falls] kind of represents it in a microcosm.” 

“We need commercial development to keep the property taxes low for the homeowners and it also helps us support the schools and all the other public services,” Coyle continued. “And I think for the most part, for the last 10 to 15 years, the City has put these mixed-use developments in the proper locations where they have very little impact on the residents themselves. And one of the statistics that kind of proves that is that the internal car traffic in the City has already declined. People are already walking to more of the services they need. So it really is a win-win for everybody.”

A Resident's Take

Finally, we chatted with Easwara Sadasivan, one of the first residents in The Alder, on the 8th floor, and a retired PhD research scientist from Pennsylvania. We asked how he was liking West Falls so far. “Actually it’s very nice and a beautiful community,” he said. “And secure completely. And I like all the people. They are very helpful. And they have exercise facilities and a lot of other facilities if you want to use [them].... The Alder’s a little on the expensive side, but it’s worth it.’ And “the floors are filling up fast.’

Sadasivan enjoys exercising by walking nearly "seven miles a-day," but also appreciates being able to walk to his doctor’s office or the bank nearby. He also loves all the restaurant choices in the West Falls neighborhood. “Oh, I’ve been to all these places,” he said, pointing to several restaurants. “Burger Fi will open soon and the Thai food there. We’ve been to the Japanese restaurant. And other places also. I’ve been there and I've been there. And many of these restaurants.” 

But, Sadasivan especially likes Jubilee Ice Cream. He’s been there “many times, of course,” adding, “My grandchildren love it. They [have] come many times.” 

By Christopher Jones