West Falls Development Project

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Project Status

A Special Exception Entitlement application was approved by the City Council on July 8, 2019. The approved SEE depicts the site layout, building heights, and general uses for the project.

On August 9, 2021, two applications submitted by the developers were approved by City Council:

  • Special Exception Entitlement Amendment
  • Special Exception Site Plan (SESP) for Phase 1

On August 9, 2021, City Council also approved the creation of the West Falls Community Development Authority for the West Falls District. The City is working with the development team and the Economic Development Authority on the required actions and documents associated with issuance of bonds by the CDA to help finance the public improvements. 

On January 24, 2022, a third amendment to the Comprehensive Agreement was approved by City Council. The Comprehensive Agreement, as amended, sets out the business terms of the land transaction development agreement, such as the schedule of land payments to the City, the construction covenants, the schedule of performance and the like.

The following documents associated with the land transaction and CDA are still subject to change, and additional documents may be added as they are agreed to in sufficiently final form:

Land Transaction Closing Documents

  • Deed to EDA from CityThis will convey the 7.6-acre parcel, shown on the subdivision plat as D-2, from the City to the EDA.
  • Memorandum of Agreement between City and EDAThis MOA will outline the arrangements for handling the property between the City and the EDA.
  • Subdivision Plat: As approved by the Planning Commission on February 16.  This lays out the final 4 parcels, including the 1.1-acre fee residential condo parcel (D-4) and the 7.6-acre economic development parcel (D-2) and two lots that are planned to be part of Phase 2 (D-3 and D-5. 
  • Comprehensive Agreement and First, Second and Third Amendments: These have been approved by Council over the last couple of years and executed. They are not being changed, but set the transactions that are now being closed out.
  • Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (“DCCR”):   This is a 150-page document that sets forth the relationships between the13 various condominium parcels (each of which will have a ground-lease, except for the common areas and streets parcel). The parcels will be created through a commercial condominium. The DCCR creates a development association, provides for inter-condo parcel easements and relationships, makes the development association responsible for the streets and common areas maintenance, and requires property owners, except for the EDA/City to pay assessments and dues to the association.
    • Exhibits to DCCR:  There are approximately 16 of these, which contain plats of various properties, a schedule of performance for the work, the initial rules of the Association, allocations of cost among the various properties, etc.
  • Ground Leases: There is a Form Ground Lease, based upon which specific leases for each commercial condo lot (13) that have specific terms in an attachment for each particular property will be entered into.
    •       Memoranda of Ground Leases: for recording among land records
    •       Non-Disturbance Agreement: From EDA for each lease.
  • Construction Covenant: This covenant governs the relationships between the EDA as property owner and the developer and other parties responsible for construction of the parts of the development.
  • Economic Development Incentive Agreement: This provides for incentives from the EDA in the first six years of the lease.  The incentives will be paid as rent reductions or payments.
  • Completion Guaranties: These documents will include one horizontal development guaranty for the ground structure to be built, and then there will be vertical development guaranties for each building
  • Access Easement: The City will provide the developer with an easement over the lot D-5 for Phase 2, so that the developer can use that area during construction.
  • Deed to Residential Condo Parcel: This will be executed by the City for parcel D-4 on the subdivision plat, which will allow the residential condominium to be built on that parce.
  • Owner’s Affidavit: Title document for City to execute.
  • Closing Certificates: Developer and the City will need to each execute a certificate that confirms the representations and warranties that were made in the Comprehensive Agreement back in the beginning. 
  • Land Ownership Diagram: document that shows the planned ownership structure of the property.

CDA Documents

  • City Council Special Assessment and Tax Ordinance: This will be passed by City Council and shows their intent to impose the special assessments so that the parties taking the bonds to market can rely on there being something in the future to pay the debt service on the bonds. First reading scheduled for Mar. 28, Adoption on April 11.
  • City Council Bond Resolution: This will be adopted by City Council and will recognize and approve the CDA bond resolution, which in turn approves the bond documents.  Council’s approval is scheduled for April 11, after CDA approval.
  • CDA Bond Resolution: This resolution will be adopted by the CDA Board at a meeting on April 5. It approves all of the documents in the forms to be presented to the CDA board at that time. It approves issuance of the Bonds and then includes approval of the following documents:
    • Trust Indenture: The Trust Indenture governs the handling of funds by the parties and the Trustee (US Bank Trust Company, NA) is appointed as trustee, and Municap is appointed as administrator through this document.
    • Preliminary Limited Offering Memorandum: This is a statement that is issued to the market in advance of the sale of the bonds, that describes their terms.
    • Bond Purchase Agreement:  This agreement is entered into at the time of sale of the bonds to a buyer, that contains the agreement for the purchase price, interest rate, etc.
    • Development Agreement: This Agreement covers, generally, how the physical construction will relate to the bond process.  It includes how the engineer hired by the CDA will certify work for payment and related matters.
    • Memorandum of Understanding: This MOU is the agreement between the developer, the City and the CDA in which the parties agree to the Special Assessment and the back-up Special Tax, if needed.
    • Special Assessment Agreement/Rate and Method: This is an agreement that will be executed by the CDA and the property owners (lessees) in the district that agrees to the special assessments to be imposed, and the “rate and method” by which the special assessments will be allocated among the properties.
    • Continuing Disclosure: This document is required to meet the Securities and Exchange Commission requirements for disclosure regarding the bonds. The administrator will assist with this work during the bond term.

Special Exception Site Plan - Block D-1: On February 16, 2022, an application was received for a Special Exception Site Plan for Block D1 for the Senior Housing Building. The submission materials and additional information can be found below.

The City will continue to coordinate with the Falls Church City Public Schools during construction of the development project, which is meant to complement the high school and middle school campus.

The City will also continue to coordinate with the potential Virginia Tech and WMATA redevelopment which is located immediately adjacent to the development.

About the Proposed Development

  • The project will serve as a gateway to the City, instilling a sense of place through the use of high quality urban design, including a thoughtful interface with the adjacent schools
  • Environmental Sustainability with LEED ND Gold v4 (or equivalent) at the neighborhood level, LEED-BD+C Core and Shell Gold v4 (or equivalent) for the office component, LEED-NC v4 Gold, LEED-Multifamily Mid-Rise v4 (or equivalent) for the residential and senior housing components, and LEED-NC Silver v4 (or equivalent) for the hotel component.
  • Pedestrian-oriented streets and easy pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile access to the site
  • Parking garages with spaces for offices, apartment and condominium residents, and hotel and retail visitors, and special event parking for schools.
  • Approximately 215 units of senior housing to allow residents to age in place within the City.
  • Approximately 326,100 square feet of Class A commercial office space in phase 1 and 2.
  • Approximately 247 units of for sale condominiums and approximately 400 units of multi-family traditional and “micro” apartments.
  • Affordable Dwelling Units equal to 6% of the total number of dwelling units (rental and condominiums)
  • Affordable Dwelling monetary contribution for senior housing component of $228,412 annually with 3% annual escalation
  • Large central open space to serve as a gathering place and venue for community events.
  • Approximately 142,100 square feet of retail uses including a potential 40,000 square foot grocer.
  • Approximately 14,000 square feet programmable civic space which includes approximately 3,000 square feet of event space/conference center, 4,000 gross square feet of outdoor space in the Commons that can be used for music/entertainment, and an additional 7,000 gross square feet occupied by performing arts/education studio or school use.
  • An extended stay hotel with approximately 146 rooms.
  • Learn more about the public-private partnership here.

Public Input

For questions or comments please contact:

Special Exception Entitlement - Amendment and Special Exception Site Plan - Phase 1 (Fourth Submission, July 9, 2021)


Project Status: West Falls Special Exception Site Plan – Block D1 (Senior Housing)

The City received materials for a Special Exception Site Plan (Block D1 – Senior Housing) application on February 16, 2022. Application materials and a tentative project schedule can be found below.

Project Description: West Falls Special Exception Site Plan – Block D1 (Senior Housing)

Block D-1 is located in the southeast corner of the site at the intersection of Mustang Alley and West Falls Station Boulevard. Application materials state that the 15-story building will contain 22 memory care units, 58 assisted living units, and 132 independent living units totaling approximately 260,000 GSF, and approximately 7,900 GSF of ground floor retail. Approximately 125 parking spaces will be provided in the D-2 parking garage.

Note: Land use items such as height, uses, building footprint, square footage, and parking were approved as part of the SEE.

West Falls SESP – Block D1 (Senior Housing) Submission 1 [submitted February 16, 2022]

West Falls SESP – Block D1 (Senior Housing) Submission 1.1 [submitted April 11, 2022]

West Falls SESP - Block D1 (Senior Housing) Submission 1.2 [submitted May 20, 2022]

West Falls SESP - Block D1 (Senior Housing) Submission 2 [submitted June 17, 2022]

West Falls SESP - Block D1 (Senior Housing) Approved Submission 4 [submitted October, 2022]

Phase I Construction

Except for the senior housing building-D1, all buildings in Phase I are under construction right now.

The estimated completion dates for each building are as follows :

• July 2023, Building B3-Garage

• August 2023, Building D2-Garage

• October 2023, Building B1-Medical Office

• December 2023, Building B2-Hotel

• Third Quarter 2024, Building C1-Multifamily Condo

• November 2024, Building A1-Multifamily Apartment with grocery store

WFC Map Updated June 15