Fairfax Fixes on Fix-Up, Better Look for Baileys
From the Washington Business Journal
By Joe Coombs
Nov. 4, 2005

Aging storage facilities, an adult video store and a slew of auto repair shops serve as a worn-out welcome mat to a large portion of Baileys Crossroads. And Fairfax County wants to clean it all up.

The county is mulling a revitalization plan that would bring a fresh look to a 32-acre section of Baileys at the juncture of Columbia Pike and Route 7. Many of the area's aging commercial properties were developed in the 1950s and are contributing to "a poor overall image of the site," according to a recent report that profiled the southeastern part of Baileys.

But because the area has access to highly traveled roads and is close to a wealth of retail offerings at Seven Corners, it is an attractive place for redevelopment. Arlington-based Weissberg Corp., which owns 4.2 acres in southeastern Baileys, is eager to rebuild its property.

"We're thrilled the county is looking at that area," says company President Nina Weissberg. "It's always been our intent to redevelop that land. It's become more of an urban location, so public transportation will be key to [the revitalization]. They need something that's more urban in design."

County officials recently wrapped up a series of public forums on the redevelopment of southeastern Baileys Crossroads. A one-day design charrette is slated for Nov. 19, when suggestions from the public and property owners will be hashed out, says Harry Swanson, the county's deputy director for revitalization and real estate.

Some short-term options already being considered by the county include an expedited approval process for redevelopment projects in southeastern Baileys, as well as financial incentives like facade-improvement grants and a revitalization fund that would be funneled toward such projects. Nearly half of the area's acreage is held by property owners who have indicated some interest in redeveloping their holdings, Swanson says.

© 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.