Garage In Need of a Builder

From the Times Community
By Jason Jacks
August 10, 2006

Nada, nothing, zilch. Or, in other words, the number of developers who took up Fairfax County's offer to build a much-needed commuter parking garage in Springfield's downtown revitalization district.

Supervisor Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) made the announcement at last week's Board of Supervisors meeting when he asked county staff to look into why the proposed project did not receive a single bid.

Local leaders, including members of the Central-Springfield Area Revitalization Council, wanted the parking structure to contain retail and entertainment space so it did not sit barren and unused on weekends.

The former Circuit City and Long John Silver buildings on Old Keene Mill Road across from Springfield Plaza were thought by some to be a prime spot for the garage, which the county suggested have room for about 1,000 cars.

"Sure, the slug line is there," said Robert Fields, director of revitalization for Fairfax County, supporting the location, which is now a pick-up and drop-off point for commuters heading to and from work in the city.

He said the county promoted the garage to developers as something that could be incorporated into a mixed-use development hopefully containing residential units. However, a flat housing market, especially for condos, he surmised, might have deflated developers' interest in such a venture.

Other reasons for the lack of interest, Fields explained, include availability of land in the downtown area and the county's promised investment of $6 million into the project, which some developers considered too small.

He noted that KSI Services, which is looking to build the massive Midtown Springfield development in the area's revitalization district, did not pursue the garage project.

Nancy-jo Manney, executive director of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, said the local business community was excited by the prospect of additional parking downtown, especially incorporated with new shops and other businesses.

She said some developers told her it was an issue of "consolidating" properties with different owners into one that prevented them from bidding.

"If the guy in the middle does not want to play, then it makes it hard for the guys on either side to play," she said.

Kauffman, who said the garage idea is not yet dead in the water, suggested a solution may be for the county itself to merge the Circuit City and Long John Silver parcels by buying each.

The two properties combined total 3.39 acres and are assessed at $5.1 million, according to county tax records.

Georgetown Enterprises of Richmond owns Circuit City, while Sunoco Inc. owns the smaller Long John Silver parcel.

"Taking acquisition of the property might be the catalyst the project needs," Kauffman said.

© Times Community Newspapers 2006