Big Changes Ahead for Springfield Mall

Skylights, a consolidated theater and internal improvements to start this year at Springfield Mall.

From the Connection Newspaper
By Amber Healy
January 10, 2008

In the not-too-distant future, the sunlight filtering through the Springfield Mall will come from skylights, not holes in the roof.
In a series of presentations to community groups starting in November, Tony Calabrese of Cooley Godwin Kronish, LLP, has been sharing drawings and plans for the renovations to the mall planned by Vornado, Inc., the property management company that purchased the mall in 2005.
"This is a multi-phase, multi-use, multi-year project that will take between 10 and 15 years to fully complete, but there are some things we can do right now without any zoning changes," said Calabrese, speaking on behalf of Vornado.
One of the early improvements includes consolidating the existing theater into one location and creating a new entrance and food court in that area, he said. Work can begin on that project soon and should be completed by early 2009, if not the end of 2008.
A zoning application will be submitted to the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning by the end of this month, Calabrese said, for the larger changes to the mall that require zoning changes. The initial proposal, submitted about a year ago, has been "significantly and substantially improved" to reflect Vorando's plans to turn the mall into a town center, encompassing retail, residential and office space, along with outdoor eating areas, an amphitheater and "extensive landscaping improvements," he said.
All of these changes will take time, but residents should not be discouraged, Calabrese said. After all, the initial approval was given to the Reston Town Center 17 years ago, and the project is still technically under construction, despite the improvements and shopping center already in place that have made the area a model across the county.

IN FACT, to reflect the magnitude of the project and compare it to others like Reston and Ballston, the name has been changed. The mall renovation is now referred to as the Springfield Town Center project, he said.
As for how much the mall's renovation will cost, Calabrese could only make a guess.
"Let's just say the initial stuff, what we can do without the zoning changes, will cost millions of dollars," he said. "The overall project will take considerably more than that."
Those who have seen the updated presentation have rave reviews of the plans, including Central Springfield Area Revitalization Council (CSPARC) president Stephen Levenson.
"I saw the presentation to the Springfield Civic Association, and the next night [Calabrese] came to us," he said, referring to the citizens' group that monitors the revitalization of Springfield.
The two groups had different kinds of questions, with CSPARC interested more in how Vornado’s plan for increased traffic around the mall would fit into CSPARC and the county's connectivity plan to reduce or eliminate congestion in Springfield.
"We're trying to see how it all fits together, the renovations at the mall, what WMATA (Washington Metro Area Transportation Authority) has in mind for changes to the Franconia-Springfield station and what the county has in its transportation plan," Levenson said.

ANOTHER FACET will be talking with new Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay (D) to discuss his plans for the mall's future, he added.
"The thing is, we've got to make Springfield a better place to come to than the next revitalization zone," Levenson said. "With all the changes and personnel coming to the Engineer Proving Ground because of the Base Realignment and Closure work, it's a matter of whether the needs are met in Lorton, Woodbridge, Springfield or near Landmark. It's a matter of how well we market our property here."
Tawny Hammond, president of the Springfield Civic Association, said she was very pleased with the presentation.
"They did a good job of answering our questions and concerns and told us how they are incorporating best practices in other malls here to make things better in their design," she said. "Their goal is to make this a regional draw, not just for Springfield and Fairfax County but for the whole area."
Residents raised concerns about the variety of stores in the mall, hoping to include both higher-end and discount stores to reflect the economic status of the surrounding area.
When it came to the bad reputation the mall has earned over the years, Hammond said Calabrese tried to explain that petty theft happens at all malls everywhere.
"They've already gotten rid of the stores that encourage loitering, which helps make people feel safer," she said.
More than 300 people saw the presentation, which Hammond described as "fantastic."
"The Springfield Civic Association is thrilled," she said. "Vornado is a major player in Springfield Days for this year, which was a smart business move and a smart community move. Their involvement with Springfield Days will help secure their presence in the community."
Those sentiments were echoed by Nancy-jo Manney, executive director of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
"I was very impressed by what I saw," she said. "The interior phases are what the general public have the most interest in, while we're more concerned about the economic development opportunities that will happen both in the mall and in the surrounding area. This is not going to be just a shopping mall but a retail component to a larger project that will include residential areas and office space."
Fresh off his first official Board of Supervisors meeting, McKay said renovations at the mall are among his top priorities.
"The whole Springfield-Kingstowne area has a lot vested on the condition of that mall and when we redo it, it has to be done right," McKay said. "I feel very positive about this plan, I'm glad Vornado is involved, but the devil will be in the details."


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