KSI's 'Midtown' Project on Move
The Times Community
By Jason Jacks
July 13, 2005
Central Springfield's established neighborhoods, proximity to major highways and rail and prominence for motorists entering Fairfax County through the Mixing Bowl made the area an ideal spot for a proposed Midtown Springfield development, according to KSI Services officials.
"The transportation structure is in place, and it's a very visible site," noted the locally based company's president, Richard Hausler, in a recent interview.
The site Hausler is referring to is a 9-acre piece of property wedged between Interstate 95 and Springfield's Tower Shopping Center in central Springfield's revitalization district.
The company, which has mixed-use "Midtown" developments under way in Alexandria, Bethesda, Largo, Md., and Reston, filed its initial rezoning application with Fairfax County in June to transform the property now containing the Springfield Tower building, Holiday Inn Express and some smaller retail space into Midtown Springfield.
Company officials, including its director of project planning, Matthew Slavin, said nothing has changed in their development's plans since they were first made public at a Central Springfield Revitalization Area Council meeting in early May.
Slavin described the Midtown Springfield development as designed to be a "gateway" for commuters driving into Fairfax County via nearby I-95.
"Good architecture. That makes a statement," Hausler added about the gateway reference. "Seeing something that looks good speaks loud for the community. ... That's what we mean by a gateway."
If the company's rezoning application is approved by the county, Midtown Springfield will feature 800 residential units in three 21-story towers, underground and aboveground garage parking, a 5,000-square-foot community auditorium, a 10-story hotel and significant retail and office space.
"The only reservations we have been hearing is why do we need more residents," said Skeeter Scheid, president of C-SPARC. "I think that is a normal reaction though."
C-SPARC will be hosting community meetings on Midtown Springfield in the future.
KSI officials said their development will be pedestrian-friendly and feature retail similar to that of downtown Bethesda and Pentagon Row in Arlington County, which has a Chico's, Hudson Trail Outfitters, Ann Taylor Loft and World Market, among other retail stores.
Street-level store windows will front wide sidewalks, creating a "main street" atmosphere, the rezoning application says.
Also, according to the application, Midtown Springfield's residential units, while too early to price, Hausler acknowledged, will include amenities like concierge service, swimming pools, exercise facilities and access to an outdoor plaza.
Hausler also said the company has not yet identified a company to occupy the hotel at Midtown Springfield. However, he promised, "it will be the best in Springfield."
The company is hoping to have a better idea on a timeline for the project this fall.
© Times Community Newspapers 2005
