City Council: Plans for New Trail Move Forward, Building to Be Demolished to Make Way for New Park

The City Council voted unanimously to move forward with two public projects during its meeting Tuesday night.

As plans continue for a new civic park in the heart of downtown, councilmembers voted to demolish an old house on North Street to make room.

The Council also excitedly approved the use of $130,000 in grant money to fund the design and construction of the first phase of a new City trail on Plantation Parkway stretching toward the Fairfax Boulevard Marketplace.

New Trail in the Works

For years, Fairfax City has been trying to move forward with plans to build a new walking trail that would stretch west from Plantation Parkway and south of the Central Fork of the Accotink Creek, and finishing to the western edge of the Fairfax Boulevard Marketplace.

Tuesday night, Parks and Recreation Director Michael McCarty made an exciting announcement – that a total of $130,000 in funds had been secured through grants. Therefore, the first phase of the trail can be paid for using zero taxpayer dollars.

The first section of the trail would extend from Plantation Parkway to just west of the Fairfax Boulevard Marketplace – or, essentially, from the old 7-Eleven store location to the new 7-Eleven.

Half of the funds, or $65,000, had been secured in July of 2011 by Robert Stafford and Associates as part of the Fairfax Boulevard Marketplace Development, and the City procured the other $65,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The councilmembers all expressed their excitement that plans would finally be moving forward for the long-awaited trail.

One concern, expressed by Councilmember Michael DeMarco, was safety on the trail. When asked, McCarty said lighting for the trail was not factored into the cost estimates, and that with the proposed design, it did not appear necessary. DeMarco expressed concern because part of the trail runs alongside the old 7-Eleven building, and the building’s shielding nature could make it a prime spot for crime or other undesirable behavior.

McCarty said the concern would be addressed in the design portion of the process, and that “design techniques to discourage negative behavior” would be utilized.

He also said the trail’s design would be brought to a future Council meeting for input from both the Council and the public.

The Council voted unanimously to approve the use of the funds and move forward.

Councilmember Jeff Greenfield expressed his excitement for the coming trail.

“While there are sidewalks along Fairfax Boulevard, and people certainly walk those sidewalks, it will be nice to have this trail,” he said. “I think this is very exciting to be adding another trail for the City of Fairfax.”

Mayor Scott Silverthorne thanked the Parks and Recreation staff for their hard work and leadership.

McCarty said the staff hoped to be soliciting bids for the design and construction of the first section of trail by November, and that if all went well, construction could begin in February and be complete by April.

Semi-Historic Building in Old Town to Be Removed

The Council also voted unanimously to demolish an old house that used to be leased to businesses in Old Town, in order to make way for the new civic park being planned.

The new “urban” park that plans are in the works for will be situated right in the heart of downtown, taking up most of the land between Old Town Hall, the Ratcliffe-Allison House, the library, and Kitty Pozer Garden.

In the way of that plan is an old house at 10415 North Street, pictured above.

The City owns the building, and has previously leased it out to small businesses. According to Jack Blevins, the City’s community development division chief, when the last tenant, Bravada’s Wigs, left the building, it was determined that the building was in dire need of significant repairs and renovations, that basically left it un-leasable. It has sat empty ever since.

Blevins said the building – built in 1919 - is classified as “a contributing structure” to the City’s historic downtown. Therefore, permission was needed from the Council to demolish it.

Blevins said, while the building is indeed old, its appearance and character is “not significant” and easily replicated, therefore tearing it down should not harm the historic feel of the area at all.

During public comment on the issue, a member of the City’s Community Appearance Committee spoke and said the committee welcomes the building’s demolition and the forthcoming park to go in its place, agreeing that the building’s appearance is not historically significant.

A nearby property owner said he welcomed the demolition also, and said his only concern is that not too many trees are torn down during the process, as ornamental trees take a long time to grow back.

It was also suggested that, in the meantime, before the demolition takes place – which could be a while, as the new park is not ready for construction yet – the building could be used as practice fodder for firefighters as well as FBI and SWAT teams, and that certain parts of the building be salvaged and recycled.

In the end, the Council voted unanimously in favor of demolition.

What do you think of the Council’s decisions on the building demolition and trail plans? Tell us in the comments.

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