McLean Residents Hear Plans for New Buildings, Expansion of Lewinsville Center

More than 70 people, jammed a meeting room at the Lewinsville Center last week to hear plans for building a new center that would be double the current size.

This Fairfax County's second attempt to tear down the former Lewinsville Elementary school built in 1964 then transformed into a building with four uses --- a senior day care center, two child day-care centers, apartments for senior citizens and a senior activity center.

In 2004, the County approved the renovation of the building to include all the current uses, including 22 independent living units, plus 60 assisted living units and the Alzheimer’s Family Day Care Center. The recession dashed those plans.

Now, at the urging of Dranesville Supervisor John Foust and senior citizens, county officials shared a new plan with the neighbors. The new plans, if approved by the Board of Supervisors, would include approximately 73 independent living apartments, plus the existing uses.

 ‘I personally think this is really, really good for the community,” Foust told the gathering.

Outspoken senior citizen Ed Shahin asked “Is it really going to happen this time? At this age I can’t afford to be disappointed again.”

Here are 5 things you should know about the proposed project:

1.The planned project includes the demolition of the existing building. It's replacement: two new  two-story buildings. They would house 72 independent living apartments for the elderly, an adult day care center with a "wander garden" that was safe and secure, two child day care centers and expansion of the senior center.

The Lewinsville Center, locate on Great Falls Road just south of Chain Bridge Road, would expand from 38,000 to about 94,000 square feet.

2. The new building would be built in two phases. The new buildings would exist within the footprint of the existing building.

3. County officials explained they will issue a Request For Proposals to private developers this month asking them to bid on the project. The project will be built as a public-private partnership. The attraction for private developers--- tax credits and the 72 apartments would rent for market prices.

"The county faced very severe fiscal constraints" but they had this need and the "fiscal reality required us to take a more creative approach," Paula Sampson, Fairfax County Director Housing & Community Development, told the audience.

4. The audience included current residents of the senior apartments who were concerned they would be forced to move. (No). Parents with children in the day centers. Neighbors from the surrounding community who want to make sure the new center doesn't overwhelm their community. Seniors concerned that the new senior center is not large enough.

Senior citizens are Fairfax County's fastest growing population because of the aging of Baby Boomers.

Ten percent of the county's 1 million residents are 65 or older. But in McLean, 17 percent of the nearly 50,000 residents are 65 or older. McLean is the Florida of Fairfax County. Baby Boomers started turning 65 this year and McLean brims with graying Baby Boomers.

Foust has created a committee to begin to help the burgeoning graying Baby Boomer population age in place in McLean.

5. The final development selected will need a special exception zoning permit from the county. That means the McLean Citizens Association will render an advisory opinion. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will have the final say.

Stay tuned.