Smart Growth, Development and Density in North Woodbridge's Future

The future looks bright for North Woodbridge, but it will take a lot of resources to get the community to where it needs to be.

Woodbridge residents and business owners convened with regional experts to hear about the future of Thursday at Harbour View.  

The themes for Thursday’s meeting were density, development and community. A master plan for New Woodbridge, which was approved by the Board of County Supervisors last year, has started to take shape but is still a long-range project.

 “The master plan means jobs closer to home,” said Woodbridge District Supervisor and host of the meeting Frank J. Principi in his opening remarks.  In the master plan are various town centers that will utilize mix-use development for work, live and play communities much like the one at Reston Town Center.

Principi spoke about the town center developments that are slated for the North Woodbridge redevelopment. One of these areas includes River Gate Towers, a three-tower, 15-story high-rise luxury condominium development with a community recreation center in the center of the three buildings.

“Riverview Village will be the first energy independent, green 14-acre development perhaps in the county,” said Principi. “The proposed development includes 61,000 square feet of employment and retail opportunities.”

Principi also highlighted Belmont Bay, and a town center that would boast an 81,000-square foot research center for George Mason University, 480,000-square feet of office, 50,000-square feet of retail 1,400 residential units, a hotel and conference space estimated at 100 rooms.

Regional experts included Dr. Stephen Fuller, from George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis, Kevin Peterkin from Kettler Management, Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smart Growth.

On the finance panel were Rick Norment, Executive Director of National Council for Public-Private Partnerships, Steve Soloman, Director of Finance for the county, Sean Ekiert, from BB&T Capital Markets and Michael Graff partner from McGuireWoods.

Patch will be profiling sections of the meeting in the coming days. Look for articles on the transportation and economical transition visions for New Woodbridge on Friday.