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More retail approved for U.S. 50
Plans to more than double the size of a mall south of Washington Dulles International Airport were given the go-ahead by the Board of Supervisors earlier this month, joining a plethora of commercial projects waiting to pop up along U.S. 50.This latest project is called South Riding Market Square II. It calls for developer Toll Brothers to build 387,300 square feet of retail on top of 270,000 square feet currently found at neighboring Market Square I.
Anchored by a Home Depot and Giant Food, Market Square I is just southwest of the U.S. 50 and Loudoun County Parkway intersection. The rezoning that supervisors unanimously endorsed May 5 dealt with 41 acres adjacent to the existing portion of the mall.
Work on Market Square II could start in mid-2011, but that “really depends on the economy,” said Alex Ross, director of commercial development for Toll Brothers. “But you probably hear that a lot lately.”
This latest approval by the board adds to a lengthy list of malls lined up to be built near South Riding.
Included in that list is Arcola Center, a development of homes, offices and more than 1 million square feet of retail planned for the north side of U.S 50 near Market Square. Supervisors approved that project two years ago.
Work was supposed to be already under way at Arcola Center. But with retailers hard to come by, the start of construction has been delayed indefinitely, said Jimmy Roembke, Buchanan Partners' project manager for Arcola Center.
“It's tough out there for retail,” he said, adding that some previously committed retailers have since backed out. He said Arcola Center does have verbal commitments, though, from Target and Lowe's. “People are still interested in this project.”
Also approved in 2007 were plans for an 800,000-square-foot mall adjacent to Arcola Center called Dulles Landing, which has Wal-Mart, Kohl's and Best Buy committed as tenants. The mall is expected to be ready in 2011, according to an online brochure advertising the project to potential tenants.
Meanwhile, adding to the influx of retail along U.S. 50 is Avonlea Plaza, a 300,000-square-foot mall now being built near the highway's juncture with Pinebrook Road. It will be anchored by a 14-screen movie theater, according to developer Diamond Properties.
Regarding Market Square II, Ross said it will be a mix of big anchors and smaller boutiques and restaurants.
During the approval process, he said, county officials brought up the issue of whether the U.S. 50 corridor can support the mounting array of retail waiting to be built.
His answer? “The market will dictate that,” he said. “Just because a rezoning is approved doesn't mean work has to begin immediately ... we'll build when the leases are in place.”
Opened since 2005, Market Square I also is home to a Moe's Southwest Grill, Panera Bread and Ruby Tuesday, among other businesses. Ross said 98 percent of the mall is leased.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
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