After three years of debate and planning, Gov. Tim Kaine and local leaders broke ground today at the 360-acre One Loudoun site, the southwest corner of Rt. 7 and Loudoun County Parkway."It took a lot to get here," David Creek, president and cofounder of Meridian Group, said. "What's been promised will be done."One Loudoun will offer 3 million square feet of office space, 700,000 square feet of retail with fine dining and shopping, two hotels and a movie theater. Some 1,040 homes are also planned, built around the concept of a central park setting, walking trails, a town center, other public and civic spaces. The goal of the development is to create a pedestrian-friendly environment where people can live, work and play and rely less on a car.One Loudoun also features the World Trade Center Dulles Airport, projected to generate up to 14,000 new jobs-promoting international trade and worldwide investment. The World Trade Center Koeln based in Germany, the world's largest private trade organization, has agreed to participate in a joint partnership with One Loudoun. The World Trade Center Koeln's mission is to create new business opportunities by developing contacts all over the world."Other countries want to enter this market," Senator Dietmar Goetz, president of World Trade Center Koeln said. Goetz said his organization would help facilitate that.Miller and Smith, the developer, has proffered to build a new interchange at the Rt. 7 and Ashburn Village intersection because the county had already planned to fund the site's adjacent Rt. 7/Loudoun County Parkway interchange with tax-supported general obligation bonds. Other features of the project-an elementary school site and new ballfields for public use-have made it attractive to the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, which approved the rezoning in January. The project also is one of five finalists supervisors are evaluating as the potential location for a new county government office complex."When we first considered leasing in One Loudoun, it seemed pretty far out. We were focused on closer-in projects. Loudoun wasn't on our radar screen," Creek said, adding a pitch for the county office. "I can't think of a better location for the Loudoun County government center."The more than 150-person crowd filled with local business leaders and politicians clapped in response to Creek's suggestion.Joel Murphy, president of Cousins Properties Inc.'s retail division, said One Loudoun represents a union of Loudoun County, Meridian, and Miller Smith. Murphy said Cousins Properties has branded The Avenue as a "lifestyle center" to various communities since 1999 and has strong relationships with national retailers. Cousin's Properties has plans to do the same with One Loudoun."These retailers and those customers have come to know The Avenue as a place to dine and stroll," he said.Supervisor Lori Waters (R-Broad Run) said she helped negotiate One Loudoun and make it a reality. "When I approach land use applications, I say 'what will this bring to our community?'"Waters said she supported One Loudoun because of the new elementary school, funding of the roadway infrastructure, and the Loudoun Youth Initiative. LYI, with the assistance of the World Trade Center Koeln, will help foster an international marketing program in Loudoun local high schools. "Loudoun County benefits by your presence in our community," County Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large) told the developer.Kaine complimented local leaders, saying One Loudoun "was about good planning.""As Lori said, it is the mixture of uses, community, residential...," he added.As mayor of Richmond, Kaine recalled the city neighborhoods that worked best, which were those that had a mix of uses. They also happened to be projects that often weren't allowed under existing zoning rules.The value of the project coincides with its proximity to Dulles Airport, Kaine added."The fact that we have Dulles cannot be underestimated," he said. "Dulles and Hampton Roads connect us to the world we need to compete vigorously with. For all the partners, congratulations."
4 comments:
" Just what Loudoun needs, more traffic on RT. 7. I read Kain said it will be like Reston Town Center. OK, don't we have the Dulles Mall down the street? Does Brambleton have a new movie theather? What more does Loudoun need? Did Kain say it will be built so home buyers can walk to work and shopping? How many times have I heard that before? People with money and fancy cars don't walk any where; even when a shopping center is behind their house. Try parking at that new Landsdown shopping center; what a mess. Who is going to pay for improvements on 7? No one so that means miles and miles of back up due to the fact most people cannot afford to buy a house in Loudoun so those people have to go some where to find affordable housing and have to drive on 7 to get to the new fancy offices Kain and Waters wants build. Don't forget about the shopping centers being built on Riverside Pkwy & 7 also Edwards Ferry road. Put all that together and what do you have, grind lock. Do we really need Loudoun One? Oh well, with the constent building in Loudoun it won't take long before Loudoun becomes Tyson III. "
" Again, Mr. Settle, what are you talking about? What "agenda" in my post? I stated a fact, which you are unable to dispute: One Loudoun was Lori Water's baby from the start, as she herself has said in public many, many times. How on earth you twist that around to mean I support the Supervisors you continue to call the "gang of five" is beyond me, particularly since I have said in our other conversations that I DON'T support all of them. I will not be responding to any more of your childish insults. "
" I read the article, and I am active in the county. Don't portray me as someone who doesn't see the agenda in your post. I recognised it too well. The gang of five will leave a legacy in Loudoun history of the highest tax increase and be remembered as personal greed enablers. All this amidst trying to present themselves as "fiscal conservatives". It's hypocrisy run amok, and the people now see that. "
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