Plans Revealed for Proposed Annandale Bowling Alley Redevelopment

Annandale could receive a boost in its revitalization efforts if Fairfax County approves a rezoning proposal to build an apartment building and restaurant on the AMF Annandale Lanes bowling alley property. 

Under the proposal, the bowling alley, located at 4245 Markham St., would be replaced with a 12-story residential building and a 6,000 square-foot restaurant. The property would be rezoned from Planned Commercial District (PDC) to a Planned Residential Mixed Use District (PRM). 

The proposal was submitted to Fairfax County on Dec. 16 and is still under review. The projected completion date for the project is around early 2017.

“Our goal is to get the shovels in the ground as soon as possible and make this building a reality in Annandale,” said Bonnie Mattingly, senior vice president of the Webb Companies.

The Webb Companies and Southern Management Corporation, who are partners on the project, presented the proposal to the Annandale Central Business District Planning Committee Tuesday afternoon. Both family-owned companies have longstanding connections to the Annandale community. Southern Management owns and manages the Parliaments Apartments in Annandale, which are located across the street from the bowling alley and behind the Little River Shopping Center.

“We have all lived in, attended school here and worked participated in the Annandale community and we are here to build and to cultivate, not to build and to run, and we’re excited about this opportunity,” said Mattingly.

The proposed L-shaped residential building, called Markham Place Apartments, will be designed to meet LEED Silver certification and house 310 dwelling units. The majority of the units will be studio and one-bedroom apartments that will vary in size. Studios would start around 550-600 square feet, one bedrooms around 750 square feet, and two-bedrooms around 1150-1200 square feet. Almost every unit would have their own balcony.

Proposed amenities are a business center, fitness room, a secure, outdoor plaza area with a pool and BBQ areas for residents and other amenities “in line with a high-quality residential development,” according to Faik Tugberk, principal architect on the project. The objective with the design, Tugberk said, is to give the aesthetic of the building a “landmark quality”.

The 6,000 square-foot retail space, which is being pitched as ideal real estate for a restaurant, would be located at the ground level of the building. The goal, Tugberk said, to find a single tenant for the entire 6,000 square-foot space. However, it was noted during the presentation “it’s too early in the process to say who the tenant might be.”

Residents would have their own parking in a garage beneath the building with approximately 45 parking spaces set aside for restaurant and retail customers and another 30 designated as public parking spaces.

Markham Street would be the only access point to enter both the commercial and residential space and garages. There is also potential for additional curbside spaces or valet parking,

Additionally, there would be outdoor seating for the restaurant and a porch-like area for residents.

In the future, the companies hope to build a larger, urban park behind the development to be used by the community for outdoor activities. Once built, the park would be accessible from Annandale Road, but these plans are not included in the submitted proposal.

The estimated cost for the construction of the development is around $60-$65 million.

A resident raised concerns about the impact the development would have on traffic in the area and asked whether there would be income restrictions for the building tenants. Representatives said it’s anticipated the development will generate less traffic than another potential development on the property, but a traffic study is also in the works. Regarding income, the companies are hoping to attract “middle-income earning tenants.

At the end of the presentation, the ACBDPC unanimously approved the proposal.

“This is exciting for Annandale,“ said resident and ACBPDC member Eileen Garnett.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had applicant who presented so thoroughly their plans for the property,” said ACBDPC Chair Greg McGillicuddy. “I can’t imagine a better project in Annandale to kick off our revitalization.” 

Although the bowling alley has been a fixture in the Annandale community for more than 50 years, Mattingly seemed confident that the development would be a benefit to residents for many years to come.

“I think [the development] will blend in fine, but better than that, it is the future of Annandale. It’s going to be a cornerstone for Annandale revitalization and that is what everyone’s aiming for with this project,” said Mattingly.

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