West Falls Church Economic Development Project

Updated Map of the West Falls Church Project and the High School Campus Project

  1. NEW: Executive Summaries from the Responses to the RFDP

    Now posted are the executive summaries from EYA/Regency/PN Hoffman and Rushmark WFC, the two groups that responded to the request for detailed proposals. Follow the link for more. Read on...
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High School Campus Project Information


Follow this link to the Falls Church City Public Schools project website.

Upcoming and Past Events and Meetings


Most recent listed first.

Future Town Hall Meetings
  • Sunday, September 23 at 2 p.m. in the George Mason High School Cafeteria (7124 Leesburg Pike)
  • Sunday, October 21 at 2 p.m. in the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.)
  • Sunday, November 18 at 2 p.m. in the Community Center
  • Sunday, December 16 at 2 p.m. in the Community Center
Campus Coordinating Committee (September 28, 2018)
  • The committee facilitates decisions by the School Board and City Council, government and school staff and consultants, and City boards and commissions. (Website)
  • Agenda
Town Hall Meeting (September 23, 2018)
  • Discussion the High School Campus Project design with a Quick Update on the West Falls Church Project
  • Video and documents coming soon
City Council Meeting (September 10, 2018)
Campus Coordinating Committee (August 24, 2018)
  • The committee facilitates decisions by the School Board and City Council, government and school staff and consultants, and City boards and commissions. (Website)
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
Town Hall Meeting (August 5, 2018) Campus Coordinating Committee (July 27, 2018)
  • The committee facilitates decisions by the School Board and City Council, government and school staff and consultants, and City boards and commissions. (Website)
  • Agenda
Campus Coordinating Committee (June 22, 2018)
  • The committee facilitates decisions by the School Board and City Council, government and school staff and consultants, and City boards and commissions. (Website)
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
City Council Meeting (June 11, 2018) City Council Work Session (June 4, 2018) Campus Coordinating Committee (May 25, 2018)
  • The committee facilitates decisions by the School Board and City Council, government and school staff and consultants, and City boards and commissions. (Website)
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
 Town Hall Meeting (May 20, 2018) City Council Work Session (May 7, 2018) Campus Coordinating Committee (April 27, 2018)
  • The committee facilitates decisions by the School Board and City Council, government and school staff and consultants, and City boards and commissions. (Website)
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
Town Hall Meeting (April 8, 2018) Campus Coordinating Committee (March 23, 2018)
  • The committee facilitates decisions by the School Board and City Council, government and school staff and consultants, and City boards and commissions. (Website)
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
Town Hall Meeting (March 18, 2018)
  • Discussion of the West Falls Church Project, the High School Campus Project, and the FY2019 Proposed Budget and CIP
  • Video
  • PowerPoint Presentation
City Council Meeting (February 26, 2018) Town Hall Meeting (February 25, 2018)
Campus Coordinating Committee (February 23, 2018)
  • The committee facilitates decisions by the School Board and City Council, government and school staff and consultants, and City boards and commissions. (Website)
  • Agenda
  • Minutes
City Council Work Session (February 20, 2018) City Council Meeting (February 12, 2018) Community Meeting (January 28, 2018) City Council Meeting (January 22, 2018) City Council Work Session (January 16, 2018)
  • Discussed: Update on West Falls Church Economic Development Project; draft RFP for conceptual proposals; land entitlement and zoning recommendations.
  • Video with Skip-Ahead Agenda
  • Presentation by Alvarez & Marsal: Update on Economic Development Site at the High School
  • Draft Document: Request for Conceptual Proposals for the West Falls Church Economic Development Project
  • Staff Report: Land entitlement and zoning recommendations for West Falls Church Economic Development site.
City Council Meeting (January 8, 2018) City Council Meeting (November 27, 2017)

Project History


Over the past four years, the City Council and School Board have taken an extensive look at the possibilities, considering options for a new school that include full gut renovation and addition; partial renovation and addition; phased building over 10 years; and new building. In November 2017, a referendum passed, approving the issuance of bonds to pay for the construction of a new high school. In January 2018, a Campus Coordinating Committee was established so that the two projects -- high school construction and economic development -- could coordinate on design decisions, scheduling decisions, and financial decisions.

(Related: Read the detailed history of the high school in Superintendent Peter Noonan's memo. You can also find archived materials from the past four years as well as videos of meetings throughout the process.)

Feasibility Studies


Falls Church City Public Schools conducted a facilities feasibility study that concluded the best option was a five-story high school aside 10 acres of commercial development.

The City of Falls Church government conducted an economic feasibility study where consultants estimated that as much as $45 million could be earned by the City’s long-term lease or sale of the 10 acres.

Because of limited space on the site, the new school would need to be built before the existing building can be taken down for commercial development. As a result, the City will need to issue bonds for the full cost of the school before the commercial development revenue from the sale or lease of the property is available.

Project Milestones and Timeline

Month & Year
 High School Project
 Economic Development Project
December 2017
 Issue Request for
Conceptual Proposals
  
January 2018
   Adopt Comprehensive
Plan Amendment
February 2018
 Issue Request for
Detailed Proposals
  
March 2018
   Issue Request for
Developer Qualifications (RFQ)
May 2018
   Adopt Site Zoning
June 2018
 Select School Design
and Construction Team
 Issue Request for
Development Proposals (RFP)
October 2018
   Select Top-Ranked
Respondent to RFP
May 2019
 Finalize School Plans
and Cost (GMP)
 Finalize Land Lease or
Sale Agreement and Conceptual
Development Plan
June 2019
 Issue Construction Bonds
July 2019
 Construction Economic Development
Site Plan and Building Permits
Summer 2021
 School Opens

  
Fall 2021
   Economic Development
Construction Begins