Mason land use committee endorses Markham Street apartments

The Mason District Land Use Committee unanimously endorsed a rezoning application July 22 for a 12-story, 308 unit apartment building on the site of the AMF Annandale Lanes bowling alley on Markham Street in Annandale. The project is a joint venture of Southern Management, which owns The Parliaments, and the Webb Cos.

The L-shaped building would have one and two-bedroom apartments and about 36 efficiency units. There would be space for a 6,000-square foot restaurant on the first floor and a plaza with a swimming pool for residents on the fourth floor.

The architect, Faik Tugberk of Architects Collaborative Inc., explained some tweaks to the design of the project made at the request of Fairfax County planning staff. The building was moved a bit further back from Markham Street creating a linear park in front, and the urban park at the rear would be smaller and would be eventually converted to another public use, such as additional parking.

The building would include a semi-underground parking garage with 40 spaces for restaurant patrons, 30 spaces for general by the public, and 496 spaces (1.6 per unit) for residents. Instead of including the required affordable “workforce units” in the building, Southern Management agreed to provide 90 larger, affordable units at The Parliaments.

The Annandale Central Business District Planning Committee endorsed the project in January. Committee chair Greg McGillicuddy told the MDLUC July 22, “It’s a great project. It will be the centerpiece of Annandale revitalization and will spark more revitalization.”

MDLUC member Stephen Smith acknowledged the issue of overcrowded schools but said if the project doesn’t get built, “you lose tens of millions of dollars of investment.” The building is expected to draw 33 school-aged children, according to Fairfax County Public Schools estimates.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for Sept. 10.