Opportunity Richmond Highway Panel Moderated by Mike Kitchen, P.E.

Opportunities continue to develop on the Richmond Highway corridor, influenced by new government policy as well as the “game-changing” mega projects coming to the region. Key players in the corridor came together for the Opportunity Richmond Highway event on Thursday, November 14, hosted by the Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC), to discuss development opportunities coming to the corridor.

christopher Vice President Michael Kitchen, P.E., a member of the board for SFDC, moderated a panel specifically relating to the changing demographics on the corridor and the new opportunities these will present.

The event took place at the Belle Haven Country Club and featured Keynote Speaker Victor Hoskins, the New President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (EDA).

Rodney Lusk, with the Fairfax County EDA and the Lee District Supervisor-Elect of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, kicked off the event stating that while the job and real estate market in Fairfax County remains strong, “we can’t rest on our laurels,” and the EDA will continue to work to bring new opportunities to the County.

In addition to discussion of National Landing, the future site of Amazon’s HQ2, panelists reviewed other opportunities bringing jobs and business to the region, including the planned Virginia Tech Innovation campus, TSA headquarters, BRAC and its impact to Fort Belvoir and the continuing evolution of Springfield Town Center.

Transportation improvements are part of what keeps motivating businesses to relocate to the region, said Carlos Heard of B.F. Saul, highlighting several of the firm’s recent developments which are in walking distance to Metro stations. The Potomac Yard Metro station, which will serve residents of National Landing, is set to break ground by the end of this year.

Private developers need to consider a balance between residential development, which is needed to support the talent that companies bring in, and retail development, which serves the needs of those new residents.

“We need a balance between the commercial development and the residential needed to support it,” said Mike Kitchen. “That’s the primary reason we’re seeing the popularity of these mixed-use projects.”

Other panelists included Stephanie Landrum from the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Jeanette Chapman from the GMU Fuller Institute, Dan Fulton of Fulton Research and Aisha Hill of Combined Properties.

Overall the opportunities on the Richmond Highway corridor remain abundant, across the board of market sectors and for public and private entities. christopher continues to be on the forefront of planning in the region and will continue to support the mission of SFDC to develop, implement and support projects designed to stimulate economic growth on the Richmond Highway corridor.