F.C.'s Grand City Center Redevelopment Plans Bog Down in Difficult Negotiations

The Falls Church City Council voted Monday night to extend the negotiating period between the City staff and the Akridge Company for another 30 days following a surprising report from City Manager Dan McKeever that the two sides are "nowhere near" an agreement on a City Center Redevelopment plan.

"This is taking far longer than I ever imagined," said McKeever of the behind-closed-doors negotiations that have been underway since January. "We are knee deep in data." Monday's was the second extension of the negotiating period authorized by the Council.

Although the negotiations are undertaken in deep secrecy, McKeever revealed to the Council that the toughest nut pertains to the issues surrounding the City-owned property included in the four-block redevelopment area. The area includes two blocks on the north side and one and a half blocks on the south side of the area along West Broad between Washington Street and Little Falls.

As recently as a month ago, McKeever indicated the plans would be ready for a first public look by the middle of this month. But Monday, he said it would be weeks before even the Council could be brought in for a status report, and that would behind closed doors.

"We are going to need some guidance from the City Council," McKeever revealed. :"There are lots of balls up in the air right now."

McKeever's confirmed the suggestion by Council member Sam Mabry that some of the unresolved issues involve the application of the City's fiscal impact model to the process. That model was developed last year to predict the net revenues to the City from different types of development projects.

McKeever's carefully-selected choice of words suggested that not only are negotiations far from complete, but that some of the impasses between the City and Akridge are serious, which would confirm some "rumors on the street," according to News-Press sources.

The Akridge Company was selected by a decision of the City Council on January 19 to be the "master developer" for an ambitious project that would involve Akridge's acquisition of privately-held land and the possible contribution of some City-owned parcels in the quadrant. It would then involve phased, decade-long redevelopment of new mixed-use office, retail and residential condominium structures, public spaces, entertainment venues and large anchor stores.

But moving ahead was premised on nailing down a firm and detailed agreement between the City and Akridge. Although Akridge had responded to a "request for proposal" from the City to bid for the role as "master developer," and had participated in informal interviews with the F.C. Council-appointed City Center Task Force, the proverbial "rubber" only began to "hit the road" after Akridge was selected an negotiations began.

At early stages of the negotiations last spring, it was revealed that the first segment to be redeveloped would be the south side of W. Broad between S. Maple and Anthony's Restaurant, and that it would include a Whole Foods supermarket, condominiums and structured parking.

However, while hints from City officials helped confirm that scenario, it was never officially presented.