Representatives from the Akridge Group seeking final approval of special exception requests for contruction of the proposed large-scale mixed use project known as The Gateway on N. Washington St. said at the conclusion of a lengthy work session with members of three Falls Church government bodies that they saw no insurmountable obstacles, from their point of view, to moving ahead on present terms. The F.C. City Council is slated to give the final verdict on the project at its meeting next Monday night.
Members of the F.C. Council and the City’s Planning Commission and Economic Development Authority mulled new proffers and modifications from Akridge at the work session tonight, and argued among themselves about the level of specificity things such as hours when parking on the site of the new project would be open for public use. Concerns were also expressed that no too much cluttering of the walkways in front of the location be allowed to inhibit foot traffic, and that more pedestrian crossings in the block be provided.
Akridge’s Mike Gill told the Council that, “We’ve agreed to the added concessions. There are things we won’t agree to that came up tonight, but we’re sure if they’re real issues.” He said that a letter from the City’s Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) concerning the project “contained a lot of inaccuracies” that he said he will respond to with a memo.
