At a signing ceremony in City Hall Wednesday afternoon, the City of Falls Church and Falls Church Gateway Partners signed a comprehensive agreement for the development of approximately 10 acres of City land in West Falls Church. Falls Church Gateway Partners is a partnership of the firms of EYA, PN Hoffman and Regency Centers, that will jointly develop the site.

The subject of intense attention in the last year, the proposed development, on 9.45 acres at the current George Mason High School campus (7124 Leesburg Pike), will feature a broad mix of commercial uses, including a grocery store, restaurants and retail, office space, residences, a hotel and civic spaces. The plan also includes “The Commons,” a public space at the center of the development. The project will help defray the costs of a new high school, which will start construction this summer.

“The City has chosen a partner that shares our vision for a vibrant and walkable development that will complement our new high school,” said Mayor David Tarter. “The project is the result of extensive community engagement, and, in keeping with the plan we took to the voters when the school bond referendum was approved, we have signed this agreement before issuing new debt for the high school.”

The developer’s Special Exception Entitlement (SEE) Application which establishes building heights, permitted uses, plan layouts, and other project details, is currently under City review, with anticipated action by City Council at its July 8 meeting.