Loudoun-Fairfax Forging Ahead at Innovation Station
Brian Tinsman
Digital Properties Manager
Innovation Station, a 338-acre property that straddles the Loudoun and Fairfax county line, is back in the news this week after Amazon canceled negotiations for a headquarters in New York.
Even before Amazon made their final HQ2 announcement in November, the property was pitched to other high-profile companies in search of a greenfield campus.
With the arrival of Metro rail access in 2020, the opportunities at Innovation Station have never been brighter.
“When we pitched Innovation Station as an opportunity for Amazon, I was convinced that it was the best greenfield opportunity anywhere in the country. I continue to believe that today,” said Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer. “In the meantime, we have made great progress in marketing our site to other potential users.
“As always, we will be very aggressive in chasing any and all opportunities.”
Innovation Station is entitled for 8.4 million square feet of non-residential development, including a minimum of 3.5 million square feet of Class-A office space and extensive retail.
Additionally, the Fairfax Board of Supervisors adopted an amendment to its Comprehensive Plan that provides Innovation Station with a development option for 3.8 million square feet of office space.
It is also entitled for more than 4,200 residential units, encouraging employees to work and play close to home.
It’s all possible here, with the strength of two business-friendly counties and an apparatus of higher education and private sector partners, all dedicated to business success. The key is personal touch.
“Loudoun County has put together a terrific team of professionals to work with commercial customers and clients to streamline the process,” explained Bill May, vice president of Miller & Smith. “Businesses get up and operating much quicker than any other jurisdiction in our area.
“In Loudoun County, being ‘business friendly’ is not just a slogan, it’s a reality!”
Loudoun County offers an ombudsman program to help business owners through the complexities of choosing the right site, navigate the permitting process, and open for business on time.
For qualifying projects, Loudoun has a Fast Track Commercial Incentive Program that streamlines the development process, provides process certainty, reduces approval times and provides a central point of contact.
The goal is simple: to provide the right business with an extraordinary site, a highly efficient development process, and a robust set of development capabilities, with minimal constraint on vision.
For more information, please contact Buddy Rizer by email or call 1-800-LOUDOUN.
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