RA's Design Review Board Approves Parc Reston Redevelopment Concept

Reston Association's Design Review Board on Tuesday approved in concept the

The 360-units would replace three existing buildings (82 units), but most of the garden complex at Parc Reston would remain. The newest design includes three levels of underground parking rather than three levels of screened, above-ground parking.

Athena Renaissance Reston's design tweaks came after presenting a revised concept to the DRB last March,  capping a series of design changes presented since 2005. At last spring's meeting, the DRB's biggest concern had to do with the starkness of so much garage visible to the public.

What was originally two condo towers with underground parking in 2005 became in 2010 two smaller-scale buildings with a 72-foot-high glass elevator atrium connecting them. The current plan calls for two separate towers (no glass atrium) of what likely will be rental units.

The Parc Reston plan next has to get approval from the Fairfax County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. Pending those decisions, the developers say they would like to begin construction in late 2012.

In other development news:

* The DRB on Tuesday heard more plans for improvements to Hunters Woods Village Center, including plans for paint colors, landscaping and parking configurations.

and developers are eyeing an opening date of spring 2012.

* RTC Partnership LLC's scheduled presentation to the Fairfax County Planning Commission about redevelopment of 1760 Reston Parkway (at Bowman Towne Drive) has been postponed indefinitely.

The group will, however, make a presentation to the Reston Planning and Zoning Committee on Nov. 21.  The building will consist of approximately 413,700 square feet of office uses and approximately 5,200 square feet retail and restaurant use, with a Floor Area Ratio of 4.08.

Parking for the proposed building will feature both below and above grade parking spaces. The above-ground portion of the parking garage will sit atop retail uses and will be screened. There are plans for 1084 garage spaces and 24 surface spaces.

* will take place Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at South Lakes High School. Have opinions about what should happen at Reston's Village Centers? Then plan to attend.