What Does the Future Hold For Lake Anne?

Does Reston's historic Lake Anne Plaza have a future as an expanded dining destination, an ethnic marketplace or a downtown arts district?

Perhaps. These were three of six concepts presented by consultants from Alvarez & Marshal and The Eisen Group. Also envisioned: a sustainable development center that could be a prototype for other communities and projects; an office cluster for start-ups, who would be drawn by the lower rents than but close proximity to the Dulles Tech Corridor; and a walkable village center with more residences and more businesses to serve them.

The ideas were presented at a public meeting Wednesday at Reston Community Center at Lake Anne.

The concepts are just concepts at this point, says Tom Moriarity, principal at The Eisen Group. Merchants and citizens in attendance broke into small groups to discuss the ideas - and add their own.

"The purpose of this exercise is to establish a longterm vision for Lake Anne," said Moriarity.

By many accounts, a longterm strategy is needed. Lake Anne, "has an amazing amount of assets," said County Supervisor-Hunter Mill District Cathy Hudgins. "We need to use the assets to attack challenges."

Some of the assets of Lake Anne highlighted by the consultants  - rich architectural and cultural history as Reston's original village center built in the 1960s; the opportunity in the next few years to apply for National Historic Registry status; and great planning as a walkable center.

Some of the minuses - aging infrastructure, including the RELAC water-powered cooling system; limited road visibility; outdated commercial floorplans; and a disjointed ownership/property management system.

Most importantly, less than half of the 65,000 square feet of commercial space is occupied, the consultants said.

Before the big visions can be put into place, current property owners should concentrate on developing a centralized management strategy; invest money in marketing and promotions, and seek to attract more businesses, Moriarity said.

A recent survey of merchants showed that Lake Anne could use more casual dining and an ice cream shop, as well as more unique, locally owned businesses.

"There seems to be an overarching theme of food," said Moriarity. That's true across Reston, where there is a lot of competition from the restaurants at Reston Town Center and nine nearby grocery stores.

Moriarity said centralized management's main role would be to coordinate merchants.

"Most people want to make more money," he said. "This will add value to their business. Lake Anne needs to see if there is a commercial idea that they can use to reposition Lake Anne. A management role would be there to protect that strategy."

Eve Thompson, a Realtor with Long & Foster and president of the Lake Anne Merchants' Association, agrees that there needs to be more unity among owners.

"What we have is an even bigger issue," she said. "If it looks like hell, no one is going to want to come here. Whatever we have here, it has to look beautiful.

"I don't know if I would like to see centralized management, though" she said. "I totally value the uniqueness and freedom of Lake Anne. But owners cannot let properties sit vacant; if they do, perhaps the rents they are trying to charge are too high."

In the end, whatever concepts move forward, the money for change will come primarily from the business and property owners, with some assistance from the county.

"The money has to come from the owners," says Hudgins. "We are not  supplanting that role, But we are here to guide them how to get grants. We very much want to get village centers all over the county back to full viability."