New fuel cell data center likely to face opposition from civic groups – Springfield JCPenney to be replaced by … a sports field? – County’s median home sale price up 4% from last year
Madison Homes eyes Burke church site
Welcome to Fairfax Real Estate Insider, providing can’t-miss insights about what’s being built, bought, and bulldozed in Fairfax County. We keep real estate professionals ahead of industry trends and the news that matters most to their clients. Send news tips to austin@fairfaxrealestateinsider.com
Data Center Watch
Proposed fuel cell data center under review by county planners, likely to face opposition from civic associations
We broke the news on Monday that Atlanta-based T5 Data Centers wants to build a 312,000-square-foot data center in Chantilly that would be the first in Fairfax County to use fuel cells, which convert natural gas into electricity. The story was republished by InsideNoVA and picked up by Washington Business Journal and Northern Virginia magazine.
-We have since confirmed with Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith, who represents the area where the data center would be built, that county planners are reviewing T5’s request for clarification on whether fuel cells are allowed under the site’s current zoning as a light industrial district. “The interpretation request regarding the use of fuel cells was submitted in PLUS last week,” Smith tells us in an email. “Staff is reviewing the request and will be conducting research as part of the interpretation review. As for the project itself, the Special Exception application has not yet been submitted, so I do not have any materials to review or comment on at this stage.”
-We’ve also confirmed the project is likely to raise concerns from civic groups that have sought to block other data centers in the area. Stephen Chulick, president of the West Fairfax County Citizens Association, said his group would like to review the proposal and meet with representatives of T5 before taking a position on this data center specifically. But, he added, his group and the Sully District Council have been frustrated with the county’s streamlined approval process for data centers in general. That process, he said, “has resulted in unexpected problems such as a lack of infrastructure for the power grid, not enough setbacks from adjacent land uses and overall concerns about noise, air pollution, and a degradation of the quality of life in the immediate vicinity of the data centers.”
Chulick added: “Although the focus of your story is Fairfax County, the organizations have been very concerned regarding the rapid growth of the data center industry in this county, Loudoun County, and Prince William County and the effects on local climate, water quality and availability in the Potomac and Occoquan watersheds in an area that is currently in a drought condition.”
Amazon buys Manassas data center for $65M
Amazon Data Services has purchased a 110,000-square-foot data center in Manassas for $65 million from an affiliate of Menlo Equities, reports Washington Business Journal. Amazon had already been leasing the site, at 7505 Mason King Court.
Commercial Real Estate
Springfield JCPenney to be replaced by … a sports field?
A sports field is coming to the space being vacated by JCPenney at Springfield Town Center, at least according to new permit filings that show plans for lighting, fencing, and utility relocations. Why a sports field–and who will operate it? We reached out to Chris Martin, an executive at Martin-Diamond Properties, which co-owns the site. “I don’t have any comments at the moment,” he said. For now, it remains a mystery. JCPenney closes on May 24 after 53 years in the mall’s anchor space.
Openings & Closings
Vienna’s Fresh Market will close on May 31, FFX Now reports. The store opened in 2011 and is one of two Fresh Market locations in Northern Virginia. The site’s owner, Papadopoulos Properties, is listing it as available for lease.
Bethesda-based Collars & Co, which landed a deal with Mark Cuban and Peter Jones on “Shark Tank,” will open a store in Reston later this month, its first permanent location in Northern Virginia. The chain is known for men’s polo shirts. Also via FFX Now.
Residential Real Estate
County’s median sale price up 4% from last year, to $806k
The median sale price for homes in Fairfax County reached $806,064 last month, up 4% from April 2025, according to the latest market report from Bright Research. The median days on market was unchanged at six. Here’s a table from the report reflecting detached homes, townhomes, and condo sales across the county:
Madison Homes eyes Burke church site–rezoning path runs through July Planning Commission
Madison Homes wants to build up to nine two-story houses on three acres of surplus land owned by the Church of Good Shepherd at Braddock Road and Olley Lane in Burke–an issue set to come before the Planning Commission in July. A few neighbors aren’t thrilled, voicing concerns during a May 4 community meeting about the number of mature trees that would need to be removed and stormwater runoff.
Susan Kohn, who’s lived just north of the site for over three decades, said she’s enjoyed the green space and that it’s “sad to see that it’s not going to continue in its current form.” Kathryn Taylor, a land use attorney representing Madison Homes, responded that the builder has “been very mindful in trying to ensure that it would be a mix of tree preservation, conservation easement, and new plantings that would be non-invasive.” An executive with Madison, Andrew Rosenberger, added that his company intends to improve the stormwater runoff situation for neighboring properties. “Post construction, the flow rate into those areas will be reduced,” he said.
The site is currently zoned to the R-1 District, meaning one dwelling per acre, but a forthcoming Comprehensive Plan amendment would increase that to up to three dwellings per acre to allow the nine proposed homes–a similar density to the adjacent neighborhoods. Madison Homes is under contract with the church to purchase the three-acre site once the county approval process is complete.
The Planning Commission will consider the Plan Amendment on July 15, with the Board of Supervisors expected to take it up on Aug. 25. Should the Plan Amendment be approved, a rezoning application will also be needed.
Rushmark proposes 375-unit residential tower in Tysons
Falls Church-based Rushmark Properties is proposing a 30-story, 375-unit residential tower in Tysons that would be “a major step forward in shaping the future of McLean,” as Rushmark Managing Partner Neal Kumar told Washington Business Journal. The proposal, laid out in a letter to the county from land use attorney Lynne Strobel, calls for an L-shaped building on top of a parking podium that would include up to three levels of parking, two levels of retail, and a one-level residential lobby. The 446,000 square feet of residential space would include two- and three-bedroom units–fewer but larger units than envisioned by the previous owner of the site, which was sold to Rushmark in 2024 for $18.5 million. The development is part of Scotts Run South at the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and South Dartford Drive, near Capitol One’s headquarters and the McLean Metro Station. Three other building sites in Scotts Run South are also set to be developed into some combination of office, retail, and residential space.
Construction of the 30-story tower is set to begin in Q1 2028, with delivery planned for mid-2030, pending county approval.
Per Strobel’s letter:
The building design, combined with high quality materials, including masonry, high-performance glazing, and various finishes, will ensure an iconic residential building that will enhance the Tysons skyline. Tenant amenities will include a private courtyard and rooftop terrace. First floor retail in the building will further enhance the residential experience.
Leaderboards
Covers 5/4-5/10 | Data from Redfin
Top Sales by Price
Price: $2,679,124
Listed by Viveca Stahl-Kazarian and Eve Shapiro of Compass
Bought with Dimitar Dimitrov of KW United
Price: $2,599,999
Listed by Sherif Abdalla and Ali Farhadov of Compass
Bought with Sarah Picot of Corcoran McEnearney
Price: $2,550,000
Listed by Kimberly Heuser of Samson Properties
Bought with Nishes Bhattarai and Safal Baniya of Spring Hill Real Estate
Price: $2,550,000
Listed by Theresa Valencic of Long & Foster
Bought with Pascale Karam of Long & Foster Real Estate
Price: $2,500,000
Listed by Tim Hursen of RLAH
Bought with Morgan Samson of Samson Properties
Top Sales by Price Per Square Foot
Price: $1,687,000
Sf: 2,430
Listed by Mike Cole of Long & Foster
Bought with Adam Skrincosky of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Price: $1,250,000
Sf: 1,843
Listed by Valerie Kappler of Long & Foster
Bought with Sharon Hayman of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Price: $975,000
Sf: 1478
Listed by Melissa Govoruhk of eXp Realty
Bought with Michael Fagan of Samson Properties
Price: $845,000
Sf: 1,292
Listed by Linda Wheeler and Jamie Wheeler of KW United
Buyer’s agent unknown
Price: $672,500
Sf: 1,092
Listed by Jennifer Donnell of Local Expert Realty
Bought with Steve Lefave of Samson Properties
Commercial Transactions
1007 Richmond Highway in Lorton was sold for $1.77 million from Hailuwood LLC to Mansour Omaima.
7189 Route 29 in Falls Church was sold for $905,000 from Jasper Properties LLC to 7179 Lee Highway LLC.
6718 Whittier Ave STE 200 in McLean was sold for $1.96 million from Philip Chung to Chain Bridge Bank.
2820 Mary St. in Falls Church was sold for $1.35 million from Donna J. Wendt to Mary Street Properties LLC.
775 Station St. in Herndon was sold for $700,000 from Cushman Lawrence D TR to PSK Services LLC.
1624 Hunter Mill Road in Vienna was sold for $4 million from Catjen LLC to Sunset Hills Dreams LLC.