STAFFORD, Va. — There are more signs of life at Aquia Town Center now than have been in the past 10 years.
A new apartment building called Aquia Fifteen opened for business and residents are moving in.
The building’s bright exterior may be a metaphor for the good things to come for an old shopping center changing into an emerging mixed-use neighborhood.
In recent years, Aquia Town Center has became known for dormant piles of dirt and rock as property owners decided what, and when redevelop Aquia Town Center. Now, with a new condo building, and the closure of the Regal Aquia 10 movie theater that will be demolished to make way for a new Harris Teeter grocery store, things are changing.
Here’s more from Christopher Beckwith, a spokesman for the Aquia Fifteen development:
The parcel [on which Aquia Fifteen sits] was rezoned to allow for a mixed-use development that could support up to 725,000 square feet of residential, office and retail. The REIT recently sold off the adjoining residential piece, which is currently being developed into a 256-unit Class A, multifamily project named, Aquia Fifteen Apartments at Town Center.
Aquia Fifteen Apartments began leasing June 2016, and as of today, the development is 50% leased, construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016, and is expected to be fully leased by the end of Q1 2017. This apartment community offers one, two, and three bedroom apartments with rents ranging from $1,125 to $1,500 per month.
Apartment interiors feature fully-equipped kitchens with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, energy-efficient appliances and digital programmable thermostats, and full-size washer/dryer included in each apartment home. Community amenities include a two-story state-of-the-art clubhouse featuring a fitness center, lounge, business center, conference room, and a resort-class swimming pool.
Long before Aquia v was envisioned, Aquia Town Center was a bustling shopping center in the 1980s and 90s anchored by a Shoppers Food Warehouse and Rite Aid Pharmacy.
The center was a hub for artists, music lovers, and Java fans who were drawn to the center’s unique Gargoyles Coffeehouse.
Shoppers Food in 2003 moved to a new shopping center called Stafford Marketplace, less than a mile west of its old location. Dwindling traffic at the shopping center led Gargoyles to close its doors.
Today, with new owners, and many of the old shopping center buildings at Aquia Town Center razed, new stores — including a new Harris Teeter grocery store — will soon open.
From Beckwith:
In May 2015, Mosaic purchased Aquia Towne Center (“Aquia”). Aquia is a 25-acre development site off the I-95 interchange at Garrisonville Road (Route 610) in Stafford County, Virginia. This I-95 exit is the southern terminus of the recently complete express lanes. Current tenants are Regal Cinemas and Rite Aid. A public REIT purchased the property in 2006 and partially razed what was was then a 200,000 square foot neighborhood shopping center. Before the redevelopment, this parcel was an abanded shopping center and parking lot that will now support dozens of new businesses and provide convenience for Stafford County residents.
Mosaic is bringing a 76,000 square foot grocery store that is new to the Stafford market to Aquia. The end result will be a 160,000 square foot, grocery-anchored town center with a total of 6 commercial buildings with an opening date of 1st Quarter 2018.
Existing businesses include:
· Aquia Fifteen Apartments at Town Center
· Exxon Gas
· Tires Plus
· McDonalds
· PNC Bank
· Carlos O’Kelly’s
· KFC
· Ruby Tuesday
· El Gran Charro
· Mick’s
· Best WesternDelivering 3rd Quarter 2017 to 1st Quarter 2018:
· Harris Teeter Grocery
· Petco
· Hair Cuttery
· Coffee Cup
· Philly Subs
· Eyewear Etc.
· Buffalo Wings Sports Bar
· Rite Aid Pharmacy
· Burrito Border
· FroYo
· Salads and Wraps
· Fruit Smoothies
