With 2 mixed-use projects stalled, Stafford looks ahead, envisions new downtown center

STAFFORD — The Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, August 14 to discuss the idea of a “Downtown Stafford.”

Such a development centered around the county’s iconic courthouse could provide an identity for the Stafford community. It’s location would be across the street from the courthouse and across from the County Government Center.

Stafford currently has limited locations for restaurants and retail stores. Downtown Stafford has the potential to create a vibrant downtown.

“I’ve talked to people in Loudoun County and other areas in Northern Virginia and they have told me that the reason they live up there is because there’s nothing like what they have in Stafford,” Supervisor Cindy Shelton said.

The county has yet to see a true mixed-use center with both residential and retail space. Aquia Town Center in North Stafford has more than 400 apartment but no new businesses or restaurants.

The Garrison at Stafford on Garrisonville Road, which more than two years ago was billed as the county’s first would-be true mixed-use center with residential and commercial space, anchored by a new movie theater and grocery store has yet to launch.

“We fear more apartments here in Stafford,” Garrisonville Supervisor Mark Dudenhefer said, noting they are a financial drain on county resources. “There were 350 emergency calls to 400 apartments at the Aquia Town Center.”

At the envisioned Downtown Stafford, the plan is to put retail stores and restaurants on the first floor and build three or four stories of apartments above each building.

There is no exact number of how many buildings will be constructed but the county does own 25 acres of property to build the buildings.

The Board’s wishlist for Downtown Stafford includes

• Walkability
• Open public space
• A small “green” area
• A main-street layout for a shopping center
• Close housing
• A moderately-sized parking lot

“We need a hook,” Supervisor Gary Snellings said. “I live in south Stafford, if I want to go out to eat I’m not gonna drive all the way up to Downtown Stafford, I’m going to go down to Fredericksburg where there are 200 restaurants. If I want a t-shirt, I’m going to go to Macy’s or Belk at the [Spotsylvania Towne Center]. We need that hook like an ice skating rink or a cultural center.”

During the initial phase of construction, there will be 330 housing units, 92,000 ground square feet for retail, 38,000 ground square feet of office space, and 35,000 ground square feet for entertainment. There will also be 1,210 parking spaces.

During the second phase of construction, the county plans to approve 25-80 housing units, up to 25,000 ground square feet of office and retail space. 50,000 ground square feet will be added for civic purposes.

County officials say this project needs to be different from the rest.

“If this is just a development, there’s no point to this,” County Administrator Tom Foley said. “This has to be different than a development.”

There are also plans to add a movie theater and bowling alley in the envisioned downtown plan.