Caruthers Companies has submitted a $550 million plan for the final phase of Belmont Bay, a waterfront stretch on the Occoquan River between Fairfax and Prince William counties.
The plans call for the rezoning of 170 acres of the undeveloped portion of the 300-acre parcel in Woodbridge, Va., which has undergone various stages of development over the course of four decades. The developed portion includes George Mason University’s Potomac Science Center and the Belmont Bay Harbor Marina, as well as 1,000 homes. Active development stopped around the mid-2000s.
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“The zoning application is stepping away from the vision from the ’80s and the ’90s, and has a vision that’s more forward-looking,” Jay Sotos, development director of Belmont Bay, told Commercial Observer. “The final project is going to be our interpretation of the District Wharf. We’re creating an open, welcoming public destination to showcase eastern Prince William County.”
The plan for Belmont Bay is focused on a public waterfront park at the Marina District, which has been designed by global design firm, Sasaki, Sotos explained
Plans call for a cobbled woonerf, or “living street”, anchored by the Potomac Science Center and the Belmont Bay Harbor Marina, which will also include a performance area, village green, boardwalk, and numerous shops and restaurants.
“Sasaki is honored to team with Caruthers to take bold steps to transform a legacy development for the future,” Paul Schlapobersky, Sasaki’s associate principal and design lead, said in a prepared statement. “When it was conceived, Belmont Bay intentionally set itself apart from its surroundings. Caruthers and Sasaki have now crafted a vision which prioritizes an inviting waterfront so that everyone feels welcome.”
The new plans carry out the vision of Preston Caruthers, who first conceived the project in the 1960s, imagining a bustling riverside village. Today, third-generation family members are leading the company.
“We are thrilled to move forward with the application and have our project become a catalyst for North Woodbridge while honoring the vision of my grandfather,” Preston Miller, Caruthers Companies’ principal, said in a prepared statement.
The application is the first rezoning submission to implement guidance set forth by the North Woodbridge Small Area Plan, which is intended to spur investment in underutilized properties in the North Woodbridge community to create housing, economic and recreational opportunities.
Miller hopes for zoning approval in 2022, with the project completed sometime in the next decade.
Keith Loria can be reached at kloria@commercialobserver.com.
