Cityline Partners of Tysons Corner, VA today unveiled plans to transform 19 acres of land near the Tysons Central 123 Metro station in Tysons, , into a mixed-use, transit-oriented redevelopment integrated with a large urban park and plaza.. In addition, as part of its rezoning application, Cityline proposes to dedicate an 8-acre parcel to Fairfax County for an urban elementary school, multi-purpose athletic fields and parkland.
Approval of the proposed rezoning would allow Cityline to replace six aging suburban office buildings and surface parking lots along Westpark Drive with an integrated mix of office, residential, hotel, retail, and civic uses, all located within an easy, safe, and pleasant walk to the new Metro station. Cityline’s plan would replace an existing topographic barrier and provide pedestrian access to Metro by creating an urban park with a grand staircase built into the hillside between Tysons Boulevard and Westpark Drive.
“Our proposed redevelopment of the Westpark property would create a mix of land uses with 24/7 opportunities to live, work, play and stay, while providing high-quality architecture and an attractive skyline reflecting the new urban form of the nation’s quintessential ‘edge city,’” said Tom Fleury, Executive Vice President, Cityline Partners. “It will provide space for a new, urban Fairfax County public school to serve the planned future growth in the Tysons Corner population, create an urban park and plazas, incorporate sustainable design, greatly improve pedestrian connectivity and access to Metro, and provide workforce housing.”
In February 2011, Cityline filed a rezoning application for 40 acres of land adjacent to the Tysons East Metro station,. These two applications and the subject parcels represent almost all of the Cityline holdings in Tysons Corner. On July 22, 2010, DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners (DLJ RECP) of New York City acquired West*Group’s Tysons Corner portfolio, comprising 114 acres and 22 existing buildings, most of which were built in the 1970’s. DLJ RECP then formed Cityline Partners to own, manage, and develop the portfolio. After selling some of the property in the second half of 2010, DLJ RECP gave Cityline the green light to plan redevelopment of the remaining land.
Cityline’s April rezoning application covers a contiguous, rectangular 19.3-acre block of land on the south side of Westpark Drive. The application proposes three alternative redevelopment scenarios, ranging from approximately 1.78 to 2.41 million gross square feet, with floor area ratio (FAR) ranging from 2.1 to 2.8. All three alternatives would provide a mix of office, residential, hotel, and support retail development, with the high-rise office buildings in the center of the parcel stepping down to the residential and hotel uses on the periphery.
West of Westbranch Drive, Cityline plans two multifamily residential buildings. A mid-rise residential building would maximize views of the existing pond and woodlands along the property’s western boundary. An adjacent high-rise residential building with ground-level retail space would feature an amenity terrace overlooking public open space, recreation courtyards, private terraces, seating areas, a swimming pool, and trails.
To the east of Westbranch Drive, an integrated office complex with inter-connected plazas and parks would anchor the center of the new block. A 14-story office building with ground-level retail space would feature an entry court plaza and a parking deck built into the hill on the south side, with a “green arbor row” of trellis structures on the top level.
Next door would be two ten-story office buildings along with an urban park and plaza. The expansive and highly visible urban park will provide a gracious gateway into the development from its Metro-facing south side, and serve as the focal point for this new mixed-use community. The planned park includes a great lawn suitable for strolling, relaxing, playing, and special events with inviting seating areas, and a 2pathway system. A paved terrace promenade offers generous views of the office buildings and urban plaza below.
Cityline Partners, LLC
Cityline Partners, LLC, a subsidiary of DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners of New York City, was formed in 2010 to own, manage, and develop the former West*Group portfolio of land holdings in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Cityline’s team includes a number of former West*Group executives: Donna Shafer, Tom Fleury, Keith Turner, Tasso Flocos, and Eric Maggio. The company’s offices are located in Tysons Corner, VA within its proposed Scotts Run Station South redevelopment.
DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners
DLJ RECP manages a series of real estate private equity funds with more than $4.1 billion of committed capital. The company has completed 174 investments in North America, Europe, and Asia, representing more than $14 billion in gross transaction value. The investment program emphasizes single-asset acquisitions and repositioning, restructuring of public and private real estate entities, transfer of real estate assets from government and corporate owners, development opportunities, recapitalizations and structured financings. DLJ RECP is headquartered in New York City with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toyko and Hong Kong. The company is actively investing capital targeting large, coastal US cities, including the Greater Washington DC area.