A plan for a second high-rise apartment complex on Prince William County’s Potomac River coastline will be discussed today at the county supervisors’ regular meeting.
As proposed, Rippon Center would be two buildings up to 10 stories tall with some 550 multi-family units set on 11 acres. The homes, if approved tonight by the supervisors, would sit on top of parking garages, 250,000 square feet of office space and 27,000 square feet of retail space at Rippon Boulevard and Farm Creek Drive.
Rivergate, a luxury 725-unit, 15-story development near the Occoquan River, was approved earlier this year.
“One of the goals of the [Potomac Communities] plan is to take advantage of the vistas of the river. You are going to get some of these [types of projects],” said Pat Thomas, the county’s Potomac Communities planner.
Thomas said both proposals are located next to Virginia Railway Express stations.
One of Rippon Center’s two buildings will be located where the temporary parking lot currently sits for the Rippon VRE station. The project, which is being proposed by the Hazel Land Co., includes building a permanent parking lot on the property for up to 300 spaces, Thomas said.
The center follows Hazel Land’s success at Riverside Station, on an adjacent property.
“It is kind of a breakthrough for that part of Woodbridge. We were building a high-end product that sold very well. It gave us the confidence to move onto the last 11 acres,” said Robert Wulff, executive vice president of Hazel Land.
Woodbridge supervisor Hilda Barg said Rippon Center has improved “100 percent” since it first came before the board two years ago as nearly 1,000 units.
Some residents are concerned about the new development’s proximity to Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge.
The refuge is across from the Mason Neck peninsula, downstream from the Occoquan Bay refuge and upstream from Leesylvania State Park — the three together form a sanctuary for bald eagles, said Kim Hosen, Prince William Conservation Alliance director.
Hosen questioned the storm water management of Rippon Center and how the tall buildings and runoff would affect the refuge.
Wulff said environmental concerns were “overblown” and added, “we know how to build so the storm water is contained on the site — and same with the soil.”
Rippon Center
» Construction to begin in 2008
» It could take up to seven years to complete
» More than $200 million project
