Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) is hosting a series of Community Engagement Forums regarding the former Mount Vernon Athletic Club. Fairfax County purchased the facility in May 2020 with plans to establish a multi-service center to meet the immediate needs of neighborhoods in the Buckman Road area on the west side of Richmond Highway in Alexandria.

In advance of the center’s planned reopening in summer 2021, the county is engaging the community to ensure the new facility meets their needs and interests. NCS will host five upcoming community engagement forums to discuss the overall vision for the facility, potential resources, activities, and programs. The forum dates are:

• Thursday, May 6, 2021 *Virtually via Zoom*
• Thursday, May 13, 2021 *Virtually via Zoom*
   
• Thursday, May 20, 2021 *In person*
• Thursday, May 27, 2021 *In person*
• Thursday, June 3, 2021 *In person*

All sessions will run from 6:45 to 8 p.m. and will be hosted, depending on the date, either virtually via Zoom or in person (based on all appropriate CDC and Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines) at Mount Vernon Woods Park, 4014 Fielding Street, Alexandria.

Registration is required at bit.ly/LeeCommunityConversations. Individuals who register for a virtual session will receive the Zoom link separately.

The former Mount Vernon Athletic Club is currently undergoing minimal renovations and upgrades under the property’s current zoning to improve the facility’s functionality. The Department of Housing and Community Development, on behalf of the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), is leading the finance, design, coordination and overall project management efforts for the Phase I improvements, which include:

• Basic accessibility improvements (accessible restroom and paths of travel to activity areas)
• Select capital renewal items (mechanical, electrical and plumbing system upgrades)
• Safety improvements (fire alarm system upgrades, enhanced security systems)
• Community use updates (conversion of some of the existing tennis courts to multi-surface sports courts)

Watch this video to learn what to expect in the new community and hear from Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk; Melissa McKenna, Chairman, FCHRA; and Lloyd Tucker, Director, Neighborhood and Community Services.

For questions about the minor improvements and project schedule, please contact RHA@fairfaxcounty.gov.

For questions regarding community outreach and potential uses for the facility, please contact ncs@fairfaxcounty.gov or visit the community center webpage.