The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended approval for a proposal to allow empty office buildings in suburban neighborhoods to be converted into other uses.

These partially vacant or empty offices could find new life as apartments, live-work units, shops, hotels, schools, libraries, makerspaces and other light industrial or commercial uses.

Officials are considering this update to the county’s land use plan, known as the Comprehensive Plan, following a similar change approved last year for empty offices in areas planned for mixed use or industrial development.

The proposal would allow offices in suburban neighborhoods to be turned into other uses without a site-specific change to the Comprehensive Plan.

Most buildings proposed to be repurposed will need rezoning approval by the board. This process incorporates opportunities for community input, including public hearings. County officials also retain the right to require a reuse project to go through a site-specific land use change.

The proposed policy also sets seven conditions for buildings to be eligible for reuse. For example, these new uses must be compatible with surrounding development, offer more ways for pedestrians to access the building and consider impacts to schools and parks if new residences are considered.

Suburban Office Vacancy Rate

While the county confronts 18 million square in office vacancies, most of this underused space can be found in the areas near Metro stations or other mixed use areas. Empty offices in suburban areas make up about 3.3 percent—or 607,000 square feet—of the 18 million square foot total.

Looking at the data, the county’s planners found that 80 percent of suburban offices were fully occupied or less than 10 percent vacant. Only 25 offices accounted for almost 50 percent of the total vacant square footage.

In general, suburban offices are more likely to be fully leased since they are smaller buildings that also often serve small businesses like doctors, travel agents and real estate brokers. Offices with vacancies rates of 10 percent or less are unlikely to be converted to other uses, say county planners. This finding comes from conversations with building owners and developers.

Next Steps

The proposal must ultimately be approved by the Board of Supervisors which is currently scheduled to hold a public hearing on May 1.

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