Franconia Governmental Center and Kingstowne Regional Library Project

Project Background

County services in the Kingstowne area of Alexandria are scattered and facilities are small and outdated. The Kingstowne Library and Active Adult Center are in lease space which has significant challenges including space constraints, limited parking and disruption to operations due to maintenance. The new site for the library was previously purchased by the county for the purpose of moving the library from the lease space into a newly constructed facility. The Franconia Police Station, the Franconia District Supervisor’s Office and the Franconia Museum are in a facility that does not adequately support operations and needs to be replaced. The facility is undersized, mechanical and structural systems are outdated, parking is insufficient and the fueling station is located within the secure perimeter thereby disallowing access to it by county vehicles other than those used by the police. The new combined facility will provide a safe, convenient and pleasant environment for the residents of the Kingstowne area to gather and have access to county services in one central location. The project is included in the FY 2021 – FY 2025 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

Project Description

This new combined facility will be approximately 90,000 square feet and offer structured parking and easy access. It will house the Franconia Police Station in approximately 28,000 square feet, the Franconia District Supervisor’s Office in approximately 4,200 square feet, and the Franconia Museum will be located off the lobby giving it great exposure. The Active Adult Center will have approximately 7,200 square feet, and a new Childcare Center with approximately 10,000 square feet will offer care for infants to pre-kindergarten children. The Kinsgtowne Community Library will be expanded to a Regional Library and will occupy approximately 30,000 square feet.

Project Location

The new building will be constructed on a county-owned vacant site between Beulah Street, Silver Lake Boulevard and Interparcel Road, just south of Manchester Boulevard in the heart of the Kinsgtowne area in Alexandria. The site was designated to house the Kinsgtowne Library and will now offer an extended number of county services. It is convenient for direct access from the residential neighborhood, the adjacent elementary school, and nearby commercial establishments.

Project Phase

The design of the consolidated facility has been finalized, and rezoning was approved by the Board of Supervisors. The site and building permits are currently being processed.

Project Benefits

The benefits of the project are:

• Extended number of county services
• Central location in the Kinsgtowne area
• Synergies between services
• Reduced environmental impact by co-location

Timeline

 

The project has been advertised for bid. Construction is expected to begin in fall of 2022 with occupancy in 2025.

 

Project Cost and Funding Source

Funding for the Franconia Police Station, to include the Franconia District Supervisor Office and the Franconia Museum, was approved in the 2015 Public Safety Bond Referendum. Funding for the library, to include the Active Adult Center, was approved in the 2020 Library Bond referendum.

Presentation to the Community

The project was presented to the Lee District Land Use Committee on September 2021, 2020.

Contact

For questions about the project, please contact project manager Karin Hornstein or call 703-324-5800, TTY 711.