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A Community meeting was held June 1, 2022 at the Original Mount Vernon High School Gymnasium. Fairfax County staff presented the design and provided information on the Original Mount Vernon High School Renovation and Adaptive Reuse project.
The Original Mount Vernon High School (OMVHS) was built in 1939, a classic example of Colonial Revival architecture. The county-owned facility is located at 8333 Richmond Highway on a 22-acre property that was once part of George Washington’s estate.
In 1987, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources determined that the high school property was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The school was listed on the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register in December 2017, and in the National Registry of Historic Places in May 2018. The approximately 140,000-square-foot OMVHS facility consists of the main high school building and several smaller buildings to the west and south of the main structure. There are two athletic fields to the southeast of the property that are scheduled for community use.
Phase 1 - Renovation and adaptive re-use of historic structures. Phase 2 – Future Development on the balance of BOS Property - TBD. Future Phase - Development of balance of site including FCPA property - TBD
Planning Efforts
In fall 2016, following vacation of the long-term lease in the Original Mount Vernon High School, Fairfax County began an effort to plan for adaptive reuse of the building and the site. A number of interim and permanent occupancies have been implemented including the renovation and opening of the gym, a satellite Fire Marshal’s Office for the South County area, a Fairfax County Public Schools registration site, and relocation of the teen/senior center from the South County Center. Parallel to these efforts, in early 2018, the county hired a development team to explore concepts for the long-term redevelopment of the overall OMVHS site combined with George Washington RECenter and park.
The OMVHS master development planning process was concluded in fall 2019. Following early proposed redevelopment concepts for renovations, a mix of new residential development, and additional public facilities, the county determined to focus on a phased approach to redevelopment that would align with the EMBARK and Bus Rapid Transit project along the Richmond Highway Corridor, which is in the planning phase. As such, the priority for the redevelopment work has been placed on the renovations and adaptive reuse of the historic high school and related site work as Phase I of the overall redevelopment. Phase I work includes ADA accessibility; exterior, windows, and roof work; upgrading the mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems; and upgrading utilities. The restoration work will stabilize the building and prevent further deterioration. A request for qualifications for architectural and engineering consultant services was advertised in August 2019 to begin the design for the historic renovations. Phase II of redevelopment planning continues.
The overarching vision of Phase I is to leverage the former high school to build communities of opportunity, create career pathways, connect different generations and better integrate residents into the economy. The renovated high school will be suitable for educational, childcare and childhood education programs; art, recreational, and life skill training programs; and innovation and business incubation spaces.
Would you like to be kept up-to-date about the Original Mount Vernon High School Project? Provide your e-mail address below to receive project updates.
