Project Background

The response area for this fire station covers the northern section of the Richmond Highway corridor. Population growth, changing demographics and more residential and commercial development will increase the demand for emergency and non-emergency services.

The Penn Daw Fire Station was built in 1967 as a volunteer station and is one of the oldest and busiest in the county. It was expanded in the late 1980s to 15,700 square feet. The building houses the apparatus bays, offices, storage areas, mechanical rooms, men’s and women’s shower/locker rooms and bunks, a laundry room, an exercise room, a kitchen, and a hose tower with an upper level. The station is located on a 1.15-acre parcel on a residential cul-de-sac with significant challenges to expand or rebuild on the existing site.

The building systems have reached the end of their service life. The original plumbing fixtures do not meet county standards for water conservation, the emergency generator has significantly less capacity than generators at similarly sized stations, the lighting and HVAC systems are not energy efficient and are due for replacement. The apparatus bays are outdated and undersized with very low ceilings and are unable to house larger, heavier equipment. This station lacks adequate living quarters for female personnel and requires replacement of building systems that have far exceeded their intended life cycles.

Project Description

As planning developed on the Penn Daw Fire Station, the Hybla Valley Nursery site became available and was found to be an advantageous location for the new fire station. The location on Beacon Hill Road allows first responders direct access to emergencies in the community and eliminates the need for construction of a temporary fire station. Due to the size of the property and ideal location along Route 1, an opportunity was realized to provide co-location of additional facilities.

An advisory committee was convened by Mount Vernon District Supervisor, Daniel G. Storck, that includes members from nearby communities, public safety representatives, faith community and affordable/emergency housing providers, the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Association, the Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce, Fort Belvoir and county staff. The advisory committee worked with county staff on evaluating potential programs that could be co-located with the permanent, new Penn Daw Fire Station. The committee members acted as the liaison between the community, this project, and the supervisor’s office. See the Penn Daw Fire Station and Supportive Housing Committee Member List.

Committee meetings, links and presentation materials:

• First Meeting, November 6, 2020: Link to Agenda, Presentation, Meeting Minutes
• Second Meeting, December 4, 2020: Link to Agenda, Presentation, Meeting Minutes
• Third Meeting: January 15, 2021: Link to Agenda, Presentation, Meeting Minutes
• Fourth Meeting: February 5, 2021: Link to Agenda, Presentation, Meeting Minutes
• Fifth Meeting: March 5, 2021: Link to Agenda, Presentation, Meeting Minutes
  • The Bailey’s Shelter video tour was presented at the March 5, 2021 committee meeting.
• Sixth Meeting: April 2, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom: Link to Agenda, Meeting Minutes
  • The Station at Potomac Yards video tour was presented at the April 2, 2021 committee meeting.
  • The Progress Place video tour was presented at the April 2, 2021 committee meeting.
• Seventh Meeting: May 7, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.
• Eighth Meeting: June 21, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.: Meeting Notes
• Ninth Meeting: July 16, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.: Link to Agenda, Presentation, Meeting Minutes
• Tenth Meeting: September 17, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.: Link to Agenda, Presentation and Meeting Minutes
• Eleventh Meeting: October 01, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.: Meeting Agenda
• Twelfth Meeting: December 3, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• Thirteenth Meeting: May 31, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Meeting Agenda and Presentation
• Fourteenth Meeting: October 14, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Meeting Agenda, Meeting Presentation | BKV Presentation
• Fifteenth Meeting: March 30, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. Meeting Agenda, Meeting Presentation, Meeting YouTube Video
• Sixteenth Meeting: May 1, 2023 at 7 p.m. Meeting Link and Meeting Agenda
• Seventeenth Meeting: July 13, 2023 Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Meeting Agenda, Meeting Presentation
• Eighteenth Meeting: July 17, 2024, 6:30 p.m. Meeting Agenda
• Nineteenth Meeting: March 31, 2025, 7 p.m. Meeting Agenda, Meeting Presentation, Meeting YouTube Video
• Twentieth Meeting: February 24, 2026, 7 p.m. Meeting Agenda, Meeting Presentation, Meeting YouTube Video

The county also hosted virtual and in-person community meetings.

• First Community Meeting (virtual): Link to Community Meeting Agenda | April 24, 2021 Penn Daw Community Meeting (video)
• Second Community Meeting (virtual): Link to Community Meeting Agenda | April 26, 2021 Penn Daw Community Meeting (video)
• Spanish Language Community Meeting (virtual): Link to Community Meeting Agenda | June 7, 2021 Penn Daw Spanish Language Community Meeting (video)
• Tours of the Eleanor Kennedy Shelter: June 24, 2021
• In-Person Community Meeting: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 7 p.m. Location: Former Hybla Valley Nursery - 2801 Beacon Hill Road, Alexandria, VA 22306. See the meeting agenda.
• In-Person Community Meeting: Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 7 p.m. Location: Bryant High School – 2709 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306. See the meeting agenda | meeting presentation.
• In-Person Community Meeting: Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 7 p.m. Location: Bucknell Elementary School Gym – 6925 University Dr, Alexandria, VA 22307. See the meeting agenda | meeting presentation.

Funding for the Eleanor Kennedy Shelter was approved along with three other county shelters in the 2016 Human Services and Community Development Bond Referendum; however, a suitable location had not been identified at the time.

The existing Eleanor Kennedy Shelter operates from a 100-year-old converted pump house located on land leased from Fort Belvoir. Renovating the shelter would require complete modernization of existing interior and building systems, refurbishment of historic exterior materials, roof replacement, a new natural gas connection, and the addition of stormwater management facilities.

Expansion of the shelter to accommodate a comprehensive program is prohibited due to the building’s location within a 100-year floodplain and resource protection area, and renovations are limited by the building’s historic status. Co-locating services at the site and providing supportive housing in a new, modern facility aligns with county strategies to prevent and end homelessness in the Fairfax-Falls Church community.

Individuals and families with the lowest income levels face the greatest challenge and lack of affordable housing in the county has been identified as a leading cause of homelessness. Housing First is the county’s preferred approach for serving people who are experiencing homelessness with no dependable housing options. The community has a unique opportunity with the Beacon Hill site to create a 21st Century vision of the continuum of housing. The project team also heard from the community about the strong need for housing for families and has been able to incorporate additional family units. The program now includes a total of 30 units of service-enriched, long-term supportive housing units for individuals and families in addition to the emergency housing.

Project Location

The project is located off Route 1, at the former Hybla Valley Nursery site at 2801 Beacon Hill Road, Alexandria, VA 22306.

Timeline

The project team is progressing with the design phase. The Comprehensive Plan Amendment and rezoning application were approved on April 14, 2026. 

Contact

For more information, please contact the project team at penndawproject@fairfaxcounty.gov, Building Design and Construction Division, Capital Facilities, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.