West Falls Church Redevelopment Kicks Off a Walkable Future

A surface parking lot in Northern Virginia is set to become one of the region’s newest transit-centered neighborhoods. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), joined by local elected officials and development partners Rushmark Properties and EYA LLC, has broken ground on a major redevelopment project at the West Falls Church Metrorail Station, signaling a shift from car-oriented land use to walkable, transit-supportive growth.

What is today 24 acres of underused Metro-owned parking will soon become a dense, mixed-use community offering new housing, office and retail space, public places, and connections that make it easier for residents and workers to access transit without a car. When complete, the development will deliver up to 1 million square feet of new construction, including 810 apartments, 82 townhomes, and a required level of affordable housing.

The shift comes as the Silver Line continues to expand connectivity across Northern Virginia. With that new travel option, the need for expansive parking at West Falls Church has fallen, freeing Metro to rethink how the land could better serve both the system and the surrounding community.

“Groundbreakings are about new beginnings, and West Falls Church is set for an exciting new chapter,” said WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke. “When we build more housing near transit, the entire region benefits—from growing ridership to reducing traffic congestion to creating better quality of life opportunities and more access to jobs and entertainment.”

The project is more than vertical development. It features a newly designed street grid with pedestrian- and bike-friendly travel patterns, new bus facilities, and an upgraded Kiss and Ride area to support multimodal mobility. Civic plazas, pocket parks, and even a dog play area will help anchor neighborhood life and strengthen the station area as a destination—not just a transfer point.

Importantly, the initiative complements two other major redevelopments adjacent to the station: the West Falls project led by the City of Falls Church and Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Center redevelopment, which includes the new HITT headquarters. Together, the three projects represent nearly 42 acres of coordinated transit-oriented transformation.

“This project will bring so many benefits to the local neighborhood,” said U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA). “Enhancing accessibility and making use of underutilized spaces at the station will be a great boost for the local neighborhood and Metro riders.”

As the community takes shape, Metro will maintain more than 1,400 parking spaces and reconfigure bus bays to accommodate multimodal access. The first phase is scheduled to open townhomes in 2027, followed by apartments in 2028.

Across the Washington, DC, region, West Falls Church exemplifies a growing shift: leveraging transit assets not just for transportation, but for development that builds ridership, strengthens economic vitality, expands housing opportunities, and delivers more livable communities.