Old Town
Old Town Fairfax is a central historic district in the City of Fairfax that has been the subject of overlapping municipal initiatives spanning security, infrastructure, parks, arts, planning, and zoning. 7 separate matters touch this place; each has its own status.
Gallery at City Center
Gallery at City Center is a proposed mixed-use redevelopment by Christopher Land, LLC at 4085, 4101, 4103, and 4117 Chain Bridge Road (a 3.86 +/- acre site in Old Town, between University Drive and Chain Bridge Road). The project proposes replacing approximately 119,934 square feet of existing office space with a mix of office, retail/restaurant, and apartments across three buildings, with subterranean/structured parking.
- Jun 11, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5dStakeholder Updates – Planning Commission
Old Town was identified as the location for the Gallery at City Center submission reviewed by the Planning Commission.
Willard Sherwood
The Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center (WSHCC) is a City of Fairfax project to construct a new health and community center, intended in part to replace the aging Green Acres facility for senior services. As of April 2025, the project's future was uncertain due to staffing and building security concerns, with a full City Council presentation scheduled for April 22, 2025, and all city trails work paused in the interim.
- Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5dStakeholder Update – Planning Commission
Old Town was designated by the Planning Commission as one of five activity centers requiring special attention and zoning review for mixed-use development.
- Apr 9, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
An Art Walk is planned for May 3rd in Old Town Fairfax.
Pat Rodio Park
Pat Rodio Park is a municipal park that has been undergoing a playground relocation and broader redevelopment effort. As of October 2024, staff began seeking a new playground location; by November 2024 a site had been identified, with tree planting and public outreach planned.
- Apr 9, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5Stakeholder Updates
An Art Walk is planned for May 3rd in Old Town Fairfax.
The Fairfax Circle Small Area Plan is one of four Activity Center Small Area Plans developed by the City of Fairfax. Planning began in Spring 2023.
- Discussion of Next Steps
Old Town was referenced in the context of the Planning Commission's February 9, 2026 discussion about the need for a cohesive framework to evaluate development proposals in relation to the City's goals for the character, scale, and vision of Old Town and downtown areas.
The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the city's primary long-range land use and policy document, guiding development, housing, transportation, and related decisions. A five-year review process culminated on October 8, 2024, when City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-24-30 approving the updated plan dated September 27, 2024.
- Discussion of Next Steps
Old Town was referenced in the context of the Planning Commission's February 9, 2026 discussion about the need for a cohesive framework to evaluate development proposals in relation to the City's goals for the character, scale, and vision of Old Town and downtown areas.
Courthouse Plaza
Courthouse Plaza (10300 Willard Way and 3922 Blenheim Boulevard) is a shopping center redevelopment project in the CR Commercial Retail/Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District, proposed by Combined Courthouse, LLC. The project has proceeded through two distinct application cycles.
- Feb 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5dStakeholder Update – Planning Commission
Old Town was designated by the Planning Commission as one of five activity centers requiring special attention and zoning review for mixed-use development.
Old Town Parking Study
The Old Town Parking Study is a city-commissioned analysis of parking demand and utilization in and around Old Town Fairfax City. The study was conducted by a consultant who performed detailed field analysis of parking lots and utilization rates throughout the Old Town area; the data collection occurred in fall 2024, and the study was completed in 2025.
- Jun 3, 2025City Council · item 1cPresentation on the Old Town Parking Study
The Old Town area of the City of Fairfax was the subject of a parking study presentation at this work session.
- Oct 8, 2024City Council · item 10bDiscussion of security pilot initiatives to address community concerns of safety
Old Town was identified as a location where the Police Department proposed hiring security guard support using Old Town Service District funds as a pilot effort.
- Oct 10, 2024Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6aSummary of Recent Council Meeting Actions Pertaining to Parks and Recreation
Old Town Square is included in the proposed trial period of private security, along with security cameras, safety lighting, and blue light boxes.
- OTH/OTS – Update
Old Town Storefront (OTS) is awaiting permits and resolution of a contractor insurance issue; all materials are on site.
- Apr 10, 2025Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 6bOTH/OTS – Update
The Old Town Splash Pad is under renovation; cannons are being installed next week and the project is expected to be completed before the Asian Festival.
- Old Business – OTH/OTS Update
The OTH/OTS Splash Pad is expected to open by the first week of July; OTH is slated to go before City Council in July. Old Town Square was noted as the venue for the June 14th Juneteenth celebration.
- Old Business – OTH/OTS Update
The Old Town Splash Pad's chemical pump was replaced after failing; the Splash Pad will close soon for the season, and the cascade fountain will be lit pink for breast cancer awareness.
- Mar 12, 2026Parks and Recreation Advisory Board · item 5aStakeholder Update – Commission on the Arts
Old Town Fairfax is the planned location for the COA and Spotlight on the Arts Art Walk on May 3rd.
- Jun 8, 2026Planning Commission · item 8bDiscussion of a potential review and update to the adopted small area plans for Old Town, Northfax, Kamp Washington, and Fairfax Circle
Identified as one of the areas whose small area plan may be reviewed and updated.
- Jun 23, 2026City Council · item 11aDiscussion of potential reviews and updates to adopted Small Area Plans for Old Town, Northfax, Kamp Washington, and Fairfax Circle
Old Town was identified as one of four areas with adopted Small Area Plans under potential review and update discussion.
In full
Beginning in October 2024, the area was identified as a pilot location for private security guard support using Old Town Service District funds, and Old Town Square was included in a broader trial of private security alongside security cameras, safety lighting, and blue light boxes at parks, with an estimated cost of approximately $100,000 per park. Concurrently, Old Town Hall (OTH) and Old Town Storefront (OTS) underwent a lengthy renovation process: OTH went into construction (delayed City Council presentation ultimately set for July 2025), the Splash Pad completed a renovation and opened by early July 2025, and OTS awaited permits and contractor insurance resolution as of February 2025. On the planning side, the Planning Commission designated Old Town as one of five priority activity centers for zoning and mixed-use development review in early 2026, and a potential update to the adopted Old Town Small Area Plan (originally adopted June 2020) was discussed at both the Planning Commission (June 2026) and City Council (June 2026) levels without formal action.
Most recently, as of October 2026, a significant rezoning application — the "Gallery at City Center" proposal to rezone a parcel from Commercial Office to Commercial Urban within the Old Town Fairfax Transitional Overlay District, with up to three mixed-use buildings, structured parking, and a central pedestrian passageway — was under active Planning Commission review, with a BAR public hearing set for November 4, 2026 and a City Council public hearing set for December 8, 2026. The application drew both public support and opposition at the October 26, 2026 hearing, centered on compatibility with Old Town's historic character and alignment with the small area plan.