Now Open: RA’s Tetra Purchase Referendum

Voting is now open in the member referendum on Reston Association’s Tetra building purchase.

RA member households should have received their ballot by email this morning or by mail later today.

The referendum asks RA members if RA should :

1. Purchase the 3.47 acre Tetra property (formerly the Reston Visitors Center), inclusive of land and improvements, located at 11450 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston, VA 20190 in the North Point District as an addition to Common Area pursuant to Article IV, Section IV.10 of the Reston Deed;

2. Renovate and repurpose the existing building and land for community and recreation program uses; and,

3. Borrow up to $2,650,000 on behalf of the Association to make the purchase?

RA’s fact sheet on the purchase is also available with the ballot. The fact sheet details why RA wants to purchase the building and revenue is expects to earn from programs and event rentals; items uncovered in a recent inspection that need to be fixed; and current zoning.

The building, built in 1983, served as Reston’s Visitors Center for 20 years. Since 2003, it has served as office space for its current owner Tetra Partners.

The building sits on the shores of Lake Newport and is adjacent to other RA properties such as Brown’s Chapel Park and Lake Newport Tennis. Acquiring the property would give RA 98 contiguous acres of open and community space and would guard against commercial development of the property, which has zoning authorizing an addition of 6,900 square feet.

Detractors of the purchase say there is little chance of commercial development as there are dozens of easements on the property and the parking lot serves as the spillway for Lake Newport. Opponents are also concerned that the building, whose tax assessment was $1.2 million the last two years, is not worth $2.65 million.

Balloting is open through May 8 at 5 p.m.