Comstock announced on Monday that the 11,000-square-foot retail center at Reston Station would become The Stock Market @ Reston Station.
They envision it is as a hip, urban dining and shopping destination. A place to get a glass of wine, an excellent latte, a spot at the oyster bar or pick up a carefully curated artisan gift or gourmet treats.
That leaves a blank canvas for 10 to 25 merchants to set up shop here. Others will test the market with food trucks or pop-up stores.
Michael Holstein, the area businessman who is organizing the project, sees it as similar to D.C.’s Union Market.
For the unfamiliar, developer Edens took an old market in Northeast D.C. and opened it with the new concept for artisanal wares in 2012. It has proven to be so popular that the neighborhood around it is expanding and gentrifying.
Union Market is organized with small booths and flexible spaces. Among some of the permanent vendors: Red Apron Butcher, Peregrine Espresso,, Rappahanock Oysters Co., DC Empanadas, Salt & Sundry household gift shop and Co Co Sala.
The Stock Market will likely feature two full-service restaurants, with the rest of the vendors in smaller, booth spaces, said Holstein.
So with that in mind, what would you like to see set up shop here in Reston? The developers are listening, so speak up in the comments.
Photo: The retail center at Reston Station
Developer JBG is seeking to rezone an office building at 1831 Wiehle Avenue in order to build a mixed-use development on the parcel.
The building is currently zoned Medium Intensity Industrial District, as was all space located in the area adjacent to the Dulles Toll Road until about four years ago. The Fairfax County rezoning application seeks to designate the land as Planned Residential Mixed-Use (PRM).
According to the application, the rezoning proposes 504 multi-family residential units and up to 61,000 square feet of complementary retail uses.
The space at 1831 Wiehle — bordered by Sunset Hills Road and the entrance to Reston Station Boulevard — contains a three-story, 75,000-square-foot office building. It houses Long & Foster Real Estate’s Reston office, as well as Northern Virginia Community College’s Reston Center, among others.
The mixed use development would add to the growing number of options close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.
Comstock is currently constructing 450 units at the BLVD apartments at Reston Station, on top of the Wiehle-Reston East Metro parking garage.
Work will begin this fall on a 421-unit residential building in the 11400 block of Sunset Hills Road, a small retail and mini-storage center currently sits. Chuck Veatch, who is developing the property along with Bozzuto Development, also had to get the parcel rezoned from Industrial to Planned Mixed Use.
Also, Comstock announced on Monday the upcoming Stock Market @ Reston Station, an 11,000-square-food food and retail space, as a new addition to Reston Station.
Reston food truck owner Ed Hardy did not walk away with $25,000 on Food Network’s Kitchen Inferno.
Hardy, a longtime chef and the owner of the recently opened Bacon N Ed’s trailer at Reston Station, competed in the TV contest a few months ago, before he launched his new venture here. The Kitchen Inferno episode aired Wednesday.
His goal on the show was to win the top prize of $25,000 in order to help his wife, Francoise Villeneuve, jumpstart her new confectionary business, Wiggly Leroux.
Here’s the premise of Kitchen Inferno: Contestant is challenged in three timed rounds to create a dish that will go up against well-known chefs creating the same type of dish. Contestant gets $5,000 if he wins the first round, $10,000 for the second round, $25,000 for the third round. After each round, the contestant can step off and go home with his earnings or risk losing it all.
A panel of three food experts tastes each round’s dishes and declares a winner.
Hardy, who has trained with famous New York chef Marcus Samuelsson and at New York’s Gramercy Tavern, won the first two rounds. He opted to go for it in the third round, where he was challenged to “create a dinner that looked like a dessert.” Hardy created a meatball sundae, with mashed potatoes as the whipped cream.
Alas, the judges liked the savory pies created by famed chef Jet Tila better. Hardy, having risked it all, went home empty-handed.
Nonetheless, Villeneuve recently launched her confectionary business, Wiggly Leroux, and Hardy started Bacon N Ed’s.
You can find both of them on the plaza at Reston Station, above the Wiehle-Reston East Silver Line Station, at morning and evening rush hours on weekdays.
Photo: Kitchen Inferno Judges Michael Ruhlman, Judy Joo and Daniel Green/Credit: Food Network
Chef Ed Hardy, who owns and operates Bacon N Ed’s food trailer at Reston Station, also has another job: Food Network contestant.
Hardy will appear on the Food Network Show Kitchen Inferno on Wednesday night.
Kitchen Inferno, hosted by celebrity chef Curtis Stone, works like this: “Contestants try and “outcook” a chain of increasingly skilled chefs to advance. With each victory the contestants face a pivotal choice: Take the money and run, or risk it all for a chance to win up to $25,000.”
Hardy says he filmed the episode several months ago and is sworn to secrecy about the outcome.
The Food Network says this: Executive Chef Ed Hardy is on a fiery mission to secure $25,000 for his wife’s chocolate shop. But standing in his way are not only the Inferno’s celebrity culinary gladiators but also the only thing hotter than the Inferno — the mighty ghost pepper.
Game-show earnings or not, Hardy’s wife, Francoise Villeneuve, recently launched a confection line, Wiggly Leroux Confections. Many Wiggly Leroux items, including pumpkin spice marshmallows and brown butter sea salt caramels, are for sale at the Bacon N Ed’s truck.
Hardy launched Bacon N Ed’s at Reston Station, the plaza on top of the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station, in October. He cures the bacon onsite and adds it to a long list of speciality items for sale during morning and afternoon rush hours.
Hardy’s episode of Kitchen Inferno airs Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 10 p.m. It will re-air Thursday at 1 a.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m.
Photo: Ed Hardy at Reston Station/Courtesy of Ed Hardy
Reston Station will be hosting a Thanksgiving food truck mini-market Monday through Wednesday evenings this week.
Two weeks ago, Reston Now told you about Bacon N Eds, the truck offering all things bacon, and Wiggly Leroux, artisinal confections, being sold on the plaza by a husband-and-wife chef team.
This week, the duo will be joined by The Bratwurst King, a Restonian who has been selling Austrian goodies from his truck for several years; Meat Crafters, also offering sausage specialities; and Lobster Maneia, which has been offering its lobster at the Wednesday Smartmarket Farmers Market on Wednesdays.
The trucks will be at the Reston Station plaza on the North side of the Weihle-Reston East Silver Line Station from 4 to 7 p.m. all three days.
Now that Metro’s Silver Line is open, what else will open around it at Wiehle-Reston East? That will be the subject of a program at Reston Community Center Lake Anne Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Reston Museum and Historic Trust is sponsoring a panel discussion on the future of the Reston Station neighborhood. Panelists include Chuck Veatch (the Charles A. Veatch Co.); Maggie Parker (Comstock Partners); Matt Valentini (The JBG Companies); and Heidi Merkel (Fairfax County Planning & Zoning).
While there are several residential buildings in the works, no retail has yet opened at or close to Wiehle-Reston East.
Comstock is planning to eventually have about 1 million square feet of residential, office, hotel and retail space at Reston Station, which sits on top of the 3,000-space parking garage at Wiehle-Reston East.
So far, only the 10,000-square-foot retail space is completed at Reston Station. No tenants have yet signed to open there, Parker says. Eventually, that space will the lobby of the hotel.
The BLVD Apartments at Reston Station are under construction. The 22-story, 450-unit building is expected to be completed next year.
Later this year or early next year, construction will begin on Veatch’s project, a 421-unit residential building to be constructed on the site of Reston Mini-Storage.
Reston Mini-Storage, at 11405 Sunset Hills Rd., as well as an adjacent commercial strip will close this fall to make way for the new building.
The Reston Station neighborhood is essentially being built from scratch. Up until 2011, the corridor along the Dulles Toll Road was zoned for industrial and commercial use, so no people lived in the neighborhood.
Those restrictions were lifted in order to ensure future development along Sunset Hills Road near Wiehle-Reston East was mixed use, high density and transit oriented.
Photo: BLVD Apartments at Reston Station under construction
Reston’s first Silver Line Metro station at Wiehle-Reston East opened on Saturday with much fanfare.
The mixed-use development at Reston Station, which sits atop the seven-level underground garage adjacent to the Metro station, is still a work in progress. Eventually, there will be more than 1 million square feet of office, hotel, retail and residential space, says Comstock, the developer of the project.
One part of Reston Station is ready to go though: the 10,000-square-foot retail building (which will eventually be the hotel lobby when it is constructed).
What do you thing would make a good business (or businesses, as it can be divided) there? What could the plaza really use as its first restaurant or store?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
Monday morning, we will see how if Reston is ready to be a transportation hub.
Metro’s Silver Line opened on Saturday to much fanfare, with state, local and national stakeholders thanking each other for a long (20+ years including a six-month opening delay) and expensive ($2.9 billion, not including a $150 million overage) job well done.
In case you missed Reston Now’s weekend coverage:
Silver Line Opens New Era For Reston
You Said It: Social Media Roundup of Silver Line Opening Day
Now the real work begins, as commuters who previously drove downtown or to the Vienna Metro Station or boarded Fairfax Connector buses to the Orange Line Station at East Falls Church will instead flock to Wiehle-Reston East to board the train.
Will Reston’s roads be able to handle more drivers? Will newbies to Wiehle-Reston East be able to swiftly enter and exit the parking garage? These are some of the many questions that will be answered as weekdays unfold.
The good news is that late July and into August are generally light traffic days, with many commuters on vacation or working a more flexible schedule. The real impact may not be known until September.
If you are planning to take the Silver Line to Tysons Corner, Arlington, D.C. or other points Monday, here are some things to know:
- Metro opens at 5 a.m. Monday.
- Allow extra time. You haven’t figured out your routine yet and neither have the other commuters.
- If you are taking a Fairfax Connector bus to the station, double check your route on the Connector website.
Fares:
- Peak SmarTrip fares (weekdays from opening to 9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. and weekends midnight to closing):
- $2.15 minimum, plus a $1 surcharge if a paper Farecard is used; $5.90 maximum, plus a $1 surcharge if a paper Farecard is used.
- Off-peak SmarTrip fares (all other times): $1.75 minimum, plus a $1 surcharge if a paper Farecard is used; $3.60 maximum, plus a $1 surcharge if a paper Farecard is used.
- It is easier to buy a plastic SmarTrip card. You will need to reload it less often and will save the surcharge.
Parking: Wiehle-Reston East’s garage has 3,300 parking spots. The majority are owned by Fairfax County. About 1,000 or so are ParkX, owned by developer Comstock.
If you are coming down Reston Station Avenue from Wiehle Avenue, the first left into the garage will take you to two places: private ParkX and public Fairfax County parking.
There are 1,000 spots. Daily rates are $4.85 (or $4.75 if you use Colonial’s prepaid debit card. ParkX also offers monthly reserved parking: Gold, $105 (will be $155 after Oct. 1 ); Platinum, $145 ($195 after Oct. 1). Both include daily rate.
Platinum parking features assigned spots. Gold features assigned spots if you get there prior to 10 a.m.
The ParkX lot does not feature free weekend parking. Payment is cash, credit or debit card.
The 2,300-space county lot is the second left off of Reston Station Boulevard. There are several entrance/exit gates, so entry here may go quicker during rush hour.
Parking is $4.85 a day weekdays; free on weekends. Payment is by credit card or SmarTrip card.
Monthly reserved parking is $65. This does not include daily parking fee. There is no assigned parking.
This lot is also where Kiss-and-Ride and bus drop-off will be located.
Park and Ride Lot
The 270-space, VDOT-owned Park-and-Ride lot on Sunset Hills Road near the station will remain open. That lot is free, but is likely to fill up quickly.
Walking and Biking
There is pedestrian access to the station from both the South and North sides of the Dulles Toll Road. There is a secure bicycle parking area for 200 bicycles.
Ready to commute by Silver Line? Share your strategy with your neighbors in the comments below. And be sure to send (n[email protected]), Facebook or Tweet your Monday Silver Line experiences to us.
A little over three years ago, Reston founder Bob Simon and local elected officials moved shovels of ceremonial dirt in the rain near the Dulles Toll Road and talked about big things to come.
The VIPs hailed the public-private partnership of Fairfax County and Comstock, who were teaming together to build the $90 million, seven-level underground parking garage. Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins said at that time Reston Station could be considered “Reston’s sixth village center,” alluding to Reston founder Robert E. Simon’s original vision that Reston be built as a walkable community centered around village centers.
“I hope we will measure up to the standards of Robert Simon for people to live, work and play here,” Hudgins said at the groundbreaking. “This is truly a significant part of Reston’s history, the [Dulles] corridor’s history and Fairfax County’s history. This changes Fairfax County from a bedroom community to a transit-oriented community.”
Since that afternoon in April 2011, the site has gone from giant hole in the ground to the framework of a 1.5 million square foot transit-oriented development.
When Metro riders disembark at Wiehle-Reston East, they will see a pedestrian plaza that planners envision as being home to civic and community events. The plaza features public art — giant spires of orange-red cords called “Dancing Reed’s by artist Don Hoover — as well as landscaping and seating.
But some of Reston Station remains a work in progress. Comstock officials said earlier in the building process that only the garage was expected to be open when the Metro station opened. Some of the larger projects will not start until they have a major leaseholder to help pay for the cost, a Comstock spokesman said.
Here is a look at what is finished, what is under construction and what is planned for the future at Wiehle Avenue, Sunset Hills Road and Reston Station Boulevard.
Completed:
Parking garage — the garage features 2,300 public parking spaces as well as 1,000 private spaces owned by Comstock. Parking is $4.85 weekdays; free on weekends. Reserved monthly parking is available. The parking garage also features a 200-space indoor bike room. Reserved bicycle parking is also available for $60 a year.
Retail space — there is a retail center on the plaza that is complete but has no tenants yet. It is currently being used for special events. There is also street-level retail on Reston Station Boulevard.
Under construction:
BLVD Apartments — the 450-unit luxury high rise is being built on the plaza. The first residents are expected to move in next year. Pricing information is not yet available.
To be built:
Office space: Comstock is planning for two office towers. One will be 375,000 square feet of office and 15,000 square feet of retail. The other will be 250,000 square feet of office and 15,000 square feet of retail. A third building is planned for office, retail and health club, size to be determined.
Hotel: A 200-room hotel is planned for the plaza. The current retail center will eventually be the hotel lobby.
Comstock has secured nearly $100 million in additional financing for construction of the 21-story luxury BLVD Apartments.
The BLVD apartments are currently under construction at Comstock’s Reston Station, located above the seven-level underground parking garage adjacent to the Wiehle-Reston East Silver Line Metro Station.
Comstock will get a $95 million, 48-month construction loan from Citizen Bank, Virginia Business reports.
The $900 million parking garage was built by a public-private partnership between Comstock and Fairfax County. It is the only parking among the five Silver Line stations in Tysons Corner and Reston. The Silver Line opens Saturday.
The county and Comstock agreed earlier this year that Comstock will pay the county $2.9 million annually in rent. Eventually, the plaza will be home to office, hotel and retail space as well.
Photo: BLVD apartments under construction at Reston Station/file photo
Reston’s future as a transit-oriented community officially gets started next week, when the first Silver Line Metro train departs from the Wiehle-Reston East station.
But for Restonians and other nearby residents, accessing the station is nearly important as the riding the trains. Visitors got a look on Saturday at where the bikes will go, where the buses will drop off and depart, and other logistics at a Fairfax County open house.
Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, who was one of many local dignitaries who worked for many years to get rail to Reston, says the seven-level, 3,300-space garage and Comstock’s mixed-use development above it is a great example of a public-private partnership that will benefit the entire community.
The county and Comstock teamed to build the $90 million parking structure, which will feature a bicycle repair room, parking for 200 bikes and 10 bus bays. It is the only station on the five-stop, 11-mile Silver Line Phase 1 that features parking. Wiehle-Reston East will be the end of the Silver Line for at least five years, when Phase 2 will take passengers to Reston Parkway, Herndon, Dulles International Airport and Loudoun County.
Hudgins says she hopes residents will look at the many ways to access the Metro station.
“Yes, we are celebrating the garage,” she said prior to a ceremonial ribbon cutting. “But we want our neighbors to get out of their cars and get on Metro. “A lot of folks can ride their bikes here if they chose. We’ve improved bus services.”
Representatives from Fairfax Connector, Fairfax Advocates for Better Biking, Metro, Washington Flyer and other transportation-related groups were on hand to answer questions from potential Metro users. On the plaza above the garage, visitors could check out the construction of Comstock’s BLVD apartments.
Some of the open house visitors were making plans on how Metro will fit into their lives on a daily basis. Others said they plan to take it occasionally to get into D.C.
Bob Whiteman of Oak Hill said he moved to Reston in 1980, and even then his Realtor told him “a train to Dulles would be here in five years.”
“I believed [rail] would never happen,” he said. But now that he is two years from retirement, the federal employee said he will most likely stick to his usual commute.
“It is actually cheaper to carpool downtown and pay for parking,” he said.”But I will take Metro at some point, like during a snowstorm.”
Denver Lovett, a retiree who has lived in Reston since 1974, said he is looking forward to the convenience on a lot of levels.
“I won’t have to drive to the Vienna Metro at Nutley,” he said. “When my daughter comes to visit from New York, she can just ride Metro here from downtown. It is going to make the trip so much better. Hopefully traffic around the station won’t be too bad.”
The garage officially opens on Saturday, July 26, the same day as Silver Line trains start running. Parking at Wiehle-Reston East will be $4.85 a day; $65 a month for reserved parking. Spaces in the bike room will be $65 annually (with a $10 charge for the key fob). For more details, read this previous Reston Now story.
Metro’s Silver Line opens in 11 days, but before you can take the train you have to get to the train.
Fairfax County is holding an open house Saturday to show potential Metro riders their access and parking options.
There will be a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can tour the transportation center and talk to representatives from Metro, Dulles Corridor Rail Project and Fairfax Connector.
When Phase 1 of the Silver Line opens July 26, Wiehle-Reston East will be the only onsite parking garage at the five new Metro stations in Phase 1.
- 3,300 public parking spaces (eventually there will be fewer when office space at Reston Station is leased)
- 45 “Kiss and Ride” spaces
- 10 bus bays on the north side, 5 on the south
- A secure locker room for over 200 bicycles.
The garage was built as a public- private partnership by Comstock and Fairfax County. The county owns the commuter garage, and Metro will collect parking fees. The rates will be the same as at other Metro garages in the county:
- $4.85 per day
- $65 a month for reserved parking
- $75 a year for using the secure bike room. The $75 fee includes a one-time $15 registration fee and $60 for the first year’s annual membership.
The bike room is the first of its kind for Fairfax County. There will be both vertical and regular parking, as well as room for oversized bikes or bikes with trailers. It features two fully-equipped “fix-it” stations with pumps and tools and a work bench for bike repairs. Additional bike parking is also available for non-members.
The bus station at Wiehle-Reston East features 10 bus bays on the north side of the Toll Road, and five bus bays on the south side of the Toll Road. In addition to Fairfax Connector service, Washington Flyer will operate its Silver Line Express from the north side, and Loudoun County Transit will operate bus service from the south side.
A Connector Store is located on the north side bus platform, where passengers can purchase fare cards, speak to a customer service representative, and find maps, timetables and information.
The current commuter lot, Sunset Hills Interim Park and Ride, will permanently close at midnight on July 25. The 600-space lot at the intersection of Sunset Hills Road and Town Center Parkway was temporary parking while Wiehle was under construction.
Fairfax Connector has also changed its bus routes in order to serve the Silver Line. There will be 16 new routes, changes to 28 existing routes and five routes will be eliminated. The new routes go into effect July 26.
Also coming soon at Reston Station: BLVD apartments (currently under construction), as well as retail, restaurants, office space and a hotel. No tenants have been announced.
Photo: Bike room window at Reston Station garage
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved on Tuesday on an agreement between Comstock Partners and Fairfax County that determines what the developer will pay the county annual for the right to occupy Reston Station. Comstock and the county have tentatively agreed on a $2.9 million annual base rent, according to the Washington Business Journal.
Comstock and the county teamed up years ago to construct the seven-level underground garage at the Metro’s Wiehle-Reston East station. The garage is essentially completed, and Metro is in the testing phase for the Silver Line. No opening date for the Metro has been officially set, but it is expected to open sometime in the next several months.
In its agreement with Fairfax County, Comstock agreed to construct the Wiehle Avenue Metro station parking garage in return for the right to build mixed-use Reston Station above it.
Comstock covered 23 percent of the $90 million garage cost, according to the Washington Business Journal. It also agreed at the time to pay Fairfax $250,000 a year in rent until the Silver Line has operated for one year. At that point, the rent would reset to an “annual amount equal to a set percentage of fair market value.”
The rent figure wasn’t supposed to be determined until later this year. But Comstock wants to get going on the 450-unit, 22-story luxury residential tower — called the BLVD Apartments — soon. The giant crane necessary for construction has already been delivered to the site. Part of the agreement says that Comstock will begin construction by June 1.
Reston Station is also planned to include two office buildings, a hotel, and retail. No leases have been signed yet, says Comstock spokeswoman Maggie Parker, who adds that the office buildings and hotel won’t be constructed until major tenants who can help cover costs are in place.
“The project is phased,” she says. “All five buildings can’t be built at the same time.”
Want to reserve your place at Reston Station? You can now make reservations for dedicated parking spots.
As reported earlier on Reston Now, the seven-story garage adjacent to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station will have reserved parking for both bicycles and cars.
Wiehle-Reston East will be the end of the Silver Line Phase I when it opens in 2014. The parking garage, a public-private partnership between Comstock and Fairfax County, will have space for about 3,000 cars.
The garage will also feature Fairfax County’s first enclosed, secure bicycle parking facility with a capacity for over 200 bicycles. There will also be unsecured (free) parking as well as a space reserved for a future bikesharing station.
In July, the Board of Supervisors approved various rates for garage, inclduing a $75 annual bike room membership. This includes a one-time fee of $15.00 (non-refundable) for the access key fob. But the early bird rate of $45 (or $75 for two years) is now available if you sign up by March 1.
Get more details and follow the registration link on the Fairfax County website.
The county, in partnership with LAZ Parking, is also now taking reservations for reserved auto parking for $65 a month. Visit this LAZ form to register.
Find out about additional premium parking options in this Reston Now article.
Are you pretty sure you will be parking daily at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop when it opens in a few months?
Then get on board now with Comstock’s private spaces at Reston Station.
Comstock, which is constructing Reston Station and the seven-story parking garage (in partnership with Fairfax County) has extra spots available at the garage, which will feature 2,300 public parking spots. The private spots will eventually become dedicated parking when future office buildings are constructed, Comstcok spokeswoman Maggie Parker said.
Here are your parking options:
Platinum Reserved: Reserved and numbered space available 24 hours a day, Monday-Fridaay for $195 per month.
Gold Reserved: Guaranteed reserved parking space between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday-Friday; Promotional offer, $95 per month. The $65 per month Gold reserved fee is being waived for March and April 2014.
Prepaid Debit Card: Discounted daily parking with swipe in and out of garage — $4.50 per day. A rechargeable debit card is purchased and preloaded with a minimum of $35.00 of value. Debit cards are re-loadable at on-site kiosks or online.
Regular garage rates, as set by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, will be $4.75 a day or $65 a month.
The Silver Line, which will run from Tysons Corner to Wiehle Avenue, is expected to open in early 2014. No official opening date has been set.
Interested in signing up? Call 703-230-1985.
