DESCRIPTION
The Hill, a Davies Family LLC, and Paradigm Companies submitted a proposal to the City of Fairfax in early December 2024 to build 276 apartments and 423 parking spaces in two apartment buildings on the 2.69 acre lot at 4131 Chain Bridge Road in the City of Fairfax. Paradigm states in its April 2025 updated Proffers document that "it shall have the ability to modify the final unit count (up to 276) and mix at time of site plan, provided that such modification shall not apply to more than ten percent (10%) of the total number of units."
Overview:
Building A is a five-story building facing Chain Bridge Road consisting of 114 units with 6,319 square feet of retail and approximately 4,188 square feet of office on the ground floor level fronting on Chain Bridge Road. This building has separate entrances for retail, office (co-work) and residential units. (In the April 2025 submission, Paradigm states the proposal will have 10,986 square feet of "non-residential" space in the two buildings, which is very close in number to the total of the retail and office space previously stated).
Building B is a four-story facing University Drive and that steps up to five stories at a distance of 70 feet from the front of the property. Building B consists of 162 units, a courtyard with a pool area and amenities, and a residential lobby and leasing area in the SE corner fronting on University Drive.
The two apartment buildings combined will have 30 studio apartments, 157 one-bedroom apartments, and 89 two-bedroom apartments. 17 of the apartments will be designated Affordable Dwelling Units to reach the City-mandated target of 6%.
The complex will have 423 parking spaces in below-grade parking (400 spaces for residents, 16 dedicated parking spaces for retail, and 7 spaces for office patrons).
The complex will have 102.6 dwelling units per acre. When compared to other recent or proposed developments, it is matched only by the Christopher proposal at 102 dwelling units per acres, and has over twice the density of City Center West, 44.3; Capstone Collegiate, 44.7; Fairfield at Gateway, 48.4; and Scout at the Circle, 46.
The key access feature for Building A and B is the Private Road (also called the Internal Drive Way, the Access Drive, or the Private Drive) on the northern side of the property. The Private Road is Right-In and Right-Out for vehicles. It has a sidewalk with a roll-over curb on its southern side.
Access to the underground garage is through the 24’ wide garage door entering from the north side of Building B from the Private Road. All traffic to the parking garage has to use that one entrance and ramp.
The proposed lot coverage is approximately 86% (52% building coverage). At the City Council work session on 28 Jan 25, Paradigm announced they had upgraded their initial tree canopy coverage from 5.64% of the property to 10% by following recommendations from the City's Urban Forester to increase the soil volume of the planters for the proposed tree plantings. This means they will now reach the zoning requirement of 10% tree canopy.
Applicant is proposing a Greenway or public pedestrian path (alley) to run north south and through the center of the property to accord with the Small Area Plan. The proposed Greenway is 43 feet in width with a mix of plantings on both sides of the path between Building A and Building B. The Greenway is not a "road" and the decision has been made with input from the City Fire Marshal, according to Paradigm's comments during the City Council work session on 28 Jan 25, that it will not be used by City emergency vehicles, unlike previously discussed. Trash dumpsters from the buildings are kept in two rooms, one on each side of the Greenway at its northern end.
The two buildings will be predominately brick or cementitious panels, and may also include stone, and/or metal paneling. Utilities on top of the buildings will be blocked from viewing by parapets around the outside edge of the buildings.
The Applicant proposes to install Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in the parking garage to accommodate a minimum of twenty (20) designated electric vehicle parking spaces.
Note on improvements over the previous proposal from Perseus: Paradigm's proposal in December 2024 incorporated numerous improvements suggested by City Staff and the public compared to the previous proposal by Perseus. The current Paradigm proposal has 22% fewer apartments (276 vice 355), a more traditional appearance in its choice of windows and sidings, and lower overall height. The southern walls of the buildings now have brick siding and windows instead of a windowless wall with a mural. The southern side is now set back from the property line to a distance varying from 12’7” to 16’6”.
