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The developer with a capital D has been an important element in the evolution of Reston. In fact, the name of the community comes from the initials of the founding developer. Comments regarding the future of the community are generally framed in the context of quotes from the Developer. When control of Reston shifted from Mr. Simon to Gulf Oil, this precipitated the formation of the Reston Community Association, in order to monitor the efforts of the Developer.
Golf Oil’s successor Mobil Oil would conduct show-and-tell programs to advise the community of future plans. This tradition was continued by Mobil Oil’s successor, Terrabrook. Each event was covered by the newspapers, as if these large owners were the only ones in control of the land in Reston. The Reston Directory even had a section identifying the phone numbers for the components of the “Developer.” Concerns about various problems in the community generated comments such as, “Why doesn’t the developer do something? Can we get the developer to help?” These comments frequently generated a response from the larger landowners, but since the transfer of ownership from Robert Simon, there was never a developer but rather multiple owners.
There was one significant landowner that has had a very large interest in Reston throughout many of the land sales: the Mark Winkler Company participated in the purchase of assets when Reston Land made its initial sale of the original Reston properties. These included the community’s most visually dominant structure, the International Center; Fairway Apartments; portions of Lake Anne; Hunters Woods and Tall Oaks Shopping centers; Isaac Newton Square; and various parcels throughout the community. The announcement on January 28, 2006, in The Washington Post that Winkler has agreed to sell all of its Reston holdings marks another major transfer of land control.
A major purchaser, JBG Investment Fund, now becomes an important player. It will control most of the land in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of the Toll Road and Reston Parkway a projected station area for the metro expansion, which includes both the International Center and the adjoining Sheraton Inn, and Conference Center. They will also own Fairway Apartments, a large rental complex moderately priced. It is within walking distance of the Lake Anne Village center.
JBG’s control of land around the Toll Road-Reston Parkway intersection should mean major involvement in the design of the Reston Parkway metro stop. Similarly, their Lake Anne area interests could make them a participant in the on-going Lake Anne revitalization.
The Mark Winkler Companies have been a good steward and supported the community. JBG has made a very large investment in Reston and its future. It has a great opportunity to help its investment and the community to improve and prosper.
Other developers with a major stake in Reston include: KSI, involved in the Town Center and with an interest in Lake Anne; Boston Properties who acquired most of Terrabrook’s interests; Equity Properties who operate the Reston Town Center; Learner Company, controlling the Spectrum and North Point Village Center; and Atlantic Realty which operates Hunters Woods Center, Tall Oaks and Plaza America. Each of these developers contributes to the balance and quality of the community. The remaining Winkler interest Crescent apartments will be acquired by Fairfax County.
Not withstanding the importance given to developers in a community, the largest control and beneficiaries are the individual property owners and businesses that have purchased land from the developers. Together, we all contribute to the quality of the future.
Control and responsibility for the future of Reston is shared by many entities, large and small, requiring a partnership to establish a collective vision for the future. Who is in charge? We are. And now our government, Fairfax County, has taken a major position in the ownership and control of Reston as landowners and possible developers. Fairfax County now has a broader role in the revitalization planning of Lake Anne. This property has an important position in the revitalization planning for the Lake Anne Village Center. The Crescent Apartments complex contains a number of moderately priced rental units, important to preserving the economic diversity of Reston. There is sufficient land on this parcel to add new development income-producing and developing properties that could help reduce the rents in the remaining apartments and contribute subsidy to the project. This represents a significant financial investment in Reston. The county becomes a bigger player in the revitalization of the Lake Anne Village center by its ownership of the adjacent Crescent Apartments. Developers build buildings and sell land residents build communities.
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