General
Why is George Mason embarking on this project?
This effort builds on recommendations from the 2021 University Master Plan to expand George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, bringing new athletic facilities to the western area of campus and increasing housing capacity. This project aims to establish a cohesive mixed-use district comprised of vibrant activity hubs to foster a collective experience that reinforces the Patriot identity and fosters community building.
Where is the proposed project located?
The proposed project is located on the area of property owned by George Mason University adjacent to its Main Campus in Fairfax County, VA. The site, which currently houses several George Mason athletics and recreation facilities including its baseball stadium (Spuhler Field), field house, softball complex, tennis courts, and multiple practice fields, is bounded by Braddock Road to the south, University Drive to the north, Route 123 / Ox Road to the east, and Andes Drive to the west.
What will be included in the project?
Proposed program components for this area of development include collegiate and professional sports venues; collegiate and performance/sport training facilities; recreation facilities; retail; public open space; parking; and student, faculty/staff/workforce, and multifamily housing. Conversations with the campus community, surrounding jurisdictions and public entities, and local businesses and residents of surrounding Fairfax neighborhoods will help inform decisions around the conceptual site plan. Any such plans will ultimately be further refined through conversations with a designer or, as appropriate, developer partner(s) following a procurement process.
Where is Mason in the process?
Beginning in November 2022, George Mason began engaging consultants to explore the potential for new mixed-use development on the Fairfax Campus. The consultant team conducted extensive interviews with university departments as well as City of Fairfax and Fairfax County government and community organizations, performed a multi-asset market analysis, and conducted developer market sounding to understand the feasibility of constructing various assets in concept. The project is in the stages of program and concept refinement, and George Mason plans to continue soliciting input from community members to understand what they would like to see incorporated into the concept. The University is also in the process of determining a preferred delivery method but anticipates that the project might involve procurement of one or more private developers to refine and execute the vision.
Housing and Residential Life
How much new on-campus housing could be created through this project?
The planning process to date envisions 2,000 new beds for students in the central area of campus as well as 300 townhomes and apartments for Mason faculty/staff/workforce and more than 1,500 multifamily units in the western area of campus. However, the consultant team has conducted a housing demand assessment to generate more accurate counts by distributing a survey to gauge student and faculty/staff interest at the Fairfax Campus.
Will this project raise students’ on-campus housing costs?
George Mason understands the concerns around potential financial impacts to students and is committed to ensuring that student housing remains affordable. As part of the planning process, the consultant team has conducted a housing demand assessment for the Fairfax Campus to gauge students’ price sensitivity and interest in particular unit layouts. In addition, George Mason is committed to working with the consultant team to identify mechanisms that will allow the University to continue to set on-campus housing prices below market rate.
Who will be eligible for the faculty/staff/workforce housing?
While the workforce housing being considered for this development is intended primarily for full-time George Mason faculty and staff and their families, a portion of units will be allocated for Fairfax County residents who meet the County’s workforce housing eligibility requirements.
Parking and Transportation
How will the project address the need for additional parking associated with campus development?
The conceptual site plan currently anticipates more than 3,600 surface and structured parking spaces, including replacement parking as well as new garages, in the western area of campus to ensure sufficient capacity for athletic venues and additional residents and visitors. The consultant team is also conducting a parking assessment to understand current utilization and confirm future parking needs based on anticipated demand resulting from new development.
Project Funding
How will the project be funded?
A range of development options are being considered, including various public-private partnership (P3) structures
Community
How will the project benefit nearby residents?
By bringing to the Fairfax Campus world-class athletic and recreational venues and other exciting offerings currently unavailable nearby, the project is envisioned as a new activity hub that will not only improve the campus experience for students, faculty, and staff, but also bring additional amenities for Fairfax residents to enjoy. George Mason hopes that the project will strengthen the University’s ability to serve as a resource and point of pride for surrounding communities. Furthermore, the project may include mixed use components that add vibrant new amenities and open space to the region.
What will be done to mitigate negative impacts to surrounding communities?
George Mason has begun identifying key concerns surfaced during the University’s engagements to date and intends to pursue several studies to address concerns related to traffic, sound, and light. More details on how these issues will be addressed will be shared during the planning process. The University also encourages community members’ attendance and comments at upcoming events along with input via the project website.
How will this development affect traffic in the community?
The consultant team’s 2023 preliminary traffic impact analysis focused on traffic on Ox and Braddock Roads along with the key intersections of Ox Road at University Drive, Braddock Road at Ox Road, and Braddock Road at Campus Drive. The team compared estimates for current operating service conditions during the 5 pm peak evening rush hour with anticipated conditions on both a typical day and a “max event day” scenario to understand potential impacts of the proposed program on vehicular traffic. The analysis determined that any additional development on the western portion of campus will exacerbate the poor conditions (i.e., restricted traffic flow and increased delays) already experienced on surrounding roads due to insufficient capacity. The team recommended a more in-depth study incorporating additional considerations such as pedestrian traffic and traffic associated with EagleBank Arena events, as well as potential mitigation strategies including a traffic management plan for event days and new entry points that would expand access to Braddock Road. The University will also continue to work with Fairfax County and the VA Department of Transportation to increase roadway capacity. Initial studies excluded the Braddock Dr intersection from the analysis due to lack of available information. These studies will be refined and enhanced as part of our ongoing planning studies.
Will this development include pedestrian improvements around University Drive and Route 123?
Although Fairfax County is responsible for managing improvements to University Drive and Route 123, George Mason will continue to maintain dialogue with the County and the recently formed County task force to support broader efforts to enhance pedestrian safety around campus.
Will we lose green space on campus?
George Mason is committed to acting as a good steward and using capital resources to preserve and enhance its natural ecology wherever possible. In 2023 the University commissioned an ecological assessment to identify bio habitats / wetlands in the western area of the Fairfax campus and ensure that we are aware of environmentally protected areas. In addition, the planned “necklace trail” envisioned as part of the 2021 Master Plan will expand into the western area of campus, and sustainability and conservation of forested areas will continue to be considered in all planning activities. Please refer to the Master Plan Phase Two Report for more information about the planned necklace trail and George Mason’s commitment to embracing environmental stewardship.
Feedback
How can I provide feedback or learn more?
Please fill out the form below to receive updates, submit questions, or share comments about the project.
Feedback Form
In addition to relying on the input gathered to date from the George Mason community, City and County departments, and local residents, the University views continued solicitation of feedback central to the process and is preparing to conduct outreach in the form of community forums.