Falls Church seeks consultants to shape Virginia Village redevelopment RFP

Falls Church staff told council they will solicit a short, targeted contract for real-estate and finance advisory services to prepare and test options for Virginia Village before issuing a broader developer RFP.

Planning and housing staff outlined a staged plan: retain advisors in May, finalize an RFP draft in June, run a selection committee evaluation in July–August, and return recommendations to council. The consultants would examine options including preservation, renovation, expansion, and mixed‑use redevelopment and produce financial feasibility analyses and procurement materials.

Why it matters: Virginia Village is a long‑discussed site with competing community goals — preserving green space, sustaining existing affordable units, and meeting city housing objectives. Staff said outside advisors will give the city an objective baseline (costs, financing models and realistic development scenarios) and act as an owner’s‑representative resource when reviewing developer proposals.

Budget and timeline: Staff proposed using the Virginia Village rental-reserve fund to pay for the advisory engagement (staff estimated a contract ceiling in the mid-six‑figures). Council members asked staff to make the RFP and the selection criteria explicitly reference the small-area planning work and prior community input so proposers understand the city’s priorities.

What happens next: The procurement item was slated for council action next week; staff said the fund used for the contract is expected to replenish from rental income. Planning staff cautioned that the consultants’ work is likely the first phase and additional professional services or negotiating costs may follow during later stages of project development.