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A cluster of public buildings and parking lots in Mount Vernon could be reimagined as a more walkable civic hub under a new placemaking effort aimed at modernizing the community.
Supervisor Dan Storck convened planners and residents Monday, June 23, to discuss two blocks near Sherwood Hall and Parkers Lane. The area is bordered by Mount Vernon Hospital, police and fire facilities, Storck’s office, Walt Whitman Middle School and Sherwood Regional Library.
Although the neighborhood contains several essential public facilities, it has fewer gathering spaces and walkable streetscapes than communities such as Kingstowne and Reston. The planning effort will explore ways to create a more vibrant and inclusive center where public services and community connections come together.
The project aligns with Embark Richmond Highway, a broader initiative Storck has pursued in recent years. Participants included Tiya Raju and Jun Li of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, along with engineers from Grimm Parker Architects and LandDesign.
Storck said residents’ interest in the community’s future was inspiring. He noted that the governmental center, library, police station and fire station have served the Mount Vernon District for years, but said the site now offers an opportunity for a new kind of civic space.
The Mount Vernon plan is part of a countywide push to modernize and consolidate public facilities while making land available for uses such as public space. A similar project nearing completion in the Franconia District will place Supervisor Rodney Lusk’s office, police facilities and a new library in one building.
Grimm Parker Architects also redesigned the West Springfield Governmental Center, which includes police and fire facilities and Supervisor Pat Herrity’s office.
Officials are asking residents to help guide the Mount Vernon project through a community questionnaire. The survey will remain open through July 22, after which the planning process will advance to its next stage.