Fairfax Station Connection

In a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, Supervisor Rodney Lusk and other county government service leaders welcomed the community to the new Franconia District Governmental Center, now housing many county services. Event planners, apparently surprised by the turn-out, held the ceremony in a cordoned section of the ample building lobby, forcing many to remain outside the doors. After waiting for the ceremony to end, all were able to enter and tour the new building. After remarks by Supervisor Lusk, Board Chairman Jeff McKay, and county department heads, the event celebrated the new service center with music; an art exhibit, contest, and raffle, and other events throughout the new multi-purpose building.

Fairfax County has employed the money saving and reduced environmental impact concept of housing

multiple government services under one roof in other districts. Franconia takes the idea one step further by including the Franconia Museum. The center, constructed on a county-owned vacant site between Beulah Street and Silver Lake Blvd, houses the Franconia District Supervisor’s office, Kingstowne Library, Active Adult Center, and the Franconia District Police Station, in addition to the museum. The fire station remains at its current location.

The new two-story facility is approximately 90,000 square feet and offers significantly more parking than was available for services at the buildings it replaces. Space includes the 28,000 square-foot police station; 4,200 square-foot supervisor’s office; 7,200 square feet for the Active Adult Center; with a new Childcare Center offering care for infants to pre-kindergarten children with 10,000 square feet. The Kingstowne Library, sited on the second floor, upgrades from community to regional library status, with increased service offerings, occupying 30,000 square feet. The Franconia Museum is located off the lobby with about the same footprint, but upgraded and modernized displays. 

The event also provided the opportunity to share long-term plans for district development with community members. Several proposed plans were on display in a separate meeting room with staff available to answer questions and take suggestions.  Separately, Supervisor Lusk shared work being done in the near term to transform blighted buildings and create more job and housing opportunities. Lusk praised the work of the WISH Center (Workforce Innovation Skills Hub) in preparing those in the community for future jobs, including those linked to the redevelopment work. The audience held its collective breath as Lusk, who has often spoken fondly of his grandmother, struggled to speak while relating her emphasis on education and what it had meant to his life. He credits her with instilling the importance he places on WISH and other education efforts today.

The library and the community meeting rooms are arguably the brightest jewels of the facility, with glass walls and windows adding to the feeling of ease and space. The library’s upgrade to regional library status, means extension of service to a seven day operation, according to remarks made by county library director Eric Carzon. He noted the library’s book inventory has expanded to 55,000 with the additional space. Supervisor Lusk noted the considerable meeting space which will be available for reservation.

Thought given to the outdoor area around the facility is evident in the walking and sitting areas; with bike storage, and a playground. Its outdoor space may be well utilized if the number of people who walked to the event from their neighborhoods is an indication. 

New plantings of tall cedars and other plants add to the feeling of ease. Dedicated entrances to the police station for law enforcement and the public separate the police functions housed under the same roof. 

Franconia Museum board of directors vice-president Donald Hakenson, may have best captured the spirit of the event while admitting “some people think I get fired up.” In remarks before the ribbon cutting, he said, “As a local boy, [listing local schools he attended], I am extremely proud to be here today, I love this building!”  

The project was authorized in the 2015 Public Safety Bond and the 2020 Library Bond referendums; and included in the FY 2024 - FY 2028 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP); with funding at $63.7 million. The final cost of the new center is $73,486,513. The project construction replaces the leased space of the small and outdated Kingstowne Library and Active Adult Center, with its limited parking and maintenance issues; including grease leaking from the overhead barbecue restaurant.  The Franconia District office and police station also were deemed undersized for their needs, with limited parking and outdated mechanical and structural systems.