The Observer Newspapers |

July 25 , 2008

Building of Nature Preserve to Begin

By Jackie Allder

Observer Staff Writer

In the coming months, area residents will have a new park, complete with walking paths and a butterfly garden, to visit as Carbon Thompson Development Company and the Launders Charitable Trust celebrated the groundbreaking of Arrowbrook Centre Wetlands Nature Preserve on Wednesday morning.

"This is a grand day, one that I thought at times would never arrive," said Jeff Fairfield, an attorney representing the Launders Charitable Trust. Fairfield said he has been working on the project for more than 10 years.

The nature preserve is part of the overall Arrowbrook Centre development, which will feature more than 1.1 million square feet of retail, residential and office space, as well as soccer fields and tennis and basketball courts. Jim Mertz, principal with Carbon Thompson, described the project, which will be located near the intersection of Sunrise Valley Drive and Centreville Road just south of the Town of Herndon, as a "mini Reston Town Center."

Mertz said the wetlands nature preserve doubles as the site's storm-water management system. It also will feature more than a dozen parking spaces for visitors. "It's really an educational facility, as well as being an engineering facility," said Andrew Gutowski, project manager with Carbon Thompson.

Hunter Mill district Supervisor Cathy Hudgins said the nature preserve keeps with the "mission of Fairfax County" in its efforts to be environmental stewards. "This particular piece is exceptionally pleasing to us," Hudgins said about the Arrowbrook project.

The wetlands portion of the project should be completed in about six months, and Mertz said construction on the nearby soccer fields and courts should begin by the end of the year. "It will be a well-used facility," Mertz said, explaining that the soccer courts would be made of synthetic turf and would include lighting.

The parks will be given to the Fairfax County Park Authority upon completion, Mertz said. "This just adds to the quality of life in Fairfax County," said Bill Bouie, vice chairman of the park authority board.

In addition to the parkland, Arrowbrook Centre will contain 407 residential units, 160,000 square feet of retail space and 422,000 square feet of office space, Mertz said. Construction on that portion of the project should last between 18 to 36 months and should begin in summer 2009, he said.

Merrybrook, the historic home of Confederate spy Laura Ratcliffe, is located on the Arrowbrook Centre property, and the developers will leave the home intact and the area surrounding the house as natural as possible, according to Kurt Jones, engineer with Carbon Thompson.