Economic-development groups in Tysons and along Route 1 serve different constituencies, but are using similar techniques to foster “placemaking” and business growth.
Both groups hope murals and sculptures, attractive public parks and gathering spaces, themed events, and coordinated site developments will bolster their areas’ success.
Leaders of the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) and Southeast Fairfax Development Corp. (SFDC) discussed their methods and goals at the June 18 meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ economic-initiatives committee.
TCA, which evolved out of the former Tysons Partnership, taps into an underused economic-development resource – people, said CEO Katie Cristol, a former Arlington County Board member who left elected office in mid-2023 to take the position in Tysons.
Fiscal 2024, TCA’s inaugural year, was spent making connections, Cristol said. During fiscal 2025, the group aims to elevate Tysons’ brand, build a more visible sense of place and a connected community.
“Short-term wins are important, but deep impact takes time,” she said.
TCA approved a strategic plan in December 2023 that focuses on promoting Tysons’ identity, building a livable community, energizing a sense of place, enhancing mobility and encouraging a vital economy, said board chairman Josh White.
TCA conduced a Tysons market study last spring, formed six task groups made up of more than 80 stakeholders and did a community survey that received 831 responses from Tysons employees, visitors and residents, he said.
“Tysons is made stronger by everyone with a stake in its future,” White said.
Supervisor James Walkinshaw (D-Braddock) said creation of new housing in Tysons appeared to be falling short of the pace needed to achieve the comprehensive plan’s long-term goal of 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs by 2050.
“If we don’t meet the goals in Tysons, we won’t meet them for the region,” he said.
Housing growth slowed following the initial burst of activity after supervisors approved Tysons’ comprehensive plan in 2010, White said. Cristol called recent housing development in Tysons “encouraging,” with several projects coming down the pipeline soon.
Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (D-Dranesville), an ardent opponent of the proposed Tysons casino, noted that a gaming facility is not mentioned anywhere in the urban center’s plans. Bierman urged fellow supervisors to make TCA’s job easier by getting the casino off the table of possible options.
Down in Mount Vernon, SFDC is trying to enhance the community’s appearance, sense of place and economic prospects.
SFDC executive director Evan Kaufman showed slides depicting several redevelopment efforts along that corridor and noted how colorfully painted buildings can liven a community’s atmosphere and reduce crime.
A key challenge is to overcome the Route 1 area’s surfeit of surface parking and other “hardscape” elements that discourages drivers from stopping at local businesses.
With the Parklet Project, SFDC convinced Federal Realty to spend $400,000 and create a community-centered space at Mount Vernon Shopping Center. The goal was “to create a community feel within this sea of parking,” he said.
SFDC since has activated the space further with events, many of which are art-related. The organization also will keep pushing for large-scale murals in the corridor, Kaufman said.
“Being able to provide access to high-quality art, especially in lower-income and disadvantaged areas, is really impactful in bringing a sense of pride to these people and where they live,” he said.
SFDC forms relationships with property owners along Route 1, learning which ones would like help with revitalization and which want to depart.
“If they do want to sell, we can help to market or combine parcels to create opportunities for redevelopment,” Kaufman said.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay (D) said he hoped other parts of the county could benefit from the kind of support shown by TCA and SFDC.
“Two very different areas of the county have adopted similar philosophies and are seeing some success,” he said, adding, “The return on investment here is strong.”
