Public Works and Environmental Services Alert:
The Penn Daw redevelopment will consist of a new fire station, a modern emergency shelter with supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness, and approximately 30 units of service-enriched, supportive housing units for individuals and families. Neither the emergency shelter component nor the supportive housing units will serve sex offenders; both components will have 24-hour staff.
The response area for this fire station covers the northern section of the Richmond Highway corridor. Population growth, changing demographics and more residential and commercial development will increase the demand for emergency and non-emergency services.
The Penn Daw Fire Station was built in 1967 as a volunteer station and is one of the oldest and busiest in the county. It was expanded in the late 1980s to 15,700 square feet. The building houses the apparatus bays, offices, storage areas, mechanical rooms, men’s and women’s shower/locker rooms and bunks, a laundry room, an exercise room, a kitchen, and a hose tower with an upper level. The station is located on a 1.15-acre parcel on a residential cul-de-sac with significant challenges to expand or rebuild on the existing site.
The building systems have reached the end of their service life. The original plumbing fixtures do not meet county standards for water conservation, the emergency generator has significantly less capacity than generators at similarly sized stations, the lighting and HVAC systems are not energy efficient and are due for replacement. The apparatus bays are outdated and undersized with very low ceilings and are unable to house larger, heavier equipment. This station lacks adequate living quarters for female personnel and requires replacement of building systems that have far exceeded their intended life cycles.
As planning developed on the Penn Daw Fire Station, the Hybla Valley Nursery site became available and was found to be an advantageous location for the new fire station. The location on Beacon Hill Road allows first responders direct access to emergencies in the community and eliminates the need for construction of a temporary fire station. Due to the size of the property and ideal location along Route 1, an opportunity was realized to provide co-location of additional facilities.
An advisory committee was convened by Mount Vernon District Supervisor, Daniel G. Storck, that includes members from nearby communities, public safety representatives, faith community and affordable/emergency housing providers, the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Association, the Mount Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce, Fort Belvoir and county staff. The advisory committee worked with county staff on evaluating potential programs that could be co-located with the permanent, new Penn Daw Fire Station. The committee members acted as the liaison between the community, this project, and the supervisor’s office. See the Penn Daw Fire Station and Supportive Housing Committee Member List.
Committee meetings, links and presentation materials:
The county also hosted virtual and in-person community meetings.
Funding for the Eleanor Kennedy Shelter was approved along with three other county shelters in the 2016 Human Services and Community Development Bond Referendum; however, a suitable location had not been identified at the time.
The existing Eleanor Kennedy Shelter operates from a 100-year-old converted pump house located on land leased from Fort Belvoir. Renovating the shelter would require complete modernization of existing interior and building systems, refurbishment of historic exterior materials, roof replacement, a new natural gas connection, and the addition of stormwater management facilities.
Expansion of the shelter to accommodate a comprehensive program is prohibited due to the building’s location within a 100-year floodplain and resource protection area, and renovations are limited by the building’s historic status. Co-locating services at the site and providing supportive housing in a new, modern facility aligns with county strategies to prevent and end homelessness in the Fairfax-Falls Church community.
Individuals and families with the lowest income levels face the greatest challenge and lack of affordable housing in the county has been identified as a leading cause of homelessness. Housing First is the county’s preferred approach for serving people who are experiencing homelessness with no dependable housing options. The community has a unique opportunity with the Beacon Hill site to create a 21st Century vision of the continuum of housing. The project team also heard from the community about the strong need for housing for families and has been able to incorporate additional family units. The program now includes a total of 30 units of service-enriched, long-term supportive housing units for individuals and families in addition to the emergency housing.
The project is located off Route 1, at the former Hybla Valley Nursery site at 2801 Beacon Hill Road, Alexandria, VA 22306.
The project design team is working on a revised design program for incorporation of additional family supportive housing units and associated support spaces, in coordination with Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. A revised schedule will be posted on this website.
For more information, please contact the project team at penndawproject@fairfaxcounty.gov, Building Design and Construction Division, Capital Facilities, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.