Pope Paul VI High School has exited the city of Fairfax, and the IDI Group of Cos. will quickly step in to redevelop the 18.5-acre campus with residential and retail.
Arlington-based IDI announced Tuesday it will immediately advance its previously approved plans for the 18.5-acre Fairfax Boulevard campus once it takes possession of the property in mid-July. IDI said it will preserve and transform the circa-1934 portion of the school building into retail and restaurants, while developing 115 townhomes, seven single-family homes and 144 condominium homes across the property.
The development will be called Boulevard VI.
Paul VI high school closed in May and will reopen in the fall on a new 68-acre campus in Loudoun County. IDI expects to open condominium sales in September and break ground on the four-story condominium building, dubbed The Flats, in December.
The 24,000-square-foot school building fronting Fairfax Boulevard will be flanked by two new 10,000-square-foot retail buildings, “forming a horseshoe around The Lawn,” the developer said. The Lawn will serve as a village green.
NV Homes, meanwhile will develop the townhomes, 15 of which will feature live/work units.
The development team includes architect Heffner Architects PC, engineer Christopher Consultants and general contractor John Moriarty & Associates, while McWilliams-Ballard will handle sales.
The Fairfax City Council approved IDI’s plans in September 2018.
Originally opened as Fairfax County High School in 1935, the school was sold to George Mason University in 1972 and then the Catholic Diocese of Arlington in 1983 for $3 million. The property, still owned by the Archdiocese, has an assessed value today of $41.9 million, according to Fairfax records.
