A familiar pattern is taking shape around Wiehle–Reston East. An older, mostly vacant office building from the 1980s may be replaced with new housing. A rezoning application envisions up to 71 four-story townhomes with rooftop decks and shared green space at 1895 Preston White Drive. The site sits just south of the Dulles Toll Road and within the Reston Transit Station Areas. For nearby neighborhoods and commuters, the project reflects a broader shift from suburban office parks to connected residential districts near transit.
Figure 1. Conceptual site plan showing townhome blocks, internal streets, and open space network on the Preston White Drive parcel.
Quick look at what is proposed
Up to 71 townhomes at 1895 Preston White Drive
Four stories, rear-loaded garages, optional rooftop decks
About 1.76 acres of open space with a dog park, tot lot, outdoor dining area, and community green
Trails that connect the site and restore a Resource Protection Area
Processing anticipated alongside the county’s ongoing Reston TSA Study
Figure 2. Amenity plan with labeled features: outdoor kitchen and dining, play areas, fire pit seating, fitness stations, dog park, and greens.
How this fits a growing Reston trend
This is not a one-off. In 2025, several office parcels near Wiehle–Reston East and along Alexander Bell Drive surfaced with townhouse or stacked-townhome concepts. The common thread is a pivot away from single-use, auto-oriented office parks and toward neighborhoods with sidewalks, pocket parks, and access to rail. The county’s Reston TSA planning framework encourages compact, pedestrian-friendly development in transit influence areas.
For travel connections and parking details, check the Wiehle–Reston East Metro station page and the Fairfax Connector’s Wiehle Park-and-Ride hub.
Figure 3. Preliminary streetscape rendering shows mid-block greens, a pergola with seating, and mews-style walkways framed by townhomes.
Why are more projects like this popping up?
1) Older offices face rising vacancy
Fairfax County’s office vacancy has increased in recent years, with much of the pressure on aging buildings that lack modern layouts and amenities. Local reporting highlights a wave of demolitions or repurposing efforts as owners reassess noncompetitive properties (county vacancy trend coverage). The county has studied tools to streamline adaptive reuse through its Office Building Repurposing status paper and related policy updates summarized in a Planning Commission briefing on Commercial Building Repurposing Guidelines.
2) Plan guidance supports the right kind of change
The Board authorized a focused Reston TSA Study to evaluate land use changes submitted through the Site-Specific Plan Amendment process. That work builds on the Reston Transit Station Areas guidance adopted in 2014, which aims to concentrate a mix of uses near rail while improving walkability, open space, and connections.
3) Housing demand plus site realities
Legacy office parcels often have deep setbacks, large surface lots, and limited frontage. Townhome communities can stitch in short blocks and green spaces without the cost and scale of a mid-rise podium. That is why several edge-of-station proposals lean toward lower-rise formats while still delivering trails and parks.
Figure 4. Context map with the site, Preston White Drive, and proximity to the Dulles Toll Road and Sunrise Valley Drive.
Why trophy office buildings are thriving while older stock struggles
If office demand is softer overall, why do best-in-class buildings perform relatively well?
Flight to quality. Tenants favor newer or fully renovated buildings with strong amenity packages, wellness features, and transit access. That preference widens the gap in rents and vacancy between top-tier assets and older buildings.
Location and convenience. Assets embedded in amenity-rich environments near stations like Wiehle–Reston East can compete even as overall footprints shrink. Transit, food, fitness, and outdoor space matter. See WMATA’s broader system maps and resources for how Silver Line access supports these locations.
Capital needs. 1980s buildings often require costly façade, HVAC, life-safety, and energy upgrades. The county’s repurposing work program and legal summaries, such as this overview of policy updates and incentives for noncompetitive offices (policy context snapshot), explain why the math can favor redevelopment.
Why townhomes here instead of apartments?
Every site is different, but a few consistent factors show up:
Access and circulation. A fine-grained street plan can fit more naturally on a deep parcel.
Market positioning. For-sale or fee-simple formats can meet demand near transit while spreading risk across phases.
Green space and buffers. Townhome plans make it easier to preserve tree lines and add mid-block greens. The Reston tradition of neighborhood greenways is reinforced by the Reston Association Design Guidelines, which shape how new and existing communities handle design, landscaping, and transitions.
What to watch next
County review timeline. Follow the Reston TSA Study page for staff reports, community meetings, and next steps.
Coordination with nearby sites. Keep an eye on Alexander Bell Drive and other office-to-residential proposals to understand cumulative effects on trails, schools, and traffic.
Mobility details. Look for trail connections and off-site improvements as plans evolve, especially around the Wiehle–Reston East station and the Connector network.
Local FAQs
Where is the site?
1895 Preston White Drive, just south of the Dulles Toll Road and within the Reston TSAs.
How many homes are proposed?
Up to 71 townhomes across four stories with rear-loaded garages and optional rooftop decks, plus roughly 1.76 acres of open space.
Is this part of a larger county effort?
Yes. The Board advanced a focused Reston TSA Study. The county is also evaluating its office repurposing policies.
Why are older offices being redeveloped?
Vacancy has increased in dated buildings, and the cost to modernize is significant. At the same time, tenants have concentrated in newer, amenitized buildings near transit. Local reporting on vacancy trends is a helpful primer (countywide snapshot).
How do design standards come into play?
Many Reston properties are subject to the Reston Association Design Guidelines, which focus on cohesive neighborhood character, landscaping, and transitions.
Conclusion
The Preston White Drive proposal captures a Reston story in motion. As trophy office buildings close to rail continue to attract tenants, older, car-oriented offices are candidates for reinvention. Whether you support or question the shift, it is reshaping blocks near the Silver Line. If you live, work, or play around Wiehle–Reston East, now is a good time to follow the process, review the Reston TSA Study, and share your perspective with county planners.
