Signature Site's New Look Due By the End of the Year

A busy city landmark is getting a facelift and three new tenants.

When Fairfax Pointe opens by the end of the year, consumers will have a T-Mobile store to visit, along with a Thai restaurant called Thai by Thai and another restaurant called Zoe's Kitchen.

"We've tried to do something upscale at this high profile location," said Jay Donegan, the project's developer.

Fairfax Pointe is located on a triangular-shaped piece of land at the intersection of Fairfax Boulevard and Main Street. It will house about 10,000 square feet of retail over six spaces. Donegan is seeking a small boutique restaurant and more upscale retail to fill the center.

The site used to be home to a Dunkin Donuts, a business Called Dynamic Telecom and a used car rental business called Bargain Buggies, which preceded Dynamic Telecom.

"We tried to accommodate Dunkin Donuts in the development," Donegan said. "We weren't able to make that work."

Donegan sought and obtained unanimous approval from the city in 2009 for a special use permit and a set of special zoning exceptions for the project. The zoning exceptions, among other things, allowed for a reduction of landscaping in the parking lot, putting the edge of the building near the street. The city's approval came with conditions, including that Donegan contribute $10,000 for beautification of right of way next to or near the property.

The project posed a unique challenge. Since the site fronts both Main Street and Fairfax Boulevard it was important for the city to have attractive and good quality architecture along both streets and for the building not to look like the backside of a retail building on either street, said Mike Jaskiewicz, Fairfax City senior planner.

"It's one of those signature sites in the city," he said.

Donegan agreed with the vision and said his team didn't want to turn their back on either street.

He developed Fairfax Marketplace, a retail center across the street from Fairfax Pointe. Tenants in Fairfax Marketplace include Sprint, Starbucks Coffee and Five Guys.

"While that isn't a sister building, I'd like to think it will compliment what's there," he said during a 2009 city meeting discussing the project.