MERRIFIELD, VA—The Fairfax County Democratic Committee has not had the best of luck in space accommodations lately it seems. Its former landlord in Merrifield, VA was unable to accommodate the committee's renewal needs and now the build out in its new space at 8500 Executive Park Ave., also in Merrifield, is taking longer than anticipated.

"It was scheduled for completion by the end of September, but we were recently informed by the landlord that it would not be ready until late October," according to the committee's September-October 2015 newsletter [PDF]. "Therefore, we will move in immediately after the election." Right now the committee is in a temporary location.

The timing may not be ideal but the lease itself is what the committee wanted. "The lease meets several objectives, including maintaining a county central location in the Merrifield area, a larger space and a lower total lease cost."

Regarding the latter, the committee gave its readers some of the back story in its July 2015 newsletter. [PDF]

"The lease at the current FCDC headquarters ends on August 31, and the landlord was unwilling to entertain serious discussions about better financial terms," it wrote. "We also confront limitations in our current space that constrain our productivity."

Fairfax County School Board Lease Doesn't Come with "Added Cost"

MERRIFIELD, VA—We reported on Friday that the Fairfax County School Board is taking 122,948-square feet at Willow Oaks Corporate Center, a three-building office park in Merrifield that is owned by KBS REIT II.

A spokesperson with the School Board told GlobeSt.com that the board decided to move for many reasons including the building's central location and the fact that it was "added space without the added cost."

Founding Farmers, Urban Pop at Reston Station

RESTON, VA—Comstock Partners has secured a new lease for Reston Station and is also planning on debuting a new retail concept space as well. The new tenant is Founding Farmers, whose 10,000-square foot restaurant will anchor the civic plaza when it opens in late 2016. The retail concept is called Urban Pop, a space for pop up food, fashion and lifestyle brands.

Fort Ritchie Goes On the Market

CASCADE, MD—PenMar Development Corp. has tapped JLL to market Fort Ritchie, a former military installation in western Maryland just south of the Pennsylvania state line. There are 300 acres of developable land with infrastructure and buildings available for adaptive reuse. JLL says the property is ideal for residential, retail and other commercial uses. There are some 300 people living on the site, which also is home to Lakeside Hall, a party and wedding venue.

FD Stonewater Sells Four-asset Portfolio

ARLINGTON, VA—Locally-based FD Stonewater has sold a fully-leased four-building portfolio, all occupied by the federal government, to Boyd Watterson Asset Management in Charlotte, NC. The portfolio consists of two Customs and Border Patrol facilities in Jacksonville and Riviera Beach, FLA; a US Military Entrance Processing Command facility in Nashville; and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Cary, NC. FD Stonewater acquired three of the buildings in 2012 as the first acquisitions for the FD Stonewater/Roseview Fund on behalf of a Fortune 100 corporate pension fund.

Matan Cos. Breaks Ground on Frederick Retail

FREDERICK, MD—Matan Cos. has broken on a new 20,750 square foot, two-building retail project at its Westview South campus. It is slated to deliver in early 2016. Matan is in negotiations with several potential tenants.

Renn Farm Site's Rezoning for Mixed-Use Community Approved

FREDERICK, MD—Frederick City's mayor and its Board approved the rezoning and master plan for Matan Cos.' Renn Property, a mixed-use proposal consisting of 1,050 residential units, 105,000 square feet of retail, and 73 acres of dedicated parkland. It will be located adjacent to the Carroll Creek Project and the Linear Park in Downtown Frederick.

The 220-acre Renn Farm site was previously zoned for light industrial use. The rezoning also allows for a new trail that will connect east Frederick to Downtown.