New Spec Office Space Breaks Ground in Lansdowne

Buckeye Development on Thursday broke ground on a three-story, 54,000 square-foot Class-A office building in Lansdowne, drawing a range of elected officials who called it a sign of increasing business activity in Loudoun County.

Phil Canada, president of Lansdowne Real Estate Company, said the building would offer condos for lease or sale with sizes ranging from 1,100 square feet to 18,000 square feet. He said builder Buckeye Development has built 425,000 square feet of commercial space in Lansdowne.

“We’re excited to pick up on the growing trend of market activity,” Canada said.

While businesses often seek existing space to move into, developers in Loudoun had been hesitant for several years to move forward until the economy steadied.

“It sends a signal there is confidence in the market in Loudoun County,” said Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large).

Supervisor Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn) said business activity has been increasing all over the county and attributed part of it to actions taken by the board to streamline the process for establishing in Loudoun.

“The intent is to make it easier for businesses to locate in the county. The intent is to take out steps that are not necessary,” he said. “This project, I think, is very indicative of what’s going on in Loudoun County right now. We have got things going on in the economy in Loudoun County.”

But the speakers did note the building was being constructed “on spec,” meaning the tenants/owners had not yet been lined up.

Delegate Randy Minchew (R-10) said the county has improved its business climate significantly over the years, recalling some past ads for the county that left people puzzled. He recalled one ad depicting Amelia Earhart and another showing King Kong climbing up what has become known as the “toilet bowl building” in Tysons Corner for an unclear effect.

“We did some kind of whacky things in the early days in Loudoun economic development,” Minchew said, adding that the county must be prepared when companies are ready to make a move. “We really need more of this kind of quality spec building in Loudoun County.”

The new office condo building is the second of four buildings planned for the site near Lansdowne Boulevard and Riverside Parkway. All will be energy-efficient offices with a “low core factor.”

Business owners and commercial real estate developers, brokers and site selectors can search an online database of Loudoun buildings for lease or sale, as well as an available land database, on the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development’s website. Go to “site selection” at www.biz.loudoun.gov