Manufacturing Facility, Research Center Moving to Loudoun (Arlington, Manassas: employment, university)

[Caladium]

Raytheon has announced that in addition to moving white collar operations to Loudoun, they are now also going to move a large manufacturing facility there as well. They are currently looking for an 80,000 sf building somewhere within a one-mile radius of the Ashburn site.

In addition, Ignite Research Institute has proposed building a large genetics research facility near Leesburg. From what I hear, the project may be connected with the George Mason University campus. That would be quite a boon for students at the Loudoun campus.

[cdmurphy]

Originally Posted by FromVAtoNC

Raytheon has announced that in addition to moving white collar operations to Loudoun, they are now also going to move a large manufacturing facility there as well. They are currently looking for an 80,000 sf building somewhere within a one-mile radius of the Ashburn site.

In addition, Ignite Research Institute has proposed building a large genetics research facility near Leesburg. From what I hear, the project may be connected with the George Mason University campus. That would be quite a boon for students at the Loudoun campus.

This is great news! Loudoun needs to expand its corporate tax base.

[SteelCityRising]

Why this is good news on the employment front for certain, do you all think Leesburg is destined to become another major employment center along the lines of the Dulles Tech Corridor, Bethesda, Tyson's, etc.? If so, then once pastoral villages like Lucketts, Lovettsville, and even the WV Eastern Panhandle are going to become easily annexed into contiguous development in NoVA, are they not? While I don't want to start another dispute, I just wanted to say that this would be a terrible thing to occur, as I consider the gorgeous verdant vistas we saw in Northwestern Loudoun County to be too pristine to permit to fall to developers. I can't wait to scope out the wineries, but I won't be making it a habit of seeing them if that part of Loudoun loses its rustic charm and quaintness.

[cdmurphy]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Why this is good news on the employment front for certain, do you all think Leesburg is destined to become another major employment center along the lines of the Dulles Tech Corridor, Bethesda, Tyson's, etc.? If so, then once pastoral villages like Lucketts, Lovettsville, and even the WV Eastern Panhandle are going to become easily annexed into contiguous development in NoVA, are they not? While I don't want to start another dispute, I just wanted to say that this would be a terrible thing to occur, as I consider the gorgeous verdant vistas we saw in Northwestern Loudoun County to be too pristine to permit to fall to developers. I can't wait to scope out the wineries, but I won't be making it a habit of seeing them if that part of Loudoun loses its rustic charm and quaintness.

Well, the stretch of Route 7 between Sterling and Leesburg already has the George Washington University campus, Janelia Farm, Lansdowne, etc., with One Loudoun and possibly Kincora coming down the pike. It sounds like this new genetic research institute will probably be in that area. Eastern Loudoun and Western Loudoun are very different, and they are zoned and managed as such. There will still be plenty of rural scenery to enjoy. Especially if Catoctin County ever happens.

ETA: Actually, if the genetic research facility is connected with the George Mason campus, then it will be further south in my neck of the woods - Brambleton/Arcola.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by cdmurphy

Well, the stretch of Route 7 between Sterling and Leesburg already has the George Washington University campus, Janelia Farm, Lansdowne, etc., with One Loudoun and possibly Kincora coming down the pike. It sounds like this new genetic research institute will probably be in that area. Eastern Loudoun and Western Loudoun are very different, and they are zoned and managed as such. There will still be plenty of rural scenery to enjoy. Especially if Catoctin County ever happens.

ETA: Actually, if the genetic research facility is connected with the George Mason campus, then it will be further south in my neck of the woods - Brambleton/Arcola.

I think urban growth boundaries to the north and west of Leesburg would be a much better option to pursue than the radical formation of a new county. Route 7 between Leesburg and Arlington is already one continuous stretch of urbanized development, and I shudder at the thought of that continuing on up and past Leesburg to swallow Lovettsville, Lucketts, Purcellville, the wine country, etc. That area is just downright gorgeous (expect photo tours of those communities next month and/or in June), but it is very, very threatened by development right now. If Loudoun County wants to preserve that quaint flair that it has in the western half of the county, then it must designate areas for conservation and indicate where it will be appropriate to permit future growth to occur.

[normie]

The area near Lucketts will probably not see much development. The reason is they can't widen the 15 because it is a historic area (Civil War).

I'm delighted to see Loudoun attracting so many research centers. That's my favorite sort of business to attract.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by normie

The area near Lucketts will probably not see much development. The reason is they can't widen the 15 because it is a historic area (Civil War).

I'm delighted to see Loudoun attracting so many research centers. That's my favorite sort of business to attract.

Well that's good news then. I was unaware that much of the area is already preserved due to its historic nature. It's nice that I'm moving to an area that not only attracts and breeds intellectual capital but also retains it. In my area the only major employers opening are big-box stores and distribution centers!

[becwells]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Well that's good news then. I was unaware that much of the area is already preserved due to its historic nature.

Sure is! Make sure you head out to Manassas at some point - there's a HUGE civil war battlefield out there. It's nice to know that that wide, open space will stay.

[themommy]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Well that's good news then. I was unaware that much of the area is already preserved due to its historic nature. It's nice that I'm moving to an area that not only attracts and breeds intellectual capital but also retains it. In my area the only major employers opening are big-box stores and distribution centers!

Not to mention that Loudoun County has a long history of being against the kind of rapid development that Fairfax County saw in the mid- to late-80s. And even earlier, I suppose! Back then, lots of Loudoun County residents had bumper stickers on their cars that read "Don't Fairfax Loudoun". My gut feeling is that Loudoun County will always retain a healthy connection to its rural roots.

To learn more about the kind of zoning mentioned above that can control what's often perceived as overdevelopment, check out this page about the Rural Crescent area in neighboring Prince William County.