What is Destination Stafford?
Destination Stafford is a vision in progress. First envisioned over 20 years ago, Destination Stafford is a multi-generational community development project. Destination Stafford is planned as a “place” to create a “community identity” for all of Stafford County. It is planned to be a versatile or adaptable destination to encourage entrepreneurial growth, create a vibrant cultural and commercial district, and combine diverse restaurants, retail, and a myriad housing options to call home.
Destination Stafford is a broad area, a landscape or canvas outlined in the Comprehensive Plan that will encompass multiple neighborhoods and phases of development. This redevelopment area described in the Plan (2016) generally consists of roughly 840 parcels that contain approximately 1,743 acres of developable land. The project includes a mix of commercial and retail businesses at the core, surrounded by residential choices. The Plan establishes the desired roadway network in the Courthouse Area, designed to provide a hierarchical system of interconnected streets.
This vision and plan are now starting to take shape. This webpage provides background and updates on our progress to create Destination Stafford.
This vision and plan are now starting to take shape. This webpage provides background and updates on our progress to create Destination Stafford.
Fountain Park at Destination Stafford is the initial new neighborhood in Destination Stafford. Combined with the new interchange at Exit 140 on Interstate 95, improvements to US Route 1 and Courthouse Road, it represents the latest investments and building blocks for the vision of Destination Stafford.
The next catalytic project will be the development of the County’s 23 acres adjacent to Fountain Park. The County will seek out world-class development partner or team that can capture the desire for a “smart” community while developing a new, modern “Place” that is authentic to Stafford. This next phase will begin with a Request for Qualifications for such partners, tentatively by December 31, 2021.
The vision for Destination Stafford will incorporate “healthy growth” in the community. Our approach will also embrace the basic tenets of the National Main Street Program and their well-established best practices for creating a vibrant Destination Stafford.
The County’s partnership with the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) has established Destination Stafford as the home of the Virginia Smart Community Testbed. Our partnership with CIT will integrate Stafford smart technology solutions focused on public safety, data security and training, economic development and tourism, and 5G expansion in Destination Stafford.
Destination Stafford strengthens Stafford’s own sense of “place” for the lives of our residents, their children, businesses, and visitors. There is no better time to discover Stafford County. #DestinationStafford
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