The Northern Virginia Daily

Article date October 26, 2005

EDA plans to select Avtex site developer at meeting

 By: William C. Flook

The Front Royal Warren County Economic Development Authority is set to decide Thursday between two firms vying to redevelop a major portion of the Avtex Superfund site.

The 160-acre business park is part of the EDA’s”Royal Phoenix” plan for the land, which once was home to a massive rayon plant.  Two investor-developers have submitted official letters of intent to the EDA according to Executive Director Paul Carroll, who declined to name the firms.

“Either of these firms will do a first-class project for Front Royal,” he said. 

One group is a “major regional investor developer,” which is focused in the Virginia, Maryland and Washington areas.  The other firm does projects both nationally and internationally, Carroll said.

Both have assets “ in about the $1 billion range,” and have the resources to complete a project the size of the Avtex business park, he said.   One of the firms, according to Carroll, has prior experience with brownfield sites. 

The Environmental Protection Agency defines a brownfield as a property whose redevelopment “ may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminant.”

The EDA board is scheduled to vote at a special meeting Thursday morning on which firm to begin negotiations with, Carroll said.

EDA Vice Chairman Michael South said the decision fits in with the plan for the redevelopment of the Avtex property.  Beside the business park, the EDA plans a 240-acre conservancy park and 30-acre soccer complex on the 440-acre site.

“Overall, I think the selection of the business park developer is important for the community and our future plans as to how the community is going to develop,” South said.

Once the EDA makes a decision, Carroll said he expects at least 90 to 120 days of negotiating to address both the needs of the developer and the community and eventually sign a contract.

About a year ago, the EDA approved a conceptual plan for the business park, which focused on mixed-use development with technology and hospitality industries.  Out of that plan sprouted a marketing plan and used to attract potential developers to the site.

The firm picked for the project will be able to develop parcels as they are released by the Environmental Protection Agency, Carroll said.  He said the EPA will need to express “no further interest,” in each section.

The land is currently zoned for light industrial use, he said, and will need to go through a razoning process with the town.

Carroll calls the upcoming vote a “significant milestone” in the overall redevelopment of the Avtex site.