Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part story focused on Prince William Board of County Supervisor At-large Deshundra Jefferson's first 100 days in office. Read part one here.
In the wake of the contentious PW Digital Gateway project and ongoing debates surrounding the Meals Tax, Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors faces a series of complex decisions as county leaders leave their honeymoon phase and begin on the next three and a half years of their term.
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Potomac District Residents can anticipate a significant addition to their community with the imminent arrival of a new full-service grocery store. The latest update on the Ashland Square development was shared by Steven Powell, Senior Vice President for Saul Centers, owners of the Ashland Square development at Route 234 and Spriggs Road, near Dumfries.
The company is in talks with an unnamed grocer to build a new store.”We’ve been actively negotiating with a large, full-service grocery store chain for several months now,” he said. While the deal has not yet been finalized, Powell expressed confidence in the negotiations, stating, “We are very excited about the prospect of bringing a quality grocery store to the community.”
The anticipated grocery store, more significant than average and offering a comprehensive range of products and services, said Powell, aims to cater to the diverse needs of Dumfries residents. Powell emphasized the importance of this development, acknowledging the community’s patience and the significance of addressing a longstanding need.
Residents expressed enthusiasm for the potential arrival of the grocery store, citing the convenience and accessibility it would offer the community. “Having a full-service grocery store nearby would be a game-changer for us,” remarked one resident, echoing the sentiments of many eagerly anticipating the store’s opening.
While specific details regarding the grocer’s identity and the timeline for the store’s opening remain undisclosed, Powell assured residents that negotiations were progressing positively. “We are burning through resources to ensure a smooth negotiation process,” Powell noted.
The announcement came during a town hall meeting hosted by Prince William County Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Powell also told residents a new h Wawa gas station would be built on a corner parcel at the shopping center, joining the existing CVS store and All-American Steakhouse. Negotiations are ongoing for two additional tenants on an adjacent parcel, he added.
Residents voiced concerns about the potential impact of the new Wawa gas station on an existing Exxon station. They fear competition from Wawa will lead to the closure of an existing Exxon gas station next to Ashland Square.”We understand the concerns, but we’re confident in the benefits Wawa will bring, including competitive prices and expanded services,” Powell reassured.
A Capital One bank at Ashland Square is set to close this week, too, prompting questions about what might open in the soon-to-be vacant building. Powell assured residents his firm is working to find a replacement tenant for the bank building.
Additionally, plans for a new fire station adjacent to the grocery store site were mentioned, with an anticipated opening in 2027. Powell expressed optimism about the project’s progress. “We’re excited about the potential benefits Ashland Square will bring to the community and remain committed to collaborative engagement,” said Powell.
Ashland Square is located in Phase 1 of the 850-home residential PUD known as Ashland. The surrounding community continues to expand with additional single-family residential development. The 19-acre development is slated for 140,000 square feet of retail space and 25,000 Square feet of office space.
Prince William County resident Alan Gloss documented this meeting.
Among its notable features, the project boasts a newly added right-turn lane along Joplin Road leading to northbound U.S. 1, alongside a realigned Fuller Heights Road intersection. This realignment facilitates north and southbound access through the incorporation of a roundabout at the intersection of Fuller Heights Road and Old Triangle Road.
Deshundra Jefferson, Chair At-Large of the Board of County Supervisors, expressed gratitude towards the various entities involved in making the project a reality. “You guys have really done an amazing job with this,” remarked Jefferson during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I’m proud to say that these road improvements are a significant step in moving Prince William towards our strategic goal by easing congestion and improving mobility in the Triangle area for residents, local businesses, and our military facilities.”
Andrea Bailey, Potomac District Supervisor, highlighted the project’s multifaceted approach toward enhancing the quality of life in the region. “This project is a small part of the work done and awaiting us to enhance the quality of life in this area,” stated Bailey. “We listened to the concerns of our residents regarding traffic on Joplin accessing Route 1 and I-95 to be safe during peak traffic hours and sharing the work of ensuring our county’s roadways are safe and relieved of traffic congestion.”
Monica Backmon, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), emphasized the significance of collaboration in project completion. “It is rare that a project, regardless of the scope and scale, gets done without several entities coming to the table, collaborating,” noted Backmon. “For the Authority’s part, it was bringing funding. We all collaborate; and not only does this project visualize or really bring to light the collaboration, improved accessibility, safety options, modal options, all of that that you get.”
Terry Yates, Northern Virginia Local Assistance Manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), echoed sentiments regarding the importance of collaboration. “People wonder why transportation projects take so long, and it’s just a tremendous amount of collaboration,” remarked Yates. “Years ago, it was mostly technical and engineering, and there are so many other aspects, multimodal, cultural, citizen buy-in, all these things must gel before a project comes together.”
VPAP: Democrat Andrea Bailey defeated her opponent in today’s Primary Election for the Potomac District seat on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
Bailey won the race by 44 points.
Bailey is seeking a second term on the board. As of today, she has no Republican challenger. Republican Verndell Charlotte Robinson will run the Potomac District (Dumfries area) in an attempt to unseat Bailey.
