The property, once proposed as the location for a large indoor sports and recreation facility, is now part of a broader development plan. County officials aim to aggregate the land with four adjacent parcels, totaling nearly 50 acres of county- and state-owned land, including existing commuter parking lots. The mission is to transform the area into a community hub that harmonizes living, working, and leisure spaces while generating jobs and tax revenue.
Known colloquially as Prince William Landing, the area was previously considered as a potential site for a new Washington Commanders football stadium alongside another location near Potomac Mills mall. Both sites were discussed as part of efforts to keep the team in Northern Virginia after its lease on FedEx Field expires in 2027. However, those plans did not materialize.
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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will convene on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 2 p.m. at 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge for a packed agenda that includes significant decisions on land development and state legislation. The meeting is open to the public.
Woodbridge Land Development
Supervisors are expected to approve $250,000 to hire consultants to determine the best use for 21.85 acres of land in Woodbridge, previously considered for an indoor sports and recreation center. The funding from the Economic Development Opportunity Fund will support planning for a vibrant mixed-use community hub. The land is part of a larger 70-acre property targeted for an indoor sports venue, focusing on creating live-work-play environments and generating tax revenue.
Legislative Review
In a first-of-its-kind move, the Board will spend considerable time mulling over nearly 40 bills currently before the Virginia General Assembly. These bills address a wide range of topics, including:
- Clean Energy: HB 36 proposes studying barriers to clean energy purchases by local governments.
- Transportation and Safety: HB 462 calls for expanded tractor-trailer parking along major corridors, and HB 2041 focuses on speed safety camera placements.
- Data Centers: Multiple bills, including HB 1601, SB 899, and HB 2026, address issues like energy use, noise abatement, and proximity to parks and schools.
- Affordable Housing: HB 1701 and SB 2603 propose incentives and zoning changes to expand housing opportunities.
- Environmental Initiatives: HB 2050 introduces a program to reduce PFAS in the Occoquan Reservoir, while SB 839 focuses on by-right multifamily development in commercial zones.
The Board’s deliberations aim to ensure that local perspectives are represented in state policymaking, reflecting priorities such as economic growth, environmental preservation, and community safety.
Stay tuned to Potomac Local News for updates on the outcomes of this meeting.
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson delivered her annual State of the County address during the board's organizational meeting on January 14, 2025. Jefferson reflected on the board's achievements in 2024 and outlined priorities for the coming year, emphasizing collaboration, financial stewardship, and community investment.
Achievements in 2024
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The first of the properties was the Ned Distiller House at 16210 Lee Highway and the adjoining Ashe Property at 16206 Lee Highway. These properties span approximately one acre. According to county documents, the Board originally wanted to purchase Ned Distiller's house, but staff recommended the county also purchase the adjoining property due to its size.
Both properties contain structures from the early 1800s. The Ned Distiller House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Historic Landmark Registry; it was built and owned by a freed slave, which is one of the earliest examples of a free African American owning property in the Commonwealth.
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Prince William County could soon be home to a new inline hockey rink at the Hylton Boys and Girls Club in Dale City, following an in-depth discussion by the Board of County Supervisors during their December 17, 2024, meeting. The facility results from a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club, Prince William Ice Center, the Washington Capitals, and George Mason University.
Seth Hendler-Voss, the county’s Director of Parks and Recreation, introduced the project, describing it as “an exciting partnership opportunity to bring a new recreation amenity to Prince William County.” He outlined the proposed location and the collaboration required to make the rink a reality.
“The proposed terms of the project are as follows, and these are just in draft form,” Hendler-Voss explained. “The rink, when constructed, will be made available for the Hylton Boys and Girls Club participants, Ice Center patrons, and the general public.”
Hendler-Voss highlighted that the Ice Center, located next to the Boys and Girls Club on Dale Boulevard in Dale City, would operate and maintain the rink, ensuring no operating impact on the county, except for an estimated $10,000 increase in insurance premiums. He also noted that under the current lease, the Boys and Girls Club would need to amend its agreement with the county to allow construction on the property.
“We’re recommending that you allow us to set a public hearing for this lease amendment, which we will bring back to you after the new year,” Hendler-Voss said. “If approved, we hope to break ground in the spring or summer and cut the ribbon in the fall.”
Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Wier raised concerns about the clarity of the agreement, particularly regarding public access and operational responsibilities.
“I think before the public hearing, we need to clean up a couple of things,” Weir said. “In the resolution, it says the Ice Center will operate and maintain the rink and assume liability, but in the lease agreement, it says the landlord or tenant agrees that the landlord — us — and/or the Prince William Ice Center and their employees and contractors shall maintain, operate, program, and manage the rink. I’d like those two things to jive.”
He also pointed out ambiguities about guarantees of public access, citing conflicting language in the agreement.
“It doesn’t seem like there’s any guarantee of public access at least by that language,” Weir noted. “If we could just get this all cleaned up before the public hearing, that would be really nice.”
Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey echoed Weir’s concerns and asked for more details about programming opportunities for the Boys and Girls Club.
“We are going to, of course, allow the Boys and Girls Club leagues to have dedicated access to that rink and for their programs,” Hendler-Voss responded. “The Ice Center has offered to help conduct those programs, teaching participants how to play hockey and skate.”
Chair At-large DeShundra Jefferson also raised a concern about facility security, particularly regarding the locking of the rink.
“It says [locking the facility] shall be permitted,” Jefferson said. “I wonder if there’s any objection to [requiring] it to be locked during non-operating hours since the county will have liabilities there.”
Hendler-Voss assured the board that the matter would be addressed.
Supervisor Angry strongly supported the project, highlighting its potential to revitalize an underutilized field and rekindle a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club and the Ice Center. “This came to my desk about eight months ago,” Angry said. “I’m excited about this because we continue talking about creating opportunities for our youth, which we clearly have created here.”
He praised the Washington Capitals for their involvement and emphasized the importance of the initiative.
“Now we have this opportunity to create [the partnership] again,” Angry said. “I think [it] is invaluable, is impressive, and speaking for the board, I’m honored that Prince William County gets to be a part of this.”
The Board unanimously voted to authorize a public hearing on the lease amendment, which will take place in early 2025. If approved, construction could begin by spring, with the rink opening in the fall of 2025.
“This is just the beginning,” Angry said. “We’re putting this before the public and bringing it back to this board to hopefully get it done.”
As Prince William County grows, officials highlight the need for new water sources to meet future demand. A primary concern is the expansion of data centers, which have become a significant consumer of water.
Calvin Farr, General Manager of Prince William Water, explained the county’s projected water needs: "We have dynamic hydraulic models we look at, really, to see if we can handle the additional growth. And if we don't, we identify capital needs. At that point, we put that in our master plan for capital needs that, you know, that is needed to supply additional growth."
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We’re back with another episode of the Potomac Local Podcast, where we connect our communities one story at a time. In this episode, Uriah Kiser, founder of Potomac Local News, sits down with Deshundra Jefferson, Chair At-large of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, to discuss critical issues facing Prince William County.
Chair Jefferson made history on January 1, 2024, as the first Black person elected to this role. Her journey—from a single mother saving for homeownership to a community leader—informs her commitment to tackling the affordable housing crisis, workforce housing solutions, and planning for future infrastructure needs.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The proposed Affordable Housing Dwelling Unit Ordinance and its impact on residents and local workers like teachers, police, and firefighters.
- Balancing affordable housing with school capacity concerns and infrastructure development in growing areas like Brentsville.
- The ongoing debate over the Bi-County Parkway extension to ease congestion on Route 28.
- Chair Jefferson’s favorite local restaurants—from the western side of the county to the east.
Jefferson also shares her vision for ensuring Prince William County residents can live where they work. This focus prioritizes local families and community safety: “We have cost-burdened households spending more than 30% of their income on housing. We need solutions now, said Chair Deshundra Jefferson
Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, and subscribe to the *Potomac Local Podcast. Please help us share these important local stories with more of our neighbors.
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Have a news tip? Please email us at [email protected]. Uriah reads every email.
According to a press release, the county hopes to encourage residents to “rethink” how they give. Rather than donating directly to panhandlers, the county is directing residents to donate to local organizations and nonprofits that address housing, food insecurity, mental and health and job training.
This initiative was approved on Nov. 26 by the Board of County Supervisors. The campaign will run through December and will resume during the spring and summer, the press release stated.
“Many people want to help, but direct handouts often do not provide the long-term assistance individuals need,” said Board of County Supervisors Chair At-Large Deshundra Jefferson. “By choosing to donate to nonprofits in our community, we’re empowering organizations that can deliver real solutions and make a meaningful impact.”
By visiting the county’s dedicated website for panhandling, donating has become more accessible. Panhandlers can generate as much as $200 a day but these funds do not address the root causes behind their situation.
The county has provided some of the most impactful ways to help the community:
Give to the non-profit organizations that can provide the needed services rather than directly to the panhandler.
Let us know if you see people panhandling in the community so that we can provide outreach services and get them connected to the help they may need. Call 703-792-3939 or email [email protected] and leave a detailed message about the location where you saw the panhandler.
Consider volunteering at one of the local shelters or at one of the nonprofits that provide resources to those who panhandle.
Use the material in the toolkit to help spread the message that handouts don’t help and to give where it counts!
On December 2, 2024, local and state officials gathered at the Kelly Leadership Building for the annual Joint Legislative Meeting. The discussion focused on the county’s legislative priorities, spotlighting affordable housing and immediate housing assistance for residents in crisis.
Affordable housing has taken center stage in Prince William County in recent weeks. During their November 19, 2024, meeting, the Board of County Supervisors discussed a proposed Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance to increase the availability of affordable housing units and establish a Housing Trust Fund to support development efforts.
The ADU Ordinance would allow developers to include affordable units within new residential developments voluntarily. While some jurisdictions enforce mandatory ADU policies, Virginia’s Dillon Rule prevents Prince William County from implementing similar measures. Instead, the county incentivizes participation through expedited permitting processes, reduced fees, and greater development flexibility.
Local affordable housing advocates, including representatives from the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance and Wellington Development Partners, highlighted the urgent need for such initiatives. They noted that residents earning below 60% of the area median income are disproportionately affected, with many spending over 70% of their income on rent.
Delegate Josh Thomas (D-21, Gainesville) proposed creative solutions such as modular ADUs, which could provide cost-effective workforce housing options. These small, prefabricated homes can be mass-produced and installed at prices between $200,000 and $300,000—aligning with the affordability goals for workforce housing.
Immediate Housing Assistance Programs
While addressing long-term housing needs, Prince William County Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin stressed the importance of continuing immediate housing assistance programs. During the pandemic, the county provided support for rental, mortgage, and utility payments to families facing financial hardship. Franklin advocated for making this program permanent to aid residents at risk of eviction or foreclosure.
“The one thing that I will mention with regards to affordable housing that we haven’t talked about is immediate housing assistance. We have the ordinance that’s going to help us create more affordable housing stock long term which I think is incredibly important but we also need resources to provide immediate housing assistance,” said Franklin. “When the pandemic started, we put forth a program, the housing assistance program that provided mortgage rental and utility assistance for those negatively impacted by COVID. That is something that I’m pushing for as a separate program for us to continue for those that are going to be evicted next week or for those that are facing some type of rental or mortgage or utility shortage in the immediate term and so I just want to encourage our General Assembly to also maybe think about ways that we can partner on legislation that brings us resources for that.”
The meeting also addressed other legislative priorities, including education funding reform, transportation improvements, and public safety initiatives. Supervisor Victor Angry called for increased flexibility in deploying speed monitoring devices in areas with traffic safety concerns. Officials also highlighted the intersection of housing and education, emphasizing the need for school infrastructure investments to manage population growth effectively.
Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye added that the county must balance housing development with community infrastructure needs, including transportation and schools. “Affordable housing initiatives must be paired with investments in public infrastructure to ensure sustainable growth,” he said.
The county’s legislative agenda will be presented during the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session, scheduled to convene on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, and adjourn on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
Housing is a human right, and we must ensure that every resident has access to safe and affordable homes,” said Franklin.
