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Atlantic Research Corporation Property

Achieving Unrestricted Land-use through Site Remediation

The Atlantic Research Corporation’s 35-acre lake also includes a series of upstream wetland and marsh areas with over 2,500 linear feet of stream restoration and 3,700 linear feet of access roads.

The Atlantic Research Corporation’s 35-acre lake also includes a series of upstream wetland and marsh areas with over 2,500 linear feet of stream restoration and 3,700 linear feet of access roads.

Stream restoration at the Atlantic Research Corporation site in Gainesville, Virginia.

Stream restoration at the Atlantic Research Corporation site in Gainesville, Virginia.

A regional storm pond and dam was built during the remediation process.

A regional storm pond and dam was built during the remediation process.

Client
Walter E. Lynch AIA, PLLC
Owner
Gainesville Associates, LLC
Location
Gainesville, VA
Markets
Industrial
Cost
1.8 million (total project cost)
Completed
2024
Region
Mid-Atlantic

For over 50 years, the Atlantic Research Corporation (ARC) leased property to a tenant who used the site as a development facility for solid-rocket motor research, production, and testing. After a record of historical spills and disposal of hazardous and toxic waste, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a final administrative order on consent (Consent Order) for corrective measure implementation.

Over the last 15 years, we have worked extensively with the owner as part of their effort to clean-up, remediate, and position their 435-acre industrial property for redevelopment. Corrective actions and remediation efforts included closure of reactive waste units, geophysical and visual screening, shallow and deep groundwater monitoring and remediation, removal of contaminated soil, removal of debris, and demolition of 190 structures, many of which contained lead and asbestos. We guided the owner through site clean-up, wetland and stream restoration, master planning, rezoning, site utilities, access roads, and the building of a regional storm pond and dam.

Early planning for redevelopment included changing the use of the property from industrial to a planned mixed-use development, which included a future commuter rail station, a mix of retail and office uses, and a variety of housing options. However, with the recession of 2008, the owner’s plans quickly lost support, which would leave plans in a state of uncertainty for the next several years. Despite the downturn, the owner took on a significant risk to complete the cleanup and remediation of the property and constructed several infrastructure upgrades. These investments included a 35-acre lake with a series of upstream wetland and marsh areas, over 2,500 linear feet of stream restoration, and over 3,700 linear feet of access roads. This shift in approach would later become key to the revival of the property as the need for industrial-ready sites increased with the demand for more data centers.

435

acre industrial property

2,500

linear feet of stream restoration

3,700

linear feet of access roads added

190

structures demolished

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