Skip to main content

Springfield Town Center Phase 1 to open Fall 2014

By Kathy Stewart

WASHINGTON — There’s a compete transformation that’s happening to the Springfield Mall. The mall was basically razed and now in its place will be the rising of a new Springfield Town Center.

“The inside will look nothing like the old mall looked like and this is phase-one that’s going to be opening in October”, says Fairfax County supervisor Jeff McKay of the Lee District.

The first phase opens the end of October and will provide shoppers with a mall that’s totally different. The old mall has been gutted and rebuilt with the exception of a few anchor stores like Target, JC Penney and Macy’s.

McKay says it’s all about putting the old mall in the past. For years, the Springfield Mall was in decline and some customers reported no longer feeling safe to shop there.

“When it does get reopened people will be amazed at the complete transformation,” he says.

The $200 million mall transformation will include valet parking, a multi-movie cinema, health club and is being promoted as a premiere shopping destination with a 700-seat food court that has outside dining and a kids play area.

While the opening is soon, it’s not soon enough for Springfield residents. “They’ve been waiting many, many years for this day to come,” McKay says adding that taxpayers will not feel the brunt of costs since the town center project is 100 percent private-sector development.

“There’s no public money in it whatsoever,” he says.

McKay, who grew up in the Springfield area and spent his life going to the mall, says it might be hard for people who don’t live in Springfield to understand that the mall is a big part of life in the area and critical for long-term economic success. He says once he was elected in 2007 as the Lee District supervisor, he rolled up his sleeves and began trying to get the mall turned around.

“This has always been for Springfield and our end of the county, much more than a shopping center,” he says. And that’s why he’s put so much personal effort into the mall’s transformation. He adds that he is happy to see the mall is being transformed into a “vibrant place that the community can be proud of.”

McKay hopes decades from now people will look back on this project saying, “Thank goodness they fixed the mall and the whole community can benefit from this. It’s such a big deal.”

Eventually the town center, a 78-acre site, will include office space, 2,000 residents units and a large hotel that it will be walkable from where people live and work.

Future tenants include 150 retailers, restaurants and more including:

  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • J. Crew
  • Ann Taylor LOFT
  • H&M
  • Maggiano’s Little Italy
  • Michael Kors
  • LA Fitness
  • Pandora
  • Regal Cinema >li>TopShop
  • Wood Ranch BBQ and Grill
  • Chuy’s
  • Yard House Restaurant

Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on the WTOP Facebook page.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote