House Demo Pending for Fellows Property in Falls Church

Demolition is expected to happen soon on the house on city-owned property that will soon be a park in Falls Church.

City Manager Wyatt Shields told the Falls Church City Council on Monday (Jan. 13) that the city is in the process of finalizing the agreement to tear down the house on the 2-acre property at 604 S. Oak Street.

Known as the Fellows Property, the site is located near the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.

City officials say the recent purchase will preserve the property as open space and possibly serve as a future school use.

The property is set to become usable park space, according to the city’s 2019-2024 Capital Improvements Program.

More from the CIP:

Until a Master Park Plan is developed, the funding needs are unknown. However, there has been preliminary thought of open natural space for family use to include amenities such as a walking trail, picnic area, a disc golf course and the possibility of a much needed community garden plot. The funding needs listed is similar to the cost of the project at West End Park as they will likely have a similar scope.

“It is a site with wonderful old trees, tulip, oak, magnolia, cherry,” Shields said about the site. “The home is not protected by the historic preservation ordinance, as it misses the cut off age by a few years.”

The demolition costs are accounted for in the budget requests and the work is set to start this month or February, Shields said.

Image via Google Maps, image via City of Falls Church