BRAMBLETON BUZZ: LATEST NEWS & EVENTS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY

What’s Trending in Brambleton: February Edition 2015

Posted February 23, 2015
Brambleton Rezonings Pass Loudoun Board; 
New Houses and $35M in Improvements Coming

Brambleton, a master-planned community in Ashburn, which currently houses roughly 16,000 people across 4,200 families, has major changes coming in the next few years.

In separate near unanimous-decision votes on Jan. 21, with Supervisor Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn) absent for one of the votes, the Board of Supervisors approved a package of rezoning requests, which will likely mean a major face-lift of the current development.

This vote was the culmination of what Supervisor Janet Clarke (R-Blue Ridge) said in her opening remarks was a two-year process which involved Brambleton, its residents, Loudoun County Public Schools and the Board of Supervisors.
The rezoning will likely mean the addition of a total of 506 homes across all of the rezonings. As part of the rezoning process, Brambleton was required to proffer for $19 million in improvements as part of the package.
Instead they proposed $35 million of improvements, which include:
  • An elementary school currently planned for a fall 2016 opening.
  • A middle school planned to open in 2017.
  • A high school which could be open as soon as 2020.
  • An additional swimming pool on the north side of Ryan Road, which when completed will make five for the community.
  • A public library, which will locate into the bottom two floors of a commercial office building within the Town Center, across from Papa Tony’s and Blue Ridge Grill. According to documents on the Brambleton website, this library would be similar to the Gum Spring Library in Stone Ridge.
  • An acceleration of the construction of Creighton and Evergreen Mills roads.
  • A gas station
  • A renovated barn for public events
Realtors – Plan your escape to the Brambleton Realtor Retreat on Tuesday, March 24th!
Prepare to be whisked away on a model home bus tour followed by pampering at the Welcome Center. Indulge your taste buds in spa cuisine and the crisp taste of Lost Rhino Retreat’s locally-brewed craft beer while soothing entertainment melts your stresses away!
10:00 AM -12:00 PM Bus Tour (Brambleton Model Homes)
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch
1:00-2:00 PM Beer Tasting (Introducing Lost Rhino Retreat)
The owners of Lost Rhino Brewery, based on Red Rum Drive in Ashburn, have announced they’re expanding their business and will be opening a second brewery and restaurant in the Brambleton Town Center.  According to co-owner Dave Hoffman, they are planning to open the new location in early April.

Brambleton Valentine’s Day Photobooth Fun
We hope you had as much as fun as we did on Valentine’s Day!

#Brambletine Contest – All you need is LOVE!
Click here to view all the wonderful #Brambletine contestant photos
SAVE THE DATE:
Fairfax World Police & Fire Games – June 26th – July 5th, 2015
Town Center Tidbits
  • Our Spotlight Retailer of the Month, Sport & Health.  If you missed their Grand Re-Opening, check out the event video here or photos here!
  • Johnny Rockets is adding new flavors to their menu to keep things fresh and exciting, while sticking to the classic Johnny Rockets theme!  Enjoy fresh, never frozen, 100% farm-to-table beef burgers and shakes made with premium ice cream and pure vanilla extract.  Two new shake flavors you’ve got to try are the M&M and Salted Caramel shake!  Call ahead for to-go orders, and be sure to ask about hosting a party or fundraiser! (703) 327-9255
  • Papa Tony’s Weekly Specials – Mondays: Kids’ Pizza-Making Classes, 5-8 PM, Reservations Required; Tuesdays: Buy 1 pizza, get 1 half off (dine-in only); Wednesdays: Martini Night; Thursdays: Buy 1 pasta entrée, get 1 pasta entrée half off (dine-in only); Mon-Fri: Happy Hour, 4-7 PM (at the bar only); Specials/promotions/discounts cannot be combined with other offers. For more details, including reservations, call 703-327-8600.
  • February is American Heart Month! Did you know NuWeights, located right here in the Brambleton Town Center, has a team of registered dietitians and personal trainers ready to help you achieve your health goals? Check out their blog posts for heart-healthy recipes here.
  • Please join the Brambleton Town Center Associates in congratulating the 2014 Shopping Spree Winner, Ben Carter!  The school chosen for the $1,000 donation is Creighton’s Corner Elementary School.
  • Lost Rhino Retreat is hiring for its next adventure in the Brambleton Town Center, anticipated to open this Spring.  For the latest info on their opening from the owner, Matt Hagerman, check out the Bram Beat #2.

Builder Buzz

  • Camberley Homes is hosting an Open House Saturday, February 28th from noon until 3PM. Spring is just around the corner and begins with their Open House at the English Manor Villas. See all three of their finished models, pick your favorite and enjoy the extra space of a sunroom or three-level expansion for FREE! All three are specially priced for quick delivery!  Find your perfect home at English Manor Villas, and enjoy the innovative architecture and inspired design of a Camberley home by Winchester which means you get the highly personalized home that you want in a place you’ll love to live. Townhomes from the upper $400’s.
  • Help Wanted at Winchester Homes – Winchester Homes is looking for a Model Home Administrative Assistant to work in the Townhomes in Glenmere model! This is a full time job with benefits, and your “work week” would run Thursday thru Monday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Great organizational and computer skills required. This is a great opportunity to work right here in Brambleton! Contact and send resume to Juan Rodriguez.
  • Winchester Homes West Park, Beazer Emerald Ridge SF & Pulte Trent Grove towns and villas are now SOLD OUT!

Single Family Homes:

  • Average Base Price = $658,751 (based on February ’15 pricing)
  • Average % price decrease since February ‘14 = 1.6%

Town Homes:

    • Average Base Price = $475,133 (based on February ’15 pricing)
    • Average % price decrease since February ‘14 = 0.8%

Single-Family Homes = priced from the upper $500s* to upper $700s*

  • Townhomes = priced from the lower $400s to mid $500s*

Brambleton Sales
Project to Date Sales = 4,580 (opened Sept. ‘01)
• SF Homes = 1,941
• Town Homes = 1,840
• Condos = 799

2015 Year to Date Sales = 49

• SF Homes = 16
• Town Homes = 33
• Condos = N/A

*Prices, terms, conditions subject to change

New Home Information Packet: www.issuu.com/brambleton
Model Home Map: www.issuu.com/brambleton

Bramleton’s Builder Model Home Video Tours Now Available!
  • English Manor Villas by Camberley Homes: Video
  • Skyview Collection by Miller & Smith: Video
  • South Lawn Collection by Miller & Smith: Video
  • The Brixton Collection at Clover Hill by Van Metre Homes: Video
  • Edgewood at Emerald Ridge by Van Metre Homes: Video
  • The Hillcrest Collection at Southbend in Emerald Ridge by Van Metre HomesVideo
  • Northstar at Emerald Ridge by Van Metre Homes: Video
  • Townsend Collection at Clover Hill by Van Metre Homes: Video
  • Devonshire Collection at Southbend by Van Metre Homes: Video
  • Winchester Homes Glenmere Singles: Video

How Does Investing in Brambleton Compare to Loudoun County?

Brambleton All of Loudoun
Average Sold Price                 $492,005         $471,109
Average Days on Market       74                      79
List Price/Sale Price               97.1%               95.2%

RE/MAX Gateway Brambleton
42365 Soave Drive, Suite 200 – Brambleton, VA 20148

Brambleton Snow Day Fun – February 2015

Brambleton Community Association News
February 2015 Newsletter – This is the latest monthly community news from the Brambleton Community Association. You can also follow their latest news LIVE on Facebook.  If you would like to advertise in their monthly newsletter, please email christine.elansary@brambleton.org.

Dulles Community Outreach – Your Opportunity to Impact the Future:
Loudoun County is seeking input from citizens regarding the future of the Dulles community. The information gathered during this outreach process will be used to shape the future County services offered to our community.  The Brambleton Community Association encourages all residents to participate and share their ideas and suggestions with the County through resident and business surveys, social media, and in a unique online engagement forum called the Dulles Community Mind Mixer.  Check out this video presented by Loudoun County. It’s important for residents to be involved with this project!

Volunteering in Brambleton, by Ram Venkat

As a Brambleton resident since 2008, I am more than thrilled about the developments and activities going on in Brambleton. When my wife Seetha & I looked at homes in Loudoun County, it didn’t take us very long to decide on a home in Brambleton. Tim with Miller & Smith helped us through our home buying decision as things happened pretty quickly.

From my experiences of having traveled this great nation – starting from a small town called Aberdeen, WA state (where Kurt Cobain of Nirvana is from) to Atlanta, GA to Boston, MA to the Bay Area, and having seen many neighborhoods & communities, my instincts told me that Brambleton had all of the right things for us.

Sponsorship Opportunities – The Brambleton Community Association is always looking for area businesses who would like some exposure and advertising.  A great way to do this is through Brambleton event sponsorship.  There are a lot of options available, including customizing packages to make them work best for your business. Download the sponsorship form here.

New Local Bus Service: Dulles South Connector (Route 85) – This new route will provide service between East Gate, South Riding, Stone Ridge, Brambleton and the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station via Loudoun Station during AM and PM peak periods. Service will be provided directly to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station via the above listed areas during the mid-day. View the Route 85 Bus Schedule. Additional information on all Loudoun County local bus service routes can be found on their website.
UPCOMING EVENTS:

February 28th – Camberley Homes Open House Noon-3PM March 14th – Comedy Night*
March 14th – Comedy Night* (SOLD OUT)
March 24th – Realtor Retreat 10AM-2PM
April 10th – Flashlight Egg Hunt* 8-9PM
April 11th – Brambleton Bunny Trail* 10AM-2PM
April 18th – Brambleton Ribbon Run 7:45AM
April 25th – Neighborhood Clean-Up*
April 25th – Community Shred Event 8:30AM-11:30AM
April 25th – Spring Yard Sale 9AM-12M
Spring – Lost Rhino Retreat Grand Opening
May 30th – Brambleton’s Inaugural Brewfest
*Residents Only

Rock Ridge producing record-breaking season for first-year program
When a new high school opens, there are generally many obstacles to athletic teams being successful right away. The limited time available for the coaching staff and players to come together as a team can be a large issue, and with no senior class, a lack of experienced leadership can be a challenge.  The boys basketball team at newly opened Rock Ridge High School is proving to be an exception to the rule. The Phoenix have produced a record-breaking inaugural campaign and are looking to accomplish even more.

StoneSprings Hospital Center Virtual Tour Now Available
Watch StoneSprings Hospital Center being built from the ground up. This video shows a 3D model of the framework for the hospital, real photos of the site progressing through construction, and a tour of the virtual facility.

Two Very Different Ashburn Parks Get Their Names: Brambleton Community and Broad Run Valley
Parks in Brambleton and Loudoun Valley Estates were named during the Loudoun Board of Supervisors Jan. 21 meeting, eliminating vague references such as the ball fields on Belmont Ridge Road. One is an active park with ball fields, while the other includes open space and trails.

Brambleton Community Park is familiar to drivers who pass through the North Star Boulevard/Belmont Ridge Road intersection just north of Briar Woods High School. It consists of four existing full-size and two smaller baseball diamonds west of Belmont Ridge, as well as two football fields and a soccer field east of Belmont Ridge.

Buffington Aims To Replace Incumbent Clarke
A challenge of representing the sprawling Blue Ridge District on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is trying to discern the needs of both rural and suburban residents. But Tony Buffington believes he can handle that job.

Buffington has lived in Brambleton since 2011, so he knows the suburbs. But he also grew up in Berryville, so the rural lifestyle, present in so much of western Loudoun, is familiar to him, as well.  He talked about this matter and others Monday in an interview about his Blue Ridge District candidacy.

Farm-based breweries are on tap in Loudoun
Beer lovers can look forward to the arrival of farm-based breweries across Loudoun County this spring, after the Board of Supervisors’ recent passage of an ordinance that allows brewery businesses and tasting rooms on land where ingredients for beer are grown.

Last year, state lawmakers passed legislation that relaxed regulations for farm-based breweries across Virginia. The Board of Supervisors’ approval of the farm brewery ordinance at a Jan. 21 meeting made Loudoun the first county in Virginia to incorporate the new state law into local legislation.

Loudoun County’s population tops 350,000 mark
For the first time in history, Loudoun County’s population has topped 350,000, according to estimates released today by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center.

The U-Va. analysis reports nearly 362,000 people were living in Loudoun as of July 2014. That figure is up nearly 50,000 from the 2010 Census, a more than 15 percent spike.

Only one other county in the commonwealth saw double-digit growth, percentage wise, in that time frame; that being Arlington, which jumped from 207,500 to 229,300 – a more than 10 percent hike.

Loudoun remains the third most-populated county in Virginia behind Fairfax (1.11 million) and Prince William (438,000). In terms of local jurisdictions, Loudoun is the fourth largest due to Virginia Beach’s more than 450,000 residents.