If you live anywhere near Reston Town Center, you probably already heard the buzz. The Fairfax County Planning Commission gave its unanimous approval this September to RTC Next, BXP’s second phase of development at Reston Town Center. We are talking about 4 million square feet of new construction. That is not a typo. It is one of the largest single approvals in Reston’s history, and it is going to shape what your home is worth for the next decade.
I have sold real estate in this town since 2016 and closed more Reston listings than anyone else tracked by RealTrends. I want to walk you through what is actually being built, when it is happening, and most importantly, what it means for you as a homeowner or a buyer looking at property nearby.
What is actually being approved
RTC Next expands Reston Town Center eastward, adding to the two office towers, the Skymark apartments, and the AC Hotel and Residence Inn that already opened in the first phase. The new phase moves onto roughly 33 acres east of Visionary Way and includes more office space, additional housing, new retail, and a site set aside for a performing arts center. Four existing office buildings sit on that land today. Two will come down. Two will stay and get folded into the new street grid.
The Planning Commission voted 11 to 0 in favor. The plan then moved to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the final approval body, with a hearing that followed in the fall. This is being led by BXP, formerly Boston Properties, the same developer behind the original Reston Town Center and the first RTC Next buildings that are already fully leased.
Why this matters for home values
Here is what history tells us. When BXP opened the first phase of RTC Next, with its two office towers and the Skymark apartments, it reached full lease up fast, described by BXP’s own leasing team as proof of a flight to quality happening across the whole DMV region. Companies and residents want to be here. That kind of sustained demand is exactly what supports home values over time in the surrounding neighborhoods.
My own numbers back this up. My closed Reston listings have sold 45 percent faster than the market average, for 17 dollars and 88 cents more per square foot, with a 101.1 percent sold to list ratio, all verified through Bright MLS. Reston already commands a premium. A new performing arts center, thousands more jobs within walking distance of the Silver Line, and new housing stock that keeps the town center feeling fresh all point toward that premium holding or growing, especially for homes within an easy walk or short drive of the town center itself.
What homeowners nearby should expect during construction
This is the part that generic real estate blogs tend to skip, so let’s be honest about it. A project this size does not happen without disruption.
Traffic and parking. Expect construction traffic on Reston Parkway, Sunset Hills Road, and the streets feeding into the town center for the next several years. If you live in a community that uses those roads for your daily commute, plan for detours and slower trips, especially during peak construction phases.
Noise and dust. Demolition of the two existing office buildings will generate noise. If your home backs up to or sits within a few blocks of the RTC Next site, expect some disruption during the heaviest construction periods, though Fairfax County’s site plan process requires contractors to follow noise and work hour restrictions.
A temporary dip in walkability appeal. Construction zones are never as pleasant to walk past as a finished plaza. Some buyers pause on properties adjacent to active construction. That typically resolves once the project wraps and can actually become an advantage for sellers who list right as phases complete and buyers see the finished product.
What buyers should ask before purchasing near RTC Next
If you are house hunting in Reston right now, here are the questions I would want answered before writing an offer on anything within a half mile of the town center:
- What is the current construction timeline for the phase closest to this property, and when does the site plan process expect substantial completion?
- Will this property’s daily route to the Silver Line station or the toll road pass through active construction zones?
- For a condo or townhome in a community adjacent to the site, has the HOA discussed any special assessments related to nearby construction impact, shared amenities, or infrastructure upgrades?
- Has the seller disclosed any known plans for road changes, sound barriers, or landscaping buffers tied to the RTC Next site plan?
- What does the Reston Association or the county’s traffic study say about anticipated volume increases on this specific street once RTC Next reaches full buildout?
None of these should scare you off. Reston has absorbed major growth before and come out with higher values and a more vibrant town center every time. But going in with the right questions means you are buying with your eyes open instead of finding out about a jackhammer schedule after closing.
The bottom line
RTC Next is a generational bet on Reston, and so far the market has rewarded every phase of this town center’s growth with rising demand. If you own a home near the town center, this is worth watching closely over the next few years, both for the disruption and for the upside. If you are thinking about buying or selling in Reston and want a read on how a specific property sits relative to the construction timeline, reach out and I will walk through it with you property by property.
Nikki Lagouros is a REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, serving buyers and sellers across Northern Virginia since 2016.