Head Start Daycare Relocation

Location

The Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) Head Start Daycare operation will be moved to 2920 S. Glebe Road.

Status

Complete

Expected construction start - spring 2018

Construction completion - May 2019

About the Project

Head Start will be displaced from its current premises – 1800 N. George Mason Drive – as the County and Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) move forward on their Option to Purchase agreement, which will allow the hospital to expand at its George Mason Drive campus by purchasing the County’s Edison site next door.

The County, as landlord, currently leases 11,507 square feet of building area and 9,900 square feet of exterior playground area to NVFS for operation of the Head Smart program; the program serves over 200 children between the ages of three and five.

Staff had explored other feasible available alternatives (churches, colleges, office buildings and other County-owned facilities), but determined the location at 2920 S. Glebe Road was the best suited option. The County Board approved the purchase of the three story office building in July 2017. Displacement of the Head Start program from 1880 N. George Mason Drive could occur as early as summer 2018.

The County will totally refurbish and build out the office building (now a shell) making it an educational daycare facility for more than 200 students. An outdoor playground will also be constructed.

Funding

Funding for this project comes from fall 2017 issuing bonds, with interim funding coming from existing pay-as-you-go funds.