Northern Virginia doesn't do slow news weeks. Right now we've got a data center battle headed to the Virginia Supreme Court, a 70-year-old drive-in theater rising from the dead, and a stadium design that has the entire DMV talking. If you live here, own here, or are seriously considering a move to this area, these stories aren't just headlines — they directly affect your neighborhood, your commute, and your property value.
I'm Chris Colgan. I grew up in Lawnvale in western Prince William County, I live in Oak Valley off Catharpin Road today, and I've spent 18 years and over $1 billion in closed real estate transactions getting to know every corner of this region. Here's what you need to know right now.
The Digital Gateway Data Center Battle: What's Really Going On in Western Prince William County
Photo Credits: Insidenova.com
This is the story I get asked about more than almost anything else right now, and it deserves a real breakdown because it's complicated.
What is the Digital Gateway? It's a proposed 2,100-acre data center complex in western Prince William County — specifically in the area bounded by Lee Highway heading into Gainesville and Catharpin Road toward Sudley. If approved and built, it would be the largest data center park in the world, consisting of 37 individual data centers with a combined footprint equivalent to 144 Walmart stores.
This land was originally zoned in the rural crescent, a protected area that had been restricted to residential lots of 10 acres or more. A developer coalition — working with a group of area landowners — successfully lobbied Prince William County's Board of Supervisors to approve the rezoning and move the project forward.
Why It Got Struck Down — Twice
After the initial approval passed following a marathon 24-hour public meeting, a neighborhood group and a separate coalition of homeowners challenged the decision in court. Their argument wasn't just about the merits of data centers — it was procedural. The county had failed to properly advertise the public hearing in the Washington Post, as required by Virginia law.
The court agreed. The approval was ruled null and void, and the county was ordered to hold a new vote. The problem for the developers? The political landscape on the Board of Supervisors has since shifted significantly. The current board is largely anti-data center, making a favorable revote unlikely.
So now the developers and the county are suing again, and the case is headed to the Virginia Supreme Court. This is one of the highest-stakes land use battles in Northern Virginia history.
Read the original reporting here.
What This Means for Homeowners and Buyers
If you own property near the western Prince William corridor — or you're considering buying there — this matters. Here's how I see it from a real estate perspective:
- If the data centers get built: Property tax revenue for Prince William County would increase significantly, potentially offsetting residential tax burdens. The flip side is traffic, noise, and visual impact — particularly near the Manassas National Battlefield, which sits adjacent to the proposed site.
- If the project is rejected: The land likely reverts to residential pressure, and we could eventually see large-lot residential development in that corridor instead.
Neither outcome is clean. But if you're buying in Gainesville, Haymarket, or western Manassas, you need to be watching this case closely. The Virginia Supreme Court's ruling will be a defining moment for land use in this region. I'll keep covering it as it develops on my YouTube channel — Northern Virginia Living with Chris Colgan — and in the Real Nova Network newsletter at realnovanetwork.com.
The Drive-In Movie Theater Is Coming Back Near Winchester
Photo Credits: Oudaily.com
This one genuinely made me smile. The Valley Drive-In in Stephens City — about an hour west of Northern Virginia on Route 11 near Winchester — is reopening after closing last year.
This theater has been around for 70 years. It's one of the last surviving drive-in movie theaters on the East Coast, and a local buyer stepped in to save it. The first film will screen on April 3rd, timed to the theatrical release of the new Super Mario Brothers movie.
When I posted about this on Instagram (@ChrisColganTeam), it went absolutely viral — over 15,000 shares and 10,000 likes. That reaction tells you something: people here are hungry for experiences that aren't another chain restaurant or big-box store. A 70-year-old drive-in coming back to life in the Shenandoah Valley is exactly the kind of thing this region needs more of.
If you're thinking about a day trip from Haymarket, Gainesville, Warrenton, or the broader Fauquier County corridor, it's a short and scenic drive through the Shenandoah Valley foothills. Worth putting on your calendar.
Read the original reporting here.
Saks Fifth Avenue Is Closing at Tysons Galleria
Photo Credits: Insidenova.com
This one is a big deal for anyone who's shopped at Tysons Corner over the years. Saks Fifth Avenue — one of the original anchor tenants at Tysons Galleria — is closing its location there as part of a broader bankruptcy restructuring.
The closure will eliminate roughly 70 jobs at Tysons and another 75 at the Chevy Chase location. Saks has been at Tysons Galleria for approximately 30 years. The property is currently owned by Brookfield Properties, which acquired it from the Lerner family.
From a real estate perspective, losing an anchor tenant of this caliber creates a real challenge for Tysons Galleria. We're watching that whole retail corridor adapt in real time — and the Saks closure is a reminder that even the most established retail formats are not immune to the ongoing restructuring happening in high-end retail nationally. What fills that space will be worth watching.
Read the original reporting here.
A Rare Bird Has Birders Flocking to Great Falls
Photo Credits: The Washington Post
I'll be honest — I'm not a bird watcher. But even I found this story cool. A red-flanked bluetail, native to Asia, was spotted in the Great Falls area of Fairfax County — only the second confirmed sighting of this species on the entire East Coast. People have been traveling from across the country to see it.
For the nature lovers considering a move to Northern Virginia: Great Falls Park and the surrounding parkland along the Potomac is already one of the great natural assets of this region. If you value access to trail systems, river access, and open space, Great Falls is one of those places that genuinely surprises people who are new here.
Read the original reporting here.
Virginia May End Daylight Saving Time — But There's a Catch
The Virginia Senate passed a bill to eliminate the twice-yearly clock change and remain on Eastern Standard Time permanently — putting the Commonwealth in the same category as Arizona and Hawaii.
Here's the catch: because so many Northern Virginia residents commute into DC and Maryland, both DC and Maryland would also need to agree for this to work in any meaningful practical sense. If Virginia moves forward while its neighbors don't, you'd have workers crossing time zone boundaries during their daily commute — which creates real complexity.
I'm actually a fan of ending the time change. The late-winter darkness that comes when the clocks fall back is brutal. But this one has a long road before it becomes reality.
Read the original reporting here.
Hershey's Super Sweet Adventure Is Opening at Tysons Corner
Photo Credits: hersheysupersweetadventure.com
If you have kids — or you just love chocolate — this one is for you. Hershey's Super Sweet Adventure, an interactive family-friendly experience concept, is opening at Tysons Corner Center on March 20th. Tickets are priced around $30.
The experience includes hands-on activities, immersive environments, games, and candy-themed installations. It's built on a model that's been popular at other locations around the country, and Tysons Corner is a strong landing spot given the foot traffic and family demographics of that area.
Read the original reporting here.
Homes for Sale near Tysons Corner VA
The Scoop & Scootery Is Coming to Arlington — 70+ Sundaes and Shakes
Photo Credits: Northern Virginia Magazine
A viral ice cream concept called The Scoop & Scootery is opening its first Virginia location in Arlington. The brand built a following with 40,000+ TikTok followers, started as a food truck, and now has five locations across Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas. Their menu features more than 70 sundaes and shakes.
For anyone tracking Arlington as a potential place to live or invest, the continued growth of the food and entertainment scene there is a real quality-of-life signal. Arlington keeps attracting this type of concept because the density, the demographics, and the foot traffic are there.
Read the original reporting here.
IndyCar Is Racing Around the National Mall in August
This is legitimately one of the most unexpected things happening in the DMV in 2025. IndyCar announced a street race on the National Mall in Washington, DC, scheduled for August 22nd and 23rd as part of America's 250th anniversary celebration.
The 1.7-mile circuit with seven turns will route cars directly past the White House, the National Air and Space Museum, and the broader National Mall corridor. It will be broadcast on Fox Sports. This is the first-ever auto race staged at the National Mall.
For clients considering buying in the DC suburbs, this is a reminder that the region continues to attract major events and investments in a way that most metro areas simply can't match. From an economic vibrancy standpoint, the DMV remains one of the most recession-resistant real estate markets in the country.
Read the original reporting here.
Manassas Park Industrial Site Sold for $12.5M — 300 Apartments Coming
Photo Credits: Washington Business Journal
An older industrial property in Manassas Park sold for $12.5 million and will be redeveloped into approximately 300 multi-family homes.
This is a trend I'm watching carefully across the entire Northern Virginia region: commercial and industrial land is being repositioned as housing. We're seeing it in Reston, Tysons, and now Manassas Park. The reason is simple — there's no more raw land. The region is effectively built out in most of its core markets, so adaptive reuse of underutilized commercial parcels is how we're going to absorb continued population growth.
For buyers in the Prince William County market, this kind of infill development can actually be a positive signal — it adds density near existing infrastructure, reduces pressure on greenfield sites, and brings new residents and spending into established neighborhoods.
Read the original reporting here.
Reston Crossing Is Back: 3.1 Million Square Feet at the Town Center Metro
Photo Credits: Fairfax Now
After a previous developer walked away, a new developer has taken over the Reston Crossing project on the south side of the Reston Town Center Metro Station. The proposed development would bring 3.1 million square feet of new space, including:
- 1.48 million square feet of Class A office
- 1.6 million square feet of multi-family residential (across four blocks)
- 31,000 square feet of retail
This is exactly the type of transit-oriented development the Silver Line corridor needs to reach its full potential. Building density directly around Metro stations is the right long-term play for Northern Virginia, both from a land use and from a real estate value perspective. Blocks A and B are planned as residential (380 and 320 units respectively), with Block C adding retail at grade, Block D as office, and Block E as additional housing.
There are still significant permitting and financing hurdles ahead, but this project moving forward is a strong signal for the Ashburn and Reston real estate market.
Read the original reporting here.
The Commanders Stadium Renderings Are Out — And It Looks Incredible
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The Washington Commanders released additional renderings of their new stadium at the old RFK site in Washington, DC, and I'll say it plainly: this design is impressive.
The project features a retractable roof, extensive outdoor gathering spaces, and sight lines from the concourses that take in the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and the National Mall. The team is actively pursuing hosting rights for major events including the Super Bowl, Wrestlemania, Taylor Swift, college basketball's Sweet 16, and more.
A multi-use stadium of this scale — open multiple days per week with a retractable roof — would become one of the most consequential infrastructure investments in the region's history. For real estate in the Capitol Hill, Navy Yard, Anacostia, and northern Prince William County corridors, a fully operational stadium at RFK would be a significant catalyst.
Read the original reporting here.
Final Thoughts: What All of This Means for Northern Virginia Real Estate
When I look at everything happening right now — the data center legal battles in western Prince William, the transit-oriented development push in Reston, the adaptive reuse in Manassas Park, the stadium at RFK — what I see is a region with enormous momentum and real structural demand for housing.
If you're thinking about buying here, the question isn't whether Northern Virginia is a strong long-term market. It is. The question is where exactly you want to be positioned within it, and that answer depends on your job, your commute, your school priorities, and your lifestyle. That's exactly the kind of conversation I have with clients every week.
If you're looking for the best realtor in Northern Virginia to help you navigate what's happening right now, I'd love to connect. Visit ColganTeam.com or reach out directly — my team and I are here to help.
Stay ahead of stories like these before they hit the mainstream — subscribe to the Real Nova Network newsletter at realnovanetwork.com, follow along on YouTube at Northern Virginia Living with Chris Colgan, and on Instagram @ChrisColganTeam.
"The Digital Gateway is a proposed 2,100-acre data center complex in western Prince William County that would consist of 37 data centers, making it the largest data center park in the world. The project has been legally challenged by area homeowners over a procedural advertising error, and the case is currently headed to the Virginia Supreme Court." "The outcome is uncertain, which is itself a market factor. If approved, increased tax revenue could benefit Prince William County residents, but proximity to a large industrial complex may affect desirability for some buyers. If rejected, residential development pressure on the rural crescent is likely to increase. Buyers in western Prince William should monitor the Virginia Supreme Court's ruling closely." "Several notable openings are on the way, including Hershey's Super Sweet Adventure at Tysons Corner Center (opening March 20th), The Scoop & Scootery ice cream concept in Arlington, and the revival of the Valley Drive-In in Stephens City near Winchester." "Reston continues to benefit from the Silver Line extension and growing transit-oriented development. The revival of the Reston Crossing project at the Town Center Metro adds further momentum. For buyers who prioritize Metro access, walkability, and long-term appreciation potential, Reston remains one of the stronger value plays in Northern Virginia." "Subscribe to the Real Nova Network newsletter at realnovanetwork.com, follow @ChrisColganTeam on Instagram, and subscribe to Northern Virginia Living with Chris Colgan on YouTube for weekly market updates, community coverage, and breaking local news."Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Digital Gateway data center project in Prince William County?
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About Chris Colgan
Chris Colgan is the founder of Real Nova Network and team leader of Chris Colgan – Real Broker – Powered by PLACE.
Through colganteam.com and realnovanetwork.com, Chris covers Northern Virginia real estate trends, major developments, and hyper-local market updates to help buyers and sellers make confident decisions.
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