March 20, 2024

Source: Annandale Today

A completed section of Woodleigh Chase.


Woodleigh Chase
, the massive new independent-living complex on Braddock Road in Fairfax, has already welcomed 25 residents, although it will take five years to complete the build-out. The development is restricted to people at least 62 years old.

When completed, the 43-acre Woodleigh Chase complex will have 1,500 units in nine buildings and two clubhouses, says Sales Director David Taylor. It’s one of 23 senior communities developed and managed by Erickson Senior Living.

An apartment at Woodleigh Chase with an open floor plan.


The first three completed buildings at Woodleigh Chase have 262 apartments with 19 different layouts.

Residents don’t lease or buy their unit, Taylor explains. They acquire “the right to occupy” by submitting a payment ranging from $417,000 to $1.16 million, depending on the size of the apartment. Eighty percent of that amount is refundable when residents leave.

The Blue Jay Pub at Woodleigh Chase


Residents also pay a monthly fee based on unit size – ranging from $3,300 to $5,000 – which covers utilities, maintenance, and amenities. There is no additional charge for pets.

Residents who develop dementia or serious health issues will be able to move into the 175-unit continuing care neighborhood at Woodleigh Chase, which will provide assisted living, skilled nursing care, and memory care. That area is expected to open in four or five years, Taylor says.

The game room at Woodleigh Chase


The Emerson Clubhouse is already open. It has three restaurants – the Blue Jay Pub, Cardinal Café, and the Providence Restaurant. Food is included in the monthly fee, but alcohol is extra.

The clubhouse has an indoor pool with chair lifts, fitness rooms open 24 hours a day, a salon, library, art studio, classrooms, theater, game room, open courtyards, and an outdoor dog run. There’s a medical office with a doctor on site during weekday business hours and on call at other times.

Related story: Supervisors approve huge complex for seniors

Ongoing construction at Woodleigh Chase.


The residents will decide what kind of programs they want, Taylor says, noting a resident already formed a library committee.

Apartments range from 917 square feet for a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom unit to 1,841 square feet for a unit with two bedrooms, a den, and two and a-half bathrooms.

Woodleigh Chase residents have free use of the pool, fitness facilities, and other amenities.


All the apartments have screened porches, washers and dryers, and 24-hour emergency call systems. Residents can get onsite housekeeping for $35 an hour or bring in their own cleaners.

Among the residents who already moved in, the average age is 79, and about half are single, Taylor says.

Woodleigh Chase is being built on the site of the old Northern Virginia Training Center. It’s next to the Virginia State Police Station, a new Department of Motor Vehicles facility, and a new building offering affordable, independent-living apartments for people age 62 and older.

Ilda's Overlook at Woodleigh Chase.


That building, called Ilda’s Overlook, is on land proffered to Fairfax County by Erickson Senior Living and was developed by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH).

Related story: Ilda was a mixed-race community on Little River Turnpike

Ilda’s Overlook has 80 one and two-bedroom units ranging from 647 to 1,005 square feet. Twelve units are already occupied.

Rent ranges from $779 to $1,946 a month, depending on the size of the apartment. Tenants must meet certain income limits to qualify.

Ilda's Overlook Lobby at Woodleigh Chase.


The building has a fitness center, multipurpose room, business center with computers, and a wellness room where doctors and therapists can meet with residents, says Community Manager Yelice Arevalo. All apartments have washers and dryers.

The building’s name and two of the three model apartments, “Matilda” and “Blacksmith,” reflect the building’s location near the former community of Ilda. The third model, the “Braddock” is named for the building’s location, at 10055 Braddock Road.

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