The vibrant heart of Northern Virginia — Reston Town Center (RTC) — is about to get a whole lot more dynamic with its expansion known as RTC Next. This mixed-use development is shaping up to be a cornerstone for the live-work-play lifestyle in Reston, and as your local real-estate agent, I’m thrilled to share what this means for homes, investments, and the community.
What is RTC Next?
At its core, RTC Next is an extension of the existing Reston Town Center, oriented around the new Reston Town Center Metro station on the Silver Line and designed to merge strong office presence, residences, retail, green space, and transit.
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The master plan calls for roughly 4 to 4.4 million square feet of new development.
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The development footprint is about 33 acres in the phase-2 area east of Visionary Way, bounded by Sunset Hills Road to the south and the W&OD Trail to the north.
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Key components:
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Office towers (first phase delivered two: 1950 & 2000 Opportunity Way)
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Residential buildings/housing units
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Retail, dining, and wellness amenities
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Green space and improved pedestrian/active-transport connections
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According to the developer’s materials, the finished extension will add “more 4.4 million square feet and over six acres of open space” to the existing Town Center.
What’s Coming (and Already Here)
What’s been completed so far
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The first phase included the two office towers mentioned above, a Marriott AC Hotel & Residences, and the Skymark Apartments.
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Retail/leasing sites have started to show signs of life with new restaurants, wellness-oriented businesses, and lifestyle retail.
What’s next — Phase 2 and beyond
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The most recent update (September 2025) shows the planning commission unanimously supported revisions to the second phase plan: approx. 930,000 sq ft of office space across two new towers, 22,000 sq ft of retail, two residential buildings, and a 60,000-sq ft performing arts center block dedicated to the county.
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The developer also revised the blocks: the performing arts center will now occupy “Block G2”, adjacent to a linear park connecting the Metro station and the W&OD Trail.
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On the retail/tenant side, eateries such as Clarity (from Vienna, VA) and Yunnan by Potomac Noodle House are announced; wellness players like iCryo – Reston are also signing on.
Why This Matters for Homeowners & Buyers
As someone guiding clients in Reston, I believe RTC Next offers multiple signals worth noting:
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Transit-oriented premium — With the Metro station right there, properties nearby often command stronger interest. A development like this future-proofs the area.
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Live-work-play convenience — The mix of offices, homes, dining, and retail in one zone means shorter commutes, more local amenity access, and potentially higher walkability scores.
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Value creation — Historically, areas undergoing this level of infrastructure and amenity growth see appreciation as they mature. If you buy today, you’re in early for the full phase rollout.
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Rental & investment potential — If you’re considering investment properties, being in or near a vibrant, evolving district can appeal to tenants who value lifestyle and convenience.
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Community identity & green space — The inclusion of parks, linear trails, performing arts space takes this beyond “just another condo” — it speaks to a richer community ecosystem, which often correlates with sustained demand.
What to Watch & Ask
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Timeline & delivery — While portions are complete, full build-out remains years away. Ask: What are the next move-in dates? Which blocks are next?
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Affordability/units mix — The plan states that 16 % of the ~1,402 proposed residential units will be “affordable or workforce housing” per county standards.
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Traffic/parking/transport connectivity — Big mixed-use means more people. How are parking, traffic flows, and public transit planned?
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Tenant mix — The calibre of restaurants, retail, and services matter for long-term vibrancy.
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Office market health — The revision shifting more towards office in 2024 raised eyebrows given the broader office-sector challenges. But the developer argues the proximity to Metro makes it a good fit.
Final Thoughts
For anyone looking at the Reston real-estate market, RTC Next is one of the most compelling storylines today. It represents an evolution of Reston’s built environment: moving from suburban center toward a denser, transit-centric, amenity-rich neighborhood. Whether you’re buying a home to stay for decades, investing for rental income, or working in the area and want to live nearby — this development is poised to influence value and lifestyle.
If you’re curious about which specific blocks or units within RTC Next might offer the best opportunity (early phases vs. later phases; condos vs. apartments; near the Metro vs. farther back) — I’d be happy to dive in and pull projections for you.
Would you like me to pull data on recent sales and pricing trends around RTC and how RTC Next might affect them?
I'm here and would love to help!
-Marnie Schaar