As recently as April 2014 Bob the Barber had his business here on the seventh floor - weird place for a barbershop, no? And I see that there was once a Hard Times Cafe on the eighth floor. But in October 2014, when I took these photos, I saw no evidence of that. Doing a google search on the address, I see that various other businesses were also located here. Once.
Here's the face that I-95 sees - it often has a big advertising banner affixed thereto:
Let's start with the description on a web site:
Highlights
Excellent location - 495/95 interchange
Entire floor available
Prominent building in Fairfax County
Floor to ceiling windows
Full service leases
Less than a mile from Springfield Metro
Description
Subject property is a tall, glass structure located prominently at the interchange of I-495 and I-95 in Spingfield, Virginia. Standing 14 stories tall, the Springfield Tower is one of the most visable (sp) landmarks in Fairfax County. Property has floor to ceiling windows, and a two-level parking deck. Leases are full service.
The Springfield Tower is located at the intersection of the Capital Beltway (495) and 95/395, one of the most accessible submarkets in metro DC. The Springfield Metro stop is less than a mile away and the property is surrounded by retail, office, and hotels.
...and blight, police tape, parked trucks and crumbling concrete. Take a look:
Above: I'm guessing that, once upon a time, some bank had a branch
location here, and this was where the drive through section was. Now
some unknown entity parks industrial trucks there
Above: This is what you see when you park in front of the building. Those steel stanchions look like they are partially holding up the deck!
Above: And here's the front entrance. That makes an unforgettably impressive look for corporate customers and clients, huh?
Note that the "d" in "dr." is lower case here but upper case in the view at the top. Nice touch. At least they spelled "Augusta" correctly.
Above: Plan to drive up that ramp? I don't think so. With the stanchions in front in mind, you and your car might just end up in a pile of concrete.
Sheesh. What a wreck! Didn't I last see a building like this in Detroit - or an episode of The Simpsons?
Stay classy, downtown Springfield...
I am surprised there is no mention of the guy who was on an upper floor and was randomly shoot by someone on the outside. I believe it occured just prior to the turn of the century.
ReplyDeleteI can't find anything about this in a search of google or the Washington Post database.
DeleteBack in the day kids called this the SST Building...Springfield Sore Thumb.
ReplyDeleteToday the kids call it "Bando" as in abandoned!
ReplyDeleteThis building is not abandoned and is now being renovated after the areas unsupervised children broke in a destroyed every floor except 12..
ReplyDeleteYou have an oddly specific amount of knowledge about that, lol. Why would they spare floor 12? What sort of secrets are hidden away on that floor?
DeleteAs of January 2021 they fixed up a lot of the crumbling exterior parts. I havent been inside but there is a lobby and unless the sign is horribly out of date, there are a few businesses still operating out of the building. There are for lease signs all over it.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll have to swing by and look some day!
DeleteActually I now know the sign is indeed horribly out of date. Interesting weird building though.
DeleteI worked there a couple years and asked the owner about the property. The 12 story building is owned by a man and the one story former Exxon station connected to it is owned by a bank that foreclosed on that part of the property years ago.
ReplyDeleteFairfax County Fire has their antennas on the roof and would not let the owner demolish the building. Also when is a good time to close the highway? More income was made from the antennas than renting the office space.
The deck was crumbling for years and the county finally made them make it safe or remove it. For years the concrete ramp was held up by 6X6 wood posts. Wood holding up concrete!
The man shot in the neck sitting at his desk was in was in 6225 Brandon Ave. Before the sound walls went up along the highway some moron on Bowie Dr. shot a .22 at a bird in his back yard. Hitting the unfortunate man in his office.
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ReplyDeleteWhat was the job there? And did you go inside? This particular building fascinates me. It seems so run down and now the stormwater runoff drain in front of the building has collapsed in on itself. Do they plan on renovating? But why bother really? Doubtful to find any tenants.
ReplyDeletecheck springfield blogspot
DeleteI worked for a small construction company see all the trucks? We needed one office and 8 parking spaces. My boss would buy a new pick up with a plow every other year. But infrequent snow and never washing the trucks wore them out quick. Year or 2 ago new owner kicked everybody out and is renovating it. The parking deck was shored up with steel that must have cost a pretty penny. Originally built for a meat packing association it's not a very profitable building because of small floor space compared to area taken up by halls, stairs, elevators bathrooms etc.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1986/11/14/springfield-fire-snarls-i-95-traffic/7c4c3bc8-59ca-422a-a72d-8a3f3decf8f7/
To answer your questions: I haven't been in there in 2 years. They kicked us out to renovate they said. I'll check the drain next time I'm at LA Mart next door. Why else put thousands into repairing the parking deck and repaving the area around. County won't let the tear it down because the emergency services have their antennas there. And the proximity to the highway makes the demo difficult. Close the highway to blow it up. ? When is a good time? I suppose take it down by hand. Rent was very cheap there that's why my boss kept it.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet a truck ran over the storm drain and caved it in because it was never a problem when I was there.
ReplyDeleteI went by there today. The storm drain is repaired, and surprisingly, a few of the floors have businesses renting the spaces. There's a jujitsu place, a spa, and some other unidentified business by the space was clearly occupied. Interesting. We shall see how viable it remains. I'm weirdly obsessed with this tower. It's such a local enigma, lol!
ReplyDeletesearch: Springfield Fire Snarls I-95 Traffic
ReplyDeletesearch: Slaying at Gas Station Triggers Manhunt in Fairfax
The first story I knew Steve Melco from Gates & Hudson Mgmt. for years,
DeleteSecond story unfortunate man shot for no reason. An Exxon station occupied the area with the overhang. But the location was so out of the way they must have closed for lack of business.
5 years ago a supposed school for retraining veterans was there and overcharging the government for nothing. Was caught closed and had to pay back the Govt.
It's was the lowest rent in town. Go in there and look around. If someone confronts you say you're looking for Bob's Barber Shop. They were on the 6th and closed about 4 years ago. You don't know
Another interesting building is the GSA quonset hut type building behind Sheehy Ford/Springfield Mall. 8 stories underground with CIA training facilities, shooting range and who knows what else.