Working with Atlantic Realty Partners BV, Buchanan acquired the 400 acres--located near Washington Dulles International Airport and the increasingly popular new National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center--for the project, piece by piece. A large portion of the property, referred to as the Hazout tract for its former owner Hazout SA, has already been zoned to accommodate a mixed-use project of this size consisting of retail, office, flex and industrial space.

The project has been met with a great deal of support form local officials and residents alike. The warm reception has a great deal to do with the fact that Buchanan worked with the county's Route 50 Task force in planning a project that would be fitting for the area's burgeoning Route 50 Corridor.

"When people hear that Loudoun County is the second fastest growing county in the nation, many people think that the growth is uncontrolled sprawl, but they are wrong," notes Stephen Snow, a supervisor on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. "Arcola Center will offer an employment center, workforce housing, services, and other needed amenities to serve this rapidly growing area just west and south of the airport." If all goes as planned construction could get under way before year's end.