Happy Thursday, Northern Virginia!
In today’s update:
💰 A $10.25 million condo sale in Reston just broke Virginia’s all-time record, and it could say a lot about where Northern Virginia’s luxury market is headed next. This wasn’t just a big sale.
⚖️ A massive data center campus once planned for western Prince William County is now facing an uncertain future after one of its key developers walked away from the legal fight.
👑 A rare royal visit brought thousands to Front Royal as King Charles III and Queen Camilla made a brief but closely watched stop in Virginia.
Scroll down and enjoy!
—Chris Colgan
Click to see it:
Best Things To Do This Weekend
in the NoVA/DC Area
Madden LIV Golf Virginia Tournament
Watch some of golf’s biggest names compete during this four day tournament in Northern Virginia. The event also features food vendors, fan experiences, and a live Saturday concert from country star Bailey Zimmerman.
📍 Location: Trump National Golf Club Washington D.C., Sterling
📅 Date: May 7–10
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $29
MORE INFO→
Pickle & Grilled Cheese Fest
Pickle lovers and grilled cheese fans can enjoy a weekend packed with comfort food, craft beer, live music, and quirky festival vibes at this returning Chantilly event.
📍 Location: Bunnyman Brewing, Chantilly
📅 Date: May 9–10 | 11 AM–7 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $45
MORE INFO→
Art in the Burg
Middleburg’s annual arts celebration returns with local artists, live music, wine, food vendors, and family friendly activities spread throughout the town’s charming downtown streets.
📍 Location: South Madison & Federal Streets, Middleburg
📅 Date: May 9 | 11 AM–6 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free
MORE INFO→
🎥 Northern Virginia Home Buyers Regret is Exploding in 2026
💰 Reston Just Set Virginia’s Condo Record With a $10M Sale
Driving the news: A penthouse at JW Marriott Residences Reston Station sold for $10.25 million, setting a new record for the most expensive condo sale in Virginia, according to Fairfax County records reported by Virginia Business.
Details: This was not a standard luxury unit.
The buyer purchased both 27th-floor penthouses and plans to combine them.
The finished residence will span about 6,000 square feet.
It includes a 2,008-square-foot balcony.
The home offers wide views across Reston, Tysons and the region’s western foothills.
The sale topped the prior Virginia condo record, held by a Rosslyn unit that sold in 2024.
The big picture: JW Marriott Residences is part of Reston Station, a 5-million-square-foot mixed-use district built around the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.
The development brings together condos, apartments, offices, restaurants, retail, hotel space and public areas in one connected setting.
By the numbers: The building includes:
248 hotel rooms on the lower floors.
93 luxury residences above.
More than 40,000 square feet of event space.
24-hour concierge and valet service.
Private resident amenities, including a fitness area, lounge and rooftop dog park.
Between the lines: This sale points to a shift in what luxury buyers want in Northern Virginia. Big square footage still matters, but lifestyle is carrying more weight.
Buyers are paying for service, convenience, restaurants, transit and a place that feels complete without having to leave the neighborhood.
What’s next: This likely will not be the last high-end sale that turns heads.
More branded residences are planned across Northern Virginia, including luxury condo projects in Tysons, which could keep pressure on the upper end of the market.
The bottom line: A $10 million condo sale in Reston would have sounded unlikely a few years ago.
Now, it is the new benchmar, and a clear sign that Northern Virginia’s luxury market is entering a new phase.
🎥 Mega-Projects That Are Shaping The Future of Northern Virginia!
⚖️ Compass Ends Legal Fight Over Prince William Digital Gateway
Driving the news: Compass said it will drop its appeal of a Virginia Court of Appeals decision that upheld a lower court ruling against the massive data center campus near Gainesville.
Details:
Compass said legal and regulatory hurdles have left no clear path forward.
The project was approved by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in December 2023 after a 27-hour meeting.
A Prince William Circuit Court judge later ruled the rezoning was void because of improper public notice.
The lawsuits were brought by the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and the American Battlefield Trust.
The big picture: The Digital Gateway was once pitched as the largest data center campus in the world.
Its collapse would mark a major turn in Prince William County’s data center debate, where economic growth has clashed with neighborhood pushback, historic preservation and public process concerns.
By the numbers:
More than 2,000 acres were planned for the campus.
The project called for more than 22 million square feet of data centers.
It could have included 37 data centers.
The full buildout was compared to roughly 144 Walmart supercenters.
The county spent more than $1.7 million in taxpayer funds backing the appeals.
Between the lines: Once the county board voted to end its own appeal, Compass had less room to keep defending the project.
QTS, the other developer tied to the Digital Gateway, has not yet said whether it will continue the legal fight.
What’s next: QTS remains the key player to watch. The American Battlefield Trust said the company faces its own appeal deadline, while a Pageland Lane landowner is also suing QTS in federal court.
The bottom line: A project once set to reshape western Prince William County is now in serious doubt.
For residents who fought the plan, Compass’ exit is a major win — and a reminder that public notice, land-use rules and local trust can decide the fate of even the biggest development proposals.
👑 A Royal Day in Front Royal: King Charles and Queen Camilla Make Local Stop
King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s stop in Front Royal brought a rare royal moment to Warren County, with thousands lining the streets before the couple closed out their U.S. tour.
Driving the news: The king and queen visited Front Royal on Thursday before splitting up for separate afternoon stops in the region.
Details:
King Charles III visited Shenandoah National Park for a conservation-focused event with park staff, students, tribal representatives and wildlife experts.
Queen Camilla visited a private farm near Middleburg tied to American horse racing.
In Front Royal, the couple watched part of a parade from the Town Square gazebo with Abigail Spanberger and Mayor Lori Cockrell.
They also attended a private block party with live music, pizza and a meet-and-greet with a local baseball team.
Between the lines: The royal stop connected two of the area’s strongest identities: small-town tradition in Front Royal and conservation in Shenandoah National Park.
The king’s park visit fit his long-running interest in conservation, while Camilla’s Middleburg stop reflected the region’s deep horse-racing roots.
What’s next: Local officials and tourism leaders may look to build on the attention, especially as visitors connect Front Royal with Shenandoah National Park’s northern gateway.
Our Current Local Market Numbers
In Other News…
Made it this far?
Reply and let me know what you liked the most and what you’d like to see in next week’s newsletter. See ya!
💬 Let’s Connect: Buying, Selling, or Growing Your Brand in Northern Virginia?
Whether you’re looking to move to Fairfax, Prince William, Winchester, Alexandria, Arlington, or Reston — or want help growing your business with smart, local content I’ve got you covered.
📍 Explore homes for sale across Northern Virginia
📲 DM me on Instagram for real estate or content marketing help
💼 Visit ColganTeam.com to learn more or collaborate on your next project
Chris Colgan - EXP Realty Powered by Place
> Email me anytime:
[email protected]
> Search homes for sale in Northern Virginia:
http://www.colganrealestate.com/
> Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chriscolganteam/
> Subscribe to my YouTube Channel:
@ChrisColgan