The JBG Cos has broken ground on a mixed-use development in downtown McLean, the first development to hit the downtown area in many years.

Construction has started on The Signet, a walkable, mixed-use development at 6900 Fleetwood Rd. The Signet offers convenient access to Metro, and will help to transform the downtown McLean area into a denser and more active neighborhood core.

Plans call for 123 luxury condos and roughly 5k SF of street-level retail and restaurants. Residents will have access to a wealth of amenities, including a resident lounge, a fitness center and a full-time concierge.

Pictured from left at yesterday’s groundbreaking are JBG’s Phil Sclafani, Larry Nussdorf of Clark Enterprises, JBG’s Devon Lauer, Del. Marcus Simon, Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust, Del. Kathleen Murphy, Sen. Barbara Favola, JBG’s Bailey Edelson, JBG’s Greg Trimmer and Art Lohsen of Franck & Lohsen Architects.

Local residents have expressed their desire for a walkable and connected downtown area, and The Signet is a major step towards making that vision a reality, JBG says. The Signet will help to connect McLean’s existing residential neighborhoods with the active downtown area, and offer a pedestrian-friendly environment with plenty of public spaces, including walking paths, gardens and a public park.

The design team includes Franck Lohsen Architects, Page Architects and Bill Rooney Studios, while Davis Construction is the general contractor. Condo sales at The Signet are expected to begin this fall.

This is the latest development project to enter the pipeline for JBG, the region’s biggest developer that just got a lot bigger. Additional projects in the JBG pipeline include RTC West in Reston, a massive development proposal in conjunction with The Boundary Cos known as Eckington Yards in DC, and the extensive redevelopment of North Potomac Yard.