Following the closure of the D.C. Correctional Facility in Lorton, Virginia (Lorton Prison), Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, Emrich & Walsh was retained to facilitate a complicated transaction involving the acquisition of a portion of the Lorton Prison by one client and the swap of that land for a large farm owned by another client, which was then conveyed to the National Park Service. In addition, the firm was instrumental in re-zoning a portion of the Lorton Prison, a process which required the provision of 18.5 acres of land to the Fairfax County School Board, the construction of the South County Secondary School, dedication of parkland, and construction of extensive trails, all of which resulted in securing development rights to construct 677 single family detached and 77 single family attached dwelling units on the property.

During the process, certain provisions of the agreements were tested against existing state laws, and WCLEW’s litigation attorneys were able to provide the support and the authority to gain the necessary approvals. Through these complicated agreements, re-zoning requests and the court authority, a portion of the Lorton Prison site became available for residential development and is now a wonderful community known as Laurel Hill.