The official groundbreaking for a new Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Falls Church marked the launch of a coming revival of urban development in the City. The formalities, including remarks by developers Barry Gosnell and Richard Palmer, Chamber of Commerce President Chris Bergin and City Council member Phil Duncan, marked the launch of the first high profile new project to be kicked off in the commercial corridors of the City since the Great Recession brought things to a standstill in 2008.

The embattled project also weathered considerable opposition from neighbors to the site, and has been four and a half years, altogether, in the making. The hotel is expected to open in early 2014.