A $1 million renovation got underway at the South Lakes Village Center this week, with the project slated to be finished before the end of the year.
The project, intended to modernize the shopping center, will increase parking, re-paint sidewalks, re-surface the roofs and slightly expand the Safeway grocery store.
Also, the playground will be moved and reduced in size and the parking lot's lighting will be replaced, according to site plans filed with Fairfax County.
"We're really excited about the project and think it'll add a lot to the community," said Lisa Stoddard, a representative of Trammell Crow Company, which runs the village center property.
The overall nature and look of the village center will not be altered, Stoddard said. The project is intended to modernize the center, which opened in 1984.