Lorton Community Center and Lorton Library aim for October opening

Fairfax County officials said they tentatively are planning a mid-October ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly collocated Lorton Community Center and Lorton Library; however, the Oct. 15 date is not yet set in stone.

The county’s Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) had originally hoped to hold the ceremony Sept. 24 but had to push it back a few weeks. According to spokesperson Cristin Bratt, phase one construction of the building and a portion of the parking area is nearing completion. Phase two construction of the remainder of the site and the adjacent park is ongoing, including the demolition of the Murphy House, which the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) has occupied since 1984.

Ongoing construction near LCAC's Murphy House and trailer

LCAC’s Executive Director Rob Rutland-Brown is looking forward to the nonprofit’s move to new office space at the community center but expressed patience with the delay.

“We understand that delays are an unavoidable part of the process for construction projects of this scale,” he said. “Thanks to the flexibility of our volunteers and the patience of our clients, we’ve been able to continue our biweekly food distributions with minimal disruption, even amid the construction.”

Furniture and equipment for the new community center will begin to be installed this month, said Bratt, with facility operations and public access information forthcoming.

The new Lorton Community Center and Lorton Library are located at 9520 Richmond Highway.