The story so far: Caroline County's Board of Supervisors in June 2010 approved a rezoning to allow the mixed-use Carmel Church Station development. Plans call for a train station, pedestrian-oriented center with residential and commercial development, school, library and regional park on nearly 1,100 acres between U.S. 1 and Interstate 95 near Exit 104. Build-out of the project could take at least 20 years.

Outlook: Brothers Litt and Tommy Thompson of Virginia Land Investments in Richmond own the property, which for now is mostly in the planning stages. Litt Thompson said Carmel Church Station is gaining traction as a transit-oriented development. He said there has been interest from the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, corporations and national and international land developers.

--Bill Freehling

CLIFT FARM QUARTER

The story so far: National homebuilder D.R. Horton Inc. is asking Stafford County to rezone 141 acres just south of the intersection of U.S. 1 and Eskimo Hill Road for the Clift Farm Quarter development. The land is east of Stafford Regional Airport and west of the Rappahannock Regional Landfill.

Outlook: Clift Farm Quarter would be Stafford's largest rezoning in nearly a decade. It would include 585 residential units and a commercial component. Part of the proffers would include 262 acres to become 15 irrigated, rectangular fields. The matter will be back before the Stafford Board of Supervisors on May 1.

--Bill Freehling

COBBLESTONE SQUARE

The story so far: Since Home Properties Inc. began accepting applications last August, The Apartments at Cobblestone Square off Lafayette Boulevard has preleased or leased 139 of the 314 Class A apartments that have been built or are under construction.

Outlook: Property manager Jennifer Marsh's goal is to have the first three of the complex's planned six buildings 95 percent completed and leased by the end of October.

--Cathy Jett

COURTHOUSE

The story so far: After years of planning, the City Council approved a $31.9 million contract with First Choice Public-Private Partners to build the facility at the corner of Princess Anne and Charlotte streets. The City Council also approved a multimillion-dollar bond issue to pay for the courthouse facilities. The new courthouse will be 78,500 square feet, which is much bigger than the total of the three current buildings.