Alexandria’s real estate market is entering a new chapter, and Shareholder Bob Brant helped lead the conversation at Bisnow’s Alexandria State of the Market. Brant, a member of Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh’s Land Use and Zoning practice group, moderated the panel “Alexandria’s Development Playbook: Development Trends Across Multifamily, Office, Retail and Mixed-Use,” bringing together industry leaders to discuss which asset classes are gaining the most momentum, how developers are navigating rising costs and entitlement hurdles, and where the city’s next wave of investment might land.

The timing couldn’t be better. Potomac Yard’s transformation is in full swing, an innovation ecosystem is taking shape around the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, and the historic waterfront is in the midst of a revival, cementing Alexandria’s place as one of Northern Virginia’s most dynamic markets. Brant and his fellow panelists explored how office repositioning, transit-oriented multifamily projects, and vibrant mixed-use development are converging to write the city’s next growth story.

Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh is proud to announce that six of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. This distinction reflects the firm’s continued excellence and deep bench of talent across land use, zoning, and real estate law in Northern Virginia and beyond.

The Best Lawyers in America® (2027 Edition)

Arlington, VA
Robert D. Brant (Recognized since 2027) – Land Use and Zoning Law
Tom Colucci (Recognized since 2018) – Real Estate Law
Mark Goetzman (Recognized since 2018) – Real Estate Law
Cathy Puskar (Recognized since 2020) – Land Use and Zoning Law
Lynne Strobel (Recognized since 2018) – Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law

Leesburg, VA
Randy Minchew (Recognized since 2018) – Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law

Prince William, VA
Mike Lubeley (Recognized since 2003) – Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation – Land Use and Zoning; Litigation – Real Estate; Real Estate Law

This year’s list also welcomes Robert D. Brant as a first-time honoree, recognized in Land Use and Zoning Law. These honors are the result of independent research and peer evaluations conducted by Best Lawyers®, and they underscore the firm’s long-standing reputation for excellence throughout the region. Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh congratulates all of the attorneys recognized and thanks its clients and peers for their continued trust and collaboration.

In recent years, multifamily developers have increasingly looked for creative ways to catalyze residential development, accelerate the lease-up of newly constructed buildings, and activate spaces that might otherwise remain vacant as projects move toward stabilized occupancy. 

One approach gaining traction is the use of temporary or “pop-up” hotels, which allow completed residential units to accommodate short- and extended-stay guests during a building’s initial lease-up period before ultimately transitioning to permanent residential occupancy. 

On May 16, 2026, the Arlington County Board approved a request by Jefferson Apartment Group to temporarily permit 125 residential units at 1901 N. Moore Street in central Rosslyn to operate as hotel units during the initial lease-up of the newly constructed 27-story 420-unit residential building. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With building construction nearing completion, the approved temporary hotel use provides an opportunity for Jefferson Apartment Group to activate a portion of the building while residential leasing is underway. It will also generate additional activity for Rosslyn’s restaurants and retailers, and put units that might otherwise remain vacant during the building’s initial lease-up period into productive use. 

Jefferson Apartment Group is partnering with Placemakr to operate the temporary hotel. Originally founded in Arlington as WhyHotel in 2017, Placemakr pioneered the pop-up hotel model locally and has since grown into a national hospitality company.  

Importantly, the approval represents an evolution of Arlington’s approach to temporary hotel uses. This application was the first of the County’s temporary hotel approvals to incorporate a more comprehensive set of operational safeguards intended to ensure compatibility between hotel guests and permanent building residents.  

These measures include 24-hour on-site hotel management, guest screening, occupancy limitations, and ongoing reporting requirements. Hotel and residential operations will be separately managed while coordinating on overall building operations. 

The project provides another example of Arlington adapting its land-use tools to changing market conditions—allowing a temporary and compatible use that can help bridge the period between construction completion and stabilized residential occupancy, support Rosslyn’s continued vitality, and preserve the building’s ultimate residential purpose. 

On May 16, 2026, the Arlington County Board approved JBG Smith’s application to convert two aging Crystal City office buildings—1800 and 1901 S. Bell Street—into 315 residential units, marking a significant implementation of the County’s recently adopted Adaptive Reuse Policy.

The two buildings, historically known as Crystal Mall I and Crystal Mall IV, were originally constructed in the late 1960s as part of the larger Crystal Mall development. In the ensuing decades, the buildings have become increasingly difficult to market for contemporary office use due to outmoded floorplates, constrained ceiling heights, lack of dedicated tenant outdoor space, and other limitations.

As approved, 1800 S. Bell Street will contain 129 residential units and approximately 5,250 square feet of ground-floor retail space, while 1901 S. Bell Street will contain 186 units and approximately 4,700 square feet of retail space. Notably, approximately half of the new residential units will contain two or three bedrooms, providing larger units than are typically found in new multifamily construction.

Exterior improvements will include new windows and glazing, façade enhancements, new residential entrances, landscaping- improvements designed to better activate the buildings and surrounding public realm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rendering of 1800 S. Bell; ZGF Architects

The project represents the latest step in JBG Smith’s more than decade-long revitalization of National Landing. In recent years, the neighborhood has seen the addition of more than 1,600 new apartments, a tripling of the amount of retailers, and significant improvements to the public realm and open spaces, including the Water Park along Crystal Drive.

The conversion of 1800 and 1901 S. Bell Street builds upon that momentum while illustrating the potential of Arlington’s Adaptive Reuse Policy to address two challenges simultaneously: removing obsolete office inventory while adding housing in transit-rich locations.

Rather than demolishing buildings that no longer meet modern office demands, the project will extend the useful lives of both structures, introduce new residents and economic activity within National Landing, and return underperforming properties to productive use. Preservation and reuse of the existing buildings is also projected to substantially reduce the project’s carbon footprint compared with demolition and new construction.

Of equal significance, the conversions will remove approximately 490,000 square feet of obsolete office space from National Landing’s inventory and are expected to reduce Crystal City’s office vacancy rate by approximately 3.5 percentage points.

The approval provides an important early example of Arlington’s new adaptive reuse framework in action—and demonstrates how the County and property owners can reposition aging commercial buildings in response to structural changes in the office market while simultaneously advancing housing, economic development, and sustainability goals.

The Walsh Colucci team included land use planner Elliott Young and partner Andrew Painter, who represented the application before the County Board.

 

What began as a deeply personal cause for firm co-founder Art Walsh has grown into one of Walsh Colucci’s favorite charitable traditions. Each year, the Walsh Colucci Golf Invitational brings together clients, partners, and friends of the firm for a round of golf followed by a reception with dinner, a live auction, and a raffle. All proceeds from the event go to Breakthrough T1D (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Breakthrough T1D works every day to change the reality of type 1 diabetes by funding research, advocating for government support, ensuring new therapies reach patients, and connecting the T1D community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since 1998, Walsh Colucci’s Golf Invitational has raised nearly $2 million for this great cause. Art organized the outing in honor of his brother John, who passed away from complications of type 1 diabetes. When Art passed away in 2022, he left behind an extraordinary professional legacy and, through this tournament, a lasting contribution to the fight against type 1 diabetes. This year’s Golf Invitational took place on June 8 at the Country Club of Fairfax, and we’re proud to have raised over $2 million for Breakthrough T1D over the years. Thank you to everyone who came out to golf, donate, and support this great cause.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning application submitted on behalf of Spring Hill Land, LLC, permitting the development of a new single-family detached residential community on Spring Hill Road in McLean’s Dranesville Magisterial District.

The approximately 4.97-acre property will be redeveloped as Spring Hill Reserve, a community of 14 single-family detached homes designed to complement the established character of the surrounding McLean neighborhood. The community is situated near Sunrise of McLean to the east and religious institutions to the north, with convenient access to the employment, retail, and amenities of nearby Tysons.

The approval rezones the property from the R-1 District to the PDH-3 District at a density of 2.8 dwelling units per acre, consistent with the Area II Comprehensive Plan’s recommendations for the M6 Spring Hill Community Planning Sector. A notable feature of the project is the consolidation of five existing curb cuts on Spring Hill Road, serving both the subject property and the adjacent religious institution, into a single, shared access point aligned with Turning Leaf Lane. The community is designed with generous open space, pedestrian connectivity, and high-quality architecture intended to appeal to both empty nesters and families seeking to put down roots near Tysons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholder Allison Reynolds guided Spring Hill Land, LLC through the rezoning process before Fairfax County. Walsh Colucci is proud to have represented the Applicant in securing this approval.

Many office properties across the region have experienced high vacancy rates since the pandemic, and are no longer competitive in today’s market. If these properties are located in areas appropriate for residential or mixed-use development, there may be an opportunity to reposition these assets to meet market demand and unlock value.

Across Northern Virginia, underperforming office assets are being considered for residential use. The path to residential use may include a requirement to amend the Comprehensive Plan and/or address specific residential development criteria such as adequate public facilities and the provision of affordable housing. Time Equities recently advanced such an effort, repositioning an aging office property on Fairfax Ridge Road to a residential use that aligns with Fairfax County’s housing goals.

Working on behalf of Time Equities, Shareholder Lynne Strobel and Land Use Planner Zach Fountain secured the approvals necessary to allow the transformation of 1980’s office buildings with an above-grade parking garage to a 400-unit multi-family residential building complemented by a unique perimeter park. The proposal is more compatible with the surrounding area that had already evolved to include residential use, and addresses transportation, site design, and public benefit considerations. The result is an approval that positions the property for long-term success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walsh Colucci regularly assists clients in evaluating and repositioning office assets. We work with property owners to determine feasibility, identify the appropriate approval path, and secure approvals. The conversion of office to residential is a trend that is expected to continue as a result of office vacancy and the need for housing. If you are considering repositioning an office property, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your next steps.

Stataria “Starr” Nyan joined the firm in 2023 as a Land Use and Zoning Associate in the Prince William office. Before joining the firm, Starr gained valuable legal experience as a Student Attorney with the Intellectual Property and Transactional Law Clinic in Richmond, Virginia, where she drafted assignment agreements, filed trademark and copyright applications, and advised clients on protecting their intellectual property rights.

She also served as a Legal Intern with a transactional law firm in Richmond and as a Summer Legal Intern with Dominion Energy.

Starr earned her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in Government and History from William & Mary.

Thank you for participating in this month’s Employee Spotlight, Starr! Tell us a little about yourself –

 

1. What is your current role and how long have you been with the firm?

I am a land use and zoning associate attorney in the Prince William office, and I have been with the firm 2 and a half years.

 

2. What is your favorite project that you have worked on?

The Village at Broad Run and Greenhaven at Broad Run were 2 rezoning cases that I worked on from start to finish that were recently approved last month. They were part of a group of 7 cases along Vint Hill Road, and I cannot wait to see them fully built out.

 

3. What might surprise people about your work in land use and zoning?

This might be a hot take, but I don’t think that there are easy cases because everyone has an opinion about everything when it comes to property.

 

4. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in land use and zoning?

Be curious, ask questions, and listen carefully to what people have to say.

 

5. With summer approaching, what are some of your favorite outdoor activities this time of year?

Picnics and cookouts! I am ready for good times with good eats!

 

6. What’s one skill (work-related or not) you’ve always wanted to learn, and why?

I have always wanted to learn a new language because learning a new language inherently challenges you to think differently. Also, how to start a fire because you never know when that might come in handy.

 

7. Who or what inspires you professionally and/or personally?

My mom inspires me professionally and personally. She came to this country as a young adult and had to navigate many situations such as the legal process on her own. She finds solutions for every obstacle she encounters. Her resilience, intelligence, and creativity inspire me unlike anyone else.

 

8. What makes you most proud to be part of Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh?

I love working with a group of people who genuinely enjoy the work that they do and are excited by it.

 

Walsh Colucci is proud to have Starr as part of the Prince William team, and we look forward to watching her continue to grow as an attorney and make her mark on the Northern Virginia landscape.

Summer is in full swing at Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, and that means we’ve welcomed another group of summer associates and interns to the firm! Please join us in welcoming four outstanding students who bring fresh energy, diverse experiences, and a passion for the legal field to our team this summer:

Summer Associates
Liam Albrittain, Rising 3L at University of Richmond School of Law

Summer Interns
Kai Mason, Rising 2nd-year undergraduate student at NOVA Community College this fall and George Mason University in Spring 2027
Hannah Nieman, Graduate of William & Mary
Sophia Khwaja, Rising 3rd-year undergraduate student at William & Mary

We asked them a few fun and thoughtful questions so you can get to know them a little better, here’s what they shared:

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
Liam: A classics and history double major fascinated by how different ordered systems work and interrelate, and the law, he says, is the ordered system par excellence. Law school also brought him back to his home state of Virginia, at University of Richmond School of Law.
Hannah: Legally Blonde, just kidding, but ever since she was a kid, she has been interested in law as a career. A love of reading, research, and philosophy classes sealed the deal, along with mentorship from the firm’s own Chuck McWilliams, whose path from accounting to law mirrors her own.
Sophia: A lifelong love of reading, writing, and problem-solving made law a natural fit, a way to combine those interests while helping clients navigate complex issues.
Kai: His high school criminal justice teacher inspired him; she even got him a Christmas gift.

2. What area of law are you most passionate about?
Liam: Real property law, since every piece of land is unique, so every land dispute is unique as well.
Hannah: Estate and tax law. She’s pursuing her CPA alongside her summer at the firm and loves combining detail-oriented accounting work with making a personal difference in clients’ lives.
Sophia: Corporate and business law.
Kai: After doing more hands-on work with the land use team, I am most passionate about that area of law.

3. Surprising fun fact?
Liam: He plays guitar, exclusively jazz. Deep down, he sometimes wishes he’d chosen saxophone.
Hannah: She just went bungee jumping, despite having a fear of heights!
Sophia: Last summer, she and a friend ran a full marathon (26.2 miles) for fun, without ever signing up for an official race.
Kai: This is his second summer with the firm!

4. What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Liam: His 18-month-old nephew learning to talk, he thinks he’s almost there!
Hannah: Learning from the people at the firm, hearing their journeys, and diving into the actual work of the job.
Sophia: Gaining hands-on experience, supporting attorneys, and learning more about the legal side of real estate.
Kai: Learning from the people and hearing their stories.

5. Best legal advice so far?
Liam: From a Business Associations professor at Richmond Law, after reading a judicial opinion noting the court’s astonishment: it’s never good if you’ve astonished the court.
Hannah: If you start your answer with “it depends,” you are on the right track!
Sophia: Gain as much real-world legal experience as possible, especially across different practice areas, it keeps you open-minded and helps you explore your interests.
Kai: Take it one day at a time.

6. If you could work on any type of case?
Liam: A defamation case, he’s drawn to the litigation challenge of presenting character evidence, normally inadmissible but central to proving reputational harm.
Hannah: An estate involving a large private art collection, a perfect blend of her accounting background and her studio art major and passion for art history.
Sophia: An M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) deal.
Kai: A National Environmental Policy Act case. I believe that we should protect all aspects of history, even something as “small” as agriculture.

7. One goal for the summer?
Liam: To get in the pool regularly and become a stronger swimmer, a low-impact alternative while nagging injuries keep this longtime runner sidelined.
Hannah: To draft an entire estate, plus visit as many firm offices as possible and run a 10K before summer’s end!
Sophia: To learn how attorneys build strong, trusting relationships with clients and guide them through complex decisions.
Kai: Learn new skills that will help him in law school.

We’re thrilled to have Liam Albrittain, Kai Mason, Hannah Nieman, and Sophia Khwaja with us this summer. Their drive and curiosity inspire us, and the future of the legal profession is clearly in good hands.