Arlington County Board to Take Action on Rosslyn Sector Plan Update

Source: Arlington County
Source: Arlington County

The Arlington County Board is poised to vote at its July public hearing on an amendment to the Rosslyn Sector Plan that will have huge implications for future redevelopment projects in Rosslyn. As we reported in Land Sense in January,  the County Board initiated a community-driven process known as Realize Rosslyn in 2012 to update the Rosslyn Sector Plan, which has not been updated since 1992. The goal of Realize Rosslyn is to guide Rosslyn’s growth and development in accordance with the County’s General Land Use Plan and other policy documents.

The multiyear review process has included consideration of building height and massing, parks and open space, and transportation issues that resulted in the adoption of a plan framework in April 2014. Actual draft Sector Plan text  was subsequently developed and released. The draft Sector Plan includes, among other things, site specific recommendations for height, density, and stepbacks that will likely be codified in the County’s Zoning Ordinance. Some of the height and density recommendations for individual sites are below the maximums traditionally approved in Rosslyn, so the County has received a great deal of feedback and expressions of concern from developers and commercial property owners about those and other issues.

As the process of updating the Sector Plan draws to a close, the County Board and staff continue to meet with commercial property owners and other stakeholders in an attempt to address lingering areas of concern. The County Board is scheduled to vote on the new plan at a public hearing to be held on July 22.

Site Redevelopment Approved for Crystal City’s “Paperclip” Building

Image Courtesy of LCOR
Image Courtesy of LCOR

The next chapter of redevelopment in Arlington County is now set to take place at 400 Army Navy Drive. Shareholders Nan Walsh and Evan Pritchard secured approval from the Arlington County Board for a site plan amendment that will replace the existing 1960s-era office building on the site, known as the “Paperclip Building,” with two new residential towers.

The site plan project advances the vision of the Crystal City Sector Plan with world-class architecture, improved streetscape and public infrastructure, financial contributions toward affordable housing and open space in Crystal City, and many other community benefits. The project’s residential focus will also help balance the predominantly commercial uses in this corner of Arlington County and contribute to Crystal City’s continued revitalization and transformation into a thriving, mixed-use community. The two towers, which will share lobby and courtyard amenities at the ground level, will be LEED Gold certified and include a total of 453 multi-family dwelling units, 15 of which will be affordable.

Boeing Regional Headquarters

Our client, Monument Realty, a residential and commercial developer, sought approval for a first-class regional headquarters for Boeing Company in Arlington County, Virginia.

Monument asked Walsh Colucci to negotiate the required land swap, density transfer from one land parcel to another, General Land Use Plan amendment and site plan approval based on their long standing relationship with Art Walsh.

This request was particularly challenging. In addition to security challenges, there were community and Federal concerns about building height and visible signage because of the property’s proximity to Reagan National Airport, its location adjacent to an Arlington County signature park along the Potomac River, and its immediate proximity to the National Park Service controlled George Washington Parkway. Shareholders, Art Walsh and Evan Pritchard patiently addressed each of these concerns in a series of community meetings and other high level negotiations and hearings.

Success was achieved with approval of a six-story, 453,422 square foot regional headquarters for Boeing Companies that solidifies the presence of this major corporate entity in Arlington County.

Boeing Regional Headquarters Arlington County