Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Contact: Richard Tucker 703-228-0069 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Arlington County Board Approves Two Projects in Heart of Columbia Pike
Revitalizaton Efforts Gain Momentum
ARLINGTON, Va – The Arlington County Board today approved two projects in Columbia Pike's “Town Center” that will bring a full-service grocery store, nearly 500 rental apartments, new retail shopping and a public square to the heart of the corridor.
“We may look back on this years from now and say: this was really a turning point,” in the effort to revitalize Columbia Pike, said County Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman. He described the approval of the Penrose Square project as “the most significant step that we have taken in the realization of the community’s vision for the Pike.”
Penrose Square Project Brings Full-Service Grocery Store, Civic Square to Columbia Pike
Rendering of the Penrose Square project |
The project also will include 299 rental apartments, a 61,500 square-foot full-service Giant grocery store and some 36,000 square feet of additional retail space at the Penrose Square site, located on Columbia Pike between Cleveland and Adams streets.
The County also is negotiating with the developer to lease 122 additional parking spaces within the project’s garage to be made available to the general public.
Project on former Safeway site will include mix of apartments, ground floor retail and office space
The Board also approved a plan by the Georgelas Group, LLC to build 188 rental apartments, more than 32,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and more than 14,000 square feet of office space on the former site of the Safeway grocery store, located on Columbia Pike between Adams and Wayne streets.
The proposed project will include 408 parking spaces, 107 of which will be available to visitors or shoppers in the area.
“This site, perhaps more than any other, represents the transition that we’re trying to achieve,” Zimmerman said. “With these two projects, an area that today is covered largely by asphalt will be transformed into environmentally responsible, transit-oriented development.”
Background
The revitalization of Columbia Pike, one of Arlington’s primary transit corridors, is a critical County priority. The County Board adopted a revitalization plan on March 12, 2002 that established a vision and development framework to guide public and private investment in the area’s rebirth. Subsequent citizen workshops – during the Columbia Pike Urban Design Charrette process – were held in September, 2002. Extensive community involvement continued as the Form Based Code was developed and the Revitalization Plan was updated in 2005.
The County’s goal is to use the innovative Form Based Code to help transform what historically was South Arlington’s Main Street into a lively commercial boulevard with a mix of shop-fronts, sidewalk cafes and other street-level commercial uses, framed by a canopy of trees and upper story homes and offices. Ultimately, Columbia Pike will include several new plazas and civic greens and centralized, shared parking that will make it possible to “park once; then walk.”
Virtually all Columbia Pike buildings will have a maximum height of six stories, tapering down to the neighborhoods.
For a recent update of Columbia Pike projects, click here.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
