Ballston Park and Buckingham Commercial Area Planning Study

October 2026 Update: Share feedback and get involved in this planning study!
*Watch an overview of the Planning Study and the Existing Conditions Analysis.
*Share input in a feedback form by 11/8 to ensure the preliminary goals reflect what’s important. 
*Attend an upcoming community meeting to ask questions and speak directly with County staff.

In May 2026, the County Board issued a charge to evaluate a range of preservation and redevelopment options for the Ballston Park Apartments and nearby Buckingham Commercial Area. 
 
The Planning team is currently working on Phase 1 of the project. 
 

Background

Housing

Ballston Park is a 512-unit garden-style apartment community comprised of:

  • 233 rental homes that are income-restricted at 60 percent of the Area Median Income through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program 
  • 279 rental homes that are market-rate affordable to households earning between 60 and 80 percent of the Area Median Income, meaning they are not income- or rent-restricted by any local, state, or federal requirements but are naturally lower priced because of location, amenities, age, and other characteristics.  

The Low Income Housing Tax Credit affordability restrictions for the 233 committed affordable units expire at the end of 2027, followed by a three-year decontrol period, which offers continued protections for existing residents until the end of 2030.  

Without a plan for achieving affordability past current deadlines, the 233 income-restricted units—and potentially many of the market-rate affordable units—could be at risk. 

Historic Preservation
The Ballston Park Apartments and the Buckingham Commercial Area are part of the Buckingham Local Historic District. This local historic district was developed between 1937 and 1953 as part of a New Deal-era Federal Housing Administration program and is recognized for its Garden City design. In addition to being a Local Historic District, the Buckingham neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and ranked as an “Essential Property” on Arlington’s Historic Resources Inventory.  
 

Get Involved  Project Documents  Working Group

Study Process and Schedule

Phase 1

Existing Conditions Analysis and Preliminary Goals & Objectives
(Aug-Nov 2026)

 Phase 1 focuses on analyzing the existing conditions and identifying preliminary goals and objectives around key planning elements, which are informed by County policies. The County will seek community input on the preliminary goals to understand if they reflect what is important to the community.

Learn more about engagement opportunities.

Phase 2

Initial Scenarios and Refined Goals & Objectives
(Anticipated: Nov 2026-Feb 2027)

Phase 2 involves developing and evaluating an initial set of scenarios that reflect a range of preservation and redevelopment approaches - to help illustrate the opportunities and trade-offs involved in balancing preservation with housing and other study priorities - and refining the goals and objectives identified in Phase 1. The County will seek community input, which will inform refinements to the scenarios and goals.

Phase 3

Final Scenarios, County Board Direction on Preferred Concept(s) and Draft Policy Framework
(Anticipated: Feb-Oct 2027)

Phase 3 involves developing and evaluating a final set of scenarios based on community input in Phase 3, seeking direction from the County Board on a preferred concept(s) and developing a draft policy framework. The County will seek community input, which will inform refinements to the preferred concept(s) and draft policy framework.

Phase 4

County Board Review and Adoption of Final Policy Framework
 (Anticipated: Oct 2027-Feb 2028)

Phase 4 focuses on the County Board's review and adoption of the final policy framework.

  
A graphic depicting the four phases of the project timeline with the same text on the webpage

Contacts

Planning

ballstonparkstudy@arlingtonva.us

Meetings & Events

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