[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6654902,"mediaKeyId","5430918-3884342c5d88fa37985aafb64635d5ee","parentId",5430918,"title","Board approves Crystal Drive adaptive reuse: 195 apartments and 344‑room hotel to replace two vacant office towers","audioSeconds",396,"startMs",13960000,"endMs",14356000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5430918-3884342c5d88fa37985aafb64635d5ee&start=13960&end=14356","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5430918-3884342c5d88fa37985aafb64635d5ee/thumbnail_13960000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6654902/Arlington-County/Virginia/Board-approves-Crystal-Drive-adaptive-reuse-195-apartments-and-344room-hotel-to-replace-two-vacant-office-towers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654902-c997511f7f9093026f651e9b40d5d9fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1769691146&Signature=h92Wvv0DwEYtI~WNBm7jLGX23w00xpoXiW7WXGwCl9P~ClSJ0bZLpfVWyUce2HTGS0RY4SLolGSRbFstbSGK3F4-DdCT-MSItmk951MFzTZjbki5IHP5GbeyVQzMd1JdxxBWUSIii18MXE96FYtN-Ag540-2BsuV8kMlmXdXU19a3SZFU-NKoLaX8eVWPttEaYOAh8QdvzrxsyhWxjnot3uT3l-2wsnBMHUWJRQVYLXBnXsMqEe1hn99oRXT3cSSmDF-whdFdXDhnowS-JgHQnV1EmRlZ~fPd2KaOauVyBEvOPYjIQQeuN6w8g-KY7egWp5vMySARlotmRj0D6dztA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arlington County Government","date","2025-07-20T02:11:53.93Z","article","The Arlington County Board on July 19 voted 5-0 to approve an adaptive reuse site‑plan amendment that converts two underused 11‑story office towers on the Plaza Block of Crystal City into a 195‑unit apartment building at 2200 Crystal Drive and a 344‑room hotel at 2100 Crystal Drive.

Staff presented the application under the county’s adaptive reuse policy, adopted in late 2024 as part of the commercial market resiliency initiative (CMRI). That policy streamlines review of conversions that repurpose obsolete office stock for housing, hotel and other uses deemed public priorities. Staff said the proposal would remove roughly 523,982 square feet of vacant office space and could lower the county’s overall office vacancy rate by about 1.1 percentage points.

The applicant proposed interior renovations and a limited exterior refresh, and asked that two points of access from Crystal Drive into the underground concourse be closed and converted into dedicated hotel and residential lobbies. Staff and the Planning Commission said the closures were reasonable tradeoffs to activate the street with new lobbies and ground‑floor uses; the block will retain five other underground access points. The applicant will maintain existing below‑grade parking and requested parking ratio modifications to reflect reuse of the garage and the reduced parking demand for the new uses.

Applicant representatives and staff said the reuse approach keeps embodied carbon on site, reduces demolition and construction disruption, and delivers housing and hotel capacity more quickly than a full ground‑up redevelopment. The project also aligns with Crystal City’s sector plan goals to encourage a mix of uses and stronger “sense of place.” Staff recommended approval, and the Planning Commission unanimously recommended the board adopt the draft ordinance.

Several civic organizations provided support for the overall conversion concept but asked for clearer guidance about streamlined outreach and asked the board to weigh long‑term options for the underground pedestrian concourse. The board asked staff to study the underground concourse’s future uses and return the results to the board prior to occupancy of the residential building, per a condition in the ordinance.

Board member Susan Cunningham, who moved the adoption, called the proposal an early success of the county’s adaptive reuse framework. The vote to approve the ordinance was 5-0.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Arlington County Board Regular Meeting | July 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The County Board unanimously approved converting two nearly vacant 11‑story office buildings in Crystal City into a 195‑unit residential building and a 344‑room hotel, a decision staff said would remove more than 523,000 square feet of obsolete office space while reactivating the Crystal Drive block.","taxTitle","Arlington County, Virginia","taxId",20560,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6654906,"County Board approves Ballston tower replacement plan with $2 million affordable-housing contribution",2803,11427000,14230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5430918-3884342c5d88fa37985aafb64635d5ee&start=11427&end=14230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5430918-3884342c5d88fa37985aafb64635d5ee/thumbnail_11427000.jpg","/articles/6654906/Arlington-County/Virginia/County-Board-approves-Ballston-tower-replacement-plan-with-2-million-affordable-housing-contribution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654906-9ae0ffb553e1ba63092b45b02f30bd27/orig.mp4?Expires=1769691146&Signature=k4Q7NALWmGkvWfsNk4P2IcmPH53gjvkSPZr1TInB1x5kik-f-RUJ44pmZmwFVlUBjGUZ9DRep7JoPuU~t4LBc2qmWdMtpLp5WU74siCo7xlf9XRax-Xp5q93adHRf2xMQ6tSFJTpgnbKchRgevSWunTgieLVZ9pOvIDZqdwieZd2SiWPtbpGC8uIY7Je2XVNhinYmfdtU60wIA4epAmEGAEdJUBkVNCujvDfoiqxxV~4ad1iY7~hZjzIuqIKjWrdajEfjUUBwus6tZ2~BQWz~HS~rOvCWzF-Y1tE5KB8Ve-W0GN0G2Qdj4NOwpZ2dwc73McNRj0EPL1Iu-~tUjfFUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arlington County Board voted 5-0 on July 19 to approve a major site plan amendment that will replace an aging 12‑story office building at 4601 Fairfax Drive with a seven‑story residential building containing 328 units while retaining the existing below‑grade parking garage.

Under the approved plan, the developer will demolish the existing office tower, keep and retrofit the underground garage, and construct an 82‑foot, seven‑story building with 328 residential units and ground-floor retail. The project includes $2 million in cash contributions to the county’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) to earn bonus density, participation in the county’s green-building incentive program (LEED Gold target at the 0.25 FAR tier), a northbound bike lane on North Wakefield Street, upgraded streetscapes on Fairfax Drive, and on- and off-site plantings to mitigate encroachment into the Chesapeake Bay resource protection area.

County planning staff and the applicant described the garage as a key constraint that required several zoning modifications — including parking ratios, compact parking percentage and some drive-aisle dimensions — because the top of the existing garage slab protrudes above grade along Fairfax Drive. Staff said the applicant worked with the county to provide mitigation: suspended soil panels to support tree canopy, a stormwater detention vault and off‑site RPA plantings, and a phosphorus-load reduction commitment required by a Chesapeake Bay exception granted on June 17.

The applicant will also contribute an estimated $2 million toward AHIF; staff estimated that amount could leverage approximately 17 to 18 off‑site affordable units through gap financing. The developer also committed to participate in the Green Building Incentive Program at the 0.25 FAR tier, which staff said will deliver LEED Gold equivalents, energy improvements and EV charging infrastructure.

During the public meeting the Planning Commission and the Transportation and Housing commissions each recommended approval. Planning Commission members noted a sense that, given the site’s circumstances and federal tenants in the building, a five‑year term of validity for the approval was reasonable; staff recommended the standard three‑year term and said administrative changes to conditions happen periodically to reflect updated administrative standards. The board opted to approve the project with the standard site‑plan conditions and a three‑year term of validity.

Board members emphasized that converting underused office stock to housing supports the county’s commercial market resiliency initiative and reduces the county’s office vacancy rate. Vice Chair Matt Ferrante, who moved the motion, noted the conversion will add housing in a transit‑rich location and that staff and the applicant had negotiated mitigation measures. The vote was 5-0.

Next steps for the project include permitting and final civil engineering review before building permits are issued; the applicant said retaining the garage and the uncertainties around federal tenants affect scheduling and financing, and could require future minor site plan amendments if market or lease conditions change.","The board unanimously approved a major site plan amendment allowing demolition of a 12‑story office tower and construction of a seven‑story, 328‑unit residential building at 4601 Fairfax Drive; the developer will retain the existing below‑grade garage and provide a $2 million affordable housing contribution.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6654910,"Arlington County Board endorses refreshed transportation vision, adds ‘desirable choices’ language after public debate",4187,5729000,9916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5430918-3884342c5d88fa37985aafb64635d5ee&start=5729&end=9916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5430918-3884342c5d88fa37985aafb64635d5ee/thumbnail_5729000.jpg","/articles/6654910/Arlington-County/Virginia/Arlington-County-Board-endorses-refreshed-transportation-vision-adds-desirable-choices-language-after-public-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6654910-68208b127d1ef25ceccc5216c627617b/orig.mp4?Expires=1769691146&Signature=T1THfOzXGJZyjnfhp0x9JlSIg6JKy5F6IEIdQrk~VcajeGoRzCommEHs0yKXBWjiXMBECSxXW8pSHG1bco7jy2aVcTXbZs8TyWrtrmkP7YTmib1T6f9Wtbgd8tT0mZV8z~zlnNz84YM0tmXkN~zeVJOIZRCrE1drJVtZn8nyWdogbpoGew6X2tgbbBMKXiqGX3CH40RQ1jYhYKxjkJXhTn88VhWkV4OOlGvOK0ZVNKdWKuW1UyGKxNXhZsFWRqMqRens3PpMmpECZWBVz~kO6MfWwKZXVCBNVaT-azjMiOP~KL60JWccSUj9onc3ZgM6Jnpy0iveXZ70eTNQIuJ2Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arlington County Board on July 19 unanimously endorsed a refreshed transportation vision and set of goals intended to guide the master transportation plan update, adopting a last-minute amendment to emphasize “desirable choices” beyond using a car.

Board members voted 5-0 to approve the resolution after staff presented a plan built from two phases of public engagement that included more than 12,000 direct contacts, about 2,500 online feedback forms and an interactive map with more than 2,700 submissions. The board added the word desirable to the phrase that now reads “with desirable choices beyond using a car.”

County transportation staff said the refresh replaces a decades-old modal structure with a holistic strategy, linking Vision Zero, transit strategic planning and mode networks so the county can prioritize where walking, biking, transit or cars should be emphasized. Kristen Calkins of the transportation team told the board the draft vision and goals were informed by thousands of comments and an advisory group made up of commissions and committees.

Supporters urged stronger language. Several speakers including transportation advocates and members of the advisory group said the plain phrase “without having to depend on a car” sent a clearer signal that the county intends to make driving optional for more trips. Advisory-group chair Mr. Slatt and others argued that keeping car dependence from being the default must be explicit to shape future projects and curb emissions and traffic. Board member Maureen Coffey proposed the amendment that inserted the word desirable into the vision, saying the change framed the plan as adding viable, attractive alternatives rather than merely removing driving as an option.

Opponents of more aggressive wording warned that the county must balance competing needs: some residents and workers rely on cars now and the county must maintain access for those users. Board members and staff stressed that the vision and goals are high-level guidance; detailed policies, curb management and modal networks will be developed in the fall 2025 phase of engagement with a draft plan expected in spring 2026 and a final plan returned to the board in late 2026.

The board’s action was procedural — endorsing the vision and goals rather than approving specific on-the-ground projects — but supporters said a clear aspirational statement is critical because it will steer design decisions and budget priorities for the next 15–20 years. The new goals include equity and inclusion, livability (where “access to nature” was added to the livable goal by motion), reliability, safety, sustainability and transparency.

Staff said the plan will not be a list of projects but will guide corridor studies, modal priorities and how curb space is allocated. The transportation team also committed to expanded outreach and to reflecting the board’s language while drafting the detailed policies this fall.

Board Chair Tax Carantonis and the county manager thanked staff and the many residents who testified and flagged issues such as sidewalk gaps, safety near Glebe Road, and the need for more reliable transit. The board’s vote to endorse the vision and goals was 5-0.

The endorsement sets the policy frame for subsequent plan phases and for staff review of site plans, corridor work and capital budgeting.","After months of public outreach, the County Board unanimously endorsed a refreshed transportation vision and goals aimed at making transit, walking and biking more viable — inserting the word “desirable” into the plan’s language after several speakers urged clearer commitment to reducing car dependence.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves Crystal Drive adaptive reuse: 195 apartments and 344‑room hotel to replace two vacant office towers

County Board approves Ballston tower replacement plan with $2 million affordable-housing contribution

Arlington County Board endorses refreshed transportation vision, adds ‘desirable choices’ language after public debate