Council amends downtown PD to allow flexibility for live-work units at 101 South Center Street

The Arlington City Council on April 24 approved an amendment to the PD ordinance for 101 South Center Street that removes a multi-year phasing requirement for live-work units and instead allows those units to be occupied as residential, nonresidential, or live-work uses depending on market demand.

Planning staff explained the existing PD required a minimum 10% nonresidential use and mandated that live-work units convert by 1 percentage point annually beginning Oct. 1, 2023 until a 15% nonresidential threshold was reached by Oct. 1, 2027. The applicant, Paris Rutherford of Arlington City Center LLC, said the amendment restores intended flexibility for ground-floor units after the market proved slow to lease true live-work ground-floor storefronts.

Two downtown supporters — Corey Houston, owner of Anne's Natural Grocery and a downtown board member, and Doug Hafer — told council that leaving ground-floor units vacant harms downtown activity and economic vitality. Both urged the council to grant flexibility to maximize occupancy and reduce downtown vacancies.

Council Member Bridal moved for approval; Council Member Pham seconded. The council voted to approve the PD amendment. No roll-call tally was included in the meeting record.

Staff comments on the record noted some live-work units have been occupied but that building-code standards for live-work spaces have made leasing ground-floor uses more difficult, creating vacancies at street level. The amended PD removes the phasing schedule and allows the market to determine whether units are occupied as residential, nonresidential, or live-work.