County Board approves 1 Roslyn redevelopment with $11.2 million housing contribution amid safety and sustainability debate

The Arlington County Board voted unanimously on July 22 to approve the 1 Roslyn redevelopment: a rezoning, phased‑development site plan amendment and related public‑right‑of‑way vacations for 1901 and 1911 North Fort Myer Drive that clear the way for three residential towers and a mixed‑use podium. The developer’s package calls for about 845 new dwelling units, roughly 14,000 square feet of ground‑floor retail and streetscape changes along Langston Boulevard, N. Moore Street and Nineteenth Street.

The approved plan included cash community benefits, most notably an $11.2 million contribution to the county’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF), plus roughly $5 million in proposed cash for nearby off‑site public‑space and transportation improvements and a roughly $6.7 million payment tied to vacating certain county‑owned streets and utility easements that will be absorbed into the project site. County staff said the AHIF contribution is expected to enable many more deeply affordable units off‑site than could be produced on this high‑cost site.

Why it matters: The site sits at a key gateway to Rosslyn across from Gateway Park and has been the subject of multiple prior entitlements that did not move to construction. Board staff and the developer said the new plan implements the Rosslyn Sector Plan’s vision for housing, urban design and a safer pedestrian realm while converting an obsolete office site into housing near transit. Opponents said the plan failed to meet the county’s highest sustainability expectations and questioned the removal of an existing pedestrian “sky” bridge, and several speakers pressed for additional on‑site affordable units and stronger electrification and renewable energy commitments.

What the plan does: Under the approved ordinance and site plan amendment, the developer will construct three towers – a north‑east, north‑west and south tower – atop a shared podium. The overall FAR (floor‑area‑ratio) approved is about 9.92. The project commits to LEED Gold (v4) certification, a minimum 20% energy optimization over the applicable baseline, and at least 2% of parking stalls with EV chargers installed at opening. The project also includes widened sidewalks, new street trees, a buffered bike facility along Langston Boulevard and reconfigured curb lines intended to tighten turning radii and slow vehicle speeds adjacent to the park.

Debate highlights: The most contested elements were pedestrian access across Langston Boulevard and sustainability commitments. Neighbors, safety advocates and several speakers urged preserving and rebuilding a pedestrian bridge across Langston at the Gateway Park edge; advocates cited crash history and accessibility concerns for blind and mobility‑impaired pedestrians. County staff and the developer argued the approved at‑grade and signal improvements, plus a protected pedestrian phase already implemented for the east crosswalk, will improve safety and are consistent with the sector plan, and that VDOT coordination and the county’s STARS (Signal/Traffic/Asset/Road Safety) process should be used to study further measures (for example: a pedestrian “scramble” phase, red‑light enforcement cameras or narrower travel lanes). C2E2, EcoAction and the Sierra Club pushed for stronger electrification, on‑site renewables and higher energy performance standards than those the project committed to; the developer and staff said the project meets current county conditions and that a cash AHIF contribution would generate more deeply affordable housing off‑site than on‑site units could produce at this location.

Formal action and vote: The board adopted the manager’s recommendation, approving the rezoning (S‑3A to CO Roslyn where required), discontinuing the prior Roslyn Gateway phased plan, approving the site plan amendment for the new development and authorizing the vacations of street and utility easements described in the ordinance. The motions were adopted by a 5–0 vote.

Looking ahead: Construction was presented to the board as planned to begin in late 2026 if financing and permit timelines hold. Staff told the board they will continue to coordinate with VDOT and the applicant on Langston Boulevard improvements and will use the county’s transportation and STARS studies to refine intersection safety measures. The AHIF funds will be committed to future affordable housing projects and the county said staff will return with details of how the funds will be allocated in accordance with county policies.

Ending: The 1 Roslyn decision marks a major step in Rosslyn’s long‑term transformation toward more housing and pedestrian‑oriented streets. It also highlights tradeoffs local officials face between securing large cash affordable‑housing contributions, achieving on‑site affordability, and pushing the envelope on building electrification and on‑site renewable energy in an uncertain post‑pandemic capital and interest‑rate environment.