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Trademark’s Anthem redevelopment approved after tenant raises parking concerns
Summary
Trademark Property Company won council approval to revert and revise PD zoning for the Lincoln Square/Anthem site, pledging design standards, phasing and honoring existing leases; Boomerjacks’ representative urged preserving adjacent parking and raised concerns about permissible building areas.
Trademark Property Company presented a plan to revise Planned Development zoning for the Lincoln Square/Anthem site in north Arlington, and the City Council approved the zoning revisions and an alternate sign plan.
Terry Montezi, CEO of Trademark, and Monica Lueira outlined plans to redevelop roughly 45 acres with phased renovations, façade upgrades, new public spaces and updated signage. Montezi said the company would demo 85,000 square feet in some scenarios, add a minimum 3,000-square-foot green space, and adopt stronger design standards in the PD.
Bruce Smithson, CFO of Bondtech Concepts representing Boomerjacks, testified in opposition to the planned PD reversion specifically because he said the proposed permissible building area could allow buildings to be located on a parking field his business and neighboring tenants currently use. He said Boomerjacks had negotiated relocation rights and spent $2 million on improvements under earlier agreements and that the new PD should explicitly exclude the existing parking field from buildable area.
Trademark responded that it intends to honor existing leases and that lease language limits its ability to materially reduce tenant parking without tenant approval. “We have a lease with them. We intend to honor our lease,” Montezi said. Staff and council members noted that the plan currently in force (the development plan approved previously) shows building footprints in that area, and council discussion focused on whether approving the reversion would materially change the tenant’s position.
Council members asked Trademark to explain relocation scenarios and lease protections. Trademark said the lease contains protections and that if densification required relocation, Trademark would negotiate and, if necessary, provide replacement parking or relocation consistent with lease terms.
After public testimony and council discussion, the council voted to approve the zoning reversion and the alternate sign plan; the record includes staff assurances about lease enforcement and the company’s statement that it will honor tenant agreements.
