Arlington board approves Rosslyn mixed-use project at 1401 Wilson Boulevard

The Arlington County Board voted unanimously to approve a site plan amendment and related vacation ordinance for the redevelopment of 1401 Wilson Boulevard and 1400 Key Boulevard in Rosslyn. The project, as presented by staff and the applicant, replaces two vacant 1960s office buildings with a mixed-use development that will include two high-rise residential towers, nearly 29,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and new public open space.

County staff told the board the current proposal envisions two towers with a total density up to 9.94 FAR and residential gross floor area figures described in the report. Staff and the applicant committed to a $6,000,000 contribution to the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) in lieu of a larger number of on-site committed affordable units; staff said that contribution could be leveraged to produce substantially more off-site committed-affordable homes than on-site units would provide. "A cash contribution can actually be leveraged to serve additional families, including some at deeper affordability levels, for longer terms elsewhere in the county," staff said during the presentation.

Residents and civic associations supported a grocery anchor and the project's public-space improvements but raised concerns about curb management, pickup/drop-off and tree and plant palettes. The planning and housing commissions and several civic groups recommended approval after asking for careful curb-management and landscape details. In response to public comment, the applicant said design changes had increased on-site tree canopy and planned tree and native-plant palettes to support pollinators.

Vice Chair Coffey, who moved approval, said the design advances the Rosslyn sector plan goals for public space and housing supply, and highlighted the project's tree canopy and pocket public spaces. The motion passed on a 5-0 voice vote. The board also adopted an ordinance to vacate portions of North Nash Street and related easements subject to conditions and a restrictive covenant.

What’s next: staff will coordinate final technical approvals, monitor the AHIF contribution and work with the applicant on curb-management measures and the final landscape plan before building permits are issued.