Planning and Development
Chris Zimmerman has worked to incorporate the principles of sustainability, smart growth and “new urbanism” in all of Arlington’s planning approaches. These principles integrate the joint goals of co-locating housing affordable to families of all incomes, multi-modal transportation options and land use planning, while focusing on environmental sustainability for all plans at all levels. Arlington has become a national model for the economic and environmental benefits of such a comprehensive approach, including:
- The Columbia Pike Initiative, which showcases a community-led, form-based code method commercial development, in conjunction with an ongoing Housing Initiative for existing and future residential multi-family capacity, and a walkable streetscape – all planned around the foundation of outstanding public transit, including a Columbia Pike streetcar and other surface transit services.
- The Clarendon Sector Plan, which fully balances the demand for office and residential uses along the Orange Line corridor, with an innovative approach to historic preservation, shared parking resources, meaningful density bonuses for community benefits within prescribed building envelopes, and enhanced recreation opportunities, including a shared dog-park and outdoor public space, public market space and vastly improved Central Park at the Clarendon Metro station.
- Shirlington Village, which creates a major mixed-use center outside the Metro corridors, supported by a state-of-the-art bus station, with increased residential, office, retail and grocery uses within a network of walkable streets, shared parking resources, and adjacent to the improved Four Mile Run trail.
- Pentagon Row, another mixed-use redevelopment that added significant commercial uses to a heavily-residential community, plus recreation facilities (like an outdoor winter skating rink,) added grocery store presence, and significant retail and street-level activation. Shared parking facilities and access to bus and Metro make this one of the most-accessible locations in Arlington.
- The Rosslyn redesign, which includes a fully re-engineered Metro bus bay system, new hi-speed elevators to Metro from the “Central Park” mixed-use complex, and the addition of significant residential, office and retail uses while adding much-needed pedestrian facilities, sidewalks and public plaza and performance opportunities at street level. A second project features the County’s first LEED-certified Platinum building. As well, a new observation tower at the top of Central Park will provide public access to some of the best views of Washington DC and the Potomac River.
- Potomac Yard This prioritizes the integration of open space, an urban waterfront, connecting and expanding regional walking and biking trails and a new transit way on a brownfield redevelopment site, with comprehensive new residential, commercial, retail and public uses.
