Rosslyn Briefing Book - Arlington Sites - Arlington County

Rosslyn Briefing Book 

DOCUMENTATION OF EXISTING CONDITIONS IN THE ROSSLYN METRO STATION AREA 

A Resource for the Rosslyn Sector Plan Update 

MAY 2012 

ARLINGTON COUNTY; DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY PLANNING, HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT; PLANNING DIVISION

2 

ROSSLYN BRIEFING BOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................................4 

History of the Study Area............................................................................ ........................................................................5 

Current Conditions and Description of the Study Area...................................................................................................9 

Physical Conditions..............................................................................................................................................................9 

Transportation and Access.................................................................................................................................................16 

Parks and Open Space ......................................................................................................................................................21 

Land Use and Development...............................................................................................................................................23 

Demographics......................................................................................................................................................................31 

Economic and Market Data...............................................................................................................................................34 

Housing Characteristics.......................................................................................................................................................39 

rosslyn sector plan update 

Plans, Policies, and Laws Affecting the Study Area.........................................................................................................43 

Land Use Planning Overview..............................................................................................................................................43 

General Land Use Plan (GLUP)...........................................................................................................................................44 

GLUP History..........................................................................................................................................................................45 

Zoning....................................................................................................................................................................................52 

Transportation Overview.....................................................................................................................................................55 

Master Transportation Plan (MTP).......................................................................................................................................56 

Parks, Open Space, Public Art............................................................................................................................................60 

Public Space Master Plan...................................................................................................................................................60 

Public Arts Master Plan.........................................................................................................................................................62 

Neighborhood Planning .....................................................................................................................................................63 

Capital Projects....................................................................................................................................................................65 

Appendix...............................................................................................................................................................................66 

3

INTRODUCTION 

The Rosslyn Sector Plan Update (RSPU) will focus on a study area of approximately 300 acres 

surrounding the Rosslyn Metrorail Station in Arlington, Virginia (see Figure 1). The overall 

goal of the RSPU is to guide future public and private investment over the next 20 years in 

accordance with a refined vision for the Rosslyn Metro Station Area (RMSA), from this point 

forward referred to as Rosslyn or the RMSA. 

Figure 1: Rosslyn Sector Plan Update 

Study Area Map 

4 

The 1992 Rosslyn Station Area Plan Addendum established a vision of Rosslyn as a first class 

urban center and premier office district that is a vibrant place to live, work, and play. The 

end result will be a Rosslyn which: 

• Serves as a proud gateway into Arlington and the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

• Is a vibrant place to live and work with ample opportunities for shopping, recreation 

and cultural activities. 

• Is home to the regional and national headquarters of major corporations and is seen as 

one of the premier office locations in the country. 

• Has superior architecture and is an example of the best in urban design. 

• Is a place where people are comfortable with their surroundings and which serves as a 

great stage for human activities. 

Notable progress has been achieved over the past twenty years. Redevelopment of major 

projects from the 1960s and 1970s has added a new residential and hotel presence to Rosslyn’s 

core, enhanced the office market, and added a new vibrancy to street level retail in 

certain areas. Other changes, such as the opening of the Artisphere, early phases of the 

Esplanade project, deconstruction of the skywalk network, and the addition of three highspeed 

elevators to the Rosslyn Metro Station will also support future investment and growth. 

As a result of these successes, the RSPAU planning process will be carried out with dedication 

to the vision as well as the land use planning components set forth in the 1992 addendum. 

However, the focus will be to provide guidance for four specific problem areas: 

• A better urban design framework to create a Rosslyn that is a more attractive and 

functional place to be; 

• A more specific and deliberate building heights strategy to help the County prioritize 

its goals for Rosslyn’s skyline; 

• A refined multimodal transportation system consistent with current Master Transportation 

Plan policies to support the enhanced accessibility of Rosslyn’s residents, workers, 

and visitors, while providing rights-of-way that will accommodate Rosslyn’s future district 

energy needs; and 

• A more cohesive and functional parks and open space network to meet the recreational 

needs of Rosslyn while enhancing its public realm. 

This briefing book was developed to offer planning participants with a clear and detailed 

context from which the planning discussion will emerge. Offering a collection of historical 

background information, existing condition materials, and plans, policies, and laws, the 

briefing book may be read as a narrative document. However, it can also be viewed and 

used as an evolving reference guide, to be consulted and also built upon throughout the 

planning process. 


HISTORY OF THE STUDY AREA 

INTRODUCTION TO ROSSLYN 

The Rosslyn Metro Station Area (RMSA) lies across the Potomac River from Washington, 

D.C. and is considered a primary central business district of Arlington 

County. Rosslyn’s boundaries include portions of the North Rosslyn and Radnor/ 

Fort Myer Heights civic associations and the Colonial Village condominium. A 

key gateway to Arlington County since the 1840s, Rosslyn has long been a center 

of activity and commerce along the Potomac River. After the Civil War, 

Rosslyn was home to drinking establishments and a haven for gambling and 

vice. By the dawn of the 20th century, successful concerted efforts by local 

leaders and law enforcement to close illegal businesses significantly improved 

Rosslyn’s reputation. 


From 1896 to 1941, Rosslyn was a hub for an electric commuter rail service with 

connections to areas such as Alexandria, Mount Vernon, McLean and Great 

Falls. Around the 1930s an influx of government workers led to a dramatic rise 

in the County’s population, which increased demand on the existing housing 

market. This resulted in the construction of 176 Federal Housing Administrationsupported 

garden apartment communities throughout the County, including 

in Rosslyn. 

The Rosslyn Metro Station Area is centered around the Rosslyn Metro Station, 

a major hub of transportation activity on the Orange and Blue Metrorail lines. 

In the early 1960s, Rosslyn was home to an assortment of pawn shops, lumber 

yards, oil storage tanks, vacant lots and other marginal uses, as well as approximately 

2,500 housing units. At that time, Arlington County began applying innovative 

special exception site planning processes whereby private developers 

were allowed to develop at much greater densities than otherwise allowed, as 

long as they adhered to a County-approved master plan. 

The first Land Use Plan and site approval procedure for Rosslyn redevelopment 

was adopted in 1961. The 1977 Rosslyn Transit Area Study was completed 16 

years later. 

The Rosslyn Station Area Plan Addendum, adopted by the County Board in 

1992, outlines a strategy for a more functional, urban and livable place. In 1996, 

the Board adopted the “C-O-Rosslyn” zoning district, a new zoning classification 

to be used to implement the goals of the station area plan and addendum. The 

“C-O-Rosslyn” district allows the County Board to approve additional density 

up to a maximum of 10.0 FAR (floor area ratio) when it finds the development 

proposal offers important community benefits identified in approved plans for 

the area. This level of density is only allowed in the “Rosslyn Coordinated Redevelopment 

District” designated on the General Land Use Plan and for sites that 

are rezoned to “C-O-Rosslyn.” 

Rosslyn, Pre-1970s, View South from Rosslyn Circle 

Source: CPHD photo collection 

Rosslyn, Pre-1970s, View North Towards Key Bridge 


5


KEY HISTORIC RESOURCES 

Since the 2006 adoption of the Historic Preservation Master Plan, the 

County has adopted a classification of historic resources Countywide 

according to their historical and architectural significance. Known as Arlington’s 

Historic Resources Inventory, or HRI, the first phase of the project 

includes these three building types built prior to 1955: garden apartment 

style buildings and complexes; shopping centers; and individual commercial 

buildings. 

Twenty-three properties in the County are listed in the Essential category, 

which features those historic resources with the greatest historical architectural 

and/or visual prominence in our community. The Essential buildings 

give Arlington a genuine sense of place and illustrate how its built 

environment evolved during the early- to mid-20th century. In addition, 

the Essential buildings have the most remaining architectural fabric, the 

least extensive physical alterations, and distinguishing architectural and/ 

or historical significance. Two properties listed as Essential in the HRI are 

located in Rosslyn. 

The Important Category, the second-highest ranking in the HRI, includes 

134 properties countywide. The Important properties help communicate 

and reinforce the architectural and historical character of Arlington. 

Nearly half of the Important properties are garden apartment buildings 

and/or complexes, which have continuously served the housing needs 

Rosslyn bird’s eye view, 1962 


of Arlingtonians for decades while maintaining their high quality building 

materials, architectural design, and urban planning principles. In total, 17 

properties in Rosslyn are listed as Important in the HRI. 

The third and fourth tier rankings in the HRI are the Notable and Minor categories. 

The 81 Notable properties do not have as much surviving historic 

context or integrity of materials than those in the higher-ranked categories. 

The 22 properties in the Minor category have undergone substantial 

exterior alterations over time and/or are not a distinctive example of their 

particular building type. An additional 35 properties have undergone 

such major alterations that they are no longer considered to be historic 

resources. In total, 8 properties in Rosslyn are listed as Notable in the HRI. 

Locations in Rosslyn of HRI-Listed Properties: Figure 2 presents the entire 

list of properties within Rosslyn that are included in the HRI Phase 1, as 

adopted in June 2011. 

More detailed information on the Historic Resources Inventory can be 

found online at: 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/ons/hp/page82412.aspx 

Additional background to the County’s Historic Preservation Program 

can be found at this website: 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/ons/CPHDOnsHistoricPreservation.aspx 

Rosslyn, 1965 


ROSSLYN BRIEFING BOOK 

6


Property Name Address Construction 

Date 

Essential - Shopping Centers 

Colonial Village Shopping Center 1711-1731 Wilson Boulevard 1937 

Essential - Garden Apartments 

Colonial Village 

Figure 2. Properties in Rosslyn Listed in the Arlington County Historic Resources Inventory (Phase I) 

(portion of Colonial Village III that fronts Wilson Blvd, the eastern side 

of North Rhodes St, and Queens Lane is within the study area) 

Important - Garden Apartments 

Arlco Apartments 1423-1427 North Nash Street 1951-1952 

Arlington Towers (River Place)* 1011, 1021, 1111, 1121 Arlington Boulevard 1954-1955; 

Key Boulevard Apartments* 1537-1545 Key Boulevard 1942 

Rolfe Street Apartments* 1200-1218 North Rolfe Street 1942; 

Le-Mar Apartments* 1720-1726 North Quinn Street 1940 

Marlow Apartments (Rosslyn Heights)* 1220-1224 and 1300-1304 North Meade Street 1953 

Existing Status 

1936-1955 Local historic district, Virginia 

Landmarks Register, National 

Register 


Nalbert Apartments: 1301-1319 Fort Myer Drive 1950 

Pierce Queen Apartments 1600-1610 16th Street North, 1520 North Pierce Street, 1515 and 1521 

North Queen Street 

Queens Court Apartments* 1801-1805 North Quinn Street 1941 

Quinn Apartments 1410 North Quinn Street 1942/1952 

1942/1947 FMHN (Fort Myer Heights North) 

(full) 

Rahill Apartments 16th Street North, North Quinn Street, North Queen Street 1940-1942; FMHN (full on north half of block) 

Designation 

Stratford Courts 1336 North Ode Street 1943; 

Swansen Apartments 1601 North Rhodes Street, 1600 North Quinn Street 1942 

Taft Manor Apartments 2005 Fairfax Drive 1953-1954; 

The Virginian* 1500 Arlington Boulevard 1950 

Westmoreland Terrace* 1320-1322 Fort Myer Drive; 1301-1313 North Ode Street 1947; 

Important - Commercial Buildings 

Motel 50 (Inn of Rosslyn)* 1601 Fairfax Drive 1940 

(An asterisk (*) denotes that the property ranks within the top third of the important category) 

7


Figure 2. Properties in Rosslyn Listed in the Arlington County Historic Resources Inventory (Phase I), Cont’d 

Notable - Garden Apartments 

Briarcliff Manor (Marlaine) 1300-1304, 1318-1320, and 1301-1309 North Pierce Street 1942/1946-1947 

North Quinn Apartments 1210-1250 North Quinn Street, 1230 North Queen Street 1940-1946 

Parkview Manor Apartments 1310 North Meade Street 1954 

Rosslyn Ridge Apartments 1501 North Pierce Street 1954 

Sylvester 1516 North Rhodes Street (1800 16th Street North) 1942-1943 

Unnamed Apartment Complex 1235 North Quinn Street and 1220-1230 North Queen Street 1946 

Unnamed Low-Rise Apartment Building 1215-1217 North Quinn Street 1950 

Washington Vista (Carydale in Towne) 1545-1549 Colonial Terrace, Key Boulevard and North Nash Street 1954-1955 

(An asterisk (*) denotes that the property ranks within the top third of the important category) 


8

physical conditions 

ROSSLYN EXISTING CONDITIONS 


Study Area Location and Regional Context 

The Rosslyn Metro Station Area (RMSA) is situated just across the Potomac 

River from Washington, D.C. on the Orange and Blue Metrorail lines. One 

of Arlington County’s premier commercial hubs, Rosslyn’s approximately 

300 acres host 7,200 residential units, 8.3 million square feet of office space 

2,100 hotel units, and 700,000 square feet of retail. There are also over 

1.3 million square feet of commercial and 963 residential units approved 

and under construction (Arlington County 2nd Quarter 2011 Development 

Tracking Report). Rosslyn is also home to myriad cultural resources and 

open space programming, including the Artisphere, the Spectrum Theatre, 

the Rosslyn Jazz Festival and Rosslyn Film Festival in Gateway Park, and the 

Rosslyn Farmer’s Market. 

Rosslyn serves as the eastern bookend of the well-known Rosslyn-Ballston 

Corridor, and it is a well traversed gateway between Washington, D.C., 

Arlington County, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. At a regional level, 

Rosslyn’s vitality derives from its close-in location to the nation’s capital and 

accessibility via a network of regional and interstate highways, Metrorail 

service, and local and regional bus service. 

Rosslyn is bordered on the east by Interstate 66, the George Washington 

Memorial Parkway (and associated National Park Service property) and 

the Potomac River, which surrounds Theodore Roosevelt Island - accessible 

from the Mount Vernon Trail. The Courthouse Metro Station Area is situated 

to the west of Rosslyn. The Rosslyn to Courthouse Urban Design Study, 

adopted by the County Board in 2003, examined properties bound by 

Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards extending west of Pierce Street in Rosslyn. 

The property across Rosslyn’s southern boundaries comprises land 

associated with the Iwo Jima Memorial and Netherlands Carillon, Arlington 

Cemetery, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Finally, to the north of 

Rosslyn across the Potomac River sits Georgetown, while the North Highland 

neighborhood north of Interstate 66 is situated just northwest of Rosslyn. 

Geographic and Environmental Context 

As an densely developed urban area, Rosslyn is commonly described 

by attributes such as the transportation network and commercial and 

residential square footage. However, geographic and environmental 

characteristics should also be taken into consideration. A sample of these 

factors are identified in this overview. 

Rosslyn’s elevation levels ranges from 0 feet at the river to 175 at its highest 

points at locations in Radnor Fort Myer Heights and in Colonial Terrace. 

Interstate 66’s sunken elevation also produces grade changes that 

challenge the pedestrian mobility and ease of access from points near the 

river and Key Bridge moving westward toward the Metro Station and the 

more residential areas outside of the commercial core. 

Tree cover is another feature of Rosslyn’s environment that sets it apart 

from the County’s residential, low-density neighborhoods. As high density, 

commercial development has been built over the course of 50 years, 

many of Rosslyn’s sites have not benefited from standards for planting and 

preservation of trees now in place in new development projects. Within 

the 288-acre Rosslyn Metro Station Area, the tree canopy covers 62 acres, 

or almost 22 percent. However, within the smaller 65-acre commercial 

core, the Rosslyn Coordinated Redevelopment District (RCRD), there are 

only 3 acres of tree canopy (4 percent of the RCRD). 

Rosslyn is also home to three separate subwatersheds: Rosslyn, Colonial 

Village Branch, and Rocky Run. Proximity to the Potomac, high levels of 

impervious surface, and minimal tree cover make watershed management 

an important consideration in planning and new development. 

Property Ownership Patterns 

The RMSA includes parcels ranging in size from 1,850 square feet located in 

the Colonial Terrace neighborhood to over 100,000 square feet in locations 

including several condominium and apartment complexes and hotels, 

such as the Virginian Suites, Prospect House Condominiums, the Belvedere 

Condo, Rosslyn Heights and River Place. River Place is comprised of four 

separate parcels exceeding 100,000 square feet. 

Excluding the Waterview property located at 19th St and N Lynn St, the 

RCRD is comprised of parcels that are generally smaller is size, less than 

65,000 square feet. However, as depicted in Figure 9, a trend toward 

consolidation is emerging, as property owners such as JBG, Vornado/Gould, 

and Monday Properties control significant land area for development of 

residential and commercial projects. 

Civic and Community Services 

The Rosslyn community is supported by a range of civic and community 

services. Facilities include but are not limited to one fire station, the Wilson 

school property owned by Arlington Public Schools, three polling places, 

several churches and child care centers. 

9

(VA. 110) 



Figure 3: Rosslyn 


Metro Station Area 

2011 Aerial Photography 

Legend 

Metro Station 

Rosslyn Boundary 

Pursuant to Section 54.1-402 of the Code of Virginia, 

any determination of topography or contours, or any 

depiction of physical improvements, property lines or 

boundaries is for general information only and shall 

not be used for the design, modification, or 

construction of improvements to real property 

Potomac River or for flood plain determination. 

Map prepared by Arlington County GIS Mapping Center 

County Line Map © 2011 Arlington County, VA 

Printed: August 2011 

Rosslyn Metro 

1:4,800 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 

Arlington County 

Rosslyn 

GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PKWY. 

21ST 

CLARENDON BLVD. 

N. TROY ST. 

N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

ST. N. 

N. SCO 

N. TAFT ST. 

RD. N. 

TT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

N. RHODES ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

Legend 

ST. 

N. SCOTT ST. 

ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

14 TH 

N. SCOTT 


County Line 

21ST RD. N. 

INN ST. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

21ST S 

N. SCOTT S T. 

QUEENS LANE 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

ST. N. 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

16TH 

RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

T. N. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

ST. N. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

WASHINGTON AVE. 

21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 

BLVD. 

BLVD. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. OAK CT. 

N. COLONIAL TERR ACE 

19TH ST. N. 







or for flood plain determination. 

* Aerial Photography flown March 2011 


Map © 2012 Arlington County, VA 

Printed: April 2012 

N. ODE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

ST. 

N. ODE 

INTERSTATE 66 

LEE HWY. 

16TH RD. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

ARLINGTON BLVD. 

N. ODE ST. 

N. OAK ST. 

N. COLONIAL CT. 

KEY BLVD. 

18TH ST. N. 

14TH ST. N. 

FORT MYER D R. 

ST E WART RD. 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. OAK ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

FORT 

SERVICE ROAD 

MYER DR. 

17 T H 

MYER DR. 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

N. MEADE ST. 

N. MOORE ST. 

N. LYN N ST. 

ST. N. 

ORD & WEITZEL DR. 

µ 

1:4,800 

N. LYNN ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 

19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 

N. ARLINGTON RIDGE RD. 

WILSON BLVD. 

(U.S. 50) 

MARSHALL DR. 


10

75 

75 

75 

50 

50 



75 

50 

Figure 5: 

25 


Topography 


Watersheds and Streams 

100 

25 

0 

Spout Run 

Palisades 

75 

175 

125 

150 

50 

Colonial Village Branch 


75 

75 

175 

175 

175 

150 

75 

175 


225 

200 

150 

2ft Hillshade from DEM 

Legend 


Contour Lines 

225 

175 

200 


Potomac River 

175 

100 










Printed: May 2012 

175 

100 

µ 

1:4,800 

0 240 480 

120 Feet 

50 

Rocky Run 

Legend 

Watersheds Rosslyn Boundary 

Culvert 


Stream 

Potomac River 

Cemetery/Pentagon 








1:4,800 



Printed: August 2011 0 240 480 

120 Feet 

11




7: 

8: 

12

(VA. 110) 

(VA. 110) 



Figure 9: 


Tax Parcel Area 

Figure Rosslyn 10: Rosslyn 

Community Civic Infrastructure Facilities 



21ST 


N. TROY ST. 

N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

ST. N. 

N. SCO 

N. TAFT ST. 

RD. N. 

TT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

N. RHODES ST. 

ST. 

N. SCOTT ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

14 TH 

N. SCOTT 

21ST RD. N. 

INN ST. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

21ST S 

N. SCOTT S T. 

QUEENS LANE 

Legend 

Tax Parcel Area (Sq Ft) 

2 - 10,000 

10,001 - 35,000 

35,001 - 65,000 

65,001 - 100,000 

100,001 - 226,695 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

ST. N. 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

16TH 

RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

Rosslyn Area 


Potomac River 

T. N. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

ST. N. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 


21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 

BLVD. 

BLVD. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

N. OAK CT. 


19TH ST. N. 

N. ODE ST. 

ST. 

N. ODE 

INTERSTATE 66 

LEE HWY. 

16TH RD. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 


N. ODE ST. 

N. OAK ST. 


KEY BLVD. 

18TH ST. N. 

14TH ST. N. 


ST E WART RD. 










Printed: February 2012 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. OAK ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

FORT 

SERVICE ROAD 

MYER DR. 

17 T H 

MYER DR. 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

N. MEADE ST. 

N. MOORE ST. 

N. LYN N ST. 

ST. N. 


N. LYNN ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

µ 

1:4,800 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 

19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 


WILSON BLVD. 

(U.S. 50) 

MARSHALL DR. 


21ST 


N. TROY ST. 

N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

Plaza Library & Arlington Shop 

ST. N. 

N. SCO 

N. TAFT ST. 

RD. N. 

TT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

N. RHODES ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

Legend 

!® 

ñ 

"M 

¨ 

Post Office 

ST. 

County Facility 

Metro Station 

Fire Station 


N. SCOTT ST. 

ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

14 TH 

N. SCOTT 

21ST RD. N. 

INN ST. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

21ST S 

N. SCOTT S T. 

QUEENS LANE 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

ST. N. 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

16TH 

RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

T. N. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

Wilson 

Senior 

Center 

ST. N. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 


21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 

BLVD. 

BLVD. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

N. OAK CT. 


19TH ST. N. 

ñ 

N. ODE ST. 

ST. 

N. ODE 

INTERSTATE 66 

LEE HWY. 

16TH RD. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 


N. ODE ST. 

N. OAK ST. 


KEY BLVD. 

Polling Location 

18TH ST. N. 

¨ 

Fire Station 10 

Argus House 

14TH ST. N. 


ST E WART RD. 

ñ 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. OAK ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

FORT 

SERVICE ROAD 

MYER DR. 

17 T H 

MYER DR. 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

N. MEADE ST. 

N. MOORE ST. 


"M 

N. LYN N ST. 

ST. N. 


N. LYNN ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

µ 




Boundary boundaries is for general information only and shall 


Polling Places construction of improvements to real property 


1:4,800 

Potomac River 



0 125 250 500 Feet 


19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 


Rosslyn Station 

Post Office !® ñ ARTISPHERE 

WILSON BLVD. 

(U.S. 50) 

MARSHALL DR. 

13

N. LYNN ST. 

JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY. 



Figure 11: X: Rosslyn Coordinated Redevelopment District 

Parcel Ownership 

Figure 12: X: Rosslyn Business Improvement District 

Boundary 

RCRD 

22ND CT. N. 

22ND ST. N. 

22ND ST. N. 

N. OAK ST. 

FO RT MYER DR. 

N. LYNN ST. 

RCRD 

Property Owner 

1200 Property Associates 

Arlington County Board 

Arl.Tmpl Utd Methodist Chrch 

Beacon Capital 

Bragg Ellen Estate 

Bristol Group 

Brookfield Office Properties 

Clover Companies 

Dittmar 

Dominion Virginia Power 

GPI Buchanan Wilson 

Glenborough 

JBG 

Lincoln Property 

Lynn Estates Property 

Marriott 

RCRD 

45 0 90 180 270 

Feet 

¯ 

Monday Properties 

Multiple/Condo 

Penzance 

Snell Construction Corp 

Tishman Speyer 

Vornado/Gould 

Weissberg Corporation 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

WILSON BLVD. 

N. QUINN ST. 

21ST ST. N. 

N. COLONIAL TERRACE 

VACATED 

STREET 

19TH ST. N. 

16TH ST. N. 16TH ST. N. 

N. QUINN ST. 

VACATED 

STREET 

N. QUEEN ST. 

Streets 

Rosslyn BID Boundary 

N. PEIRCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. ODE. ST. 

N. ODE ST. 


N. OAK ST. 


N. ODE ST. 


18TH ST. N. 

16TH RD. N. 

N. OAK ST. 

CLARENDON BLV D. 

17TH ST. N. 

N. OAK ST. 

N. OAK ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT MYER DR. 

FORT MYER DR. FORT MYER DR. 

N. NASH ST. 

Building Footprints 

Tax Parcels 

FORT MYER DR. 

20TH ST. N. 

FORT MYER DR. 

N. MOORE ST. 

N. MOORE ST. 

N. LYNN ST. 

N. LYNN ST. 

N. LYNN ST. N. LYNN ST. 

19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 

N. KENT ST. 

¯ 

0 50 100 200 300 

Feet 



14




Rosslyn Coordinationed Redevelopment District (RCRD); View East from Pierce Street 

15


transportation and access 

TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS OVERVIEW 

The materials presented on the following pages 

and the Rosslyn Multimodal Transportation 

Study provide a comprehensive catalogue of 

the Rosslyn transportation and access system. 

Rosslyn is situated at the confluence of several 

major local and regional highway facilities 

including: Interstate Route 66, US, Route 29 (Lee 

Highway), US Route 50 (Arlington Boulevard), 

the George Washington Memorial Parkway, 

and the Wilson Boulevard/Clarendon Boulevard 

corridor. Rosslyn is one of the region’s major 

commercial hubs, serving as the gateway to 

Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. Rosslyn is 

also connected to Georgetown and downtown 

Washington, D.C. by the Metrorail system tunnel 

under the Potomac River, by the Key Bridge, 

and by the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge which 

carries both US Route 50 and Interstate Route 

66 across the Potomac River. 

Rosslyn’s impressive transportation connectivity 

is accommodated by a multi-layered 

transportation and access system comprised 

of local roads, interstates, and highways, 

pedestrian and cyclist network pathways, 

and mass transit facilities including the Rosslyn 

Metrorail station, WMATA, ART, and private and 

commercial bus stops and routes. 

The following pages present maps and 

illustrations depicting various elements of 

Rosslyn’s transportation and access system. 

In addition, the recently completed Rosslyn 

Multimodal Transportation Study was conducted 

to catalogue and review existing and planned 

transportation facilities, services and operations 

for Rosslyn over the next 20 years. 

The study catalogues and assesses the 

basic framework of the Rosslyn multimodal 

transportation system including: streets, 

public transportation, bicycle facilities, 

pedestrian facilities, parking and curb space 

management, and Transportation Demand 

Management (TDM), and identifies deficiencies 

along with opportunities for improvements to 

the system. Recommended improvements to 

Rosslyn’s transportation system are based on 

and consistent with Arlington County’s Master 

Transportation Plan. The study is intended to 

inform the transportation component of the 

new Rosslyn Sector Plan Update. 

17th Street N Bridge Looking North Up Fort Myer Drive 

Rosslyn Traffic Counts 

The streets that serve Rosslyn are subject to a wide 

range of travel demands over the course of a typical 

weekday. As Rosslyn is an employment center 

(approximately 35,000 jobs), a residential neighborhood 

(over 10,000 residents), and a primary visitor 

destination (more than 2,000 hotel rooms), it is the 

origin and destination of a lot of vehicular traffic. In 

addition to the locally generated traffic, some of 

Rosslyn’s streets also carry significant regional traffic 

that pass through the area on the way into or 

out of Washington, D.C. 

Figure 13: 


16

(VA. 110) 



Arlington County, Virginia 


Existing Traffic Circulation 

Existing in Rosslyn Street Network and Traffic Circulation 

KEY BRIDGE 

Figure 15: 


Transit Map 

N. VEITCH ST. 


PKWY. 

21ST 

21ST ST. N. 

R D. N. 

20TH 

ST. N. 

19TH ST. N. 

N. VEITCH ST. 

N. COURTHOUSE RD. 

N. UHLE ST. 

N. UHLE 

ST. 

N. TROY 

14TH ST. N. 

12TH CT. N. 

ST. 

N. TAFT ST. 

21ST ST. N. 

(U.S. 29) 

KEY BLVD. 


â 

ßå 

15TH ST. N. 

N. COURTHOUSE RD. 

21ST 


N. TROY ST. 

N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

N. SCO 

â 

N. TAFT ST. 

ßå 

FAIRFAX DR. 

BL OX O N S T. 

RD. N. 

TT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

N. RHODES ST. 

ST. 

N. SCOTT ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

14 TH 

N. SCOTT 

21ST RD. N. 

INN ST. 

ßå 

ßå 

N. ROLFE ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

21ST S 

â 

N. SCOTT S T. 

QUEENS LANE 

CUSTER RD. 

â 

â 

ßå 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

â 

ßå 

ß å 

â 

ßå å ß 

ßå å 

ßå 

ß 

ßå 

ßå 

ßå 

â 

ßå 

ßå 

ßå 

ßå 

ßå 

ßå 

ßå 

ßå 

ST. N. 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

16TH 

RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

JOHNSON LANE 

T. N. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

ST. N. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 


GRANT AVE. 

Pursuant to Section 54.1-402 of the Code of Virginia, any determination of topography 

or contours, or any depiction of physical improvements, property lines or boundaries 

is for general information only and shall not be used for the design, modification, or 

construction of improvements to real property or for flood plain determination. 

Aerial Photography flown February 2009 


Produced and © July 2011 

21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 

â 

BLVD. 

â 

BLVD. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. OAK CT. 


19TH ST. N. 

N. ODE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

ST. 

N. ODE 

â 

INTERSTATE 66 

â 

â 

LEE HWY. 

â 

ßå 

16TH RD. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

ßå 

N. NASH ST. 

ßå 

ßå 

FAIRFAX DR. 


N. ODE ST. 

N. OAK ST. 


KEY BLVD. 

18TH ST. N. 

14TH ST. N. 


ST E WART RD. 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. OAK ST. 

â 

FORT 

SERVICE ROAD 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

â 

MYER DR. 

17T H 

â 

MYER DR. 

ß å 

â 

â 

â 

ßå 

â 

ßå 

"M 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

ßå 

â 

N. LYNN ST. 

ßå 

N. MEADE ST. 


MITCHELL DR. 

N. MOORE ST. 

ST. N. 

N. LYN N ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

ßå 

ßå 

19TH ST. N. 

ßå 

N. KENT ST. 

â 


WILSON BLVD. 

(U.S. 50) 

MARSHALL DR. 

Legend 

LINCOLN DR. 

SHERMAN DR. 

ßå 

Travel Direction 

âßåRosslyn Metro Station Area 

"M Rosslyn Metro Station 

0 650 

Feet 

(VA. 110) 

INT. 66 

/ 


GEORGE WASHINGTON 

4H EB 

Legend 

Metro Station 

Blue Line 

4B EB 

Orange Line 

Blue/Orange Line 

Orange Line 

3Y WB 

3A EB 

4A WB 

ART45S 

3B EB 

4H WB 

16Y EB 

ART Bus Stops 

ART Bus Routes 

WMATA Bus Stops 

WMATA Bus Route 

3B WB 

4B WB 

38B EB 

38B WB 

3A WB 

ART61B ART61A 

ART45N 


Potomac River 


16Y WB 

3Y EB 

15K EB 

15K WB 











3E EB 

ART61A 

3E WB 

4E 15L 


4A EB 

ART61B 

5A WB 

5A EB 

1:4,800 

Blue-Orange Line 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 

Blue Line 

FORREST CIR. 

SCHLEY DR. 

N. WAYNE ST. 

ARLINGTO 

JACKSON AVE. 

MOORE LN. 

MCNAIR RD. 

MEMORIAL DR. 

17

(VA. 110) 





Existing Sidewalks 

Existing Bike Trails and Facilities 

21ST ST. N. 


21ST 


N. TROY ST. 

N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

ST. N. 

N. SCO 

N. TAFT ST. 

RD. N. 

TT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

N. RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

Legend 

ST. 

N. SCOTT ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

14 TH 

N. SCOTT 

Sidewalk Type: Aprons 

Sidewalks 


Potomac River 

21ST RD. N. 

INN ST. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

21ST S 

N. SCOTT S T. 

QUEENS LANE 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

ST. N. 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

16TH 

RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

T. N. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

ST. N. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 


GRANT AVE. 

21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 

BLVD. 

BLVD. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. OAK CT. 


19TH ST. N. 










Printed: February 2012 

N. ODE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

ST. 

N. ODE 

INTERSTATE 66 

LEE HWY. 

16TH RD. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 


N. ODE ST. 

N. OAK ST. 


KEY BLVD. 

18TH ST. N. 

14TH ST. N. 


ST E WART RD. 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. OAK ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

FORT 

SERVICE ROAD 

MYER DR. 

17 T H 

MYER DR. 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

N. MEADE ST. 

N. MOORE ST. 

N. LYN N ST. 

ST. N. 


N. LYNN ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

µ 

1:4,800 

19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 


WILSON BLVD. 

(U.S. 50) 

MARSHALL DR. 

LINCOLN DR. 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 

Legend 

Bike Network 

Suggested Route 

Marked Routes, Streets & Bike Lanes 

Off Street Trail 

Use Caution - Active Intersection 

Capital Bikeshare Stations 

Water Fountain 

Steep Hills 

Sidewalks 



Water Fountain 











1:4,800 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 


18

N MOORE ST 

N 

N LYNN ST 



Arlington County, Virginia 


Public Off-Street Parking 

22ND ST N 

N OAK CT 


Public Off-Street Parking 

GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PKWY 

GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PKWY 

LYNN ST 

N PIERCE ST 

21ST CT N 

21ST ST N 

N PIERCE 

CT 

LEE HWY 

N OAK ST 

IA 

LEE HWY 

Key Bridge 

Marriott 

FORT 

DR 

MYER 

LEE HWY 

INTERSTATE 66 

INTERSTATE 66 

LEE HWY 

LEE HWY 

LEE HWY 

N LYNN ST 

N COLONIAL TER 

N COLONIAL CT 

N NASH ST 

IA 


Gateway North 

Waterview 

IA 

19TH ST N 

N ODE ST 


Art Associates 

Bldgs 

1555 IA 

Wilson Blvd 1525 

Wilson Blvd 

IA 

IA 

IA 

IA 

1550 Wilson Blvd 

AM Bldg 

IA 


IA IA 

1600 Wilson Blvd 1560 Wilson Blvd 

14TH ST N 

CLARENDON BLVD 

16TH ST N 

N QUEEN ST 

19TH ST N 

N QUEEN ST 

WILSON BLVD 

16TH ST N 

N PIERCE ST 

N PIERCE ST 

18TH ST N 

16TH ST N 

KEY BLVD 

N ODE ST 



16TH RD N 

FAIRFAX DR 

Pursuant to Section 54.1-402 of the Code of Virginia, any determination of topography 

or contours, or any depiction of physical improvements, property lines or boundaries 

is for general information only and shall not be used for the design, modification, or 

construction of improvements to real property or for flood plain determination. 

Data provided DES Transportation 2004. 

Aerial Photography flown February 2009 


Produced and © July 2011 

14TH ST N 

FORT MYER DR 

N OAK ST 

1400 Key Blvd 

IA 

IA 


17TH ST N 

N OAK ST 

ARLINGTON BLVD 

N OAK ST 

Hyatt Hotel 

IA 

Marriott 

Residence Inn 

N OAK ST 

N NASH ST 

N NASH ST 

IA 

Commonwealth 

Tower 

IA 

1616 

Ft Myer Dr 

IA 

1300 N 

17th ST 

IA 



N NASH ST 

1815 

N Ft Myer Dr 

IA 

"M 

Rosslyn Center 

FORT MYER DR 

IA 

Berkeley Bldg 

17TH ST N 

14TH ST N 

IA 

IA 

Park Place 

FAIRFAX DR 

Parking Garage 

Hours 

IA 

IA 

IA 

N MEADE ST 

N LYNN ST 

Monday to Friday - Daytime 

N LYNN ST 

IWO 

Plaza East 

IA 

IA 

IA 

1777 N Kent St 

Int'l Place 

1101 

Wilson Blvd 

IA 

Rosslyn Spectrum 

Theater 

WILSON BLVD 

Legend 

Monday to Friday - Days & Evenings 

Monday to Friday - Days & Evenings - Some Weekend 

Rosslyn Metro Station Area 

"M Rosslyn Metro Station 

JIMA MEMORIAL ACCESS ROAD 

0 375 

Feet 

N KENT 

ST 

N ARLINGTON RIDGE RD 

IA 

ROUTE 

/ 

110 

ROUTE 110 

19


parks and open space 

Parks and Open Space Overview 

The Rosslyn Metro Station Area offers a selection of parks and both public 

and privately-owned open space with public access. In addition, Rosslyn 

is surrounded to the north, east, and west by federal land with open space 

zoning, namely Roosevelt Island, Iwo Jima Memorial, and Arlington National 

Cemetery. These areas are identified in Figure 19 and are as follows: 

Public Parks 

• Gateway Park 3 acres 

• Rosslyn Highlands Park 1.61 acres 

• Hillside Park 1.33 acres 

• Fort Myer Heights Park 0.16 acres 

• Dark Star Park 0.4 acres 

• Belvedere Park 0.1 acres 

• Rhodeside Green Park 0.1 acres 

County Parks on Privately Owned Land 

• Freedom Park 

• Crandall Mackey Park 

• Annie’s Park (permanently closed for Central Place construction) 

• Metro Park 

Arlington County’s public parks total to more than 7 acres of passive and 

Fort Myer Heights Park, 1400 Fort Myer Drive 

Dark Star Park, 1655 Fort Myer Drive 

recreational public space. Uses and activities at the public parks and private 

open spaces include arts and cultural programming, especially at 

Gateway Park which is home to events including the Rosslyn Jazz Festival 

and the Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival; tot lots and other youth-oriented play 

areas at Fort Myer Heights and Rosslyn Highlands Park; passive and restive 

elements such as benches, ornamental gardens and landscaping and tree 

canopy preservation at parks such as Hillside Park, Rhodeside Green Park, 

Freedom Park, Dark Star Park, and Belvedere Park, and recreational facilities 

at Rosslyn Highlands Park (basketball) and Fort Myer Heights Park (basketball 

and volleyball). 

There are also a number of other public and privately-owned spaces, many 

of which are plazas and elevated terraces, which function as key elements 

of Rosslyn’s public realm. These include the following: 

• Key Boulevard Community Garden 

• Waterview Terrace 

• Bennet Park public terrace (elevated) 

• Bennett Park “alley” public space 

• Oak Street open space 

• Pedestrian easement at the Atrium 

• Pedestrian easement at The Gallery Apartments 

• Colonial Terrace Public staircase on Nash Street 

The impact and attractiveness of Rosslyn’s parks and open space is diminished 

by many challenges. Concerns have been identified such as poor 

access - often heightened by grade separation and intersections which 


20



are difficult for pedestrians to navigate - particularly those located on the 

periphery of the RCRD, such as Dark Star Park, Gateway Park, and Freedom 

Park. Pedestrian access to the federal parks is also challenged by 

navigational issues including limited wayfaring signage and heavily used 

intersections and thruways. In contrast, there are also parks in which over 

exposure to urban elements and inadequate seating and amenities limits 

usage. Finally, the parks located outside of the RCRD in the residential 

areas enjoy high usage and high demand; however, there is a shortage 

of active recreational facilities such as ball fields, tennis courts, and basketball 

courts. 


Over the past twenty years, several changes and improvements have 

been implemented. The Artisphere offers welcome cultural events and 

activities, as well as connections to the elevated Freedom Park. Improvements 

to 19th and Kent Street have been completed, realigning the intersection 

with two new landscaped center islands and thus creating a more 

inviting connection to the northern entry point to Freedom Park. 

Looking ahead, the Rosslyn Metro Station elevator construction project 

has decommissioned Annie’s Park and limited usage at Crandall Mackey 

Park and Metro Park given the construction noise and related activities. 

All three of these parks will be replaced by the new Central Plaza to be 

built as part of JBG’s Central Place project. 

In addition, the N. Lynn Street Esplanade, from 19th Street N. to westbound 

Lee Highway will provide widened sidewalks, intersection improvements, 

upgraded traffic signals, on-street bike lanes, streetlights, signage and 

landscape areas. This project also incorporates Cliff Garten’s Corridor of 

Light public art elements (which will extend fully along N Lynn Street from 

the Meade Street Bridge to Gateway Park) at each of the four corners of 

Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway 

Freedom Park, N Lynn Street before Wilson Boulevard 

the I-66 bridge and will improve access to Gateway Park. 

The Lee Highway and Custis Trail improvements include bicycle and pedestrian 

facility upgrades along westbound Lee Highway (Route 29) between 

N. Oak Street and N. Lynn Street. Intersection improvements, lane 

reconfiguration, trail widening, curb extensions, wider curb ramps, signal 

modifications and increased trail separation are proposed. 

It is the goal of this planning process to build on these successes and 

identify new strategies to create a coordinated and connected park and 

open space network that will attract diverse users and support future development. 

In addition to the maps presented on the following page, images of existing 

parks and open space have also been compiled as a resource for the 

planning process. 

Rosslyn Highlands Park, 1529 Wilson Boulevard 

21

(VA. 110) 

(VA. 110) 





Parks and Public Spaces 

Civic Infrastructure 


DAWSON 

TERRACE 

COMM. CNTR. 

21ST 

N. TROY ST. 

N. SCO 

N. RHODES ST. 


N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

ST. N. 

N. TAFT ST. 

N. ROLFE 

RD. N. 

TT 

ST. 

N. SCOTT ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

Legend 

ST. 

Public Parks 

ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

21ST RD. N. 

INN ST. 

N. SCOTT S T. 

QUEENS LANE 

14 TH 

N. SCOTT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

21ST S 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

ST. N. 

16TH 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

RHODES ST. 

T. N. 

Privately Owned Land with Public Easement - Parks 

NVRPA (Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) 

Fort Bennett 

Park and 

Palisades Trail 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

Rhodeside 

Green Park 

ST. N. 


N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

N. OAK CT. 


19TH ST. N. 

N. ODE ST. 

BLVD. 

BLVD. 

N. ODE ST. 

N. OAK ST. 

14TH ST. N. 


ST E WART RD. 

INTERSTATE 66 

LEE HWY. 


KEY BLVD. 

Key Boulevard 

Community Garden 

Gardens 

School Property 

18TH ST. N. 


Highlands 

Park 

N. PIERCE ST. 

ST. 

N. ODE 

16TH RD. N. 

Hillside 

Park 

N. NASH ST. 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. OAK ST. 

Belvedere 

Park 

FAIRFAX DR. 


Fort Myer 

Heights Park 

SERVICE ROAD 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

FORT 

MYER DR. 

17 T H 

Gateway 

Park 

Crandall Mackey Park * 

Annie's Park * 








MYER DR. 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

N. MOORE ST. 

Metro Park * 

N. LYN N ST. 

Dark 

Star 

Park 

ST. N. 

N. MEADE ST. 


N. LYNN ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

1:4,800 

Open Space Zoning 



Rosslyn Boundary 0 125 250 500 Feet 


19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 


Freedom Park 

WILSON BLVD. 

(U.S. 50) 

Marine Corps 

War Memorial 

- Iwo Jima 

(Federal Property) 

MARSHALL DR. 


21ST 


N. TROY ST. 

N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

Plaza Library & Arlington Shop 

ST. N. 

N. SCO 

N. TAFT ST. 

RD. N. 

TT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

N. RHODES ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

Legend 

!® 

ñ 

"M 

¨ 

Post Office 

ST. 

County Facility 

Metro Station 

Fire Station 


N. SCOTT ST. 

ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

14 TH 

N. SCOTT 

21ST RD. N. 

INN ST. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

21ST S 

N. SCOTT S T. 

QUEENS LANE 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

ST. N. 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

16TH 

RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

T. N. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

Wilson 

Senior 

Center 

ST. N. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 


21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 

BLVD. 

BLVD. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

N. OAK CT. 


19TH ST. N. 

ñ 

N. ODE ST. 

ST. 

N. ODE 

INTERSTATE 66 

LEE HWY. 

16TH RD. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 


N. ODE ST. 

N. OAK ST. 


KEY BLVD. 

Polling Location 

18TH ST. N. 

¨ 

Fire Station 10 

Argus House 

14TH ST. N. 


ST E WART RD. 

ñ 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. OAK ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

FORT 

SERVICE ROAD 

MYER DR. 

17 T H 

MYER DR. 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

N. MEADE ST. 

N. MOORE ST. 


"M 

N. LYN N ST. 

ST. N. 


N. LYNN ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

µ 




Boundary boundaries is for general information only and shall 


Polling Places construction of improvements to real property 


1:4,800 

Potomac River 



0 125 250 500 Feet 


19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 


Rosslyn Station 

Post Office !® ñ ARTISPHERE 

WILSON BLVD. 

(U.S. 50) 

MARSHALL DR. 


22 

* Parks to be replaced b y development

land use and development 


Land Use and Development 

Known now as one of the largest professional and commercial districts 

in the region, Rosslyn has come a long way from its infamous past as a 

collection of pawnshops, warehouses, saloons, and other marginal land 

uses at the beginning of the 20th Century. Spurred by the growth of the 

federal government after WWII and newfound interest in Arlington real 

estate investment, Rosslyn’s older structures and industrial operations 

were rapidly replaced by a high-density office district beginning in the 

1960s. Interstate 66 completion and County-initiated growth around 

the Metrorail stations solidified Rosslyn as a regional office market with 

a surrounding neighborhood of garden-style and medium density 

residential apartment complexes, single family homes, and townhomes. 

The exhibits on these pages depict this history of development and 

land uses currently found in Rosslyn, with uses ranging from office, retail, 

hotels, condomium and apartment residential, educational uses, and 

many others. The Appendix provides a detailed breakdown of built and 

approved development projects from 1960 through the first quarter 

of 2011, identifying project square footage, General Land Use Plan 

(GLUP) Designation, project completion date, and the site area square 

footage. 

Rosslyn Development Pre-1960s to 2011 

The character of development in Rosslyn varies significantly from decade 

to decade. Prior to 1960, development in Rosslyn was primarily focused 

in the housing sector, resulting in almost 2,000 new units. After 1960, development 

transitioned sharply to the office sector, with 2.7 million square 

feet built over the course of only 10 years. The 1970s and 1980s also represent 

decades of strong development activity, with production in the office, 

retail, residential, and hotel sectors. However, construction of new office 

space continued to be dominant, spurred by demand outside of the traditional 

office markets in Washington, DC. In the 1990s, development slowed, 

with delivery of only a few new projects. However, during the real estate 

boom of the 2000s, Rosslyn experienced a resurgence of activity, with delivery 

of almost 1 million square feet of office space and renewed interest 

in the residential sector represented by production of 1,635 housing units. 


Figure 21: Completed Rosslyn Development (as of 12/31/2011) 

Pre‐1960s 60‐69 70‐79 80‐89 90‐99 00‐09 Total 

Office Sq. Ft. 23,000 2,743,683 947,617 3,507,128 179,622 967,871 8,368,921 

Retail Sq. Ft. 58,606 138,459 89,517 205,337 0 36,601 528,520 

Other Sq. Ft. 0 15,885 46,286 55,083 8,091 39,159 164,504 

Residential Units * 1,918 762 101 1,845 119 1,635 6,380 

Hotel Rooms 38 465 885 141 458 154 2,141 

Source: Community Planning, Housing and Development ‐ Planning Division: Planning, Research and Analysis Team (PRAT), April 2012. 

* Residential units tally does not reflect an exhaustive list. Only accounts for units in the Development Tracking database. 

23

N MOORE ST 

ROSSLYN EXISTING CONDITIONS land use and development 

1 

A 

N SCOTT ST 

3 

2 

6 

7 

C 

4 

5 

1 

N ROLFE ST 


N QUINN ST 

N QUINN ST 

2 

3 

4 

N QUEEN ST 

16th ST N 

14th ST N 

N QUINN ST 

19th ST N 

N QUEEN ST 

N ODE ST 

18th ST N 

LEE HWY 


N COLONIAL CT 

KEY BLVD 

WILSON BLVD 

N PIERCE ST 

N PIERCE ST 

N OAK ST 

16th RD N 

ARLINGTON BLVD - RTE 50 

N ODE ST 

FORT MYER DR 

1 

N NASH ST 

FAIRFAX DR 

LEE HWY 

I-66 

10 

6 

9 

3 4 8 9 

11 

7 

10 

5 

12 1314 16 

18 21 25 

23 

11 13 19 26 

15 16 17 14 20 27 

12 

22 

19 20 17 24 28 

21 15 

29 30 

18 

18 

21 31 

26 

1 3 

28 29 

19 

8 24 22 25 27 

12 

2 

23 

9 

4 

20 

22 

24 

5 

7 8 10 11 

5 

23 

16 

17 18 

19 

6 

20 

21 

22 

13 14 15 

23 

24 

25 

26 28 

27 29 

N NASH ST 

N OAK ST 

2 

12th ST N 

FORT MYER DR 

WILSON BLVD 

12 

6 13 

7 14 

14th ST N 

8 

9 10 

11 

N NASH ST 

15 

16 

17 

N LYNN ST 

Figure 22 

19th ST N 

D 

N KENT ST 

B 


Development Project 

Locations 1960 - 2011 


Development Project 

1970 - 1979 

Locations 1960 - 2010 

1980 - 1989 

Metro Station 

1990 - 1999 

Approved Projects 

2000 - 2011 

1960 - 1969 

Under Construction 

1970 - 1979 

* 

1980Approved - 1989 Projects 

1990Other - 1999Projects 

2000Metro - 2010Station 

Under Construction 

Other Projects 

Feet 

0 350 700 

1" = 700' 

1960 - 1969 

Source: Development in the Metro Corridors, 1st Quarter 2011, Community Planning, Housing and 

Development - Planning Division: Planning, Research and Analysis Team (PRAT). 


24 

Development in the Planning Corridors 2011 2 Rosslyn Area



Figure 23: Recently Delivered Projects 

Turnberry Tower 

Address: 1881 North Nash St 

Project Details 

•Retail: 4,400 sf 

•Residential Units: 247 

Building Characteristics 

•Site Area: 56,700 sf 

•Building Height: 300 

•Number of Stories: 27 

•Parking Spaces: 514 

Approval Date: 06/26/2004 

Construction Start: 

12/11/2007 

Completion Date: 

09/09/2009 

/ 

Land Use 

•GLUP Designation: 

High Residential 

•Zoning: C‐O 


The Waterview 

Address: 1919 N Lynn St 



03/31/2006 

Completion Date: 01/11/2008 




•Office: 620,576 sf 

•Hotel Rooms: 140 





•Parking spaces: 901 

Land Use 

•GLUP Designation: High 

Office Apartment Hotel 

•Zoning: C‐O Rosslyn 


Hilltop House 100 

Address: 1221 N Pierce St 


06/11/2009 

Project Details: 

Residential Units: 100 


Site Area 17,914 sf 

Land Use 

•GLUP Designation: Medium 

Residential 

•Zoning: RA6‐15 

Source: Development Tracking Map, Community Planning, Housing and Development - Planning Division: 

Planning, Research and Analysis Team (PRAT). 

Parc Rosslyn 

Address: 1513 N Pierce St 



08/08/2007 


06/25/2008 


Residential Units: 238 

Land Use 


•GLUP Designation: High – 

•Site Area 267,470 sf 



•Parking Spaces: 238 

Medium Residential 

•Zoning: RA4.8 

25



Figure 24: Projects Under Construction 

26 

Contis Site ‐ Rosslyn 

Address: 1776 Wilson Blvd 





Slate – Rosslyn 

Commons II 

Address: 1500 Clarendon Blvd 


/ 






Land Use 

•GLUP Designation: Service 

Commercial 

•Zoning: C‐2 




•Parking g spaces: 172 

Land Use 


Source: Development Tracking Map, Community Planning, Housing and Development - Planning Division: Planning, 

Research and Analysis Team (PRAT). 

1812 N Moore St 

Address: 1812 N Moore St 





•Other: 21,031 sf 

Sedona – Rosslyn 

Commons I 



/ 









Land Use 








Land Use 





Figure 25: Projects Approved, Not Yet Under Construction 

Townhouses Along 

16 th Rd N 









Land Use 



Source: Development Tracking Map, Community Planning, Housing and Development - Planning Division: 

Planning, Research and Analysis Team (PRAT). 

Central Place ‐ 


Address: 1801 N Lynn St 






•Other: 9.072 sf 






Land Use 




27



DEVELOPMENT FORECAST 

As detailed in the development report from the 1960s through 2011 

presented on the previous pages, growth in Rosslyn over the past 50 years 

has produced over 8.3 million square feet of office space, 7,300 housing 

units, 2,100 hotel rooms and nearly 530,000 square feet in retail space. 

In addition, there is also another 165,000 square feet of building space 

attributable to other uses. 

Figure 26: Forecast Cumulative Development (Round 8.1) ‐ 2010 to 2040 


Time Period Office Sq. Ft. Retail Sq. Ft. Hotel Rooms Residential Units Other Sq. Ft. 

2010 Base 8,377,300 528,500 2,100 7,300 164,500 

2040 13,482,600 770,100 2,900 10,200 102,700 

Looking to the future, the most current available development forecasts 

for Arlington County and Rosslyn in particular are reflected in the Round 

8.1 Forecast, expected to be adopted by the Metropolitan Washington 

Council of Governments (MWCOG) in Fall 2012. In Arlington, the forecasts 

are based largely on potential development capacity as envisioned in the 

General Land Use Plan (GLUP), sector plans and other small area plans, and 

assumptions related to the anticipated likely timing of when development 

may occur in different locations. 

In Rosslyn, the Round 8.1 Forecast reflects the development potential likely 

to be achieved on redeveloped sites according to the existing planning 

and zoning framework for Rosslyn. Namely, this assumes mixed-use 

development with densities of up to 10 FAR and building heights up to 300 

feet in the Rosslyn Coordinated Redevelopment District, consistent with the 

planning and zoning framework currently in place for Rosslyn’s core. 

This future development is anticipated to occur through redevelopment 

of several sites. Staff predictions of potential redevelopment sites are 

indicated on the map in Figure 27, based on factors including building age 

and lease and ownership information. The sites marked “A” and “C” are 

the subject of current site plan applications. 

2010 to 2040, Change 5,105,300 241,600 800 2,900 ‐61,800 

2010 to 2040, % Change 60.9% 45.7% 38.1% 39.7% ‐37.6% 

Source: Round 8.1 Forecasts, Community Planning, Housing and Development ‐ Planning Division: Planning, Research and Analysis Team 

(PRAT), April 2012. These forecasts have not been adopted by MWCOG. 

About the Round 8.1 Forecast 

Staff in the Planning Research and Analysis Team of the Arlington 

County Department of Community Planning, Housing and 

Development completed the Round 8.1 Forecast in February 

2012 as a part of the MWCOG Coorporative Forecasting process. 

These forecasts include data from 2010 through 2040 in five year 

increments. It is expected that this forecast will be adopted by 

MWCOG in fall 2012. 


The data from the forecast will be components of the MWCOG 

regional transportation model and the regional air quality analysis. 

County staff, elected officials, residents and the media also use 

Arlington’s forecast to help frame and understand future trends in 

L:\COMP\Rosslyn2012Addendum\Briefing_Book\Briefing Book documentation\4 ‐ Description fo the Study Area (Current Conditions)\Data for Ro 

Sector Plan the County. 

The Round 8.1 Forecasts portray growth according to the County’s 

GLUP with amendments through Fall 2011. Assumptions were 

developed based on small area plans and discussions with County 

planners. The County’s Form Base Code along Columbia Pike, 

Clarendon Sector Plan, and Crystal City Sector Plan are examples 

of plans that are factored into the forecasting analysis. 

28

105 

95 

90 

90 

75 

65 

55 

70 

75 

45 

60 



Figure 27: Anticipated Potential Redevelopment Sites 

140 

125 

115 

70 

55 

65 

60 

15 

0 100 200 400 Feet 

J 1 inch = 100 feet 

135 

120 

100 

130 

110 

110 

115 100 

120 

80 

85 

75 

70 

65 

60 

35 

45 

Potential Redevelopment 

150 

155 

160 

J C B 


Gateway 

Waterview 

60 

40 

170 

105 

1812 N. 

Moore St. 

25 

50 

20 

15 


175 

180 

175 

175 

170 

160 

175 

165 

E 

F 

150 

145 

D 

140 

135 

G 

140 

130 

140 

125 

130 

125 

95 

Central Place 

100 

H 

75 

90 

75 

80 85 

65 60 

40 

30 

35 

5 0 

80 

A 

10 

175 

85 

70 75 


Plaza 

60 

In addition to projects under 

construction and approved 

already, staff has identified 

potential future redevelopment 

sites. These predications are 

based on factors including 

building age, lease and 

ownership information. Sites 

“A” and “C” are the subject of 

current site plan proposals, or 

phased development site plan 

applications. 

55 

20 

25 

85 

50 

55 

55 

50 

45 

29



28: 

Existing Building Heights in the RCRD 

Central 

Place 

1812 Residential 

N. Moore 

Street 

Central 

Place 

Office 

The current pattern of building heights in the center of Rosslyn 

generally reflect two periods of development: projects built 

and approved before and after the mid-1990s. Since the 

1960s, most buildings in the RCRD had been approved under 

the “C-O” Zoning district. The current maximum heights under 

“C-O” are 153 feet for office and 180 feet for residential, 

which are largely reflected in many of the buildings existing in 

the RCRD. There are several exceptions to this rule, generally 

including buildings that were approved by the County Board 

with modifications to building height. 

However, in 1996, the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance 

was amended to include a new zoning district eligible for 

properties within the RCRD. Section 25B. “C-O Rosslyn” districts 

includes provisions that allow buildings to reach a maximum 

height of 300 feet, with additional height permitted in the two 

Cental Place blocks adjoining the Metro Station. 

The tallest buildings in the RCRD have mostly been built since 

1996, and under “C-O Rosslyn” zoning. Waterview, 1801 N. 

Lynn Street, and Turnberry Tower all reach 300 feet and are 

zoned “C-O Rosslyn”. 1000 and 1100 Wilson Blvd. also reach 

300 feet, although they were approved and built in the 1980s. 

Though not yet built, 1812 N. Moore and JBG’s Central Place 

approved site plans will include the tallest buildings in the 

RCRD, generally topping out at approximately 384 and 387 

feet, respectively. 


30

demographics 


Demographic Overview 


Rosslyn’s 7,200 housing units, 8.3 million square feet of office 

space, and 530,000 square feet of retail represent a 

dense urban community made up of 10,800 residents, 6,600 

households, and 34,200 workers. By 2040, development in 

Rosslyn will lead to an increase of more than 4,000 residents, 

2,600 households, and 24,400 workers by 2040. 

In 2010, Rosslyn represents 5.2% of the total Arlington population 

of 207,626 people. By 2040, Rosslyn’s population will 

represent 6 percent of the total Arlington population, reflecting 

the predicted ability that Rosslyn will have to provide 

for the County’s anticipated population growth. 

Between 2010 and 2040, Rosslyn will grow by 42 percent 

in population, 39 percent in households, and 71 percent 

in employment, over one percent growth in all three categories 

every year. Arlington’s population is predicted to 

grow by 22 percent, its households by 24 percent, and its 

employment by 33 percent. 

Rosslyn’s projected growth exceeds the pace of growth 

anticipated in the region and County, reflecting the predicted 

intense pace of redevelopment this area will experience 

over the next thirty years. 

N Lynn Street at Wilson Boulevard Looking North 

Figure 29: Round 8.1 Forecast ‐ 2010 to 2040 


2010 2040 

Rosslyn Arlington Region* Rosslyn Arlington Region* 

Population 10,800 207,600 5,240,900 15,300 252,400 6,803,100 

Households 6,600 98,100 1,959,400 9,200 119,800 2,619,800 

Employment 34,200 223,300 3,175,900 58,600 308,400 4,511,200 

*Draft 8.1 cooperative forecast of the 1983 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), March 14, 2012; region refers to Metropolitan 

Statistical Area District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, Suburban Maryland 

Source: Round 8.1 Forcasts, Community Planning, Housing and Development ‐ Planning Division: Planning, Research and Analysis 

Team (PRAT), April 2012. These forecasts have not been adopted by MWCOG. 

80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Figure 30: Population, Household, and Employment Growth 

42% 

22% 

30% 

39% 

22% 

34% 

71% 

42% 

38% 

Population Households Employment 


Arlington 

Region 

31


N. 

ST. 

N. OAK CT. 

ST. 

(VA. 110) 


demographics 

32 

ROSSLYN Metro Station Area Demographics 

2010 Census (Summary File 1) 

The Rosslyn Metro Station Area (MSA) is the eastern anchor of the Rosslyn-Ballston (R-B) corridor and is 

situated across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. In 1962, the Arlington County Board adopted the 

Rosslyn Plan which encouraged high density office, commercial, and residential development. In 1992 the 

Arlington County Board adopted the Rosslyn Station Area Plan Addendum with the goal to make Rosslyn a 

more functional, urban, and livable place. Today, the Rosslyn MSA is a mix of high-rise office and multi-family 

dwellings, townhomes and very few single family detached housing units. 

The 2010 Census data shows Rosslyn to be similar to the other MSAs in the R-B Corridor. The residents 

of the Rosslyn MSA are young and live in one and two person households. The Rosslyn MSA has the highest 

share of Asian residents living in the R-B Corridor. 




Number Percent Number Percent 

TOTAL POPULATION 10,813 100.0% 207,627 100.0% 

Total Non‐Hispanic or Latino 9,634 89.1% 176,245 84.9% 

White alone 6,950 64.3% 132,961 64.0% 

Black or African‐American alone 489 4.5% 17,088 8.2% 

American Indian or Alaska Native alone 20 0.2% 394 0.2% 

Asian alone 1,809 16.7% 19,762 9.5% 

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Alone 13 0.1% 133 0.1% 

Some other Race alone 35 0.3% 611 0.3% 

Two or more Races 318 2.9% 5,296 2.6% 

Total Hispanic or Latino 1,179 10.9% 31,382 15.1% 

Age Distribution 

Under 5 years 336 3.1% 11,782 5.7% 

5 to 17 years 353 3.3% 20,844 10.0% 

18 to 24 years 1,500 13.9% 20,315 9.8% 

25 to 34 years 4,418 40.9% 57,402 27.6% 

35 to 44 years 1,562 14.4% 32,868 15.8% 

45 to 54 years 1,021 9.4% 25,717 12.4% 

55 to 64 years 854 7.9% 20,645 9.9% 

65 to 74 years 514 4.8% 10,086 4.9% 

75 to 84 years 199 1.8% 5,153 2.5% 

85 years and over 56 0.5% 2,815 1.4% 

Sex 

Male 5,620 52.0% 103,501 49.8% 

Female 5,193 48.0% 104,126 50.2% 

Prepared by Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Planning Division: Planning Research and Analysis Team (August 2011) 

Census tracts: 101603, 101702, 101703 

21ST ST. N. 

KEY BLVD. 

INTERSTATE 66 



Number Percent Number Percent 

TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS 6,624 100.0% 98,050 100.0% 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

LEE HWY. 

WILSON BLVD. 

Household Type 

Family households: 1,732 26.1% 41,607 42.4% 

Husband‐wife family 1,359 20.5% 33,218 33.9% 

Other family: 373 5.6% 8,389 8.6% 

Male householder, no wife present 139 2.1% 2,623 2.7% 

Female householder, no husband present 234 3.5% 5,766 5.9% 

Nonfamily households: 4,892 73.9% 56,443 57.6% 

Householder living alone 3,539 53.4% 40,516 41.3% 

Householder not living alone 1,353 20.4% 15,927 16.2% 

Household Size 

1‐person household 3,539 53.4% 40,516 41.3% 

2‐person household 2,349 35.5% 31,738 32.4% 

3‐person household 482 7.3% 11,633 11.9% 




7‐or‐more‐person household 8 0.1% 881 0.9% 

TOTAL HOUSING UNITS 7,260 100.0% 105,404 100.0% 

Occupied Housing Units 6,624 91.2% 98,050 93.0% 

Owner‐Occupied 1,890 26.0% 42,457 40.3% 

Renter‐Occupied 4,734 65.2% 55,593 52.7% 

Vacant Housing Units 636 8.8% 7,354 7.0% 

21ST 


N. TROY ST. 

N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

ST. N. 

SCO 

N. TAFT ST. 

RD. N. 

TT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

N. RHODES ST. 

ST. 

N. SCOTT ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

14 T H 

N. SCOTT 

21ST RD. N. 

IN N ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

21ST S 

N. SC OT T S T. 

QUEENS LANE 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

ST. N. 

16TH 

RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. RO LFE ST. 

T. N. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

ST. N. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 


21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 


19TH ST. N. 

N. ODE ST. 

BLVD. 

BLVD. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

N. ODE 

16TH RD. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. NASH ST. 


14TH ST. N. 

N. ODE ST. 

ST 

N. OAK ST. 

N. CO LONIAL CT. 

KEY BLVD. 

18TH ST. N. 

FO RT MYER D R. 

E WART RD. 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. OAK ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

FORT 

SERVICE ROAD 

MYER DR. 

17 T H 

MYER DR. 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

N. MEADE ST. 

N. MOOR E ST. 

ST. N. 

N. LYN N ST. 


N. LYNN ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 

(U.S. 50) 


MARSHALL DR. 

(VA. 110) 


demographics 


Figure 31 

Household Income 

Rosslyn (2010 Census Tracts: 101603, 101702, and 101703) 

2006‐2010 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimate 


Estimate MOE CV Percent 

Total Households 5,564 311 3.4 100.0% 

Less than $10,000 309 121 23.8 5.6% 

$10,000 to $14,999 190 129 41.1 3.4% 

$15,000 to $19,999 303 184 37.0 5.4% 

$20,000 to $24,999 183 159 52.7 3.3% 

$25,000 to $29,999 149 88 35.9 2.7% 

$30,000 to $34,999 93 65 42.3 1.7% 

$35,000 to $39,999 101 67 40.0 1.8% 

$40,000 to $44,999 118 70 36.3 2.1% 

$45,000 to $49,999 93 69 45.4 1.7% 

$50,000 to $59,999 378 135 21.8 6.8% 

$60,000 to $74,999 593 186 19.0 10.7% 

$75,000 to $99,999 984 221 13.7 17.7% 

$100,000 to $124,999 720 188 15.9 12.9% 

$125,000 to $149,999 373 139 22.6 6.7% 

$150,000 to $199,999 471 166 21.4 8.5% 

$200,000 or more 506 131 15.7 9.1% 

Median mousehold income between $75,700 and $88,100 

MOE - Margin of Error 

Estimate MOE CV 

CV Median - coefficients Household of Income variation 

80,616 19,725 14.9 

Estimates tabulated by the Arlington County Planning Division, Planning, Research, and Analysis 

Team (PRAT). 

MOE = Margin of Error 

CV = Coefficient of Variation 

Rosslyn Household Income 

Rosslyn’s households demonstrate a broad distribution of income 

levels. The Department of Housing and Urban Development 

(HUD) has determined that the 2012 Washington Metropolitan 

region median income for a family of four is $107,500. 

Arlington’s 2011 median income is $103,900. With these regional 

and County level median incomes in mind, over 37 percent 

of the households in Rosslyn earn more than $100,000. Over 27 

percent of the households in Rosslyn earn less than $50,000. 

33


economic and market data 

Rosslyn’s At Place Employment 

In addition to Rosslyn’s resident population, 

Rosslyn’s day time activity is largely fueled by 

at-place employment of 34,226 people, representing 

16 percent of Arlington’s total employee 

population. Working in sectors including 

but not limited to government, finance and 

insurance, professional and technical services, 

construction, hospitality, retail, and real estate, 

these employees are a key component of Rosslyn’s 

vibrancy. 

The 26 companies, organizations, and agencies 

occupying space equal to or exceeding 50,000 

square feet or more are listed here. This is only 

one segment of the workforce, represented in 

large part by government agencies, the hospitality 

sector, finance and insurance, and professional 

and technical services. 

As provided in Figure 32, Rosslyn’s at-place 

employment has historically supported healthy 

vacancy levels, steady at 6 percent throughout 

2008, 2009, and 2010. Relocation of several 

large government tenants in 2011 increased 

the vacancy rate to 9.7%. Average rental rates 

have also remained strong, weathering the 

economic recession with slight increases in average 

rental rates each year. 

Figure 32: Rosslyn Office Market Statistics (2008 ‐ 2011) 

Year 2008 (4Q) 2009 (4Q) 2010 (4Q) 2011 (2Q) 

Properties 45 45 45 45 

Inventory 8,915,129 8,915,129 8,915,129 8,915,129 

Occupied 8,379,287 8,299,109 8,379,694 8,052,573 

%Vacant 6.0% 6.9% 6.0% 9.7% 

SF Vacant 535,842 616,020 535,435 862,556 

Average Rental Rates $36.48 $37.69 $39.26 $40.16 

Source: Arlington Economic Development 

Figure 33: Rosslyn Major Office Tenants (2011) 

Tenant Address Square Footage 

The Corporate Executive Board Waterview Tower, 1919 N Lynn St 455,866 

Bureau of Diplomatic Security 1801 N Lynn St 343,311 

Federal Voting Assistance Program 1777 N Kent St 280,358 

U.S. Department of State 1800 N Kent St 236,984 

United States Postal Service 1735 N Lynn St 174,295 

Deloitte Waterview Tower, 1919 N Lynn St 166,736 

BAE Systems, Inc Arlington Tower, 1300 N 17th St 148,806 

The Boeing Company Key Bldg, 1200 Wilson Blvd 145,692 

FBR Capital Markets Corporation Potomac Tower, 1001 N 19th St 103,218 

ABC 7 News Channel 8 Twin Towers, 1100 Wilson Blvd 99,977 

US Department of State The Architect Building, 1400 Wilson Blvd 98,275 

Department of Labor Twin Towers, 1100 Wilson Blvd 91,000 

General Services Adminstration 1400 Key Blvd 85,864 

United States Trade and Development Agency Rosslyn Plaza Bldg E 77,901 

Courtyard by Marriott 1533 Clarendon Blvd 72,779 

Pepco Energy Services Arlington Tower, 1300 N 17th St 66,621 

American Psychiatric Association Twin Towers, 1100 Wilson Blvd 65,840 

Integrated Coast Guard Systems 1530 Wilson Blvd 64,658 

Residence Inn by Marriott 1651 N Oak St 64,354 

MCG Capital Corporation Twin Towers, 1100 Wilson Blvd 63,902 

Marriott Hotels and Resorts 1401 Lee Hwy 62,000 

Quality Inn 1501 Arlington Blvd 60,000 

The Argosy University 1550 Wilson Blvd 54,084 

BAE Systems, Inc 1101 Wilson Blvd 53,619 

Arlington County Board 1101 Wilson Blvd 53,000 

Best Western 1850 N Fort Myer Dr 50,000 



34



Rosslyn Shopping & Services 

Figure 34: Rosslyn Shopping and Services Map 

Rosslyn has approximately 530,000 square feet 

of retail, with another 44,000 under construction. 


• 7-Eleven - 1625 Wilson Blvd 

• ABC Store - 1731 Wilson Blvd 

• Court Cleaners - 1560 Wilson Blvd 

• Elim Boutique - 1401 Wilson Blvd 

• Enterprise Rental Car - 1803 N Fort Myer Dr 

• Farmers Market & Lunchtime Concert Series 

- 1401 Wilson Blvd 

• The Gallery Market and Cafe - 1800 N Oak 

St 

• Holiday Inn Rosslyn, Gift Shop - 1900 N Fort 

Myer Dr 

• Hyatt Arlington, Gift Shop - 1325 Wilson Blvd 

• J’s Cookies - 1700 N Moore St 

• Key Bridge Marriott, Gift Shop - 1401 Lee 

Hwy 

• Key Cleaners - 1500 Wilson Blvd 

• Lee’s Lobby Shop & Newsstand - 1500 Wilson 

Blvd 

• LeVoyage - 1911 N Fort Myer Dr 

• M&J Jewelers - 1700 N Moore St 

• Malena Ladies Boutique - 1700 N Moore St 

• Metro Cleaners - 1700 N Moore St 

• Metro Dry Cleaners - 1911 N Fort Myer Dr 

• Mimi’s Card and Gift - 1700 N Moore St 

• River Place Market - 1117 Arlington Blvd 

• River Place Valet - 1115 Arlington Blvd 

• Rosslyn Mart & Cleaners - 1603 N Kent St 

• Rosslyn Metro Bazaar - 1700 N Moore St 

• Rosslyn Sunoco - 1830 N Fort Myer Dr 

• Rosslyn VIP Cleaners - 1401 Wilson Blvd 

• Safeway - 1525 Wilson Blvd 

• Seven Cleaners - 1735 North Lynn Street 

• Tanna’s Exxon Market & Car Wash - 1824 

Wilson Blvd 

• Tivoli Gourmet & Pastry Shop - 1700 N 

Moore St 

• Twin Towers Cleaners and Market - 1100 

Source: Rosslyn BID Website. Rosslynva.org. 

Wilson Blvd 

• Twin Towers Florist - 1000 Wilson Blvd 

• United News Stand - 1700 N. Moore St. 

• Wilson Florist of Rosslyn - 1735 North Lynn Street 

• Wondermarket & Gifts - 1800 N. Kent St. 

Source: Rosslyn BID. Rosslynva.org 

35



Rosslyn Dining 

Figure 35: Rosslyn Dining Map 

• Ahra Cafe’ and Sandwich Bar - 1100 Wilson 

Blvd 

• AllSpice Cafe & Catering - 1401 Wilson Blvd 

• Baja Fresh Mexican Grill - 1100 Wilson Blvd 

• Bean Good! The Coffee Pub - 1737 Wilson 

Blvd 

• The Bistro (Courtyard, Arlington Rosslyn) - 

1533 Clarendon Blvd. 

• the brown bag - 1735 N Lynn St 

• Café O2 - 1560 Wilson Boulevard 

• Café Asia - 1550 Wilson Blvd 

• Cafe Assorti - 1800 Wilson Blvd 

• China Garden Restaurant - 1100 Wilson 

Blvd 

• Chipotle Mexican Grill - 1735 North Lynn 

Street 

• Chop’t Creative Salad Company - 1735 N 

Lynn St 

• Cityhouse (Hyatt Arlington) - 1325 Wilson 

Blvd 

• Coffee Express - 1300 Wilson Blvd 

• Coffee Express - 1100 Wilson Blvd 

• Connexion (Key Bridge Marriott) - 1401 Lee 

Hwy 

• Continental Modern Pool Lounge - 1911 N 

Fort Myer Dr 

• Cosi - 1801 N Lynn St 

• Courtyard Café (Courtyard by Marriott) - 

1533 Clarendon Blvd 

• Culinaire Restaurant - 1820 N Fort Myer Dr 

• Delightful Food Court - 1911 N. Ft. Myer Dr. 

• Domaso (Hotel Palomar) - 1121 N 19th St 

• Domino’s Pizza - 1555 Wilson Blvd 

• Great Eatery - 1000 Wilson Blvd 

• Guajillo Restaurant - 1727 Wilson Blvd 

• l Radicchio - 1801 Clarendon Blvd 

• J’s Cookies - 1700 N Moore St 

• Jefferson Café - 1300 N 17th St 

• Jon’s Café - 1800 N Kent St 

• Kanpai Japanese Cuisine - 1401 Wilson 

Blvd 


• Key Bridge Terrace Bar (Hyatt Arlington) - 1401 

Wilson Blvd. 

• Key Bridge Terrace Lounge (Hyatt Arlington) - 


• Le Petit Cafe - 1101 Wilson Blvd 

• Ledo Pizza - 1501 Arlington Blvd 

• Lynn Street Cafe - 1735 North Lynn Street 

• Manhattan Cafe - 1655 N Fort Myer Dr 

• McDonald’s - 1823 N Moore St 

• Mochaberry Coffee Shop - 1700 N Moore St 

• The Perfect Pita - 1735 N. Lynn St. 

• Pho 75 - 1721 Wilson Blvd. 

• PIOLA - 1550 Wilson Blvd 

• Potomac Perk (Holiday Inn) - 1900 N. Ft. Myer 

Dr. 

• Quarterdeck Restaurant - 1200 N Fort Myer 


36



Rosslyn Dining List Continued 


• Quizno’s Classic Subs - 1555 Wilson Blvd 

• Quiznos - 1735 North Lynn Street 

• Ray’s Hell Burger - 1713 Wilson Blvd 

• Ray’s: To The Third - 1650 Wilson Blvd. 

• Red Hot & Blue - 1600 Wilson Blvd 

• Revival (Key Bridge Marriott) - 1401 Lee Hwy 

• Rosslyn Coffee and Deli - 1101 Wilson Blvd 

• Rosslyn Gourmet - 1611 N Kent St 

• Roti - 1501 Wilson Blvd 

• Ruby Tuesday - 1300 Wilson Blvd 

• Santa Fe Cafe - 1500 Wilson Blvd 

• Skywalk Cafe - 1700 N Moore St 

• Starbucks Coffee - 1501 N. 17th. St. 

• Starbucks Coffee - 1735 N Lynn St 

• Starbucks Coffee (Safeway) - 1525 Wilson Blvd 

• Subway of Rosslyn - 1401 Wilson Blvd 

• Tivoli Gourmet & Pastry Shop - 1700 N Moore St 

• Tivoli Restaurant (Closed) - 1700 N Moore St 

• Tomo Sushi - 1735 N Lynn St 

• Vantage Point (Holiday Inn) - 1900 Fort Myer Dr 

• Village Bistro - 1723 Wilson Blvd 

Source: Rosslyn BID. Rosslynva.org 

37



Figure 36: Rosslyn Hotel Map 


Figure 37: Rosslyn Hotels (2011) 

Hotel Year Built No. Rooms Meeting Space (sf) Address 

Marriott Key Bridge 1959 584 10,189 1401 Lee Hwy 

Holiday Inn Rosslyn @ Key Bridge 1972 308 13,700 1900 Fort Myer Drive 

Hyatt Arlington @ Washington's Key Bridge 1976 302 6,025 1325 Wilson Blvd 

Virginian Suites 1950 262 1,200 1500 Arlington Blvd 

Residence Inn by Marriott Arlington at Rosslyn 1999 176 1,000 1635 North Oak Street 

Courtyard by Marriott Rosslyn 1990 162 1,275 1533 Clarendon Blvd 

Best Western Rosslyn/Iwo Jima 1975 141 1,066 1501 Arlington Blvd 

The Inn of Rosslyn 1957 38 ‐ 1601 Fairfax Drive 

Le Meridien 2007 155 2,500 1919 North Lynn Street 

Total 2,128 36,955 



38

housing characteristics 


Rosslyn Housing 

New Census data emerging from 2010 Census reports that the Rosslyn Metro 

Station Area includes 6,624 housing units, with a margin of error (MOE) of 456 

units. Of these 6,624 units, the large majority of these units are renter occupied, 

and 28.5%, or 1,890, of the units are owner occupied. This distribution of 

owner and renter occupied units is in contrast with the County, where there is 

a larger proportion of owner occupied units (43.3%). 

Many of these housing units were built before 1960, with a second wave occurring 

again in the 1980s. The aging housing stock in this area has created 

the conditions that are preparing the way for yet another wave of development 

now and through the rest of this decade. 

Figure 38 

Figure 39 

Rosslyn Affordable Housing Availability 

Of the 4,734 rental units, 472 units, or 10 percent, are committed affordable 

units. Although there is no public housing in Arlington County, there are several 

privately owned apartment complexes where rents are subsidized. 


The complexes identified on the following pages have some units built, acquired 

or renovated with public funds. As a result, they must set aside units 

specifically for low or moderate income households at varying levels of affordability. 

These complexes are all privately owned and operated. Some will 

maintain waiting lists, others might simply rent out affordable units as they become 

available. 

Queens Court Apartments, 1810 N Quinn Street 

39


housing characteristics 

40: 

Roads 

Figure : Apartment Buildings in Rosslyn with Committed Affordable Units (2011) 

41 

Archstone Rosslyn 1800 N. Oak Street 22201 Elevator 38 

Bennett Park 1601 Clarendon Blvd. 22209 Elevator 14 

Key Boulevard Apartments 2111 N. Key Blvd. 22201 Garden 41 

Marbella Apartments 1301 N. Queen Street 22209 Garden 134 

Parc Rosslyn 1531 N. Pierce Street 22201 Elevator 101 

Pierce‐Queen Apartments 1600 N. 16 th Street 22201 Garden 50 

Queens Court Apartments 1801 N. Quinn Street 22209 Garden 39 

Rosslyn Commons 1500 Clarendon Blvd. 22209 Elevator 55 

Source: Arlington County Community Planning Housing and Development - Housing 

Division 


40

historic properties 


Colonial Village Shopping Center 

1713 - 1737 Willson Boulevard 

Quinn Apartments 

1410 N Quinn Street 


Taft Manor Apartments 

2005 Fairfax Drive 

Inn of Rosslyn 

1601 Arlington Boulevard 

River Place 

1011, 1021,1111, and 1121 Arlington Boulevard 

41


historic properties 

Westmoreland Terrace 

1320 Fort Myer Drive 

Marlow Apartments (Rosslyn Heights) 

1220 N Meade Street 

Carydale in Towne 

1545-1549 Colonial Terrace 

Nalbert Apartments 

1301 Fort Myer Drive 

Queens Court Apartments 

1801 N Quinn Street 


42

land use planning overview 

PLANS, POLICIES, LAWS 

List of Plans, Policies, Resolutions, Laws, and Studies 

The following documents represent a compilation of laws; plans and policies that have been approved by the Arlington County Board; and studies that an be 

reviewed and downloaded from various Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development web pages: 

Laws 

• Zoning Ordinance (Arlington County) 

• Text:(http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/CPHD/planning/zoning/CPHDPlanningZoningOrdinanceCode.aspx) 

• Map:(http://magellan.co.arlington.va.us/Maps/Standard_Maps/Planning_Maps/Zoning_Map.pdf) 

• “Administrative Regulation 4.1 Governing the Submittal of Site Plans in Arlington County (Revised October 2009)”: 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/planning/applications/site_plans/pdfs/file31003.pdf 

Plans 

• General Land Use Plan (Arlington County) 

• Text:(http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/CPHD/planning/docs/CPHDPlanningDocsGLUP.aspx) 

• Map:(http://magellan.co.arlington.va.us/Maps/Standard_Maps/Planning_Maps/GLUP.pdf) 

• “Rosslyn Transit Station Area Study” (1977): http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/CPHD/planning/docs/CPHDPlanningDocsMain.aspx#rosslyn 

• “Rosslyn Station Area Plan Addendum” (1992): 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/CPHD/planning/docs/CPHDPlanningDocsMain.aspx#rosslyn_addendum 


Policies 

• “Arlington County Planning Process Summary”: http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/CPHD/planning/docs/CPHDPlanningDocsPlanningProcess.aspx 

County Board Resolutions 

• “1982 County Board Resolution of Concern Regarding Building Heights Related to the National Capital Mall Axis”: 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/planning/docs/pdf/file64317.pdf 

• “2002 County Board Resolution Governing Building Heights in Rosslyn”: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/planning/docs/pdf/file64321.pdf 

• “2007 County Board Resolution on Urban Design Principles for Rosslyn Central Place”: 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/planning/docs/pdf/2007%20Rosslyn%20Heights%20Resolution.pdf 

Studies 

• “The Rosslyn Working Group: Status Report” (2005): http://www.co.arlington.va.us/Departments/CPHD/forums/rosslyn/RWG%20Status%20Report%205-4.pdf 

• “Rosslyn Building Heights Study” (2009-2010, unfinished): http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/CPHD/planning/plan/Rosslyn_Building_Heights_Study.aspx 

43


PLANS, POLICIES, AND, LAWS 

General Land Use Plan 

Figure 42: 2011 GLUP Map 

44

Residential 

Low 

Low 

Low-Medium 

Medium 

High-Medium 

High 

Commercial and Industrial 

Service Commercial 

General Commercial 

Service Industry 

Public and Semi-Public 

Office-Apartment-Hotel 

Mixed Use 

Public 

Semi-Public 

Government and 

Community Facilities 

Low 

Medium 

High 

Medium Density 

Mixed Use 

High-Medium 

Residential Mixed-Use 

Coordinated Mixed-Use 

Development District 





Rosslyn GLUP Information 

The land use categories represented in Rosslyn are as follows: 

15 

1. High: Office-Apartment-Hotel 

2. Medium: Office-Apartment-Hotel 

3. High: Residential 

4. High-Medium: Residential 

5. Medium: Residential 

6. Low-Medium: Residential 

7. Public 

8. Service Commercial: Commercial and Industrial 

13 

13 

13 

Rosslyn Coordinated 

Redevelopment District 

The most prevalent categories are “high: office-apartment-hotel”, “medium: 

residential”, and “low-medium: residential”. 

The GLUP identifies three special planning areas within the Rosslyn Metro Station 

Area. Text from the GLUP identifying the provisions of these districts is as follows: 

Rosslyn Coordinated Redevelopment District 


Legend 

Special Planning Areas 


Potomac River 


Fort Myer 

Heights North 

Special District 










Printed: Feruary 2012 

13 

Radnor Heights 

East Special 

District 

17 

It is important to understand that General Land Use Plan (GLUP) 

data are an interpretation of the County’s official hard copy GLUP 

map and are especially general in nature. The County makes no 

representation that the data accurately represents the Official 

County GLUP and the GIS GLUP file is not a replacement of the 

County’s official hard copy GLUP map. As this agreement states 

below, the GLUP GIS file is not to be released to any third parties 

without the expressed consent of Arlington County’s GIS Mapping Center. 

µ 

1:4,800 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 

GLUP Legend 

On May 11, 1996 the County Board established the Rosslyn Coordinated Redevelopment 

District (RCRD). 

The purpose of this district is to encourage the physical and economic development 

of the Rosslyn area to maximize Rosslyn’s potential, over the next 25 years, 

to become a competitive first class urban center which exemplifies superior architecture 

and excellent urban design practice. 

This is envisioned to be achieved through the development of high quality 

mixed-use development at the core of Rosslyn including enhanced residential 

and hotel resources, and office buildings that are home to regional and national 

headquarters of major private/public corporations and institutions. 

Through the site plan special exception process, the RCRD allows, on sites designated 

“High” Office-Apartment-Hotel on the General Land Use Plan, a density 

of up to 3.8 floor area ratio (F.A.R.) for office/commercial uses and up to 4.8 

F.A.R. for hotel and residential uses. On sites designated “High” Residential the 

maximum density permitted is 4.8 F.A.R. for residential and 3.8 F.A.R. for hotel 

uses. This district also permits the rezoning of sites, located within its boundaries, 

to “C-O-Rosslyn,” Rosslyn Commercial Office Building, Retail, Hotel and Multiple- 

45



Family Dwelling Districts. However, the uses permitted on a particular site 

shall be limited to the uses permitted under the General Land Use Plan. 

The “C-O-Rosslyn” zoning district allows the County Board to approve additional 

building height and density when the County Board determines 

that the development proposal offers important community benefits 

identified in approved plans for the area and meets other special exception 

criteria of the Zoning Ordinance. 

trees and/or plant new trees and additional landscaping to minimize 

the potential impact of new development onto the existing parkland; 

• Site plan development should improve pedestrian access through 

the neighborhood through the provision of adequate sidewalks and 

walkways connecting the neighborhood and the federal monumental 

areas. 

Fort Myer Heights North Special District 

Within the RCRD, additional density and heights may be granted by the 

County Board, through the site plan process, for the provision of important 

community benefits and the development of a site in a manner consistent 

with the goals, objectives and design guidelines included in the Rosslyn 

Station Area Plan Addendum, adopted by the County Board in January, 

1992, and other plans and policies adopted by the County Board for the 

area, which may include among others: 

• the development of a mixed-use project with a significant residential 

component; 

• the provision or enhancement of retail, restaurant and entertainment 

facilities in the center of Rosslyn; 

• the provision or enhancement of the pedestrian, vehicular and mass 

transit circulation system; 

• the provision of open space or other public facilities and/or amenities; 

• the creation of a “Central Place” and the “Esplanade” as envisioned 

in the Rosslyn Station Area Sector Plan Addendum; or 

• the provision of other community benefits. 

Radnor Heights East Special District 

In December, 1999, the County Board established the Radnor Heights East 

Special District. The purpose of this district is to recognize that the Radnor 

Heights East area is a distinct neighborhood where special planning 

and development policies are justified by its unique location on the main 

axis of the National Mall and its proximity to nationally significant federal 

monumental areas including the Iwo Jima Memorial and parkland, the 

Arlington National Cemetery and Fort Myer. The goals for this district are: 

• This area should be developed with a variety of housing types with 

high quality architecture; 

• Siting of new buildings should try to minimize, to the extent possible, 

the obstruction of views; 

• Building heights should be limited to 60 feet, exclusive of penthouses; 

• New development should preserve, to the extent possible, existing 

Fort Myer Heights North is a smaller scale, medium density residential community, 

separate and distinct from the adjacent core Metro Station Areas 

of Rosslyn and Courthouse. The purpose of this special district is to promote 

a strategic balance of preservation and redevelopment in order to 

achieve the community’s goals of preserving: 

• affordable housing 

• historic buildings 

• open space 

• mature trees 

• neighborhood scale 

The vision for Fort Myer Heights North emphasizes the preservation of its 

historic core, characterized by garden style apartments that are among 

the first multifamily buildings in Arlington County, while allowing a strategic 

blend of conservation and redevelopment along the southern edge 

of the district in order to achieve the other identified community goals 

through the special exception site plan process. 

In order to preserve the character of the neighborhood and its historic 

core along 16th Street North, a combination of regulations and incentives 

will be provided in the Conservation Area within the Fort Myer Heights 

North Special District. In this area, no additional density or height over 

what is allowed by-right will be permitted. In an effort to discourage additional 

by-right development that will further compromise the fabric of the 

neighborhood, incentives will be offered to promote the preservation of 

historic buildings, open space and existing affordable housing in the Conservation 

Area. Property owners of identified historic buildings located 

within the Conservation Area will be encouraged to preserve their buildings 

and the open space surrounding these buildings through the transfer 

of development rights. The Plan also encourages the transfer of development 

rights for affordable housing purposes. The regulations and incentives 

outlined for the Conservation Area will complement one another to 

help ensure that the scale and character of the neighborhood core are 

maintained and that both the preservation of historic buildings, with their 


46



surrounding open space and mature trees, and the preservation of existing 

affordable housing are encouraged. 

When development of a site within the Revitalization Area of the Fort 

Myer Heights North Special District includes an application for site plan 

approval, the County Board may approve up to 3.24 FAR if the development 

proposal substantially furthers the intent of the goals and objectives 

of the Fort Myer Heights North Plan. Site plan projects will be expected to 

meet the goals in the Fort Myer Heights North Plan, including the provision 

of affordable housing, the preservation of historic buildings, the provision 

of open space and contributions to the tree canopy. Additional density 

obtained from the Conservation Area may be used in a site plan redevelopment 

project if the building height and site design recommendations 

outlined in this Plan are addressed. 

[Editor’s Note: Many of the Rosslyn properties listed in the HRI are located 

within the Fort Myer Heights North Special District.] 

Special Affordable Housing Protection District 


The following sites have been designated by the County Board as a SAH- 

PD in the Rosslyn area: Twin Oaks on May 24, 2000, WRIT Rosslyn Center on 

July 20, 2002, and Rosslyn Commons on June 17, 2008 (see Special Planning 

Areas for Metro Corridors for additional information on the SAHPD). 

47



Rosslyn GLUP History 

The Arlington County Board has endorsed a land use policy that concentrates high-density development within the Metro subway corridors and preserves 

lower-density residential areas throughout the County. This policy has evolved from an extensive citizen participation process. It is designed to ensure that 

Arlington is a balanced community of residential, recreational, educational, shopping and employment opportunities with good transportation supported 

by a strong tax base and effective use of public funds. The maps and descriptions below illustrate how the General Land Use Plan has changed since originally 

adopted in 1961. 

Rosslyn GLUP, 1961 Rosslyn GLUP, 1964 Rosslyn GLUP, 1966 

The 1961 Plan used a color keyed system of 13 land use categories, and designated 

several large areas requiring further study as “Undetermined Use.” 

In Rosslyn, the GLUP generally showed much of the area as “Apartments & 

Offices”, “ High-Medium Residential”, “Neighborhood Shopping” and “General 

Business”. In the 1964 GLUP, the Loop Road concept around the core 

of Rosslyn is depicted for the first time. Other changes in Rosslyn through the 

1966 GLUP are limited. 


48





Rosslyn GLUP, 1975 

Rosslyn GLUP, 1979 

In the 1970’s, the planning focus in Arlington shifted to the future development of the 

Metrorail transit corridors. In 1973, the County Board adopted a new legend for the 

General Land Use Plan that doubled the number of residential categories, decreased 

the number of commercial and industrial categories from five to three, introduced 

the “Office-Apartment-Hotel” heading, and revised the “Public” and “Semi-Public” 

designations. After much public discussion, the County Board adopted major land 

use changes for the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. (12/7/74). In comparison with the GLUP 

maps of the 1960s, the 1975 and 1979 GLUPs for Rosslyn show a slightly more refined 

pattern of land use designations. The Rosslyn Metro Station and Gateway Park appear 

on the GLUP for the first time, and the core area was primarily designated “High” Office-Apartment-Hotel. 

Previously undetermined areas around the periphery of Rosslyn 

were designated with specific uses. 

49




Rosslyn GLUP, 1983 Rosslyn GLUP, 1987 

Between 1979 and 1983, policy recommendations and land use changes were adopted for all of the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor Metro Station Areas. Very few 

changes in land use designations were adopted for Rosslyn between 1979 and 1983. In 1986 the County Board adopted a new format for the General Land 

Use Plan, amending the legend and adding extensive text on planning policy, processes and special programs. Several changes in land use designations 

were adopted for Rosslyn between 1983 and 1987 indicated in the maps above. More specifically, several properties north and south of Wilson Boulevard 

east of N. Pierce Street were amended from “High Residential” to ““High” Office-Apartment-Hotel during this period. 


50

Residential 

Low 

Low 

Low-Medium 

Medium 

High-Medium 

High 

Commercial and Industrial 


General Commercial 

Service Industry 

Public and Semi-Public 

Office-Apartment-Hotel 

Mixed Use 

Public 

Semi-Public 

Government and 

Community Facilities 

Low 

Medium 

High 

Medium Density 

Mixed Use 

High-Medium 

Residential Mixed-Use 

Coordinated Mixed-Use 

Development District 






Rosslyn Coordinated 

Redevelopment District 

Fort Myer 

Heights North 

Special District 

Radnor Heights 

East Special 

District 

GLUP Legend 


Rosslyn GLUP, 1996 Rosslyn GLUP, 2004 Rosslyn GLUP, 2011 

Legend 

Special Planning Areas 


Potomac River 











Printed: Feruary 2012 

It is important to understand that General Land Use Plan (GLUP) 

data are an interpretation of the County’s official hard copy GLUP 

map and are especially general in nature. The County makes no 

representation that the data accurately represents the Official 

County GLUP and the GIS GLUP file is not a replacement of the 

County’s official hard copy GLUP map. As this agreement states 

below, the GLUP GIS file is not to be released to any third parties 

without the expressed consent of Arlington County’s GIS Mapping Center. 

Several major changes to the GLUP map for Rosslyn took place since 1987. In the updated 1996 GLUP, the Rosslyn Coordinated Redevelopment District (created 

that same year) appears on the map along with Note 15. By 2004, several other special districts are added, including the Radnor Heights East Special 

District (Note 17). Finally, between 2004 and 2011, several additional amendments were adopted. The Fort Myer Heights North Special District was added to 

the GLUP, which falls within both Rosslyn and Courthouse. On the eastern Central Place block across Moore Street from the Metro Station, the extent of areas 

designated “High” Office-Apartment-Hotel and “Public” were revised, as part of the site plan approval for Site Plan 335 in May 2007. 

µ 

1:4,800 

0 125 250 500 Feet 

51

(VA. 110) 


zoning 

Summary of Zoning History for the Study Area 

There are over a dozen Zoning Districts in the Rosslyn Metro Station Area (RMSA) 

that affect the permitted use of land within the boundaries of the RMSA. 

Figure 44: 


Zoning Map 

Ranging from Special District to Apartment Dwelling; Local Commercial Districts 

to a Hotel District, the RMSA has a wide variety of permitted land uses zoned for 

this area, that dictate the appearance and building size of structures within the 

District to ensure that the area establishes itself as the prominent focal point in 

Arlington. 

The following Zoning Districts are represented in the RMSA and are used to determine 

land use patterns. 

Commercial Office Building, Hotel & Multiple-Family Dwelling District (C-O): The 

purpose of this classification is to provide for limited office building land use […] 

to encourage rebuilding with high-rise office buildings, hotels, or multiple-family 

dwellings in the vicinity of Metrorail stations. Determination as to the appropriate 

mixtures of uses and densities shall be based on the general land use plan designation 

or approved plans for the area, characteristics of individual sites and the 

need for community facilities, open space and landscaped area, circulation and 

utilities. 

Commercial Office Building, Retail, Hotel and Multiple-Family Dwelling District 

(C-O Rosslyn): The purposed of this District is to encourage a mixed-used development 

of office, retail and service commercial, hotel and multiple-family dwelling 

uses within the RMSA and the area designated as the Rosslyn Coordinated 

Redevelopment District (RCRD) on the General Land Use Plan. The goals of this 

zoning classification are to create premier office space suitable for regional and 

national headquarters; provide hotels that expand and enhance hotel services 

for businesses, residents and visitors; to provide residential development that 

meets the housing goals and policies of Arlington County; to implement urban 

design, streetscape and open space plans and policies, including the Central 

Place, the Esplanade and other public facilities; to increase retail commercial 

services in the center of Rosslyn and to achieve superior architecture and the best 

in urban design practice. 


DAWSON 

TERRACE 

COMM. CNTR. 

21ST ST. N. 

21ST 


N. TROY ST. 

N. 

SMYTH 

ST. 

20TH RD. N. 

N. TROY ST. 

ST. N. 

N. SCO 

DETENTION CNTR & 

COURT HOUSE 

N. TAFT ST. 

RD. N. 

TT 

N. ROLFE ST. 

N. RHODES ST. 

13TH ST. N. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

Legend 

Rosslyn Area 

ST. 

N. SCOTT ST. 

ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. Q U 

14 TH 

N. SCOTT 

21ST RD. N. 

INN ST. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

22ND CT. N. 

21ST S 

N. SCOTT S T. 

RA6-15 

QUEENS LANE 

WILSON 

N. 

22ND ST. N. 

C-2 

ST. N. 

LEE HWY. 

CLARENDON 

16TH 

RHODES ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 

N. ROLFE ST. 

T. N. 

RA6-15 

C-2 

Zoning Boundary 

Historic District 

Open Space Zoning 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. QUINN ST. 

N. 

PIERCE 

ST. 

RA8-18 

C-2 

C-O-2.5 

ST. N. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

N. QUEEN ST. 

12TH ST. N. 


GRANT AVE. 

21ST CT. N. 

N. PIERCE CT. 

BLVD. 

BLVD. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

N. PIERCE ST. 

SHERMAN RD. 

N. OAK CT. 


19TH ST. N. 

WILSON 

CENTER 

S-3A 

RA6-15 

RA8-18 

C-1 

RA6-15 

N. ODE ST. 

ST. 

N. ODE 

INTERSTATE 66 

LEE HWY. 

16TH RD. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

N. NASH ST. 

FAIRFAX DR. 


N. ODE ST. 

N. OAK ST. 


RA-H-3.2 

C-1-R 

County Building 

Potomac River 


KEY BLVD. 

RA4.8 

18TH ST. N. 

FS #10 

C-2 

C-3 

RA-H-3.2 

14TH ST. N. 


ST E WART RD. 

ARGUS 

HOUSE 

RA4.8 

RA-H 

N. OA K ST. 

FENTON CIR. 

N. OAK ST. 

12TH ST. N. 

MARSHALL DR. 

FORT 

SERVICE ROAD 

RA6-15 

C-O-2.5 

RA-H-3.2 











ARLINGTON 

GATEWAY 

PARK 

MYER DR. 

ROSSLYN 

17 T H 

MYER DR. 

14TH ST. N. 

N. NASH ST. 

FORT 

C-O 

N. MEADE ST. 

N. MOORE ST. 

N. LYN N ST. 

ST. N. 

C-O-2.5 


C-O-1.0 

N. LYNN ST. 

L'ENFANT DR. 

1:4,800 

S-3A 

C-O-ROSSLYN 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 

19TH ST. N. 

N. KENT ST. 


ROSSLYN 

POSTAL STATION 

WILSON BLVD. 

(U.S. 50) 

IWO JIMA 

MEMORIAL 

MARSHALL DR. 

LINCOLN DR. 

C-O 

RA4.8 

C-O-2.5 


52

zoning 



Commercial Office Building, Hotel and Apartment District (C-O-2.5): This 

District is to provide for limited office building land use and under appropriate 

conditions high-rise office building, hotel, commercial and/or 

apartment redevelopment within “Metro Transit Corridors” as designated 

by the County Board. Determination as to the actual types and densities 

of uses to be allowed will be based on the characteristics of individual 

sites in their neighborhood and on the need for community facilities, open 

and landscaped area, circulations and utilities. 

Local Commercial Districts (C-1): This District classification is to provide 

locations for low intensity development where retail and personal service 

uses predominate and where there is also limited opportunity for office 

uses and business service uses. This District should be located and developed 

as unified shopping center consisting primarily of small individual 

shops of a linear or cluster design. Furthermore, development…should 

result in commercial centers which are compatible with the surrounding 

development in terms of scale and character. 

Restricted Local Commercial Districts (C-1-R): This classification is to recognize 

existing pockets of commercial development in isolated locations 

throughout the County and to allow for continuation of these commercial 

areas primarily in personal services uses with limited opportunity for retail 

uses. This district is intended for limited application throughout the County 

and generally should be restricted to areas which are currently developed 

in Commercial uses…due to their isolate locations in predominantly 

residential areas, should be limited with respect to expansion…in order to 

minimize the impacts on surrounding residential development. 

Service Commercial – Community Business Districts (C-2): The purpose 

of this classification is to provide locations for commercial development 

where the variety in retail, service and office uses is intended to serve a 

broad-based community. “C-2” Districts should be developed as linear 

commercial and be located primarily along principal arterial streets as 

designated in the Master Transportation Plan. The District designated “C- 

2” provides for an expanded range of uses, greater density and greater 

height than the “C-1” District classification. 

General Commercial Districts (C-3): This classification is to provide for the 

category of retail uses found in “C-1” and “C-2” classification and to provide 

for additional intensity of use, density and height. This zoning classification 

has height limit restrictions not to exceed seventy-five feet, except 

by site plan; floor area requirements that shall not exceed the number of 

square feet that results from compliance with the requirements states in 

the ordinance with no less than nine feet between floors. 

Apartment Dwelling Districts (RA8-18): This District is established to allow 

for all uses permitted in conjunction with uses permitted in the “RA14-26” 

District, as well as apartment houses or town houses. Other permitted uses 

include boardinghouses and rooming houses; tourist homes and convenience 

service areas. Building heights are limited to four stories or forty feet, 

but through site plan approval dwellings may be increased to a height not 

to exceed either eight stories or seventy-five feet. 

Multiple Family Dwelling Districts (RA4.8): This classification is to provide for 

multiple-family dwelling development at moderate densities and high-rise 

multiple-family dwelling redevelopment. To be eligible for this classification, 

a site shall be designated “high-medium” residential or other comparable 

designation on the general land use plan. Determination as to 

the actual types and densities of uses to be allowed will be based on the 

characteristics of individual sites in their neighborhood and on the need for 

community facilities, open and landscaped areas, circulation and utilities. 

Apartment Dwelling Districts (RA6-15): This district allows for all permitted 

land uses as set forth in the “RA8-18” Districts. Through site plan approval, 

town house and semi-detached dwelling units and existing one-family 

dwelling units may be permitted at densities up to those allowed under 

the General Land Use plan designation then applicable to the site, but not 

to exceed twenty-nine units per acre. When structures are proposed to be 

used for providing low or moderate income housing, the building can be 

enlarged and regulations can be modified, affecting the setback, yard, 

coverage, parking and/or density through use permit approval. 

Hotel District (RA-H): This district allows for all uses permitted and regulated 

in the “RA7-16” Districts. This includes apartment houses and hotels regulated 

with site plan approval by the County Board. Heights as permitted 

by the “RA7-16” District, but heights exceeding neither twelve stories nor 

one hundred twenty-five feet may be permitted by the County Board as 

a condition of site plan approval. Lot area shall have a minimum average 

width of two hundred feet and a minimum area of one hundred thousand 

square feet. 

Multiple-Family Dwelling & Hotel District (RA-H-3.2): This zoning district is to 

provide for multiple-family dwelling development at moderate densities 

and, under appropriate conditions, high-rise hotel and/or multiple-family 

dwelling redevelopment within “Metro Transit Corridors” as determined by 

the County Board. Mixture of use and densities shall be consistent with the 

53


zoning 

general land use plan or approved for plans for the area. Determinations 

as to the actual types and densities of uses to be allowed will be based 

on the characteristics of individual sites in their neighborhood and on the 

need for community facilities, open and landscaped areas, circulation 

and utilities. 

Special Districts (S-3A): The purpose of the Special District is to encourage 

the retention of certain properties in a relatively undeveloped state. Land 

so designated may included publicly or privately owned properties which 

have distinct and unique site advantages or other features so as to make 

them desirable to retain as active or passive recreation or for a scenic 

vista. Also Stream valley floodplains could be included in this district. 


54

transportation overview 


List of Plans, Policies, and Studies 

The following documents can be reviewed and downloaded from various Arlington County Department of Environmental Services webpages: 

Master Transportation Plan (Arlington County) (MTP) 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/dot/planning/mplan/mtp/MTP_Draft.aspx 

“Rosslyn Multimodal Transportation Study” 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/EnvironmentalServices/dot/planning/studies/EnvironmentalServicesStudy.aspx 

“Rosslyn Metrorail Station Access Improvement Project” 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/dot/page66832.aspx 

“Rosslyn North Lynn Street Esplanade Project” 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/cpe/capprojects/page63515.aspx 

“Meade Street Bridge Alternatives Study” 

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/dot/planning/Meade%20Street%20Bridge%20Alternatives%20Study.aspx 

“N Lynn Street Corridor of Light Study” 

http://www.arlingtonarts.org/Libraries/Documents/North_Lynn_Street_Book.sflb.ashx 


“WALKArlington Report (2001)” 

http://www.walkarlington.com/tasks/sites/Walk/assets/File/walkarlington.pdf 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55



Master Transportation Plan 

Figure 45: MTP Street Typology Map 

56



Rosslyn Transit Network (MTP) 

Figure 46: Figure 47: 

Rosslyn Bike and Trail Network (MTP) 


Source: MTP 

Source: MTP 

57



MTP Relevant Text 

Integrate Bicycling with All Other Modes of Transportation 

Policy 1 (1): Complete the walkway network with appropriately lit, ADAaccessible 

sidewalks along both sides of arterial streets and at least one 

side of neighborhood streets – plan for well-defined exceptions where 

sidewalks are expected to be omitted. Emphasize projects within priority 

pedestrian zones near schools, transit stops and commercial centers. Develop 

and evaluate criteria and use them, along with identified needs, to 

prioritize the funding of proposed construction and improvement projects. 

Pedestrian Element Existing Conditions - Physical Environment 

In past decades, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses were constructed 

in Rosslyn, Crystal City, and Ballston to establish systems of pedestrian 

travel ways that were removed from the street level. 

Pedestrians have found some of these facilities difficult to access; consequently, 

many persons prefer to walk and cross at the street level. In some 

cases the existence of dual pedestrian systems has harmed the viability 

of the primary system—which is at street level. Since the early 1990s the 

County has not created any new grade separated public walkways and 

has permitted the removal of undesired sections of the systems as costefficient 

opportunities have arisen. Upon review, some sections of these 

travel ways, such as certain bridges in the Rosslyn Skywalk system, have 

been deemed valuable and planned for retention. 

Policy 2 (2): Provide high-quality bicycling facilities as part of all street improvement 

projects. 

Use marked bicycle lanes or shared –use lane symbols (“sharrows”) on 

arterial streets that provide access to commercial centers, schools and 

government facilities. 

Implementation Actions 

a. Develop the bikeway network by installing proposed bike lanes, signed 

bike routes, and other bicycle facilities on arterial roadways and neighborhood 

principal roadways in conjunction with 

street/bridge improvements or as independent bicycle projects. 

b. Provide bikeways on new or existing streets in conjunction with major 

new development or redevelopment activities in Pentagon City, Crystal 

City, the Potomac Yard North and South 

Tracts, Rosslyn, and other areas. 

Continue to integrate bicycling with transit, walking, taxicab and high occupancy 

vehicle (HOV) travel modes to enable more direct integration. 

Policy 9 (3): Provide convenient, covered and secure bicycle parking at 

transit stations, schools, public facilities and commercial centers. 

Implementation Actions 

a. Coordinate with WMATA and private property owners to increase bicycle 

parking at Metrorail stations, initiate new bike/transit integration services, 

and manage existing services. The quality and quantity of bicycle 

parking should be upgraded at Metrorail stations, especially 

Rosslyn, Crystal City, Pentagon City, Ballston-MU, and Clarendon. Provide 

sufficient amounts of free parking that offers a high level of security and 

weather protection. 

b. Construct bicycle stations at a minimum of one of the following Metro 

stations - Ballston-MU, Rosslyn, East Falls Church and Pentagon City. 

Bicycling Conditions - General Safety 

On average, about 50 Arlington bicyclists are injured annually in crashes 

with motor vehicles (see Table A1). Bicycle fatalities, however, are quite 

rare (only one since 1986). The Rosslyn Circle area, where the Mount Vernon 

and Custis trails converge, remains the location with the highest frequency 

of bicycle crashes. While crash statistics show that, overall, Arlington 

is a safe place for bicycling, the fear of interaction with motor vehicle 

traffic remains a primary reason why many people do not travel more 

often by bicycle. 

Bicyclists and Metrorail 

Bicyclists’ use of Metrorail stations was studied through a 2002 survey 

of Metrorail passengers conducted by WMATA. Additionally, Arlington 

County staff conducted a survey of bicycle rack usage at select Arlington 

Metrorail stations in 2005. WMATA found that, system-wide, 0.31 percent of 

passengers arrived at Metro stations by bicycle, which equated to about 

2,000 bike trips daily out of 650,000 daily Metrorail trips. Arlington’s 11 stations 

accounted for 245 of these trips, or 12 percent. In 2005 counts, the 

County found the greatest use of bicycle parking racks to be at the East 

Falls Church and Ballston stations at 89 and 47, respectively. Demand 

at several stations, including Rosslyn, Ballston and Crystal City, often exceeds 

the supply of available working racks. Currently, few of the racks 


58



are weather-protected. 

1-7 Metro Station Bike 

Parking Enhancement 

Enhance bicycle parking at the Rosslyn, Ballston, Clarendon, and Pentagon 

City Metro stations, including a bike station at the Ballston station. 

1-10 Rosslyn Circle Area 

Improvements – Street Level 

Make improvements recommended in the Rosslyn Circle Study, including 

widening the trail between Oak Street and Fort Myer Drive, and improvements 

at Fort Myer and N. Lynn Street. (Arlington, NPS, VDOT) (0.1 mile) 

Demand Management 

Arlington’s initial demand-management efforts began in the 1960s when 

site-plan development was initiated, and primarily focused on parking. 

The parking requirements for by-right office development were (and still 

are) geared toward virtually one parking space for each employee. The 

minimum parking requirement for office site plans in Rosslyn in the 1960s 

was set at a level to reflect the desired long-range share of HOV use, at 

a higher level than was typical at that time. Similarly, in the 1970s, the 

minimum parking requirement for a newly-established residential zoning 

category was set at a level lower than what was the rate of auto ownership 

at the time. 

2-19 Midterm TBD Iwo Jima Memorial Connection to the Theodore Roosevelt 

Bridge 


Include a connection from the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge to the Iwo Jima 

Memorial roadway in a 

reconstruction of the bridge. This connection would improve access to 

Rosslyn and the Fort Myer Heights neighborhood. (Arlington, DC, NPS) (0.9 

mile). 

2-25 Midterm TBD Rosslyn Circle Area Improvements – Tunnel 

Make area improvements consistent with the recommendations in the 

Rosslyn Circle Study, 

including the construction of a tunnel under Lynn Street near the intersection 

of Lee Highway. 

(Arlington, NPS, VDOT) (0.1 mile) 

3-7 Near Term N. Lynn Street Bicycle Lane 

Designate a bicycle lane along N. Lynn Street between Lee Highway at 

Rosslyn Circle and Fairfax Drive south of Arlington Boulevard. (0.5 mile) 

4-3 Near Term Transit Station Bicycle Parking 

Add or upgrade bicycle parking at transit stations and heavily used bus 

stops. Develop bicycle stations at the Ballston, Pentagon City, East Falls 

Church and/or Rosslyn Metro stations. 

59


parks, open space, public art 

Relevant Plans, Policies, and Laws 

The Public Spaces Master Plan (PSMP) is the planning document that 

identifies the major public space needs of the community. It is one of 

eight critical components of the County’s comprehensive plan. As a 

planning document, the themes and recommendations provide the 

framework to guide the stewardship of Arlington’s precious public 

spaces for future generations to enjoy. This master plan makes recommendations 

echoing the values and priorities that the community places 

on diverse leisure opportunities, while recognizing economic and resource 

constraints. Implementation of the recommendations is subject 

to the County’s future funding and resource allocations and priorities. 

The document also features appendices including but not limited to 

a Parks and Public Spaces Map, Public Spaces Inventory, and a list of 

Potential Public Space Acquisition Sites. 

The County is also guided by the Public Art Master Plan. Adopted by 

the County Board in 2004, it enriches the vision of the public art policy 

and establishes a strategy for selecting the art projects that will be 

commissioned. It details the priorities, areas and themes that should 

be considered as public art projects are developed, as well as a list of 

potential projects for the next five years. 

PUBLIC SPACES MASTER PLAN 

FinalPublicSpace2k6A.indd 1 

ADOPTED 

DECEMBER 10, 2005 

Arlington’s 

Public Spaces 

Where the 

Community 

Comes Together! 

1/26/06 11:23:14 AM 


60

Public Spaces Master Plan 


Figure 48: Athletic Fields and Courts 

Potential Acquisition Sites in Rosslyn 

1. National Park Service Maintenance 

Yard/VDOT Right-of-Way (1994 OSMP) 

Would establish a new open space on the east side of North Lynn 

Street near the Key Bridge entrance to Virginia. 

2. Rosslyn Highlands (1994 OSMP) 


Source: PSMP 

Arlington, Virginia 85 

Along the east side of North Quinn Street, from North 18th Street to 

Key Boulevard and east to the Atrium Complex adjacent to existing 

park land and the Wilson Center. 

61


Public Spaces Master Plan 

Relevant PSMP Text 

“Each of the sector and other plans for the County’s urban corridors and 

centers includes recommendations to increase the limited recreational 

opportunities, improve connections to and from public spaces, improve 

the overall appearance of public areas, and adjust the balance between 

open space and the built environment. Appendix I provides a summary of 

these recommendations. 

Rosslyn is a gateway into Arlington from Washington, D.C. via Key Bridge 

and Roosevelt Bridge, and the County’s most densely developed “downtown.” 

Gateway Park, which spans above I-66, is the largest park in the 

area. There are also several small centrally located urban plazas, Rosslyn 

Highlands Park, which adjoins the fire station and Wilson School, and Hillside 

Park. Unfulfilled needs include enhanced entrances into the County 

from Key Bridge and Roosevelt Bridge, a central public space at the Rosslyn 

Metro station entrance and a boathouse along the Potomac River. 

The close proximity to National Park Service land, national memorials and 

the Capital also makes this a very special place regionally and nationally. 

Access to the National Park Service land and the Potomac River virtually 

doubles the amount of public space that Arlingtonians can enjoy.” 

OBJECTIVE ONE: Balance Acquisition and Development of Public Spaces: 

Recommendation 1.4 – Focus on Planning for the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor 

Continue to achieve major open space through fee simple acquisition or 

public access easements on privately owned land, with a focus on the 

civic plaza at Courthouse, public plaza at Rosslyn Central Place and expanding 

the park in the block surrounding Maury Park.” 

APPENDIX I ARLINGTON COUNTY SECTOR PLANS 

Summary Recommendations Related to Public Spaces 

The County has developed Sector Plans for various planning areas within 

Arlington County’s Metro corridors. Following are recommendations that 

relate specifically to Public Spaces. 

Rosslyn Station Area Plan Addendum 

• Create within Annie’s and Metro Park an open space of equivalent 

size as a Central Place, which would be located at the south end 

of the block bounded by North 19th Street, Wilson Boulevard, North 

Moore Street and North Lynn Street. 

• Increase the accessibility of Gateway Park, Theodore Roosevelt Island, 

Arlington Cemetery, and other open space and recreational 

assets. 

• Create an esplanade facing the riverfront, from North Lynn Street to 

Wilson Boulevard. 

• Amend the General Land Use Plan to show the properties between 

the Atrium project and Quinn Street and between North 18th Street 

and Key Boulevard and partially close North 18th Street for use as 

open space and to increase recreational opportunities. 

• Seek to acquire the National Park Service maintenance yard north of 

I-66. 

• Develop a long range plan for the use and development of Hillside 

Park to enhance the usability of the park, including acquisition of 

abutting properties. 

• Explore modifications to Gateway Park to maximize its use. 

• Create a more effective gateway at Key Bridge/Lee Highway/Gateway 

Park through additional landscaping and major public artwork 

within Rosslyn Circle and the lands to either side. 

• Acquire the open space out-parcels adjacent to Route 110 if safe access 

to these sites can be provided. 

• Expand the cultural, entertainment and recreational opportunities in 

Rosslyn. This could include a small performing arts facility, construction 

of a movie theater, opening of a branch library, art galleries or indoor 

recreational facilities. 

• Develop a public arts master plan for Rosslyn and encourage the installation 

of art works at appropriate locations.” 


62

public art master plan 


Figure 49: Public Art Master Plan Long Term Projects 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

63


neighborhoods 

Legend 

North 

Highlands 

Colonial 

Village 

Colonial Village 

North Highlands 

North Rosslyn 

Radnor/Ft.Myer Heights 











* Aerial Photography flown February 2009 




Civic Associations 

North 


Radnor/Ft.Myer 

Heights 

1:4,800 

0 250 500 

125 Feet 

Neighborhood Planning Efforts 

Arlington’s neighborhoods are empowered to write their own neighborhood plans 

and compete for funding for neighborhood improvements through the Neighborhood 

Conservation program. Improvements include installation of sidewalks, 

curbs and gutters, streetlights, park improvements, neighborhood art, and beautification. 

Projects are based on written plans submitted to the County for review 

and acceptance. 

Each community in Arlington that participates in the Neighborhood Conservation 

Program has a Neighborhood Conservation Representative that serves as a liaison 

with county staff in the development of a neighborhood plan. The plan ultimately 

reflects the desires of the community as a whole. 

Within Rosslyn, there is one civic association that has written a neighborhood plan. 

Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights completed their plan in 2007. This Plan has among its goals 

the preservation of existing affordable units, the construction of new ones and the 

preservation of neighborhood character and historic buildings. 

Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights 

Neighborhood Conservation Plan 2007 


64

capital projects 



County Projects in Rosslyn 

Projects Under Construction 

1. Rosslyn Metro Station Access Improvements - This project establishes 

a new station entrance, while improving station access through installation 

of new high speed, high capacity elevators, a mezzanine 

and emergency stairs from the station to street level CIP Projects in 

Planning. For more information, visit the Rosslyn Metro Station Access 

Improvements webpage. 

2. Potomac Interceptor Sanitary Sewer - Construction to be completed 

by 10/11 and will increase wastewater capacity for Rosslyn, as well as 

provide surcharge relief 

Projects in Planning 

1. Four Rosslyn Station Bus Bays; improved with real-time information displays, 

shelters, benches and supervisor kiosks 

2. Rosslyn Esplanade project as a pedestrian and bicycle safety, traffic 

management and street beautification initiative. For more information, 

visit the project webpage. 

Rendering of Future Rosslyn Metro Station Entrance 

Projects in Planning Beyond the 6-year (and 10-year) CIP Cycle 

As the Rosslyn Station is currently at its peak hour throughput, at the system’s 

maximum design capacity of a train per every 135 seconds, there 

are no current needs for funds but the ongoing needs at WMATA and the 

need to potentially increase capacity at the Rosslyn Metro Station may 

impact future CIP cycles. Also beginning in 2012, the adopted County CIP 

will now have a 10-year planning horizon for capital projects and planned 

funding, as opposed to the 6-year horizon that has traditionally been used. 

Federal and State Projects in Rosslyn 

In undertaking research for this document, Arlington County staff contacted 

representatives from organizations ranging from state to federal 

agencies and public utilities, to determine the status of preliminary and 

ongoing development activities occurring in the RCRD. 

After contacting organizations such as The National Capital Planning 

Commission, The Federal Aviation Administration, The National Park Service, 

The Virginia Department of Transportation and Dominion Virginia 

Power, staff has been able to determine that there are no proposed 

pending, or preliminary Capital development projects that would be affecting 

the RCRD in the near future. 

65

Appendix 

DEVELOPMENT IN THE METRO CORRIDORS, 1960 - 1st QUARTER 2011 


Project 

No. 

Project Name 

Address 

Site Plan 

No. or By- 

Right 

Status 

Office GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Retail GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Other GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Residential 

units 

Hotel 

rooms 

Approved 

Completed 

GLUP Designation 

Zoning District 

Site area 

(sq. ft.) 

Parking 

spaces 

A1 

Colonial Village I 

1903 KEY BLVD 

161 

Text34: C Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34:36 Text34: 0 

1981 

Low-Medium Residential 

RA7-16 

191,100 

A2 

Colonial Village III 

1800 QUEENS LN 

161 

Text34: C Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 172 Text34: 0 

1988 


RA7-16 

295,000 

66 

A3 

A4 

A5 

A6 

A7 

A8 

A9 

A10 

A11 

A12 

A13 

A14 

A15 

A16 

Summit Village 

1870 N SCOTT ST 


1851 N SCOTT ST 


1804 N QUINN ST 

Exxon 

1824 WILSON BLVD 



1776 Wilson Blvd. (Contis 

Site) 


Terrace Lofts 

1633 N COLONIAL TER 

North Colonial Terrace 

Townhomes 


Highgate 


Rosslyn Mews 

1810 N ODE ST 

Federal Ridge 


Colonial Heights 

1509 KEY BLVD 

Key Mews 

1604 KEY BLVD 

The Atrium 

1530 KEY BLVD 

161 

161 

161 

B-R 

371 

409 

B-R 

313 

272 

B-R 

B-R 

B-R 

B-R 

181 




Text34: C Text34: 0 Text34: 1,608 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 



Development in the Planning Corridors 2011 3 Rosslyn Area 

1989 

1989 

1987 

1984 

Text34: C Text34: 0 Text34: 5,758 Text34: 0 Text34: 153 Text34: 0 2003 

2007 

Text34: A 


RA7-16 


RA7-16 


RA7-16 


C-2 

Medium Office-Apartment-Hotel 

C-O-2.5 

Text34: 108,753 Text34: 27,996 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 2007 Medium Office-Apartment-Hotel 

C-O-2.5 


2004 

Text34: C Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 3 Text34: 0 1995 

1999 







1992 

1980 

1983 

1999 

1980 

1986 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 

Public 

RA6-15 

High-Medium Residential 

RA4.8 

133,680 * 

23,275 * 

138,098 417 

30,861 2 

62,190 191 

231 

36,927 38 

11,000 

218,294 139 

21,068 15 

12,515 13 

6,625 5 

12,600 8 

139,828 441 


APPENDIX 


ROSSLYN 

Project 

No. 

Project Name 

Address 

Site Plan 

No. or By- 

Right 

Status 

Office GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Retail GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Other GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Residential 

units 

Hotel 

rooms 

Approved 

Completed 



Site area 

(sq. ft.) 

Parking 

spaces 


A17 

A18 

A19 

A20 

A21 

A22 

A23 

A24 

A25 

A26 

A27 

A28 

A29 

B1 

B2 

B3 

Archstone Rosslyn 

1800 N OAK ST 

Woodmont-Wilson 

Elementary School 


1555 Wilson 


1525 Wilson Blvd. 


Art Associates 




American Chiropractic 

Assoc. 

1701 CLARENDON BLVD 

Bennett Park 

1601CLARENDON BLVD 

Millcourt - 1560 Wilson 

Blvd. 




Rosslyn Courtyard Marriott 

Hotel 




A-M Building 


Marriott Hotel Addition 

1401 LEE HWY 

Key Bridge Marriott 

1401 LEE HWY 

The Dakota 


341 

B-R 

B-R 

222 

67 

83 

227 

357 

219 

219 

219 

264 

41 

53 

53 

B-R 


2003 

Text34: C Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 39,159 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: 159,741 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 

Text34: 283,362 Text34: 31,234 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 





RA-H-3.2 

67,548 363 


Development Development - Planning the Division: Planning Planning, Corridors Research 2011 and Analysis Team (PRAT). 4 Rosslyn Area 

2000 

1980 

1987 

1967 

1975 

1986 


2007 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 




Text34: C 

Text34: C 






1986 

1984 

1990 

1990 

1971 

1990 

1964 

2002 

Public 

S-3A 

High Office-Apartment-Hotel 

C-3 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O 

Medium Office-Apartment-Hotel 

C-O-2.5 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O 


RA-H-3.2 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O-2.5 


C-O-2.5 


RA6-15 

113,256 

21,650 485 

74,239 432 

63,179 233 

55,835 278 

19,650 47 

122,400 238 

32,410 * 

36,829 629 

26,200 * 

43,907 315 

50,074 286 

240,477 625 

* * 

13,861 26 

67

APPENDIX 


ROSSLYN 

Project 

No. 

Project Name 

Address 

Site Plan 

No. or By- 

Right 

Status 

Office GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Retail GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Other GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Residential 

units 

Hotel 

rooms 

Approved 

Completed 



Site area 

(sq. ft.) 

Parking 

spaces 

68 

B4 

B5 

B6 

B7 

B8 

B9 

B10 

B11 

B12 

B13 

B14 

B15 

B16 

B17 

B18 

B19 

Holiday Inn Rosslyn 

Westpark 

1900 FORT MYER DR 

Turnberry Tower 

1881 N NASH ST 

Rosslyn Bldg. (North) 


Rosslyn Bldg. (South) 


Rosslyn Bldg. (East) 

1901 N MOORE ST 

Waterview 

1919 N LYNN ST 

Potomac Tower Office 

1001 19TH ST N 

Nash Street Office Bldg. 

1400 KEY BLVD 

Oakhill 


Arlington Temple United 

Meth. Church/Exxon 

1830 FT MEYER DR 

Ames Building 


Hyatt Hotel 


1812 N Moore St 


Rosslyn Center 


McDonald's 


Central Place 


79 

19 

54 

39 

66 

25 

241 

21 

7 

1 

92 

18 

94 

120 

335 





1972 


2009 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 




1968 

1966 

1969 

Text34: 620,576 Text34: 10,110 Text34: 0 Text34: 133 Text34: 154 2002 

2008 




Text34: C Text34: 0 Text34: 1,134 Text34: 32,586 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 

Text34: C 



Text34: A 

Text34: C 

1989 

1966 

1964 

1971 

1966 

1976 


C-O 


C-O-ROSS 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O-ROSS 


C-O-ROSS 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O 

Text34: 569,739 Text34: 11,020 Text34: 21,031 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 2007 High Office-Apartment-Hotel 

C-O-ROSS 

Text34: 401,513 Text34: 45,629 Text34: 1,257 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 


Text34: A 

1980 

1979 


C-O-ROSS 


C-O-ROSS 

Text34: 570,549 Text34: 44,554 Text34: 9,072 Text34: 350 Text34: 0 2007 High Office-Apartment-Hotel 

C-O-ROSS 

61,050 411 

56,700 378 

37,807 249 

28,908 189 

30,000 305 

94,204 901 

24,783 380 

34,926 198 

57,934 368 

16,293 

62,378 312 

35,736 284 

60,179 473 

22,099 463 

5,000 * 

86,595 821 


APPENDIX 

268 587 6 500 




69

APPENDIX 


ROSSLYN 

Project 

No. 

Project Name 

Address 

Site Plan 

No. or By- 

Right 

Status 

Office GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Retail GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Other GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Residential 

units 

Hotel 

rooms 

Approved 

Completed 



Site area 

(sq. ft.) 

Parking 

spaces 

C6 

The Mercer Lofts 

1615 N QUEEN ST 

B-R 


2007 


RA6-15 

27,800 * 

C7 

Oakwood Apartments 


210 


1986 


RA4.8 

55,206 199 

C8 

C9 

C10 

C11 

C12 

C13 

C14 

C15 

C16 

C17 

C18 

C19 

C20 

Swansen Apartments 

1621 N ODE ST 

Slate (Rosslyn Commons, 

Building 2) 


Rosslyn Commons - 

Townhouses 


Sedona (Rosslyn 

Commons, Building 1) 


Starbucks 


Parc Rosslyn (formerly 

Rosslyn Ridge II) 

1531 N PIERCE ST 

Best Western Rosslyn/Iwo 

Jima 

1501 ARLINGTON BLVD 

The Belvedere 

1600 N OAK ST 

Quinn Oaks 


The Weldon 


Quinn North Arms 


Lisa Court 


Lauren Apartments 


B-R 

412 

412 

412 

B-R 

369 

233 

112 

B-R 

B-R 

B-R 

B-R 

B-R 


1965 


RA4.8 

Text34: A Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 203 Text34: 0 2008 High-Medium Residential 

RA4.8 

Text34: A Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34: 0 Text34:25 Text34: 0 2008 High-Medium Residential 

RA4.8 

Text34: A Text34: 0 Text34: 12,635 Text34: 0 Text34: 271 Text34: 0 2008 High-Medium Residential 

RA4.8 


1972 


2008 








1989 

1987 

1986 

1960 

1963 

1984 

1964 


C-O 


RA4.8 


RA-H 


RA4.8 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 

16,941 26 

172 

55 

236 

8,259 6 

267,470 238 

62,381 147 

218,688 566 

20,000 6 

48,575 67 

12,360 18 

10,463 8 

45,683 57 


70 


Development in the Planning Corridors 2011 Development - Planning 7 Division: Planning, Research and Analysis Team (PRAT). Rosslyn Area

APPENDIX 


ROSSLYN 

Project 

No. 

Project Name 

Address 

Site Plan 

No. or By- 

Right 

Status 

Office GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Retail GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Other GFA 

(sq. ft.) 

Residential 

units 

Hotel 

rooms 

Approved 

Completed 



Site area 

(sq. ft.) 

Parking 

spaces 

C21 

1325 Pierce St. Apts. 


B-R 


2006 


RA6-15 

17,120 * 

C22 

Gables 12 Twenty-One 


B-R 


2009 


RA6-15 

119,100 

C23 

The Virginian 


B-R 


1979 


RA6-15 

199,057 220 

C24 

Robin Apartments 


B-R 


1964 


RA6-15 

53,107 76 

C25 

Nicole Apartments 


B-R 


1985 


RA6-15 

14,197 19 

C26 

Barbee House 

1530 12TH ST N 

B-R 


1966 


RA6-15 

24,085 45 

C27 

Heather Apartments 

1518 12TH ST N 

B-R 


1962 


RA6-15 

11,250 15 


C28 

C29 

D1 

D2 

D3 

D4 

D5 

D6 

D7 

D8 

1510 Condominium 

1510 12TH ST N 

Twelve Oak 

1500 12TH ST N 

Architect's Bldg. 


Marriott Residence Inn 

1635 N OAK ST 

Commonwealth Bldg. 


Noland Building 

1300 17TH ST N 

Xerox Building 


Cavalier Apartments 

1415 N OAK ST 

The Weslie 

1401 N OAK ST 

Prospect House 

1200 N NASH ST 

B-R 

B-R 

4 

260 

24 

122 

85 

B-R 

134 

37 



Text34: C 


1972 

1963 

1966 


1999 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 

Text34: C 







1968 

1980 

1975 

1964 

1981 

1964 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


C-O 


RA-H-3.2 


C-O 


C-O 


C-O 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 


RA6-15 

26,250 45 

15,000 21 

36,226 253 

30,123 123 

81,387 466 

53,448 607 

58,796 486 

23,560 22 

51,500 102 

260,000 299 




71

APPENDIX 

1 


72 


Development - Planning Division: Planning, Research and Analysis Team (PRAT).

Rosslyn Briefing Book - Arlington Sites - Arlington County

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