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 ROSSLYN BRIEFING BOOK 2 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 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 rosslyn sector plan update 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 Figure 1: Rosslyn Sector Plan Update accordance with a refined vision for the Rosslyn Metro Station Area (RMSA), from this point Study Area Map forward referred to as Rosslyn or the RMSA. 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 Ross- lyn’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 high- speed 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 dedica- tion to the vision as well as the land use planning components set forth in the 1992 adden- dum. 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 Transporta- tion 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 dis- trict energy needs; and • A more cohesive and functional parks and open space network to meet the recre- ational 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. ROSSLYN BRIEFING BOOK 4 HISTORY OF THE STUDY AREA INTRODUCTION TO ROSSLYN The Rosslyn Metro Station Area (RMSA) lies across the Potomac River from Wash- ington, 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 cen- ter 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 Administration- supported garden apartment communities throughout the County, including in Rosslyn. Rosslyn, Pre-1970s, View South from Rosslyn Circle Source: CPHD photo collection 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 approxi- mately 2,500 housing units. At that time, Arlington County began applying in- novative 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