Video shows plans for Crystal City redevelopment

Development

Video shows plans for Crystal City redevelopment

by Jamie Scott • July 25, 2011 2:09 pm

Arlington County produced a video to explore its plan to redevelop Crystal City over the next 40 years.

Board chairman Zimmerman walks around Crystal City and discusses some of the county's goals, which include encouraging higher density development, introducing streetcars, improving open space and protecting affordable housing.

Some residents of Crystal City are concerned about greater density and worsening traffic. Arlington County has created the Crystal City Citizen Review Council to work with residents to ensure the county adheres to the comprehensive plan.

County planners hope to reshape Crystal City, which is filled with superblocks of bland office buildings and hotels. There are few inviting streetscapes or pedestrian-friendly facilities. The plan also hopes to create a coherent grid of streets.

4 comments

Tags: Arlington, Chris Zimmerman, Crystal City, livability, pedestrianized streets, streetcars, superblocks, video, Virginia

Crystal City plans to repair its superblocks (Jan 21, 2011)
Crystal City plan makes BRAC lemons into lemonade (Sep 16, 2010)
Envisioning Crystal City as part of a larger community (Jun 4, 2009)
Then and Now: Crystal City (Jan 22, 2011)
Residents sound off about East Falls Church redevelopment (May 5, 2010)

Jamie Scott is a resident of Ward 3 in DC and a regular Metrobus commuter. He believes in good government, livable communities and quality public transit. Jamie holds a B.A. in Government from Georgetown University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Policy at Georgetown.

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Glad to hear Arlington County is making moves to improve Crystal City. One place that desperately needs some work is the clusterfuck intersection of 23rd Street/S Clark Street/Jeff Davis Highway. The signaling alone is atrocious, the current pattern puts pedestrians and zooming cars in direct conflict with each other.

by Ted on Jul 25, 2011 4:48 pm

"Protecting affordable housing"? Is that what we're calling rent control these days?

by Stephen Smith on Jul 25, 2011 11:09 pm

Stephen: I really don't think rent control is a serious part of the mix. Where did that come from? I assume you're not generally hostile towards the concept of affordable housing.

by Eric H. on Jul 25, 2011 11:26 pm

A supermarket in Crystal City is definitely needed, as there isn't one within walking distance. I understand there was a Safeway in the underground mall that closed five years ago. I wonder why. There are a lot of apartments and condos so I would think a full-service supermarket can survive. Not everyone has a car.

by Donna on Jul 29, 2011 4:51 pm