Contact John Bailey, the SGA’s Director, for additional information, 202-624-7003
Washington (November 7, 2005) – A jury formed by the Washington Smart Growth Alliance (SGA) has recognized three new development proposals: a mixed-use development East of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., a town center in eastern Loudoun County and a redevelopment near the Courthouse Metro in Arlington County.
The SGA is a coalition of five regional organizations: the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Coalition for Smarter Growth, Metropolitan Washington Builders’ Council and ULI Washington (a district council of the Urban Land Institute). These organizations, some of which have held opposing views on growth issues, formed the Alliance four years ago to encourage policies and projects that promote smart growth.
Parkside – Washington, D.C.
The proposed Parkside development represents the capstone of an urban revitalization effort spanning over 20 years. It is being developed as a partnership between the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization. (MHCDO), Bank of America Community Development Corporation and Lano International. The development team spent the last year meeting with the community, city officials and design professionals to create a unique destination for Ward 7. Parkside will be located within ¼ mile of the Minnesota Avenue Metro station, and be built entirely on vacant land. Unique for Ward 7, Parkside will have a mix of housing, office and neighborhood-serving retail. Twenty percent of the new units will be affordable.
“For too long, neighborhoods East of the River have been left out of the economic boom in the District,” said Carrie Thornhill, President and CEO of MHCDO. She continued, “We believe this location near the Minnesota Avenue Metro station and downtown Ward 7 will bring many benefits for the new residents and the existing neighborhood. We look forward to working with the city and the surrounding neighborhood in this planning and development process.”
One Loudoun – Loudoun County
One Loudoun is the SGA’s first recognized project in Loudoun County. Proposed by McLean-based Miller and Smith, One Loudoun will be located at the intersection of Route 7 and the Loudoun County Parkway. It would create a town center with a mix of homes, office and retail. Differing from much of the conventional development in Loudoun County, these different uses will be integrated to encourage walking and a vibrant street life. The plan also calls for a variety of small, pocket parks and recreational fields open to all of Loudoun County’s residents.
“We are thrilled to receive this important recognition from the Smart Growth Alliance,” said Bill May, Vice-President of Miller and Smith. Noting the importance they placed on high-quality and pedestrian-oriented design, he said they “have designed a modern reinterpretation of a small town Main Street. One Loudoun will offer upscale office buildings, new dining and shopping opportunities, a new hotel, and other amenities in tandem with a wide variety of different housing types to encourage an active environment.”
The SGA recognition program is now in its third year. Through the program, the Alliance highlights smart growth development proposals to raise awareness among public officials, citizen groups and developers of the long-term benefits of well-designed, pedestrian-oriented projects that incorporate a variety of uses and reduce dependency on autos as the sole means of mobility.
2000 Wilson Boulevard – Arlington County
Located within ¼ mile of the Courthouse Metro in Arlington, 2000 Wilson Boulevard would be built between Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards. Ground floor retail with well-designed housing above will compliment new, wider sidewalks and encourage an active street life. The developer, Elm Street Development, will also incorporate several “green” building techniques, which will significantly increase the projects ability to filter stormwater in addition to other important environmental benefits.
“Arlington County is known nationwide for its smart growth policies,” said David Flanagan, CEO of Elm Street Development. “We believe this project will add pedestrian activity and provide new retail opportunities to the Wilson and Clarendon corridors. We look forward to working with the County and the surrounding neighborhood to make this a reality.”
The Washington region is projected to get 2 million new residents and over 1.6 million new jobs by 2030. If managed well, this will allow all of the region’s jurisdictions – urban and suburban – new opportunities for better development. “Smart growth is not one-size-fits all,” said Jessica Cogan Millman, chair of the Recognition Jury and the Maryland Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “Each jurisdiction has opportunities to encourage growth that offers residents new choices in how they live, work and play.”
Each quarter, the SGA evaluates project proposals in the Washington area that are under review or subject to review by local government regulatory agencies. Since the recognition program began in 2002, the SGA jury has recognized more than thirty proposals in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
