Contact SGA’s Director, John Bailey, for additional information, 202-624-7003 or jbailey@uli.org.

Washington (August 4, 2004) – A jury formed by the Smart Growth Alliance (SGA) has recognized three development proposals: a mixed-income development near the Clarendon Metro station, a mixed-use project along the Richmond Highway in Fairfax County, and a commuter rail project in Prince William 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 three years ago to encourage policies and projects that promote smart growth.

The proposal on Richmond Highway, “The Heights @ Groveton,” would create a mixed-use (residential, commercial and retail) redevelopment on a vacant lot across the street from the Beacon Hill Shopping Plaza. It is located 1.5 miles away from the Huntington Metrorail station with frequent bus service to the Huntington Metro station. Parking would be completely surrounded by residential and retail uses, and combined with the proposed sidewalk improvements, would create an inviting experience for the new residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

MDP Groveton, LLC is the current owner of the property. John E. Hass, Sr., MDP Groveton’s CEO, said, “We are honored to have our Heights @ Groveton project recognized by the distinguished panel of reviewers at the Smart Growth Alliance. Since the early 1980s, Fairfax County has searched for ways to revitalize the Richmond Highway Corridor. We believe that our Heights @ Groveton project will achieve many of the County's redevelopment goals and objectives. The Heights @ Groveton will interject a new vibrancy into the neighborhood by delivering a high-quality, mixed-use project that includes high-end residential condominiums, community-serving retail and supporting office space.”

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.

The first SGA project proposal recognized in Prince William County, “Rippon Commuter Village” developed by Hazel Land Companies, is located at the Rippon VRE commuter rail station in Woodbrige, Virginia. The site is currently a surface parking lot leased to VRE. In addition to housing, the site would also provide space for neighborhood-serving retail. The proposal would provide extremely convenient pedestrian access to the VRE station. In a report released earlier this year by the SGA, “Barriers and Incentives to Transit-Oriented Development,” a panel of transportation and land use experts recommended just such commuter rail development for Prince William County.

Robert Wulff, Vice-President of Hazel Land Companies, said "The six VRE commuter rail stations in Prince William are potentially valuable County assets--but assets that have been underutilized to date. Our proposed Rippon Commuter Village will provide the County a model for cashing-in the public value from these stations. The Commuter Village's mix of high density residential and retail-- integrated with the VRE station by a pedestrian friendly plan--will create a valuable County asset.”

The SGA also recognized the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) a second time for a proposal to develop mixed-income housing one-half block from the Clarendon Metrorail station. The First Baptist Church of Clarendon currently occupies the site. The church and administrative offices will be on the bottom two floors with the housing built above. The historic church steeple will be preserved in front. "We are very pleased to receive recognition from the Smart Growth Alliance for a second time,” said Douglass Peterson, executive director of the APAH. He continued, “As housing prices continue to spike higher in the Washington region, affordable housing development becomes ever more challenging. This mixed-income project will provide sorely needed affordable housing in Arlington within a half block of Metro."

Sam Black, chairman of the SGA jury and senior counsel at Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, LLP in Washington, said all three projects clearly meet the criteria set by the SGA for measuring project proposals. All proposals are judged from criteria, which look at the proposal’s location, physical design, access to transit, environmental design, and its benefits to the surrounding community. “Smart growth is not about a single solution, but rather a variety a projects that are uniquely tailored to meet the community’s and the market’s needs. While located in three different jurisdictions, they will add value to the region as a whole.”

Each quarter, the SGA evaluates project proposals in the Washington area that are under review or subject to review by local government regulatory agencies. Those representing the best examples of smart growth are publicized by the Alliance and highlighted by the Alliance during regular Alliance events. Since the recognition program began last year, the SGA jury has recognized more than a dozen applications in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Read about other winners

In addition to the development recognition program, the SGA also has an ongoing recognition program for conservation initiatives.