A significant mixed-use redevelopment project, approved by the County Board, is set to revitalize North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA, an area well-known for its businesses, including Mercedes Benz of Arlington North Glebe Road. This ambitious project will replace the existing Harris Teeter and the American Service Center with a modern complex featuring apartments, a brand new grocery store, diverse ground floor retail spaces, and a welcoming public open space.
“This project is more than just new buildings; it’s about creating a vibrant, walkable neighborhood in Ballston that retains and enhances local amenities like Harris Teeter, while introducing new housing and community spaces,” stated Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey. “By transforming this auto-centric commercial area into a mixed-use hub, we are fostering a better balance of urban living. Beyond the public open space, the development brings substantial community benefits, including a $4.1 million investment in affordable housing, improved street connectivity, upgrades to traffic signals at Randolph Street and Glebe Road, and essential water main replacements along Glebe Road.”
The unanimous approval from the Board encompassed amendments to the General Land Use Plan, existing site plans, rezoning, and other crucial actions necessary for the redevelopment to proceed. Detailed information can be found in the staff report on the County website, specifically Item No. 37 from the Saturday, November 16th Regular County Board Meeting agenda.
The approved redevelopment plan outlines the replacement of the current single-story Harris Teeter, the American Service Center/Pre-Owned Mercedes Benz of Arlington located at 600 N. Glebe Rd., and a neighboring single-family home at 525 N. Thomas Street. In their place will rise two nine-story buildings and one seven-story building, collectively housing 732 apartments, 77,575 square feet of retail space, and 942 parking spaces. The project also includes the construction of extensions to North Tazewell Street and North Randolph Street, enhancing the internal block’s accessibility.
One of the three buildings, strategically positioned at the intersection of N. Glebe Road, North Randolph Street, and North Tazewell Street, will feature apartments above a newly constructed, larger Harris Teeter. This building will also incorporate a central private courtyard and an expansive green roof. Responding to community input and environmental considerations, the Board mandated an additional 10,000 square feet to the planned green roof area. The second building, dedicated entirely to residential use, will face North Tazewell Street and include amenities like a private dog run and two private courtyards for residents. The third building, positioned along N. Glebe Road, North Randolph Street, and North Tazewell Street, will offer a mix of apartments and ground floor retail spaces, further contributing to the area’s mixed-use character.
The construction will be carefully phased to minimize disruption. Crucially, the existing Harris Teeter will remain operational throughout the first phase, ensuring continued grocery services for the community while the first building and the new Harris Teeter are constructed. The public open space, a key element of the project, is scheduled for development in the second phase.
Public Open Space Enhancing Community Life Near Mercedes Benz of Arlington
A significant feature of this redevelopment is the creation of an approximately 0.63-acre public open space on the site. The design of this space, influenced by the Public Spaces Master Plan and the North Quincy Street Plan Addendum, aims to create a balanced environment for relaxation and community engagement. It will incorporate biophilic design elements, urban and native plantings with pollinator-friendly species, a 2,000 square foot enclosed dog run, ample new trees, educational environmental nodes, accessible walkways, seating areas, bike racks, and lighting. Arlington County Parks staff have already conducted public engagement to refine the design of this space, starting in the summer of 2019, ensuring it meets the needs and desires of the local community near North Glebe Road and businesses like Mercedes Benz of Arlington.
Utility Upgrades and Public Safety Enhancements
The project also includes significant infrastructure improvements. All overhead utilities serving the site will be moved underground, enhancing aesthetics and reliability. The developer is also contributing $345,000 to the County’s underground utility fund, supporting broader infrastructure modernization efforts. Furthermore, to enhance public safety, an in-building wireless first responders network will be installed, ensuring reliable communication for emergency services within the new development.
Collaborative Public Review Process
The site plan, initially submitted in November 2018, underwent a thorough public review process. The Planning Commission’s Site Plan Review Committee held three meetings starting in April 2019 to carefully consider and refine the proposal. Throughout this process, the developer demonstrated responsiveness to community feedback, making significant alterations to the project’s design and layout. These improvements included expanding the public open space, refining the building form, introducing tapering of building heights for better visual integration with the surroundings, reducing ground-level parking to promote pedestrian activity, and overall enhancing the pedestrian-oriented design of the development. The proposed project also received reviews from the County’s Parks and Recreation, Transportation, and Planning Commissions, ensuring a comprehensive and community-considered approach to this transformative redevelopment near Mercedes Benz of Arlington North Glebe Road.
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