Rosslyn Residents Talk Parks, Waterfront, More at 'Realize Rosslyn' Kickoff

Residents, businesses and county officials looking to “Realize Rosslyn” met Monday night to talk about the next evolution of the urban center.

“I think of [Rosslyn] as Metro Center-south,” said Arlington County Board Member Jay Fisette. “You are on the Blue and Orange line. We have the best views of the monumental core of any place around here. Any picture of downtown DC is taken in Rosslyn.”

“Realize Rosslyn” is the name for the county’s long-range plan for the northeast sector that encompasses blocks in the immediate vicinity of the metro station.

Monday night’s meeting at Rosslyn’s Artisphere is the county’s first community meeting in developing the plan. Public workshops will take place from now until the final draft of the plan is complete in the summer of 2013.

The county’s last long-term plan was developed in 1992, according to Anthony Fusarelli, Jr., the county planner focusing on this project.

“Through this effort, we will fine tune and update the vision for Rosslyn,” Fusarelli said.

County goals are to make Rosslyn a “more attractive and functional place” and to develop “building heights strategies,” among other goals, Fusarelli said.
 
That includes drawing inspiration from places as close as the Reston Town Center, to places as far away as Battery Park in New York City and public parks in Lisbon, said David Dixon, of the architecture firm Goody Clancy, which is helping develop the plan.
 
Residents also shared their own ideas on visions for the county in breakout sessions Monday evening. They were asked about their priorities for the Rosslyn area and what they would improve. That same survey is available online.
 
Residents said there were several areas where Rosslyn could see some improvement, below. Have your own ideas? Tell us in the comments box.

• There needs to be more access to the water
• More green, public gathering spaces
• Rosslyn needs to be a seven day-a-week, 24 hours-a-day place
• More walkability
• Rosslyn should be a destination
• Rosslyn should have a new grocery store

View a public schedule of upcoming meetings for the Realize Rosslyn plan.