Pentagon City Mall Looks to Expand

A 51,000-square-foot expansion has been proposed for the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City that, if approved by the Arlington County Board, would provide space for five to seven new retail outlets.

The new space would face South Hayes Street and is designed to make the area more pedestrian-friendly. The mall also has proposed landscape, streetscape and access improvements.

County elected officials will consider the proposal at their next regular meeting, which begins Saturday morning. If the board wants to discuss the matter in detail, it may be carried over until Tuesday, Nov. 19.

The county board essentially is being asked to modify existing plans to allow for the expansion, including a Pentagon City development plan that's 37 years old.

An Arlington County staff report describes the proposed addition to the mall as a two-story "appendage" to the east facade of the Fashion Center that would be adjacent to the Pentagon City Metro Station at 12th Street South.

The new five to seven retail tenants have not been determined but will consist primarily of restaurants and fashion stores, according to the report.

The mall is proposing using a mix of concrete, porcelain and stone tiles for the new development, plus metal and glass on prominent storefront areas of the addition, the report states.

A county Planning Commission committee reviewed the proposal in October. Civic associations in Aurora Highlands and Arlington Ridge have no outstanding objections to the proposal, the report states.

The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City has added a number of new or renovated stores in the past year and often enjoys a 100-percent occupancy rate.

Long-term plans call for a complete remodel of the mall's interior and exterior.