10 Most Groundbreaking Real Estate Projects of '10

Although the real estate market across the country is still sluggish, projects in Arlington continue to rise up out of the ground. Here are the top ten projects in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in 2010, including residential and commercial properties. The list contains projects recently completed and some that recently broke ground. Excluded are a number of projects still on the drawing board.

1. Clarendon Center North & South 
Location: Clarendon
Status: Nearly complete
Office: 220,919 sq ft
Retail: 61,380 sq ft
Residential: 244 units

The Clarendon Center project consists of a north building, located across Highland St from the Clarendon metro, and the larger south building, which will be the future home of a Trader Joe's supermarket. The south building will also contain the residential component - Lyon Place at Clarendon Center. 

2. 800 & 900 N Glebe Rd.
Location: Ballston
Status: Under Construction
Office: 415,816 sq ft
Retail: 26,241 sq ft
Residential: 118 units

Two office buildings, 28 four-story townhouses, and a 90-units of affordable apartments are being developed on the Bob Peck Chevrolet and Staples sites. The Jordan consists of 90 units of affordable housing and is being developed by AHC.

3. Founder's Square
Location: Ballston
Status: Under Construction
Office: 660,190 sq ft
Retail: 26,900 sq ft
Residential: 362 units

The Shooshan Company is underway with the first of four major buildings planned at Founder's Square. The site became available when WMATA moved the Metrobus yard to Fairfax County.

4. 1812 N Moore St.
Location: Rosslyn
Office: 580,000 sq ft
Retail: 12,00 sq ft

1812 N. Moore St. is a 30-story office building being developed by Monday Properties. The project area includes the Virginia Power substation site and the site of a former office building. The proposed development utilizes the air rights of the substation.  This will be the first LEED Platinum building in Virginia. Demolition of the former office building is complete. (N Fort Myer Dr., N 19th St. and N Moore St.)

5. George Mason University Arlington Campus Phase 2
Location: Virginia Square
Status: Nearing Completion
Other: 244,000 sq ft

This project is a $50 million expansion of the campus that includes classrooms, a library, a 300 seat auditorium, faculty offices and a public plaza. 

6. Turnberry Tower
Location: Rosslyn
Status: Complete
Retail: 4,400 sq ft
Residential: 247 units

Turnberry Tower is the new ultra-luxury condo building in Rosslyn featuring state-of-the-art security and private direct entry elevators. Residents also enjoy the signature Turnberry amenities, including a café, media room, social rooms, private spa/fitness center with indoor swimming pool and 24-hour valet, concierge and resident service front desk personnel. 

7. Central Place
Location: Rosslyn
Status: Under Construction
Office: 570,549 sq ft
Retail: 44,554 sq ft
Other: 9,072 sq ft
Residential: 350 units

Central Place will include one office tower and one residential tower with first and second floor retail throughout the project. Between the buildings there will be a public plaza, which will be the center of activity with outdoor café/entertainment space and three high-speed Metro elevators for direct access to the Rosslyn Station.

8. 2001 Clarendon Blvd. 
Location: Courthouse
Status: Under Construction 
Retail: 30,000 sq ft
Residential: 154 units

This project will sit between Clarendon and Wilson Blvds. on the former Taco Bell and Dr. Dremo sites. Standing seven stories, the building will have a green rooftop. The project was formely called 2000 Wilson Blvd. and Washington View.

9. Rosslyn Commons
Location: Rosslyn
Status: Under Construction
Retail: 12, 635 sq ft
Residential: 454 units

Rosslyn Commons is a new mixed-use project that will have two high rise residential towers with 454 total units and over 12,000 square feet of retail space. The site will also include 25 four-story townhomes. Both residential towers boast rooftop pools and decks, and rooftop club rooms and fitness centers.

10. Views of Clarendon
Location: Clarendon
Status: Under Construction
Other: 62,834 sq ft
Residential: 116 units

After numerous court battle delays, this project is under way. The Views at Clarendon is rather unique in that it is a mixed-use church and residential development. It is only one-half block from the Clarendon Metro station. The project preserves the existing 107-foot church steeple, reconstructs the church and provides affordable rental residential units.