Arlington Board OKs 12-Story Latitude Apartments Across from Virginia Square Metro

The Bank of America and neighboring two-story office building across from the Virginia Square Metro will be demolished to make way for a new 12-story mixed-use apartment building, following plans the Arlington County Board approved this weekend.

The Latitude Apartments will sit on the 42,000-square-foot site on Fairfax Drive between North Nelson and North Monroe streets. The 265-unit apartment building will include 14 units committed to be affordable, along with 2,800 square feet of "cultural and educational space" and 3,115 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, according to a county staff report.

The developer, the Penrose Group, also will install a 12,000-square-foot public plaza and a public walkway to nearby Quincy Park.

“This development offers a rare opportunity for the County to gain new, on-site affordable units in the heart of the Rosslyn-Ballston Metro corridor," Arlington County Board Chairman Walter Tejada said in a statement. "And there are other important community benefits, including educational facilities and a public plaza and ground floor retail that will enliven Virginia Square."

County leaders wrestled with the idea, as the 2002 sector plan for Virginia Square originally called for offices to be developed on that block — primarily to increase the daytime activity in the neighborhood, provide shared parking and complement the nearby medical offices.

But in the decade since that plan was adopted, more than 770,000 square feet of office space was added to the neighborhood, plus more than 800 homes and 150,000 square feet in religious and institutional uses, thanks largely to George Mason University.

The board voted 3-2 on Saturday to approve the Latitude Apartments plan, with board members Chris Zimmerman and Mary Hynes voting against.

Arlington County Board Vice Chairman Jay Fisette said part of the concern in the community was that a developer or attorney would be allowed to change the Virginia Square Sector Plan, which would "open the door" for the plan to be changed again and again in the future.

"That's a great fear out there right now," he said.

The discussion on how the county will handle future proposals that deviate from established plans will resume Tuesday night.

Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey called the apartments "an advantage to the area and to Arlington."

"We absolutely need to let the community know what to expect," Garvey said. "But planning documents are for just that — planning. If this community is going to thrive, we've got to adjust as we move forward."

The Penrose Group committed to achieving LEED Gold certification, which should result in 18 percent energy savings, according to a news release.

The developer also will contribute:

• $49,176 to a county fund for underground utilities;
• Sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements along Fairfax Drive, North Monroe Street, 10th Street North and North Nelson Street;
• Nearly $316,000 over 30 years toward a transportation demand management program;
• $75,000 for public art;
• and funds to upgrade the traffic signal at Fairfax Drive and North Monroe.