The proposed office tower and central plaza. Click the images to enlarge.

Rosslyn is home to the tallest skyscrapers in the DC area, but its skyline, which is easily visible from the National Mall, isn’t exactly beautiful. Every roof is flat, and except for a pair of towers on low elevation that rise above 300 feet, just about every building is near the same height. At the same time, the narrow block immediately above the Rosslyn Metro station, theoretically the most ideal place for Arlington’s highest densities, is an underused collection of fast food joints and empty concrete “parks”. Arlington officials, ever at the forefront of Smart Growth planning, have been trying to kill two birds with one stone and develop that block with a skyline-defining landmark tower. At first the Federal Aviation Administration nixed the idea, noting air approaches to National Airport, but two-years and a lot of negotiation later, a new proposal is in the wings, and this time it seems almost assured of approval.

Baring further changes, the region’s new tallest skyscraper will be a 388′ tall office building, but sitting at a relatively high elevation, it will appear to be 470′ feet above the Potomac River – nearly 100 feet higher than any other building in Rosslyn. Except, that is, its residential twin, which will be 342′ tall, or 424′ above water level. The buildings will be clad in reflective blue glass and have a unique curvilinear design. The taller building will include a public observation deck on the 29th floor, near the top of the building. Finally, the plan includes a new “central square” for Rosslyn, situated between the two new skyscrapers and directly across North Moore Street from the entrance to Rosslyn Metro.

This is exciting stuff, and while BeyondDC thinks the plaza design could be improved quite a bit, given the constraints of the site we’re pretty happy with the skyscraper design. Whether you favor tall buildings or not, it will add an icon to Rosslyn’s skyline.

Rosslyn’s new skyline. Click the image to enlarge.

Thanks to forum user rcotten for the heads up.

Update: 12/8/06: The FAA has determined that the proposed commercial tower is too tall, and may present a danger to planes landing at National Airport. There are no objections to the adjacent residential tower, which Arlington officials hope to use as basis to convince the FAA that both are safe.

Most of our recent photo galleries have been from outside DC. Harrisburg, Annapolis, Chicago, etc. While we’ve still got a set from Richmond in the wings, autumn has BeyondDC wandering closer to home a little more frequently. Our first local photos of the season come in a set of 90 from Mount Pleasant, the neighborhood in Mid-City near Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan.

Photos were taken just barely before the leaves started turning. Maybe we’ll get around to writing up a profile for Mount Pleasant, but you probably shouldn’t hold your breath.

LA’s MetroRapid BRT network

WMATA announced yesterday the hiring of John Catoe as the new general manager of the agency, filling the post vacated by Richard White and held temporarily by former Ddot boss Dan Tangherlini. Catoe, who will be leaving his post as second-in-command of the Los Angeles transit agency, is expected to bring bus expertise to a region where rubber tire transit has often been ignored. Los Angeles has been a national leader in Bus Rapid Transit, with its successful Orange line and cost-effective Metro Rapid network.

Although no bus, BRT or regular, can take the place of trains, there can be little doubt that WMATA’s bus system leaves much to be desired. While we would be distressed if Mr. Catoe starts replacing streetcar proposals with bus routes, his experience with progressive busing is undoubtedly a good thing. At the very least, Catoe should be able to help WMATA “do buses right”.

BeyondDC is officially excited to see where he takes us.

Pennsylvania’s capitol building dome

Capitol of Pennsylvania and center to a metropolitan area of some 600, 000, Harrisburg might be described as the westernmost outpost of the Northeastern megalopolis. BeyondDC visited it over the summer and came home with a set of 108 photos to add to our Way BeyondDC feature.

We were particularly impressed with the city’s many lovely Susquehanna River bridges and its rail infrastructure, which includes electric catenary and a functioning, European-style trainshed.

Florida Market is Washington’s primary wholesale warehouse district, farmers market and lower-end flea market. More like a third-world bazaar than a grocery chain, it’s the spot where restaurant owners and in-the-know urbanites do their shopping. In Northeast near Gallaudet University, to say it ain’t pretty would be an understatement, but it is nevertheless one of Washington’s secret treasures, and well worth a visit to anyone whose interest in cities goes beyond architecture. BeyondDC offers a 53 frame gallery, taken last spring.

November 1st, 2006 | Permalink
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