Rosslyn Sector Plan

In January 1992, the Arlington County Board approved the Rosslyn Station Area Plan Addendum, known as the Rosslyn Sector Plan. The document serves as the basis for all development in Rosslyn. A much-needed review of the sector plan was scheduled for 2005, and has been delayed. However, Rosslyn Renaissance through its Urban Design Committee will be doing a preliminary review in early 2007.

This plan is an outgrowth of the Rosslyn Renaissance study, which began in December 1989. That process confirmed the existence of a number of liabilities, and identified assets upon which to build, including strong commercial office and hotel markets, an outstanding location, and close-by residential neighborhoods.

The Rosslyn Vision

The goal of the Addendum is to build upon Rosslyn’s attributes and maximize its potential to become a first-class urban center. The end result will be a Rosslyn which:

• Serves as a proud gateway into Arlington and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Is a vibrant place to live and work with ample opportunities for shopping, recreation and cultural activities.
• Is home to the regional and national headquarters of major corporations and is seen as one of the premier office locations in the country.
• Has superior architecture and is a example of the best in urban design
• Is a place where people are comfortable with their surroundings and which serves as a great stage for human activities.

The objectives listed below constitute the principal actions necessary to achieve this vision. They are the foundation upon which the specific recommendations found in the Rosslyn Sector Plan are based:

1. Create a “central place” which serves as the physical and social heart of Rosslyn.
2. Restructure and enhance retail, restaurant and entertainment facilities.
3. Integrate the sidewalks and skywalks into a comprehensive pedestrian circulation system which links all the major components of Rosslyn (residential, office and retail) into a unified whole.
4. Greatly improve access to the Potomac River and to nearby National Parks and Monuments, both physically and visually.
5. Create a more urban form where buildings relate well to one another and to the street, and exemplify good architectural and urban design practice.
6. Enhance entries from both within and without Arlington.
7. Increase opportunities for housing within the core of Rosslyn.
8. Unify and improve parks, open spaces and cultural facilities.
9. Provide an integrated system of transportation which emphasizes a multi-modal approach.
10. Expand and enhance Rosslyn’s hotel resources.
11. Finally, but certainly not least, develop an office inventory which is both more cosmopolitan and more competitive in the marketplace.

Download the Rosslyn Sector Plan (9.3 MB - PDF Format)