Stop high rises in Arlington neighborhoods

Arlington County is considering a proposal that will have a dramatic, negative and irreversible impact on every neighborhood in Arlington. If this proposal is approved, it will establish a precedent that may be used to replicate high-density projects in all Arlington neighborhoods zoned and planned for single-family residential uses. This is way beyond Missing Middle!

Clarendon Presbyterian Church (CPC) has filed a proposal with Arlington County which will result in the destruction of the 100-year-old historic church located within the boundaries of Lyon Village, and the subsequent construction of a massive 6-story apartment building with 100 units. Current zoning for the site only allows single-family home dwellings, and is further planned to be a neighborhood public park/open space.

This proposal violates the Arlington General Land Use Plan, Arlington county zoning and land use rules, and the 2021 Clarendon Sector Plan which intentionally excluded the CPC site because of its location in a single-family neighborhood. It also violates the explicit commitments made to Lyon Village, Lyon Park, Ashton Heights, Ballston-Virginia Square and Clarendon-Courthouse Civic Associations.

Using the existing EHO rules, by-right, CPC could build affordable housing to fulfill its mission at an appropriate scale for the surrounding neighborhood, without having to violate existing regulations.

The neighbors have retained legal counsel to help fight this unwarranted proposal. Please contribute to our efforts. Thank you very much!