Proof positive Northern Virginia can produce a quality, modern urban environment.
A prime example of Transit Oriented Development, Ballston exemplifies what can be done when land use decisions are made to encourage a sustainable environment rather than a leap-frog, auto-oriented one. Ballston started off as a small streetcar village, characterized by more or less low density residential and a handful of local stores. It wasn’t until Metro arrived and high density growth was focused near the station that the area began to blossom in to the vibrant, urban place it is today.
That’s not to say Ballston couldn’t be better. Too much of the quality retail is bottled up in an enclosed mall, which although urban in character and not too offensive as malls go, is still a mall. Sidewalk life is ok - there are no dead streets - but it would be a lot better if they were lined with more specialty stores and fewer convenience marts. BeyondDC is optimistic for our home neighborhood, though. The mix of uses, quality of architecture and sidewalk vitality have all increased markedly in the last half decade, a trend that looks to be continuing. Ballston may not be perfect, but it remains an admirable model for the rest of Northern Virginia to follow.
