Arlington –
A World Class Business Environment
Publisher’s Regional
Profile
Related
Links:
- Inner suburbs play their hole
card
- Alexandria – A Small
Town in the Shadow of Our Nation’s Capital
Arlington
County is headquarters to leading technology, telecommunications,
management consulting and defense companies. Arlington
is also home to one of the most highly educated and
affluent work forces in the country, not to mention
one of the world’s largest clients for information
and consulting services. In fact, the federal government
procures more than $2 billion worth of services from
Arlington-based companies.
“Arlington
combines the best of many worlds” says Rich Doud,
President of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. “Superior
location, a wide range of available facilities, a great
mass transit system and the presence of fine universities
and public schools.”
Representing
an area of almost 26 square miles, Arlington has more
than 19,000 residents, 220,000 employees and close to
10,000 overnight visitors on any given day. With a mix
of world-famous American monuments and museums, safe
and stable residential neighborhoods, award-winning
urban planning and mass transit and a thriving diverse
culture, Arlington has remained a popular place to live,
work and play in the Washington-metro area.
One
of the primary drivers of many quality-of-life issues
is the educational environment that an area provides.
The local colleges and universities provide a framework
for not only educating tomorrow’s work force, but
also continuing the education of many busy executives
and professionals. In that regard, Arlington provides
an ideal environment for higher education.
According
to Teresa Long, Professor of Business at Marymount University,
“The dynamics of Arlington County – its proximity
to both the nation’s capital and the Northern Virginia
technology corridor – [provides] an ideal setting
for education. The opportunity to serve diverse student
and employer needs, from the traditional undergraduate
and graduate student to the professional seeking an
advanced degree, is what makes Arlington unique. The
amalgamation of students, quality faculty and the multitude
of area employers creates a unique learning experience
for students, faculty and the broader community.”
In
many ways, Arlington is more like a large city than
a state county. Arlington has more office and commercial
space than downtown Dallas or Seattle. And with more
than 40 million square feet of current office space
inventory and another one million square feet under
construction, Arlington has almost as much commercial
office space as Boston. There are 11 primary commercial
business and shopping districts in Arlington, each served
by their own Metro subway station. This is a testament
to Arlington’s adherence to a smart-growth strategy
that continues to make the county a great place to work
and shop.
Arlington
Business Hubs
Ballston
Anchoring the western corridor of the Rosslyn-Ballston
Metro, this urban center has been the model for a new
breed of mixed-use development. Combining major residential,
retail, hotel and commercial space, Ballston is a pedestrian-friendly
mix of business and pleasure. Ballston is also headquarters
to the National Science Foundation, as well as major
technology firms like CACI International, SAIC and E*Trade
Bank.
Clarendon
At the heart of the Rosslyn-Ballston metro is Clarendon,
Arlington’s original urban village, filled with
nightlife and fine dining. Much of Arlington’s
future growth is currently taking place in Clarendon
with an additional 1 million square feet of new office
construction planned for the near term. And most of
the growth is within easy walking distance of the Clarendon
Metro stop, reinforcing Arlington’s smart growth
plan.
Columbia
Pike
If
Arlington had a “Main Street” Columbia Pike
would be it. The eclectic mix of old and new truly represents
the diversity that makes this section of Arlington unique.
The unique blend of art deco buildings, small and mid-size
office and retail space and one of the highest concentrations
of ethnic restaurants in the D.C. area, make the Pike
a truly unique place to live and work. Millions of dollars
have been devoted to preserving Columbia Pike’s
urban feel and there is a comprehensive plan for growth
that provides incentives for new retail, residential
and commercial development.
Crystal
City/Pentagon City
This
award-winning, mixed-use development offers spectacular
views of the Washington monuments and is home to the
Pentagon. In the shadow of Reagan Washington National
Airport, the area is home to such big names as Booz-Allen
& Hamilton, Litton, Lockheed Martin, US Airways
and Boeing. And with more than 1.7 million square feet
of first-class shopping, the Fashion Center at Pentagon
City is one of the highest-grossing retail centers in
the country.
Rosslyn
As the eastern anchor of the Rosslyn-Ballston Metro,
this metropolitan area is sometimes known as D.C.’s
skyline for its distinctively tall buildings and close
proximity to the capital. Besides being a tourist destination,
with such notable landmarks as the Iwo Jima memorial
and Arlington Cemetery, Rosslyn is home to more than
8 million square feet of commercial office space, with
major employers like IBM, Raytheon, The Freedom Forum
and Friedman Billings Ramsey.
Shirlington
In many ways, Shirlington is Arlington’s home for
the arts. With an abundance of international cuisine
restaurants – from French bistros to Spanish tapas
– and a theatre district known for its “art-house”
features, it is a magnet for the young and trendy. Because
of its close proximity to I-395, the Pentagon and Reagan
National Airport, Shirlington provides easy access in
and out of D.C. and Northern Virginia.
Virginia
Square
The
center of Arlington’s education and cultural scene
is Virginia Square. Home to several new residential
developments, like Lexington Square, The Library Courts
and Ballston Park at Lexington Square, this diverse
area combines the energy of a college community with
the sophistication of a growing urban area. Virginia
Square is also the home of Arlington campuses for George
Mason University and The George Washington University,
as well as the state-of-the-art Arlington Central Library
and the Arlington Arts Center.
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