Rosslyn elementary schools - Marbella, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

I’m not wrong. Here’s the link to the Ames buildings (including heights) in Rosslyn, along with the heights. Courthouse and the old Wendy’s sites are different projects. It was a non-exhaustive list separated by commas.

https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/arlington-county-board-approves-740-apartment-ames-center-site-redevelopmen/17797

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

I’m not wrong. Here’s the link to the Ames buildings (including heights) in Rosslyn, along with the heights. Courthouse and the old Wendy’s sites are different projects. It was a non-exhaustive list separated by commas.

https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/arlington-county-board-approves-740-apartment-ames-center-site-redevelopmen/17797

^^^ also my entire post was about APS hopefully planning to create more seats for kids. It was the opposite of wishing them away. I’m not sending my kids to APS and I’m not worried about my property value. I’m agnostic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

You seem ill informed. Developers do not contribute to the education system, they do not provide land or build schools. All they do is build housing.

Half of the counties budget is schools.

All schools everywhere are about at capacity. If we start building duplexes and what not in SFH space, the stress and cost of the schools systems will escalate and threatens the financial solvency of the county.

Now, if developers would bear some of the capital cost for education, such as providing some land or directly funding building schools it might help allow the growth of housing to be metered by the growth of the school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

You seem ill informed. Developers do not contribute to the education system, they do not provide land or build schools. All they do is build housing.

Half of the counties budget is schools.

All schools everywhere are about at capacity. If we start building duplexes and what not in SFH space, the stress and cost of the schools systems will escalate and threatens the financial solvency of the county.

Now, if developers would bear some of the capital cost for education, such as providing some land or directly funding building schools it might help allow the growth of housing to be metered by the growth of the school system.

+1. The person who wrote that post had their facts wrong about current development projects and how much high-density housing is already going up. People are advocating for this missing middle stuff without understanding the complete picture. There are major infrastructure concerns that would have to be addressed before the developers are further unleashed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell, but my kid is starting Innovation K next year. Right now it looks like we’re going to get the benefit of the small school and be done or almost done with elementary by the time Marbella and other developments come online. Works for me!

This is what APS needs to pay attention to and not ignorantly accept as long-term pattern. There's going to be a dip in enrollment just like decades past. Then there's a rise in enrollment, as in the past several years. APS - for YEARS - kept telling itself the rise was just a blip. Well, denying a several-year blip gets you where we've been the last several years with big overcrowding problems and the need for a 4th high school. APS is just so poorly run and has been poorly run for far longer than anyone wants to believe. Good long-term planning is part of good management. It's not just about the snapshot of "today."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

You seem ill informed. Developers do not contribute to the education system, they do not provide land or build schools. All they do is build housing.

Half of the counties budget is schools.

All schools everywhere are about at capacity. If we start building duplexes and what not in SFH space, the stress and cost of the schools systems will escalate and threatens the financial solvency of the county.

Now, if developers would bear some of the capital cost for education, such as providing some land or directly funding building schools it might help allow the growth of housing to be metered by the growth of the school system.

Actually, in recent years (mid 20teens), developers twice offered land to the County for potential school sites. And twice the County and APS declined.
APS doesn't want to deal with land they don't already own, except maybe some County-owned land (parks) adjacent to existing schools. That's why Fleet was built immediately next to TJ. Developers don't build schools because (1) the County doesn't elicit significant benefits from developers and are too timid to advocate in Richmond for more authority to extract more from developers and (2) APS wants to maintain tight control and build the way they want to build using their usual architect firm buddies. Maybe some of the APS part can change with the new Superintendent and the retirement of the previous Asst Superintendent for Facilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this should help diversify Yorktown.

Not if they move Rosslyn to WL.

What makes you think that could happen?

WL has spaces with Ed center. Save on busing.

Really? Isn't Rosslyn far enough away that the kids will be on a bus anyway? Kids in Lyon Park get a bus to W-L.

(I think high school students should be taking public transportation, but I will be surprised if APS ever goes for that)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

What is the point, though? Why should we change the zoning to have 3-4 UMC families on a lot instead of one UMC+ family? We don't have the infrastructure in place (schools, parks, water and sewer, etc.) and it certainly isn't going to help anyone with anything resembling a middle class income to have more $1mil+ townhouses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

What is the point, though? Why should we change the zoning to have 3-4 UMC families on a lot instead of one UMC+ family? We don't have the infrastructure in place (schools, parks, water and sewer, etc.) and it certainly isn't going to help anyone with anything resembling a middle class income to have more $1mil+ townhouses.

This poster was a person who can’t afford to buy in Arlington and thinks more supply (in the smallest County in the county, which is also the HQ of Amazon, and across from the Nation’s Capitol, is going to lower or flatten today’s prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

What is the point, though? Why should we change the zoning to have 3-4 UMC families on a lot instead of one UMC+ family? We don't have the infrastructure in place (schools, parks, water and sewer, etc.) and it certainly isn't going to help anyone with anything resembling a middle class income to have more $1mil+ townhouses.

This poster was a person who can’t afford to buy in Arlington and thinks more supply (in the smallest County in the county, which is also the HQ of Amazon, and across from the Nation’s Capitol, is going to lower or flatten today’s prices.

^Smallest county in the country. Sorry need to spell check before I snark. First rule of snarking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS started K at Innovation this year. We moved to the neighborhood to be in the walk zone for a school that was just a block from Metro. The school is only about half capacity. We don't have accurate FARM statistics this year, but the racial demographics put this school on balance with Arlington as a whole. I am excited for more diversity from the new buildings, both market-rate and affordable. I expect that Innovation will remain under-enrolled for a few more years, unless the SB expands the boundary.

I’m glad you are having a good experience! The demographics at this school actually make Innovation one of the more diverse schools in Arlington. Not a problem at all. But there are other schools who need the diversity over Innovation from these new buildings. Do I think it will happen? No. But Innovation is in a good spot in terms of diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this should help diversify Yorktown.

Not if they move Rosslyn to WL.

What makes you think that could happen?

WL has spaces with Ed center. Save on busing.

Really? Isn't Rosslyn far enough away that the kids will be on a bus anyway? Kids in Lyon Park get a bus to W-L.

(I think high school students should be taking public transportation, but I will be surprised if APS ever goes for that)

It's a sloth-paced process; but they are at least in the room for this conversation. It takes a lot of work with the County; but ART buses are now offering free fare for at least some students. METRO already offers discounted fares for students. It's not enough to demonstrate the potential of students using public transit because the bus routes are not convenient for getting to and from school or school activities, either geographically or schedule-wise. But it's a potential start in the right direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this should help diversify Yorktown.

Not if they move Rosslyn to WL.

What makes you think that could happen?

WL has spaces with Ed center. Save on busing.

Really? Isn't Rosslyn far enough away that the kids will be on a bus anyway? Kids in Lyon Park get a bus to W-L.

(I think high school students should be taking public transportation, but I will be surprised if APS ever goes for that)

It's a sloth-paced process; but they are at least in the room for this conversation. It takes a lot of work with the County; but ART buses are now offering free fare for at least some students. METRO already offers discounted fares for students. It's not enough to demonstrate the potential of students using public transit because the bus routes are not convenient for getting to and from school or school activities, either geographically or schedule-wise. But it's a potential start in the right direction.

I’m glad to hear this. People like to focus on the metro when it comes to public transit, but a bus can go anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Construction of this size tends to shift the boundary for all community. There are other new buildings coming online nearby very soon (e.g. the gigantic apartment building in the landmark block) that is also technically in Innovation zone. There are other sorts of redevelopment plans in Rosslyn as well, if you take a look at the site plans. Perhaps everyone is underestimating how many children will be living in those market-rate apartments and condos, and the number of children from those high density buildings will be enough to balance out the FARM rate of the school. Perhaps not.

+1. There are two 30+ story buildings planned for Rosslyn, the Courthouse Landmark building and the old Wendy’s lot across the street, and some other things in the pipes. Several memos have discussed needing to create 1400 elementary seats for Rosslyn with 2 elementary schools (it’s my understanding Innovation is one the schools, and the second school will be new. Where? Who knows.). The FARMS rate may go up at Innovation when Marbella comes online but hopefully market-rate housing will balance it out. I say “hopefully” because I think it’s better for everyone if a school has an enrollment that doesn’t skew too much towards any one demographic, rich or poor.

There are a couple of commercial buildings in the depths of Rosslyn that exceed 30 stories. But up in Courthouse? And residential buildings? I don't think so.

BTW, Arlington County is projected to have between 65-70k more people in the coming couple of decades, so about 2-3k per year. They have to live somewhere, right? You really think you can just wish them away??? So I would think dense housing on and branching from the Wilson, Langston Blvd, and Columbia Pike corridors is a good thing, right? From there, ensuring a substantial number of committed affordable units would also seem to be good.

In fact, why does Arlington forbid duplexes, triplexes and quads on current SFH lots. You mean to tell me some of those enormous lots near WGCC couldn't accommodate 3 or 4 families rather than one? C'mon. Arlington evolved from farmland to being a suburb, and people seemed pretty happy. Well, times are changing again, and we in Arlington have to change with them.

You seem ill informed. Developers do not contribute to the education system, they do not provide land or build schools. All they do is build housing.

Half of the counties budget is schools.

All schools everywhere are about at capacity. If we start building duplexes and what not in SFH space, the stress and cost of the schools systems will escalate and threatens the financial solvency of the county.

Now, if developers would bear some of the capital cost for education, such as providing some land or directly funding building schools it might help allow the growth of housing to be metered by the growth of the school system.

Actually, in recent years (mid 20teens), developers twice offered land to the County for potential school sites. And twice the County and APS declined.
APS doesn't want to deal with land they don't already own, except maybe some County-owned land (parks) adjacent to existing schools. That's why Fleet was built immediately next to TJ. Developers don't build schools because (1) the County doesn't elicit significant benefits from developers and are too timid to advocate in Richmond for more authority to extract more from developers and (2) APS wants to maintain tight control and build the way they want to build using their usual architect firm buddies. Maybe some of the APS part can change with the new Superintendent and the retirement of the previous Asst Superintendent for Facilities.

What land? The buck property? They offered to sell it to the county because it’s unbuildable because of gas mains running under it.