Clarendon Center Retail and Office Space Going Fast

By now, everyone inside the D.C. real estate blogosphere knows Trader Joe's is tantalizingly close to being named the major retail anchor at Saul Centers' Clarendon Center development. While it's not official, TJ's is expected to occupy the Center's 10,000 s.f. space as long as the County Board accommodates the grocery giant's request for 76 reserved customer parking spaces in the currently unrestricted, public garage. Developer Saul Centers filed the site plan amendment application on Friday of last week, and if all goes smoothly a hearing would likely happen on November 13th for the new Clarendon Center, with apartments now being readied for December 1st occupancy. County Officials wouldn't commit to granting approval to the exact amount of spaces being requested, but were confident, given the desirability of a tenant like Trader Joe's, that all involved parties will be able to work out an agreement. One doesn't have to gaze too far down the Wilson-Clarendon corridor from the potential TJ spot to recognize the traffic that popular grocery chains generate: horn-blowing SUV's queued around the block in hopes of a spot in the nearby Whole Foods parking lot is a regular rush hour sight.

The mixed-use development consists of three buildings and takes up two whole blocks: two office buildings, and one residential. As local blogs like Arlington Now continue to roll out the news about new tenants, developers have confirmed that the buildings are sealed off, contractors are finishing up interior detailing, and everything will be ready for occupancy before the end of the year. The residential building, situated on the South Block, consists of 12 stories of totaling 244 rental units. The two office buildings will total some 170,000 s.f. divided between the six-story building on the North Block and the nine-story building to the south. Tea Party activists will soon be fed and bred to political perfection on one of the floors, as the Leadership Center ("Training Conservative Leaders") has reserved space in the new complex. The local investment firm Winston Partners has also reserved one of the eight floors in the southern building, leaving six stories available. And Airline Reporting Corporation has leased four of the six available floors in Clarendon Center North.

The 42,000 s.f. of retail space is also drying up. Counting Trader Joe's, half of the 16 spots are spoken for. Several restaurants including the BGR Burger Joint, Dupont's Circa Cafe, Pete's New Haven Apizza, Tangy Sweet Garden/Red Velvet Cupcakery, and Burapa Thai & Sushi Restaurant will join a local bank and a dry cleaners. It won't be long before more restaurants will sign up, as the crowded patios along Clarendon Blvd. attest to that fact that even on weekdays there is no shortage of hungry, moneyed young people in Arlington.

Torti Gallas designed the buildings, while Clark Construction has brought their plans to life.

Arlington, VA Real Estate Development News