Snell Properties Receives Approval for Ames Center Mixed-Use Development
Development will bring affordable housing, retail and public spaces. Proposed development will serve as centerpiece of the Realize Rosslyn plan, 18th Street Corridor.
Arlington, VA. (January 27, 2021)—Snell Properties received unanimous approval from the Arlington County Board on Saturday, January 23 on its proposed redevelopment of the 1.8-acre Ames Center in Rosslyn. The reimagined Ames Center will be the first large-scale project in Rosslyn to include on-site affordable housing and will facilitate Arlington County’s vision for the 18th Street Corridor by providing a walkable thoroughfare from Fort Myer Drive to North Nash Street. The Ames Center was the first site plan approved in Arlington County in 1962 and was developed by Snell and Caruthers’ families in 1966.
Snell Properties will redevelop the existing office building located at 1820 Fort Myer Drive into two residential towers, bringing a total of 740 new housing units to the area. The two buildings will be anchored by ground-floor retail and office/retail flex space. The Arlington Temple United Methodist Church and gas station currently on-site will be completely rebuilt. The redeveloped Ames Center will include a large public plaza with a woodland garden between the two buildings, part of a pedestrian corridor extending 18th Street from the western neighborhoods down to the Potomac River.
The project includes 24 on-site affordable housing units that are guaranteed for 30 years. In addition, Snell provided a $2.4 million cash contribution to County’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund.
“The team at Snell has thoroughly enjoyed the process of transforming one of our legacy assets into a forward-thinking mixed-use project that meets the needs of Rosslyn today and articulates the lifestyle of the future, with an emphasis on walkability and engaging public spaces,” says Chris Hanessian, President of Snell Properties. “We are confident that our design will prove adaptable and resilient in the years to come and look forward to bringing our vision to life.”
Designed by Shalom Baranes Associates, the new Ames Center towers will feature a high-level design sure to stand out in the Arlington skyline. Convex and concave elements of the building façade will be accessorized by planters with greenery to create an eye-catching aesthetic. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol will serve as the landscape architect for the project.
The two towers will achieve LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Sustainable design elements will provide 15% energy savings and allow for Energy Star certification. On-site parking will have electric vehicle charging stations. The plan also includes a $5 million contribution to Rosslyn transportation improvements.
The project is on track to break ground at the end of this year.
About Snell Properties
Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Snell Properties is an investor, developer, and asset manager of a portfolio of multifamily, commercial, and mixed-use properties in urban and suburban submarkets surrounding Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947 by George Snell, the company has built a legacy of creating value with its core portfolio of multifamily and commercial assets. Today Snell is managed by a seasoned team of real estate professionals with expertise in value-add renovations, development, finance, acquisitions, and asset management. With a noteworthy portfolio of assets and exciting plans to expand into new markets and ventures, Snell is a boutique firm building on its legacy in innovative ways, including the redevelopment of the Ames Center in Rosslyn. For more information, please visit snellproperties.com.