Arlington Awarded Federal Grant to Bolster BRAC Response

Funds to Help Transform Crystal City and Assist Small Businesses, Employees

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment today approved Arlington's request for $876,084 in Community Planning Assistance Funds to help the county respond to last year's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission recommendations.

About $750,000 of the grant will be used to help plan the redevelopment that the County's BRAC Transition Task Force recommended in June for Crystal City. The Arlington County Board recently established the Crystal City Planning Task Force to fashion a new vision and redevelopment plan for Arlington's largest "urban village" and business district.  That task force is set to begin work in October.

The remaining money will be used to hire a county BRAC coordinator to track Defense Department leases and move schedules, monitor progress toward implementation of the Arlington BRAC Transition Plan, and advocate for resources needed during the transition.

One-third of office space (more than 3.2 million square feet) in Crystal City, along with associated businesses, workers and visitors, are affected by the BRAC 2005 decision to move 16 defense agencies and activities out of Arlington.

"These substantial resources from OEA will both provide a dedicated point person for assistance during the BRAC transition and, more importantly, help launch the transformation of Crystal City into a leading-edge urban village with a more diverse mix of economic anchors," said Christopher Zimmerman, chairman of the Arlington County Board.

Terry Holzheimer, director of Arlington Economic Development, noted that although recent physical improvements have been made to enhance Crystal City, the area is still a product of 1960s urban design. "BRAC has accelerated our progress toward a new vision for Crystal City," Holzheimer said.  "This grant will help us research and implement cutting-edge transportation and planning strategies that will make Crystal City the vibrant, premier 'downtown' that it should be."

The BRAC coordinator will work closely with the Planning Task Force and the new Crystal City Business Improvement District, state and local government leadership, economic development groups, and others to ensure ongoing communication and collaboration as the BRAC transition occurs.

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Arlington, Va., is a world-class urban community that was originally part of the "10-mile square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Known for its urban villages and transit-oriented development, Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use. In 2002, the county was the first recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth." Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.

The Official Date and Time of this Release is: 09/07/2006  5:00:00 AM

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