As the Ballston community readies for a revamping process that aims to revolutionize the area as a whole, one project that is at the very heart and soul of the community is poised to begin construction. For many years, the Ballston Common Mall was a symbol of the Ballston community, a run-down version of a formerly bustling hub of commerce, but now as Arlington city officials are preparing to rebrand the neighborhood, one of the first and foremost projects to get underway is the redevelopment of the mall.
The revamping of the mall is set to coincide with the construction of a massive 393-unit apartment at the corner of Wilson and N. Randolph Street, a development that will likely bring in a mix of young, professionals to the area. In order to meet the needs of this burgeoning population, Ballston Common Mall is set to undergo major renovations that will turn the enclosed mall into an open-air, urban destination center with a new mix of retail vendors being brought in to breathe new life to the area.
“The mall hasn’t quite been able to serve our public,” said Tina Leone, CEO of the Ballston Business Improvement District. “The mall is going to ‘de-mall’ itself. The roof is coming off.”
Revamped Mall to Give Arlington Residents A More-Exciting Shopping Exprience
Those who are familiar with the Ballston mall’s current retail roster will soon have to get used to a new and interesting mix of businesses that will no doubt flood into the area. Plans for redevelopment include bolstering the mall’s food and entertainment business presence in an effort to appeal to the more immediate area’s home owners.
Many of the mall’s current anchors, such as Macy’s, the Sport&Health Club and Regal Cinemas, will remain in place in an enclosed section of the mall, which will be rebranded as “Ballston Center.” However, much of the mall will be torn down or radically renovated to create more street access and a new residential tower that is slated to have four floors of underground parking, two floors of retail space and multiple floors of apartments.
In addition to providing a new and stimulating area for commerce, city officials are also excited to be able to bring in more art installations to the area to the revamped public spaces created within the project. One of Leone’s favorite proposed projects is an “interactive light installation,” which will track pedestrians’ movements underneath the Metro canopy and project light based on that movement.
With excitement building around the project and the prospect for new and exciting businesses, the Ballston community is certainly amped for what could be a game-changing renovation for the area.
“[The mall redevelopment] is transformational,” Leone said. “Ballston is already great. I don’t even know how high it’s going to go.”
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http://www.thecondohub.com/blog/arlington-home-owners-get-amped-ballston-mall-redevelopment
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