City Development Standards Help Beautify Entertainment District
By Ryan Hunt
Posted on January 14, 2016, January 14, 2016

City Development Standards Help Beautify Entertainment District

Site development, building design and streetscape standards are helping to improve the appearance and beautify Arlington's Entertainment District.

The newly rebuilt Chick-fil-A store on Collins Street is the most recent example to showcase the Entertainment District Overlay Standards. Other projects on Collins Street that have complied with the overlay standards are Chase Bank at Randol Mill Road, Regions Bank at Andrews Street, and Raising Cane's at Road to Six Flags.

All of these buildings have been moved closer to the street to encourage more pedestrian activity. In order to enhance the building treatment on the North Collins Street frontage with more dining areas, the signature Chick-fil-A indoor play area has been moved to the interior side, which is different than the typical prototype.

The site layout of the new Chick-fil-A includes a redesigned parking area, enhanced landscaping, and a double drive-through lane to better accommodate residents and prevent vehicle stacking onto Collins Street and Skyline Drive. The drive-through is not visible from Collins Street and is well screened from Skyline Drive with significant landscaping.

All of these new developments along Collins Street have similar sidewalk treatment, pedestrian light poles, and other street furniture such as benches and trash receptacles, which add a special character to the street.

"I am excited that the Entertainment District standards is slowly changing our built environment with the enhanced streetscape, quality materials, attention to architectural detail and landscaping, and pedestrian connectivity, creating developments that stand out from its regional competitors", said Gincy Thoppil, Planning Manager for the City of Arlington.

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