Construction is on schedule for 101 Center, a multi-million dollar mixed-use project expected to open next summer in downtown Arlington.
The six-story, redevelopment project, located at the northeast intersection of Abram and Center streets, is a partnership between the City and a private development group headed by Catalyst Urban Development.
Last November, city and community leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of 101 Center, which is being built on the site of the former George W. Hawkes Central Library. The project, which will feature apartments, shops, restaurants and offices, is expected to open next July. That will be about one year ahead of the new $30 million George W. Hawkes Downtown Library and City Council Chambers/Community Space under construction north of City Hall.
Developer Paris Rutherford said 101 Center will create a live-work-play option for residents and visitors currently missing from downtown.
"Successful urban places allow a range of daily activities to occur within close proximity and walking distance. This includes places where people can work, live, shop, eat and be entertained within a consistent and active city experience. As a result, the number of daily vehicle trips is reduced and there is more sidewalk activity with people performing these actions," said Rutherford, Principal with Catalyst Development.
"101 Center will add a major anchor of such activity into downtown Arlington as its residents will have the opportunity to easily walk and bike to the various venues in and near downtown, its restaurants and retail will provide others with the opportunity to dine and shop, and its live/work spaces will offer people the potential to set up their small business within this growing urban experience," he added.
When complete, the project will include 244 high-end residential units over 18,000 square feet of ground-level retail, restaurants and loft office space. 101 Center is also expected to include a 1,500-square-foot state-of-the-art exercise gym, three restaurants with sidewalk dining terraces, 5,200 square feet of lounge, business and meeting area and 19 live-work spaces with individual gated sidewalk patios and signage locations.
101 Center will also create new parking for downtown through a 600-space structured parking garage, with entrances off Main, Center and Mesquite streets, and 90 on-street parking spaces lining the site.
The public-private partnership aligns with the City Council priority to Invest in Our Economy.
With its proximity to City Hall, the Levitt Pavilion and the future library, Rutherford said 101 Center will help create a new feel for residents and visitors in the heart of the city.
"This collection of buildings and uses are linked together through a new system of urban streetscape offering wide sidewalks, tree canopies, on-street parking, decorative lighting, attractive planting and other pedestrian elements to form a pleasant urban experience," Rutherford said. "Special care has been put into ensuring this area transitions well to the existing downtown blocks and businesses to allow a new experience for the entire downtown to occur."
101 Center features:
Urban Block: The development combines quality urban streetscape and ground level activity with upper level loft residential units within a well-designed, high-quality exterior design reminiscent of buildings found in Washington DC and San Francisco. The block transitions from four-story buildings on the north side of the block to a six-story building at Abram Street in order to create a sense of City center. There is a strong architectural roof feature on the southwest corner of Abram and Center streets that will be similar to that of the Levitt Pavilion in order to create a unified experience across blocks.
Amenity Spaces: The development delivers an upscale resort pool courtyard complete with a yoga lawn, dining grove, grilling pavilion, covered lounge areas, sunning terrace, and an impressive and large central pool. Adjacent to the public garage there is a light courtyard complete with bicycle parking and storage. And to create a sense of urban identity within the garage on the ground level, there is a special light installation along the main drive lane that connects Center and Mesquite Streets.
Sidewalk Experience: The sidewalk experience has been designed to create a building hierarchy from north to south. This starts with ground level gated landscaped patio courts and live/work units with separate signage potential, and transitions to highly interactive sidewalks with restaurant outdoor dining terraces and retail storefronts. The sidewalks themselves are accented by canopy shade trees, public benches, bicycle racks, trash receptacles, pedestrian-scaled lighting and special paving throughout.
Retail Spaces: All retail spaces are equipped with a well-designed glass, brick and steel storefront facade offering direct access from the sidewalk zone. Spaces are positioned for high visibility, and functional service and parking relationships unlike others in downtown.
Residential Units: Each unit is afforded interesting views and outdoor balconies, some of which being as large as typical living rooms. The residential areas have access to covered parking in a new parking structure that provides direct access to residential floors, the convenience of on-floor garbage shoots, endless hot water offered by a state-of-the art water-on-demand central large system, electronic deadbolts for every front unit entry, and programmable thermostats. The residents of 101 Center will have access to extremely fast internet and cable. The units themselves have tall ceilings with 8-foot doors, an elegant urban color palette, simulated hardwood floors, upgraded designer granite countertops, oversized cabinetry, and special tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Downtown Arlington, Invest in our Economy
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