WASHINGTON, DC–JBG SMITH has filed the first what it says will be many developmental plans for Crystal City over the coming years, since it went public this summer.

Specifically it has filed a 4.1 site plan application with Arlington County for street focused retail redevelopment in Crystal City's North District at the Crystal City Metro station. This area stretches along Crystal Drive from 15th to 18th street.

In a separate site plan it expects to file later this Fall, JBG SMITH will outline the transformation of a 1970's era office building in the center of the block into a new mixed-use, multifamily project with the address of 1770 Crystal Dr.

The REIT is targeting mid-2020 for development to begin on the retail redo in North District and as for the 177-unit residential redo, JBG SMITH anticipates it will be shovel ready by late 2020 or early 2021, Brian Coulter, co-chief development officer, tells GlobeSt.com.

The company's vision for Crystal City is consistent with that of the Crystal City Sector Plan, which includes a 120,000-square-foot of retail anchored by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a movie theater, a specialty grocer as well as smaller shops and dining options, plazas and updated streetscapes. The plan also includes a new, retail building at the corner of 18th Street and Crystal Drive and a new Metro entrance.

“We have spent a great deal of time looking at this and we see enormous potential” in large part because of the transportation attributes in Crystal City, Coulter says. There is Ronald Reagan National Airport nearby, of course, as well as the metro and a VRE stop.

“One thing we have identified in order for this to become a vibrant city is that there needs to be more more residential here,” Coulter says. “That will buoy the retail, by having people there 24-7.”

Coulter says the REIT is working hard on other blocks in Crystal City in order to make similar changes. These will all have a heavy emphasis on residential. “We are literally looking at every block in Crystal City where we own property.”

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WASHINGTON, DC–JBG SMITH has filed the first what it says will be many developmental plans for Crystal City over the coming years, since it went public this summer.

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Retail, Residential Focus of JBG SMITH's Crystal City Plan

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