Arlington Plans to Approve WeWork/WeLive Concept

• May 11, 2015

by UrbanTurf Staff

Rendering of Crystal Plaza 6

The live/work concept is taking on a much more communal definition in Arlington.

The Arlington County Manager is recommending that the County Board approve a site plan amendment for WeWork’s planned residential development in Crystal City that would allow for two floors of the building to be used for WeWork office space.

“The proposal would incorporate the concept of ‘We Work’ in the building, which provides flexible shared work spaces to companies and individuals while fostering an environment of collaboration and community,” a report on the Arlington County website states.

The layout of a communal kitchen in the proposed development.

The original plans to convert Crystal Plaza 6, a vacant office building in Crystal City into a 252-unit, micro apartment project from Vornado/Charles E. Smith and communal office developer WeWork were approved by the board last July. If the amendment is approved, the number of residential units for the project at 2221 S. Clark Street (map) would be reduced to 216.

The residential units will be retrofitted into the vacant office building. As the floorplan below shows, most of the units will be studios, ranging in size from 300 to 315 square feet. There will be several “neighborhoods” scattered throughout the building, which will consist of expansive common areas, commercial-grade kitchens, and dining areas. Twenty-three of the 142 existing parking spaces allocated for residential units would be re-allocated for the WeWork offices, if the amendment is approved.

Click to enlarge.

Because Crystal Plaza 6 is eventually slated to be torn down as part of a long-term development plan for the area, the residential use is a way to utilize the building for the next 20 years or so.

The County Board will take up the amendment this Saturday.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/arlington_plans_to_approve_wework_welive_concept/9868