Another developer is setting its sights on redeveloping a Ballston office building as a residential high-rise.
Aria Development Group filed plans last week to replace a five-story structure at 4420 Fairfax Drive with a 22-story tower. The new building would have 302 residential units, 5,017 square feet of retail and 86 parking spaces.
It’s the latest iteration of plans to redevelop the site, which the Arlington County Board originally approved back in 2006.
“We are excited to bring a fresh, modern design with much-needed new residential housing to this area of the Ballston neighborhood, and to build upon the energy created by the nearby Ballston Quarter development and the planned Metro entrance at the site,” said Jon Kardon, Aria’s managing director of development.
The planned west entrance to the Ballston Metro Station will be located at the northwest corner of the site.
Aria purchased the property for $11.2 million in 2023, taking the reins from a trio of companies that bought the company from JBG Smith for $21.8 million back in 2015.
Aria’s plans are similar in scale to a previous redevelopment proposal from 2019, but call for more residential units and significantly less retail space. Washington Capitol Partners, Kettler Development and Bognet Construction had envisioned 237 apartments and 9,200 square feet of retail space.
The new plans take the form of an application for a minor site plan amendment.
“4420 North Fairfax Drive is the first of what we hope will be many projects in Northern Virginia,” Kardon said. “We are attracted to the strong market fundamentals in Ballston and the RB Corridor, in particular the compelling mix of leasing employers, high-quality residential, dining, retail, and convenient transit connectivity.”
