The Arlington County Board has approved a mechanism that will allow redevelopment of Ballston Common Mall to move forward.
Board members on July 19 established the county’s first “community development authority,” which will permit the developer to partner with Forest City Enterprises, owner of the mall, in a redevelopment package.
The vote was 5-0, and will allow the county government, through the development authority, to issue bonds to support the public side of the public-private partnership. The community development authority’s board of directors will consist solely of County Board members.
The action furthers the plan agreed to last November between the County Board and Forest City, which aims to redevelop the aging Ballston Common into the mixed-use “Ballston Quarter.”
