The Macerich Corporation laid out its vision last week to the Fairfax County Planning Commission for transforming Tysons Corner into a walkable community built around high-rises and condos near a proposed Metro station. The expansion, which Macerich has been planning since 2004, would change Tysons Corner Center into a “downtown” of 3.5 million square feet, comparable to Reston Town Center, reports the Times Community newspapers.
The main concern was one familiar to readers of this blog: What would be the impact of the increased density upon traffic congestion? Tysons Corner is already a nightmare. Wouldn’t more offices, more people and more cars just make it worse?
Writes Monty Tayloe:
Macerich’s proposal would attack the traffic problem by improving and widening several roads in the vicinity of the shopping mall, including routes 7 and 123, constructing additional facilities for Metro and shuttle buses, and emphasizing pedestrian movement throughout the area. Macerich has also agreed to pay large financial penalties if specific transportation goals are not met.
Here’s the way I see it. Macerich will be rolling out its project in four phases. If it fails to deliver on its promises, and if gridlock only intensifies, it will lose its shirt. Who will want to lease office space or buy a condo constipated with congestion? Throw in the penalties for failing to meet county transportation goals, and Macerich has every incentive to deliver the goods.
Here’s the question that local homeowners — and our friend TooManyTaxes — are not asking. What’s the alternative? Are things going to get any better under the status quo?
If growth doesn’t go into Tysons Corner, where will it go? Will that growth take the form of even more scattered, disonnected, low-density development that is plaguing communities across the region? Will people be forced to live farther out? Will they be driving greater distances, clogging ever more miles of arterial Interstate, and congesting the arterials to reach the jobs being created in Tysons?
I don’t know enough to comment upon the specifics of the Macerich proposal. All I’m saying is that the reasons for opposing the proposal don’t add up.
(Rendering credit: Macerich Corporation.)