Huntington - Metro Station Planning

The View From 1983:

Planning and zoning changes related to the Huntington Metrorail station have been minimal. The station lies in the midst of established residential neighborhoods planned for conservation and a minimum of redevelopment.

The Fairfax County government is following a policy of maintaining the majority of the area around the Huntington station as a low-to-moderate density residential area. Some office development is planned along nearby Route 1, but is to be small in scale. As this report went to press; the County was re-evaluating established policies to guide land use and transportation planning in the vicinity of Metro and to re-evaluate all land uses in its proximity. Developing strategies for implementing nonresidential land uses will be just one area of staff concern.

It is possible that the long-standing policy of encouraging only residential uses around the Huntington station could be amended as a result of the study underway. 

 Huntington is one of the few case studies stations which has attracted a significant new residential project. Construction of the 1,020 high-rise Montebello condominiums has begun on a site adjacent to transit authority property south of the station. Plans are that a shuttle bus accessway will connect through WMATA-owned land using WMATA service roads to link the Metrorail station and the Montebello development.

ADDITIONAL CASE STUDIES:

District of Columbia. Anacostia, Farragut North + Farragut West, Gallery Place + Metro Center, Navy Yard, Rhode Island Avenue, Takoma.

Maryland. Addison Road, Friendship Heights, New Carrollton, Rockville, Silver Spring.

Virginia. Ballston + Court House + Rosslyn, King Street, Huntington.

EXCERPTED FROM:

These observations were compiled in 1983 by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, a group of 300 area-politicians that currently self-identifies as “the hub for regional partnership.” Within the context of 1980’s Metro history, transit author Zachary Schrag has described the group as essentially “a forum for intergovernmental discussions,” without direct impact on policy.

Read the full text below. “Metrorail Station Area Planning, A Metrorail Before-and-After Study Report,” by Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. August, 1983