The View From 1983:
The Farragut Square area had been rezoned to accommodate growth of downtown office space before Metro was a certainty. The significant growth which took place around the stations is not attributable to plan changes made to capitalize on rail transit. However, the amount of additional office space built in the area could not have been accommodated without the substantial increases in transit capacity provided by Metrorail.
The most significant effect of Metro in these station areas have been to stimulate redevelopment of older commercial buildings. Three significant joint development projects—Connecticut Connection, International Square and Washington Square—have incorporated subway station entrances into the lower levels of new office/ retail buildings which have retail space in areas which would have been parking.
The Farragut Metrorail stations did not change the strong demand for office space in the area, but they did stimulate significant changes in the designs of buildings constructed adjacent to the stations. The changes were made to take advantage of knock-out panels in the stations' walls so that new buildings could have direct access to Metrorail.
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
Metrorail Station Area Plan... by Elliot Carter on Scribd