JZ’s Notes on Colony House Furniture Site Proposed Development
as presented at Rosslyn Renaissance Urban Design Committee
and at NRCA General Meeting
May 18 and 19, 2011

The site: 1.22 acres
425 linear feet fronting on Lee Highway
225 linear feet fronting on Quinn St.
50 foot change in grade from front to back of parcel.
Sits on rock – no easy way to do underground parking.

The process will take place in two phases:

1. Small area plan for land use change and rezoning. – Need zoning and GLUP changes; seeking a land use designation of C-O 1.5, parcel is now C-2 with 45-foot restriction; land use study is expected to take 4-6 months. Long Range Planning Commission will provide a recommendation and, if agreed, will proceed to County Board for decision. At this phase, only schematics and conceptual design have been performed.

2. Detailed 4.1 filing on the specifics of the redevelopment.

B.F. Saul (“BFS”) anticipates approximately one year to start of demolition. Colony House to remain for the present – has executed an eight-month lease.

BFS anticipates the site will be rezoned for development of a residential hotel – BFS is in negotiations with both Marriott’s “Residence Inn” and Hilton’s “Homewood Suites.” The hotel building would be certified LEED silver:

• Eight occupied stories housing 154 units (including mostly efficiencies with some one and two bedroom units) topping two levels of above grade (from the Lee Highway side) parking having 96 parking spaces (.63-.68 parking ratio).
• Hotel would keep the same basic footprint as the Colony House building, though it would extend further toward the Fort Scott overpass – intent would be to leave as much up-hill greenery as possible to act as a buffer with Rosslyn Vue.
• Expected height of 105 feet as measured from the floor of the first level of parking to the top of the building roof, excluding machinery penthouse. Project height would be “comparable” to that of Rosslyn Vue.
• Vehicular and pedestrian entrances to the hotel from Quinn St. side, with a circular drive at main entrance; service/loading dock on Lee Highway side with restricted hours of access (anticipated use of 2-3 times/day); existing curb cuts would be maintained for these access locations.
• Projected day-to-day hotel staffing of approximately 20 people (one accountant, general manager, check-in staff and one to two housekeeping staff).
• Shuttle will run to Metro and airport; possible bike facilities on premises.

BFS has briefed the three Colonial Village Associations, the Rosslyn BID (actually, the RR Urban Design Committee), and NRCA on the project.