Livability 22202

Future of the Underground

Underground Challenge: What will the future hold?

Crystal City, Aurora Highlands, and Arlington Ridge community leaders are looking for ideas and insights for the storied Crystal City Underground and have launched the Underground Challenge to gather creative ideas for the future of this unique community asset.

Constructed in several stages during the 1970’s, the Underground contains more than a mile of interior pathways that connect Crystal City residents, office workers, shops, restaurants, and visitors together, in an enclosed circulation network. As the area transforms with the arrival of Amazon HQ2, a new Metro entrance, enhanced VRE service, and significant redevelopment, community leaders, the National Landing BID, and JBG Smith are working together to envision how best to utilize and sustain the Underground into the future.

Where do Things Stand? The Underground was innovative when created by the Charles E. Smith company in 1976 and remains near and dear to the heart of residents.  Connectivity from 12th to 23rd Streets is still key, especially during inclement weather.  But times have changed since the 1990 Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC) act hit Crystal City hard in 2010.  With development now focusing on street-facing retail, many stores are closing.  Is the Underground still important to us?  How does the community want to continue using the Underground?  How can we revitalize it?  How can we best coordinate with the Block M LRPC?

Livability22202 Priorities
“Urban planning that balances working, living, and socializing in close proximity – creating a “City of Short Distances” – reduces unnecessary travel and forges community connections.” Livability22202 Action Plan, November 2019

  • Underground provides safe and weather protected north-south access for pedestrians but lacks vibrancy and high utilization
  • Maintain and evolve a continuous North-South all-weather pedestrian path in Crystal City.
  • Determine a way-ahead for the underground, that might include daylighting portions of the Underground where appropriate.
  • Include underground in the integrated 22202 pedestrian network, including the path on area trail maps.
  • Transform the Underground as a unique linear chain of art galleries, performance and creative spaces linked by a pedestrian corridor.
  • Develop public performance spaces, black box space as part of new retail development.

Options Going Forward

  • Strengthen Underground with new east-west connection(s) under Route 1 – integrate concepts with Route 1 planning
  • Develop “hubs” of activity at key locations 
  • Develop uses that strengthen a sense of place and do not compete with prime street-level retail
  • Improve orientation with an overall design concept that enhances entrances and focuses on key destinations
  • Focus circulation on Metro, ADA, prime destinations, and key uses
  • Consider removing less-used portions of the Underground network

For more information or to join the group, contact the Coordinator Eric Cassel: eric@ssiphoto.net

See the February 23, 2024, letter from Livability to Virginia Legislators on the Monumental Sports Arena

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