This is exciting news for Arlington County.After listening one last time to familiar arguments, pro and con, County Board members on July 14 approved plans for a government-run [Note by Lowell: that is not true] cultural center to be located in the former Newseum space in Rosslyn.For more on this excellent project, read "Dreaming of a Rosslyn Renaissance", which discusses Arlington's plans for an arts center that would "be open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, hosting more than 100 events a month, and...have an estimated $10 million in annual economic impact from an estimated 250,000 visitors." All in a building that is currently vacant, and with $1 million from the Rosslyn business alliance. This is exactly what people mean when they talk about Arlington as planning for "smart growth" and an "urban village." Nice job, county board!
“We are striving to be a world-class community - you don’t get there unless you feed your soul,” County Board Chairman Barbara Favola said during several hours of discussion in which the end result was not in doubt.
P.S. Actually, my understanding is that this will not be "government-run," at least not for long. According to the Washington Post article, "The county plans to run the center for three years, then turn management over to a private nonprofit group it would create."
