Quote:
Originally Posted by dc_denizen
Think you’re understating the activity in Tyson’s . And note that the idea isn’t to replace every office building . There are not 1500 acres of parking lots .
I count 7 major projects under construction in tysons with 33 currently proposed
One project , capital one hq , totals 26 acres and multiple buildings
There are additional 30 acre , 17 acre , and 46 acre sites being worked on with buildings proposed or under construction
https://ggwash.org/view/79553/tysons...r-construction
|
I didn't say it was 1500 acres of parking lots, that's why I cut the overall area that would need to be redeveloped to about half that (750 acres).
Anyways, I guess Skyscraperpage's database for Tysons was out of date so it made it seem like there was less development happening there (Mississauga's is pretty up to date).
Perhaps it can be transformed relatively quickly then. It's true that Mississauga Center isn't as important of an office node. Mississauga's biggest office node is at Orbitor & Matheson (Airport Corporate Center). Mississauga Road & 401 (Meadowvale) is likely bigger too, maybe even Hurontario & 401.
Most of the new office development has been in those 3 office nodes along the 401 as well. So that's probably an advantage for Tysons (and Reston).
Two disadvantages though:
1) The road network. Although it's already pretty bad with Mississauga Center, it seems to be even worse with Tysons, with more highways, and even bigger and more numerous arterials. A lot of them don't even have sidewalks? And they seem more difficult to cross on foot too. What's the plan for that?
2) More above ground parking garages. Although there seem to be a few underground garages in Tysons, Mississauga Center has been going with pretty much 100% underground garages for a while now. Those above ground garages in Tysons reduce density, and in the case of the garage podiums for the highrises, they also have a deadening effect on the streetscape. Mississauga's condos have a lot of windows and balconies on the first few floors above grade (the ones that count the most). Meanwhile Tysons has facades like this...
https://www.google.ca/maps/@38.92504...7i16384!8i8192
At least with the surface parking lots and detached parking structures, you could reasonably expect those to be redeveloped one day. Those parking podiums in Tysons are there to stay.
I suppose the parking garages with wrap-around midrises aren't as bad, since you don't notice from the street, although they still reduce density and are unlikely to get redeveloped.