RTF Town Center Committee Summary, July 6, 2010

Reston TC 7-6-10 Meeting Summary

Boston Properties South TC Straw Man

Summary by Dick Rogers, Reston 2020 Committee:

Process issues: Mark Looney raised the issue of what the TC sub-com might do re the TC urban core. He noted many properties were aging and that some were only 2 stories. RG essentially said there was not time to get into this.
RG noted the difficulty of doing any vision statement on TC Metro North and South comparable to the TCN. Looney suggested just doing concept points and submitting them for discussion. Robert said he would try drafting something (There are only three meetings left)
Rob (NFI) from the Reston Town Center Assoc submitted a map of the TC area showing how NTC has been left out of the RTCA (Spectrum is in as are apartments (Reston Landing) on the North side of BC. He did this to show why NTC should be in the RTCA viz RA. Joe Leighton will distribute at the RA mtg on Thursday.

Substance
The Committee heard from Peter Otteni of BP regarding its plans. These are much along the lines Peter O discussed earlier at the TF mtg and an earlier sub-com. Big development, FAR of 5, hotel, podium with garage below, major plaza. One element is the extension of Explorer Street over the WOD which is in the current plan. Discussion centered on additional links to TC including the Library street extension, which BP envisions as pedestrian/bikes. Some wanted additional vehicular links. (See separate comments about a performance center there and air rights)
Some lamented that nothing is planned in conjunction with the kiss and ride bus bays.
(I raised the issues of how buses might move from the existing bus station to Metro but this was not addressed)

Southside. Heard from Bernstein Co which owns a 5 acre parcel in E-3
This led to considerable discussion of the overall nature of south side. There seemed to be less unanimity then in previous meetings about the nature of this area. The heavy residential TOD mixed use concept was kicked around with some talking about a more commercial area and solid offices along DTR.
The problem of USGS/GSA was noted. Some concern that USG will use the site for a heavier concentration of government offices, making the south side more commercial than previously envisioned.
A Frederic Rothmeyer, a Dutchman with MRP consulting with some property owners, introduced some useful ideas, one of which was a strong east-west street about 800 ft south of the DTR.