Feedback for 4500 Langston Blvd. – Kensington Elder Care – May 18 - 28, 2026
Feedback for 4500 Langston Blvd. – Kensington Elder Care – May 18 - 28, 2026
The site is located in the east two-thirds of a block bounded by Cherry Hill Road on the south, North Upton Street on the east, Langston Boulevard on the north, and a 7-11 on the west, Arlington, VA 22207.
The applicant is requesting:
- A General Land Use Plan Amendment from “Service Commercial” to “Low Office-Apartment-Hotel”;
- A rezoning from “C-O” to “C-O-1.5”; and
- A site plan amendment to demolish the existing building and construct a seven (7) story Elder Care Facility with a 4.1 Floor Area Ratio consisting of Assisted Living units with optional Independent Living units, with approximately 3,300 square feet of ground floor commercial use fronting on Cherry Hill Road. There will be 103 underground parking spaces. Requested modifications from Zoning Ordinance regulations include:
- Additional Density for LEED Gold and other amenities subject to Section 15.5.9 of the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance; and
- Exclusions from counting as Gross Floor Area of approximately 6,000 square feet.
- The developer also proposes to vacate an approximately 1,400 square feet of existing North Upton Street. If approved, this proposal would reduce North Upton Street into a 20-foot wide street.
Share your input by May 28, 2026
You're invited to review project materials and provide input on the application for a major site plan amendment for 4500 Langston Blvd. – Kensington Elder Care. Feedback is focused on the following topics:
- Land Use and Density
- Site Design and Layout
- Building Height, Form and Architecture
- Parking, Loading and Transportation
- Landscaping
- Green Building and Sustainability
- Other
Project materials:
- Watch the staff presentation
- Review the staff presentation slides
- Watch the applicant presentation
- Review the applicant presentation slides
- Review the staff report
All comments will be compiled and posted after the feedback window has closed. Additional opportunities to provide input are outlined on the project webpage.
Share your feedback
Type your comments in the appropriate text box(es) below. Each text box permits up to 500 characters. If you have comments about a topic that is not listed, please use the final text box to submit them.
Click on images to enlarge and view alt text.
Land Use and Density
The developer proposes to construct an Elder Care facility with up to 129 bedrooms, with approximately 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail/retail equivalent. The Langston Boulevard Area Plan (LBAP) recommends that the site be used for mixed-use development, with commercial space on the ground floor facing Cherry Hill Road. The Langston Boulevard Plan recommends a “variety of housing types”, like elder care. The elder care use will allow assisted and independent living, as well as memory care.
Density | Proposed | |
Proposed Site Area | 33,224 square feet | |
Elder care Gross Floor Area (units) | 132,995 s.f. | |
Retail GFA | 3,342 s.f. | |
Total GFA | 136,337 s.f. | |
Total Floor Area Ratio | 4.1 FAR | |
Maximum Base FAR | 1.5 FAR | |
Density above base to be earned through site features and amenities such as LEED, committed affordable housing, off-site transportation improvements, etc. | 2.6 FAR | |
Requested exclusions | 6,633 s.f. | |
As you respond, consider the following questions:
- Any thoughts about the proposed use of for Elder care?
- Is the proposed amount of retail or retail equivalents (i.e., commercial uses that generate similar activity to retail uses) appropriate?
Site Design and Layout
Retail equivalent space fronts on Cherry Hill Road. The lobby entrance to the elder care use is at the corner of Cherry Hill Road and North Upton Street. The loading dock, and the entrance to the second and third levels of parking are accessed from North Upton Street. There will be another vehicular entrance to the building, from Langston Boulevard, to access the first level of parking, which is partially above ground.
A significant issue in the applicant’s proposal for the site is that the applicant proposes purchasing from the County a portion of North Upton Street, on the east side of the block. The developer proposes this in order to create a larger site area for the project. The result would be that North Upton Street would be reduced in width to a 20-foot wide condition, with no parking allowed. This is a situation not contemplated by the Langston Boulevard Area Plan and staff are currently studying the impact of this proposed reduction.
Figure 1-- Site Plan of property—the terrace is on the second floor of the building
Figure 2 - ground floor layout
Figure 3 - Proposed Norh Upton Street Cross-section
As you respond, consider the following questions:
- Do you have comments about the building layout or ground-level uses?
- What is your opinion if North Upton Street is changed to a 20-foot wide condition?
Building Height, Form and Architecture
The proposed building is 7 stories, 90 feet tall, the maximum permitted in this area, according to the Langston Boulevard Area Plan. There will be an approximately 16 foot high mechanical penthouse above the main roof, solely for mechanical equipment.
Figure 4 - The north elevation of the proposed building.
As you respond, consider the following questions about building form:
- Do you have any comments on the height and mass of the building?
- What questions or comments do you have about the architectural style, materials, colors, etc.?
Parking, Loading and Transportation
The applicant proposes exceed the zoning ordinance requirements for parking, and to share loading between the elder care and retail uses. Metro and ART bus lines are either adjacent to or are in the vicinity of the site. There is a Capital bikeshare station nearby. See the staff presentation for proposed street cross-sections.
Type | Proposed | Required by Zoning Ordinance |
Total | 103 | 79 |
Elder Care | 89 | 65
|
Retail | 14 | 14 |
Loading Docks | 2 | 2 |
Figure 5 - Transportation Map
As you respond, consider the following questions:
- What questions or comments do you have about parking?
- Do you have any comments about transportation access at the site?
Landscaping
The developer proposes to landscape the site as in the below image. There will be a private amenity space at the second level, facing Langston Boulevard. The applicant does not propose street trees on North Upton Street, as the parking and loading entrances need sight clearance.
Figure 6 - Landscape Plan
As you respond, consider the following questions:
- What questions or comments do you have about the proposed landscaping and/or street trees?
Green Building and Sustainability
The developer has filled out a LEED scorecard and proposes to participate in the Green Building Incentive Policy at the .025 FAR level.
| 0.25 FAR |
|
As you respond, consider the following questions:
- Do you have any comments about green building on this site or the applicant’s proposal?
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