Clark Realty Capital Celebrates Groundbreaking of The Clarendon in Arlington, Virginia

ARLINGTON, Va. — Clark Realty Capital*, a national real estate firm headquartered in Bethesda, Md., commemorated the groundbreaking of The Clarendon today. Clark Realty was joined by their development partners, Elm Street Development Group of McLean, Va., architects Torti Gallas and Partners - CHK of Silver Spring, Md. and Group Goetz Architects of Washington, D.C., local county government officials, neighborhood residents and business owners at the local Clarendon Ballroom to celebrate the collaborative effort behind this unique Arlington community.

"Congratulations to Clark Realty for understanding our community process and enthusiastically engaging in it," said Barbara Favola, Arlington County board member, "We will hold you [Clark Realty] up as a model for future development efforts."

The 293-unit community will be located directly across from the Clarendon Metro Station, just off Wilson Boulevard. At the south end of the site, there will be a 151-unit, 12-story tower that will straddle 12th Street, with a three-story-tall archway over the road. This tower will intersect a four-story, 142-unit apartment building designed to resemble a block of upscale townhomes. Three levels of underground parking will service both buildings.

"The arch idea came from the neighborhood, not from the designers...it was a good example of the process of democracy, of listening to neighbors and to local government. To the county board, I give you credit. To the planning department, I give you credit. To the neighborhood residents, I give you credit," said John Torti, President of Torti Gallas and Partners-CHK, the project's architect. "We hope to continue to be an abiding good neighbor to this wonderful part of Arlington and to this wonderful county."

Clark Realty Capital worked closely with local citizens, homeowner's groups and the Arlington County Office of Planning to achieve a project design that exceeded both the practical and aesthetic standards of the community. Through careful massing and building layout, Torti Gallas created a design that allows the large development to blend equally well with the adjacent commercial district on Wilson Boulevard and with the small neighborhood of detached, single-family homes to the north. The resulting development will add to the eclectic feel of downtown Clarendon while achieving a respectful transition to the more traditional residential neighborhood of Lyon Village.

The building's interior public spaces, designed by Group Goetz Architects will add an elegant, contemporary feel to the project, relying on a creative use of color, lighting, texture and richly detailed accents. Attractive public seating areas featuring fireplaces and water fountains will serve as flexible spaces for both the social and the contemplative resident.

"The Clarendon is simply an extension of Clarendon, a true, urban environment where residents can live, work, and play," said William Sawicki, Clark Realty Capital Development Executive. "It [The Clarendon] is a 21st-century manifestation of a maturing Clarendon."

In addition to standard and penthouse-level apartments, The Clarendon will offer a number of live-work units that will allow sole proprietors to run their businesses from their homes. The project design also provides all ground-floor apartments with direct access from the sidewalk. According to Sawicki, "This is a terrific way to further weave The Clarendon into the surrounding urban fabric. It was pivotal for this project to embrace the neighborhood and promote a lively streetscape."

The Clarendon also boasts a number of loft-style apartments, with an industrial feel, featuring eighteen-foot ceiling heights, exposed ductwork and concrete surfaces, open metal stairs and translucent fabric accent panels. In all, The Clarendon will offer its diverse residents a choice of over 70 different floor plans.

The new residential community will offer many upscale amenities for both work and play, including a courtyard pool with sundeck, a business center, a 24-hour fitness center, and concierge services. In addition, each apartment unit will be pre-wired for high-speed Internet access.

Property manager Clark Realty Management** will also provide state-of-the-art resident services and technology options. Clark Realty Builders*** is the general contractor for the 317,000-square-foot project. The first residences will be available for lease in the spring of 2003.

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