Arlington County Board members shortly are expected to take the procedural steps necessary to allow construction of the new Arlington Career Center building to begin.
Board members are being asked to approve a use permit allowing the county school system to build the 1,600-student new building on the existing Career Center campus on South Walter Reed Drive just north of Columbia Pike.
The request, which is likely to be acted on at the County Board’s June 10 meeting, also would provide permission to partially demolish the existing Career Center building; construct a 345-space above-grade parking structure; and make improvements connected to the Montessori Public School of Arlington. It would pave the way for construction to start over the summer.
The effort has been more than 15 years in the making and often has proved contentious. In a report to County Board members, staff acknowledged that a number of those concerns remain unaddressed to the satisfaction of neighbors and others.
The overall project cost is expected to be $184 million. As part of redevelopment of the parcel, Arlington Community High School (located in a stand-alone building) will be relocated first to Ballston and then to purpose-built space in Pentagon City. What happens to other existing buildings on the parcel remains a work in progress.
