Don't Throw Stones at Green Houses

Houses with green features like solar panels, green roofs, and recyled materials are super cool.

Here's your chance to check out a few in Arlington.

Arlington Green Living Home and Garden Tour.

Sunday, June 1, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The 6th annual tour will be expanded this year to include green homes with solar elements, green roofs, recycled materials, and energy efficient technologies. The tour will also include beautiful yards and gardens full of native plants, rain gardens, rain barrels and cisterns, permeable pavement, wildlife habitat, and other environmentally friendly features. This tour is organized by Arlington County and Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment. Suggested donation is $5, payable at the first site you visit. The tour brochure with the descriptions and addresses of the tour locations is available at http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/ or by calling 703-228-6406.

OK, the garden stuff doesn't sound that interesting to me, but I think the other stuff will be super cool.

Major Makeover Planned for Former Bob Peck Site

One of the least pedestrian-friendly locations remaining in Ballston is about to get a makeover:

ARLINGTON, Va.– The Arlington County Board today approved a mixed-use project for the last unplanned redevelopment site in the Ballston Metro station area. The project will replace the former Bob Peck car dealership with office buildings, affordable apartments, townhouses and retail space.

Located at Glebe Road and Wilson Boulevard, the project will include two office buildings, incorporating more than 400,000 square feet of office space and 36,000 square feet of retail space; 90 units of affordable housing, and 28 town homes.

Not only that, the development will be environmentally friendly:

The two office buildings are proposed to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The 10-story office building at the corner of Glebe Road and Wilson Boulevard (Office Building A) will include 282,989 square feet of office space and 26,292 square feet of ground floor retail space. It is proposed to achieve Gold LEED certification. The seven-story office building, mid-block along Glebe Road (Office Building B) will include 132,827 square feet of office space and 9,949 square feet of ground floor retail. It is proposed to achieve silver LEED certification. A 6,600 square foot public plaza will be built south of this building.

While the former Bob Peck Chevrolet dealership was a good neighbor, there's no reason to waste prime street space near a Metro station on a car lot. The adjacent Staples is also a relic of Ballston's pre-walkable days. Ever notice how it doesn't even have a path from the sidewalk to the door? Or have windows that face the street?

So can I put in a request now for the new building? Can it have a smoke-free bar that serves organic beer? Is that so much to ask?