Arlington Comprehensive Plan Update Adopted 3-17-2015 | Page 54

Places
The cornerstone of a city’s quality of life is its range of housing options and
diversity of neighborhood choices. All citizens desire quality housing and
great neighborhoods. They rely on many different kinds of places: a place
to live or run a business; a place for recreation and social interaction; and a
place for education, cultural and spiritual needs. Making strategic investments
in infrastructure, providing areas for high-amenity housing and walkable
neighborhoods, and creating an atmosphere where people feel secure all help
create a sense of place.

A sense of place can be achieved
through urban design tools that
spotlight unique attributes in a
neighborhood or create synergy or
interaction among neighborhoods.
These features could include sidewalks,
trails, open space, and natural features
that provide areas for recreational
and leisure activities and habitats
for wildlife. Design elements that set
one area or neighborhood apart from
another help to establish a special
sense of place that residents are proud
to call home.

Housing
Housing is the single largest land use
in Arlington. A significant amount
of the single family and multi-family
housing stock was built between 1970
and 1990. Houses built after 2000
are primarily located in southeast
Arlington, where much of the new
development in the city has occurred.
Housing quality, price, and availability
are critical components in Arlington’s
community vitality as they can help
set attractive and livable cities apart.

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