Arlington 2050 is an initiative to update Arlington County’s Comprehensive Plan, which will guide the direction of the county’s long-term community and economic development. Updated every five years, this is an opportunity to share your vision for the future of Arlington. If you would like to promote a vibrant, walkable Arlington that prioritizes opportunity, inclusion, and affordability, we have developed several talking points you can include in your feedback under each county principle.
Author: Elena Sorokina
Smart Growth Social 2025: Coming together for our community
Celebrate community and smart growth at Smart Growth Social on Oct 30 at 6:30 pm, Eastern Market. Connect with activists, public servants, and urbanists and hear from Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins.
Speak up for a walkable, housing-rich Duke Street
Join us at the upcoming Sep 25th community meeting to support a more vibrant, inclusive Duke Street! Alexandria is updating its Duke Street corridor land use plan from west of Old Town to Landmark/West End. This plan will guide future redevelopment, housing, public spaces, and the general character of Duke Street.
CSG in the News: Moore plans to ‘supercharge’ affordable housing. The crisis will still take years to resolve.
September 15, 2025 | Sam Janesch | The Baltimore Sun
“What people need to understand, what our legislators and decisionmakers need to understand, is we’re already years behind on making these changes,” said Carrie Kisicki, the Maryland advocacy director for the Washington, D.C.-based Coalition for Smarter Growth. “As fast as they can go into effect, it doesn’t mean our housing market or our housing crisis is going to be fixed in a year or two.” […]
“The problem is actually probably even more acute than we see in the state-level numbers,” Kisicki said, adding that some adults like her who live in the Washington area might consider less expensive options in northern Virginia rather than Montgomery or Prince George’s counties.
Fault Lines: Key takeaways and how to get involved
Thank you to all who could join us for our recent screening of the powerful Fault Lines film at the Angelika Film Center in Fairfax. Whether you were with us in the theater or couldn’t make it this time, we are grateful to have you as part of this growing conversation about housing affordability, livable communities, and the future of our region.
The evening began with Fault Lines, a documentary that brings to life the human stories behind the Bay Area’s housing crisis. Following the screening, our panel of regional leaders reflected on the challenges and opportunities closer to home for addressing our own serious housing affordability challenges.
Fairfax Chairman Jeff McKay stated, “We are not talking about the number of units. We are talking about humans here. We are talking about kids, we are talking about parents, we are talking about hardworking people, people with disabilities […] We need to humanize it as much as we can.”
Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi emphasized that housing should be a central issue for communities that value the environment, health, equity, small businesses, and overall economic vitality of the region.
Key takeaways from the discussion:
- Increasing and diversifying housing supply, including market-rate housing, is crucial.
- Increasing the state housing trust fund, which today is only about $80 million per year.
- Local and state collaboration is key to advancing housing solutions. State- and local-level regulations and processes need to be streamlined and predictable.
- Community engagement is important and needs to be done in a productive and results-oriented way.
Thank you to our elected officials who sponsored and participated in this event, Senator Salim and Delegates Simon and Seibold, Fairfax Chair McKay and Supervisors Palchik and Alcorn, Mayor Hardi and Mayor Read! Thank you also to Carmen Romero of True Ground Housing, Keith Waters of GMU, and McLean Quinn of EYA for joining our panel discussion.
Lots of work ahead, but we know it can be done. Your voices and your energy are exactly what we need to continue advancing livable communities in our region.
Here are more ways to get involved:
- Follow CSG’s updates for your local upcoming site tours and public engagement opportunities, including hearings where you can join CSG in supporting local mixed-use, housing developments.
- Join us at the Homes for All VOICE Assembly on October 19th. CSG is a cosponsor.
- Attend other Northern Virginia housing forums, including the NVRC Housing Symposium and the Regional Elected Leaders Institute (RELI) Webinar.
- Reach out to your elected officials, both state and local, in support of policies that will provide more housing options and greater affordability.
- Join CSG supporters on Thursday, October 30, at our annual Smart Growth Social to connect with fellow activists and be inspired! Our guest speaker this year is Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins. RSVP now.
Thank you for all you do.
Testimony: SRA 25-02 — No more barriers to new homes on corridors (MoCo)
Thank you for accepting this testimony on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. CSG advocates for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the Washington, DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all.
ACTION ALERT! Tell the Council: support new homes on corridors and say no to more barriers
ACTION ALERT! Tell the Council: support new homes on corridors and say no to more barriers
CSG in the News: The W&OD Trail is a Northern Virginia treasure at risk
September 11, 2025 | Sonya Breehey, Kevin O’Brien | Greater Greater Washington
The W&OD is a popular 45-mile linear park and trail, providing communities from Arlington to Purcellville a vital connection to active transportation, recreation, and conservation. Yet Dominion’s clear-cutting and a potential long-shot commuter rail proposal could significantly change this important corridor.
As we enjoy and celebrate the W&OD, let’s not be complacent or take it for granted.
Together with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, CSG co-authored an op-ed for Greater Greater Washington explaining why we must act now to protect the trail.
The op-ed has been supported by Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling, Friends of Holmes Run, FairfaxForward, Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets, Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, Nature Forward, and Bike Loudoun.
Get Involved: Sign the petition demanding that Dominion halt its clear-cutting plan and return to the negotiating table with NOVA Parks, and stay informed about the campaign.
Testimony: Support for University Boulevard Corridor Plan (MoCo)
We ask for your support for the goals of safe streets, vibrant and inclusive communities, and transit-oriented homes and businesses laid out in the University Boulevard Corridor Plan and in our county’s 30-year general plan, Thrive 2050.
Event: Fault Lines. Screening of a housing documentary, followed by a panel discussion and a social hour
A screening of Fault Lines, a documentary exploring housing and policy, followed by a panel of regional leaders and a community social hour. The panel will examine Northern Virginia’s housing challenges and explore strategies to build more inclusive and livable communities in our region.