The Lofts will consist of 215 units in a 215,456-sf, L-shaped structure five stories high. It will be distinguished from the 12-story, 912-unit Crystal Towers complex--which Smith acquired in 1997 for nearly $70 million--in that it will occupy space near the edge of the 13-acre property as opposed to further into the acreage. Ground-level units will have frontage toward the street, giving the building a less distant and less suburban feel.

"This building will contribute to the county's urban village goals," Arlington County Planning Division's Lisa Maher explains to GlobeSt.com. "It brings a lower-scale building back out to the sidewalk and it will add to the street life. And it meets a list of county goals for bringing more urban type development to within walking distance of the two nearby metro stops, Pentagon City and Crystal City."

Smith's plan includes streetscape improvements such as the addition of landscaping, walkways and street furniture. In addition, Smith has agreed to set aside 12 of the units as affordable housing apartments, five of which will be ADA-accessible. The contractor will also incorporate "green building components" in the construction of the Lofts in an effort to adhere to environmentally correct building guidelines. The Lofts are scheduled to be ready for occupancy in the latter part of 2004.