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The Ballston-Virginia Square Partnership is a public-private organization of citizens, real estate professionals, businesses, civic and condominium associations, educational institutions and non-profits with the mission of promoting and enhancing the Ballston and Virginia Square areas as desirable communities in which to live, learn, work, shop and play. Founded in 1985, it has played a role in, and continues to influence, the development decisions and environmental enhancements for these two urban villages.
In its efforts to promote Ballston and Virginia Square as premier business and residential locations, and to encourage a spirit of community empowerment,
the Partnership services the Ballston-Virginia Square communities in the following ways:
- Works with Arlington County and the private sector in promoting “smart growth” strategies for real estate and community development. Organizes and participates in planning sessions for issues that are important to the Ballston and Virginia Square communities such as retail, emergency preparedness, transportation, housing and many others.
- Produces and distributes the Buzz, a quarterly publication filled with community news including Arlington County initiatives, new businesses and development projects, arts and cultural events, restaurant reviews and more.
- Publishes the Map and Business Directory. Updated each year, it provides residents and visitors up-to-date information on shopping, dining and living in Ballston and Virginia Square.
- Maintains a Comprehensive Web site, a community-focus online destination with information on shopping, dining, entertainment, area news, economic and real estate trends, upcoming and ongoing events and more.
- Publishes and distributes monthly E-Newsletters. Available to Partnership members, the e-newsletter provides advance notice of special offers and events in an easy-to-read format.
- Sponsors Community Events including Farmers Markets, Arts and Crafts Markets, Taste of Arlington, Real Estate Showcase and Bus Tour, A Toast to Ballston–Virginia Square, and other networking and special events.
As a membership-based organization, we also offer many EXCLUSIVE member benefits. For details, click here.
About Ballston and Virginia Square
Accessibility:
Two Metro stations – – anchor the area, and other transit opportunities are abundant. Modern urban design emphasizes pedestrian-friendly streetscapes enjoyed by residents, office workers and visitors. Bicyclists take advantage of direct access to the Custis, W&OD, and Bluemont Junction Trails and other routes. Interstate 66 offers automobile connections to Washington, D.C., and the Northern Virginia suburbs.
Arlington's Science and Technology Center:
The area has become Arlington’s center for science and technology. The prestigious National Science Foundation has its headquarters in Ballston, and two of the Department of Defense’s major research agencies are located here. Technology firms such as CACI International, Detica/DFI, SAIC, SRA, E*Trade Bank, Strategic Analysis and Plateau Systems have local offices, and several universities have research facilities and campuses here. The area’s importance as a hub for cutting edge research and development has spawned slogans such as “Birthplace of the Internet” and “Exit 71 – Your first stop on the Information Highway.”
Trade Association Headquarters:
Ballston and Virginia Square also serve as home to several association headquarters, including American Trucking Associations, The Nature Conservancy, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association.
Demographics:
The population of Ballston-Virginia Square is approximately 13,000 and is expected to grow by 10% over the next five years. According to marketing profiles, residents are young, affluent and highly-educated professionals. Average household income was estimated at $105,000 in 2006.
Smart Growth:
The Ballston-Virginia Square area is a model for “Smart Growth.” Largely planned in the 1970s, Ballston was designed to concentrate density and encourage mixed-use through the use of development incentives. The result is a diverse high-rise core with office, retail, residential and hotel uses creating an exceptionally vibrant community.
In 2005, along with Arlington County, the Rosslyn Renaissance and the Clarendon Alliance, the Partnership was honored by the National Association of Counties as a national leader in creating sustainable communities. |
