Boomers Flocking To Arlington County's Metro Corridor After Life-Changing Events

Major life changes affecting families, such as the death or divorce of a spouse, is often the stimulus needed for boomers to seek a new life in the vibrant Rosslyn-Ballston corridor along the Metro line in Arlington County, Virginia near D.C.

2 minute read

May 26, 2007, 5:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Clarendon, VA, lies in the "heart of Arlington's bustling Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, a three-mile stretch of dense development concentrated around five Metro stops just across the Potomac River from the District.

Long known as a magnet for young singles just starting out, Arlington's "R-B corridor" is quietly attracting a large number of middle-aged people looking to start over. The rapidly urbanizing stretch of suburbia is becoming the place to move in Northern Virginia after a life-changing event, like divorce, the loss of a spouse, a cross-country move, kids moving out or parents dying."

"These people are looking for a social life outside of their family, because their family may not be local anymore or may not exist in the same way", said Ralph Rosenbaum, a demographer with the city of Alexandria.

"Demographer Roberto Ruiz of Arlington's planning office estimates that Arlington's baby boomer population -- residents ages 45 to 64 -- has increased 34.4 percent to about 54,300 since the 2000 Census. The population of the county is just under 200,000."

"The reasons for the boomers-in-flux become more clear with the opening of each new high-rise: close proximity to the District and jobs, Metro within walking distance, and more and more places to frequent: new restaurants, upscale shops, dance studios, coffee bars, bike trails, dog parks, gyms and live entertainment."

"Arlington planners have been encouraging growth along the Metro corridors for decades, but only in the past few years has it really taken off.

From 2000 through the end of the decade, the fast-developing area will have had more than 8,000 new homes -- mostly apartments in high-rise buildings -- built or in the planning stages, planning officials said. Despite a slower housing market, agents and county officials remain bullish on the area because of its popularity."

Thanks to Martin Dreiling

Monday, May 21, 2007 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1 - KQED

Tents inhabited by unhoused people lined up on sidewalk in Los Angeles, California in front of industrial building.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling

An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.

July 1 - Times of San Diego

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.