Shooshan, vice president of development of the Shooshan Co., a local real estate developer, was a member of the steering committee that helped push the Arlington County Board to approve a new Business Improvement District in the Ballston neighborhood.
Why a BID, and why Ballston?
In my role as the president of the Ballston Partnership, the past three years it’s started to be challenging to accomplish all the vision that we had for Ballston with limited funds. So we felt that by raising a BID and self-taxing on a Business Improvement District would really help elevate ourselves to have the funds that we need to actually do the work that we had envisioned for Ballston. And also help us stay competitive now that the Silver Line is extending out to Tysons Corner — really making Ballston be a place, and not just something that’s a part of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.
What do you want to accomplish with the BID?
We’re hoping we can put up a gateway sign coming off Route 66 that signifies the entrance of the Rossyln-Ballston corridor. We’re hoping to do wayfinding signs, to bring Capital Bikeshare to Ballston … with banner signs and holiday lighting to signify the major centers of Ballston.
Is there anything you see in the Crystal City and Rossyln BIDs that you want to replicate?
I think the Crystal City BID has done an amazing job with Capital Bikeshare and some of the outside activities they have, like the movies on the lawn. The public art that they’ve tried to accomplish, bringing arts and entertainment and after-hours activity into Crystal City and Rossyln, has been a huge success that we’re hoping that we can do in Ballston as well.
It’s good for business, but how is it good for residents?
I think it’s going to activate Ballston. That’s been a huge cry from our residents, they’re very social, they’re new to the area, and they want to get to know each other.
Ben Giles
