From new dining destinations to mobility milestones to memorable community events, here are 10 highlights that catalyzed National Landing in 2025.

1. 100+ Events Around the District

With more than 100 events in 2025, National Landing activated the neighborhood with standout events all year round. From Art of Pink to the return of Garage Racing National Championships, the premiere of a new Latin music series, NaLa Noches, and winter favorite The Lodge, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Here are some more highlights:

• Presented in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington and Usan Usan, the BLOOM Art Show 1x1 art exhibition featured cherry blossom-inspired original work by over 90 DMV artists.
• The BID hosted a full house at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for a Juneteenth screening of Segregated by Design, followed by panel with Arlington housing experts.
• AI Unlocked, hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) in collaboration with JBG Smith, transformed an entire block of National Landing into a dynamic hub for technology, imagination, and creativity.
• Plus, top national organizations hosted events in the district, including:
  • Michael J. Fox Foundation’s inaugural 5k
  • BlerDCon featuring Janelle Monae

2. Launch of the Data Dashboard

This year, the National Landing Business Improvement District launched the National Landing Data Dashboard, an online portal providing the latest market data and trends. In addition to quarterly highlights on the area's commercial markets, you'll find links to upcoming business and innovation related-events, an interactive map of the latest public and private investments, and previous market reports.

3. New Retail in National Landing

2025 saw a wave of 28 new retail openings around the district. Falafel, Inc., graduated to a permanent brick-and-mortar location on 23rd Street following a successful stint in an incubator kiosk at Water Park. Breakfast and coffee options expanded with the openings of Daydrift Book & Café and Java Loco. Gwenie’s Pastries and Lapu Lapu bring Filipino flavors to the forefront, while Bar Colline lends a taste of Paris to Crystal Drive. Plus, Whole Foods opened the first smaller-format store outside of New York. Yunnan by Potomac highlights contemporary cuisine from China’s Yunnan Province, while Lantern’s menu spotlights the neighboring Sichuan Province. La Posada, Flight Wine Shop, and Toastique rounded out a watershed year in new openings.

4. Virginia Tech Grand Opening

In February 2025, Virginia Tech opened the flagship building of its $1 billion campus in Potomac Yard, hosting the Institute for Advanced Computing and anchoring our growing tech ecosystem and National Landing’s identity as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. Together with Arlington and Alexandria, the BID completed a landmark study advancing National Landing's future as a home to pioneers in cybersecurity, defense tech, and advanced computing.

5. Army Navy Drive Complete Street

October marked the completion and ribbon cutting of the Army Navy Drive Complete Street. This critical corridor links two of National Landing’s key neighborhoods, Pentagon City and Crystal City, via safer sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and smarter intersections. The Army Navy Drive Complete Street is more than just a transportation project; it’s a key step toward establishing National Landing as one of the most connected urban districts in the nation, tying into the Transitway extension, Long Bridge, and the forthcoming CC2DCA pedestrian bridge.

6. AC Hotel and Hotel Renovations

National Landing is a home away from home. With more than 5,500 hotel rooms and the region’s busiest airport, we’re a hospitality hub and homebase for many tourists and business travelers. Recent renovations like those at the Hyatt Regency and Westin, as well as the debut of the new boutique AC Hotel – are elevating our offerings. We also celebrated projects transforming vacant office buildings into new hotels and housing, thanks to progressive county policies supporting adaptive reuse.

7. Breaking Ground at "The Sweeney"

In September, shovels hit the dirt for the groundbreaking of "The Sweeney," a landmark affordable housing development at the Crystal House complex. The 432-unit building, expected to open in 2028, was financed via a public-private partnership between Amazon, Arlington County and other key partners. 

8. Techonomic, Inc., Invests in National Landing Home

In June, Arlington-based Technomics, Inc., a firm specializing in data- and analytics-driven decision support services, announced its commitment to investing more than $5 million to expand its operations in National Landing. The homegrown firm's investment will catalyze more than 200 new jobs and signals the district's prominence as a hub for tech innovation, economic vitality, and national security.

9. Valen Leasing

In July, JBG Smith began leasing at Valen, boasting 355 units in a 25-story building on S. Bell Street. Alongside The Zoe, which began leasing in fall 2024, this residential development replaces the former Crystal Plaza One office space with a sophisticated living experience.

10. International Downtown Association Tour

In September, the BID was proud to host a tour of our area's transformation at the International Downtown Association conference. The BID toured 50 placemakers from across the country, showcasing the planning and investments that have shaped today’s progress.

Come visit us and see the transformation for yourself!