In a decision that made headlines nationwide, the Arlington County Board unanimously voted on June 14, 2014, to approve a proposal to redevelop 1401 Wilson Boulevard, the site of the Deep Throat Garage, which will include the demolition of the iconic Watergate landmark.

The owners requested a rezoning to the C-O-Rosslyn district and a site for the construction of an approximately 524,135 square foot office building with ground floor retail and a 392,005 square foot residential building with 44,409 square feet of retail to accommodate a national grocery store. The two buildings on the site currently contain just over 365,000 square feet of office space and under 20,000 square feet of retail. (The full staff report is available online.)

Watergate and Deep Throat changed our nation and our psyche about politics. Arlington did not fully know its role in the Deep Throat story until into the 21st century. In 2011, Arlington County dedicated a historical marker on the site of the Deep Throat Garage. As part of the redevelopment of the site the developer has agreed to “installation of a commemorative element on-site celebrating the site’s role in the nationally significant Watergate scandal….”

The County Board’s decision was covered by The Washington Post, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, Time magazine, and many other media outlets.