The large buildings that line the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor are required by zoning law to provide retail space on the ground floor (street-level). As a resident, I think this is a great bit of regulation, because it provides me with a broader array of services within walking distance of my house – particularly the necessities of food, coffee, and alcohol.

So when the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) doubled the size of its Headquarters office, I was curious whether any business would set up shop in the newly created ground floor. This curiosity stems from the fact that the nearby Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) building has successfully argued against providing street-level business space because either (a) they need the space for their offices, or (b) any retail space would be too close to their mail operations (which happen to be on the first floor) and would constitute a security risk. Seeing as the FDIC is probably a cornerstone of the American financial system – I wasn’t holding my breath.

So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw workers avoiding the space when they were developing offices on other floors. Yet, I am no longer that happy… because the space is going to be occupied by yet another damn Cosi sandwich shop. As if we don’t have enough of these in the area!

It really disappoints me this space wasn’t given to some sort of small business – or at least a chain that doesn’t already have a similar outlet within walking distance (e.g. the Cosi at Ballston).