As previous Then and Now columns have explored, the area we know today as Ballston has changed quite a bit over the years. By 1900, the village of Central Ballston had become a well-defined area; its boundaries were the present-day Wilson Blvd., Taylor St., Washington Blvd. and Pollard St., according to the Arlington Historical Society website. Over time, the area welcomed an increasing number of businesses.

Ballston became a major retail center with the opening of Parkington Shopping Center in 1951. The headquarters location of Hecht's anchored the shopping center, which was believed to have the largest parking garage in the United States when it opened. In fact, Parkington was the first U.S. shopping center built around a multi-story parking garage. For some time after the opening of the shopping center, Ballston was frequently known as Parkington.

Parkington Shopping Center remained a popular shopping location for many Arlington residents throughout the years. In the early 1970s, according to the Arlington County Planning Division website, the County began planning efforts for the area along the proposed subway line between Rosslyn and Ballston. Arlington County adopted the Ballston Sector Plan in 1980 with the goal of creating a "new downtown" in central Arlington. The Sector Plan involved developing a dynamic downtown area that would include a mix of commercial, residential and office space. As part of these efforts, Parkington Shopping Center was redeveloped as Ballston Common Mall.

Ballston Common Mall, located at 4238 Wilson Blvd., opened in 1986. The 580,000-sq. ft. mall was developed in limited partnership with the May Centers, a subsidiary of the May Department Stores Company, which owned Hecht's. In 2006, the Hecht's location at Ballston Common Mall became Macy's after Federated Department Stores acquired the May Department Stores Company.

In addition to shops, a food court and restaurants, Ballston Common Mall also is home to the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Located on the top floor of the mall's parking garage, the Iceplex functions as a training center for the Washington Capitals and features two indoor National Hockey League-sized ice rinks.

According to ARLnow.com, Ohio-based Forest City Enterprises, the owner of Ballston Common Mall, is "in the planning stages" of major renovations to the facility. (See http://www.arlnow.com/2010/10/21/renovations-coming-to-ballston-common-mall for a short piece on the planned renovations.)

For the Ballston Common Mall website, visit http://www.ballston-common.com. Visit http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/cphd/planning/data_maps/metro/ballston/index.htm for more information on Ballston over the years from the Arlington County Planning Division.