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New Residential Development Could Relocate Half-Century Old Lighting Shop in Braddock

A proposed development at 701 N. Henry Street in the Braddock neighborhood could replace a longtime lighting store with a 94 unit residential complex.

The current occupant, Alexandria Lighting and Supply has been in business in Braddock for 55 years, and the developer is scouting for a new storefront to relocate the shop.

“It’s still operating today and it’s been there a really long time,” development attorney Cathy Puskar said at a presentation to the Braddock Implementation Advisory Group last month. “As part of this proposal, [the developer] is contemplating relocating that use so it will still exist within the city of Alexandria.”

In its stead, the new development at 701 N. Henry Street would be a 94 unit residential building, 87 of which would be market-rate housing and 7 committed as affordable units — part of a trade for bonus density.

Along with a development at 1200 N. Henry and a new mixed-use complex across from the Braddock Road Metro station, the 701 N. Henry Street project is part of a suite of new projects adding residential units and density to Braddock.

Puskar said the developer decided “it’s not really a good spot” for retail, but that if a post office caddy-corner to the development is eventually redeveloped, the lobby space could be converted to retail.

The project is scheduled to go to a public hearing in June.

About the Author

  • Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.