Nine new townhomes and four semi-detached dwellings are being proposed for a half-acre property used for an office building and warehouse in the Old Town Historic District.
The Alexandria Planning Commission will be presented with the proposal to build on the two parcels at 107 and 125 N. West Street. The location is about a half-block from King Street, and is near Jefferson Houston Elementary School and the King St. Metro station.
“Staff supports the applicant’s request for this residential development because it removes surface parking lots and creates additional housing options in this transit-rich, walkable neighborhood, consistent with Council’s goals of creating more housing in the city,” city staff said in a report.
The property was largely undeveloped in the 18th and 19th centuries, according to the city. The office building at 107 N. West Street was built in 1955 as a warehouse, and the two-story office building at 125 N. West Street was built in 1985.
The special use permit proposal is described below:
The applicant is proposing nine three-and-a-half-story townhouses fronting N. West and Cameron streets and four semi-detached dwellings units facing the internal private alley. The existing curb cut along Cameron Street will be closed and a new curb cut will be created along N. West Street. The four units fronting the private alley require approval of a SUP for lots without frontage, as described in greater detail under the Staff Analysis section below.
The private alley will have several easements to accommodate both access and utilities. The slightly enlarged 22-foot public alley to the south will allow for access to the private alley, especially as the new curb cut on N. West Street will be right-in and right-out only for safety reasons due to the proximity to the intersection.
The semi-detached dwellings will have synthetic channel siding in the alley way not facing N. West and Cameron Streets.
“Each fee-simple dwelling will be clad primarily in brick on the front and sides, with rear elevations using a combination of brick and synthetic channel siding,” according to the City.
The property owners, 125 N. West Street LLC, will not provide affordable housing on-site, and agreed instead to contribute $104,089 to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
