City staff have signed off on a California-based yoga chain’s request to partially demolish a 90-foot section at the front of a historic building on King Street in Old Town.
Alo Yoga is asking the city to grant a certificate of appropriateness and permit to partially demolish the wall and replace it with glass panel and two French doors at 814 King Street — the current location of the Random Harvest furniture store.
Beth Aberg, the owner of Random Harvest, said that no deal has been struck for them to leave the property.
“Right now there are no plans and no signed deals,” Aberg told ALXnow. “We have six years left on our lease (and are fully compliant) and are under no obligation to go anywhere. We are understand they are exploring feasibility but again right now we have no plans to leave.”
The second floor of the building is home to Escape Room Live.
The Board of Architectural Review will review the submission on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The city approved significant exterior work to the building in the 1990s, according to a report compiled by Amirah Lane, a city historic preservation planner, and Tony LaColla, the land use services division chief for the Department of Planning and Zoning.
“In the late 1990s, the BAR approved significant alterations that modified the fenestration of the building including doors and bay windows on the first floor, as well as an awning and signage,” Lane and LaColla said in the report. “Staff supports proposed storefront entrance to the building, noting that the storefront on the first floor was previously altered and is not original to the building.”
The four-story building was constructed in 1890, according to city land records. Citing fire insurance maps, LaColla and Lane estimate it was built between 1912 and 1920. Regardless, the building is considered historic since it is more than 100 years old and is located in the Old and Historic Alexandria District.
There are more than 50 Alo Yoga stores across the country. The nearest is in Tysons Corner (2001 International Drive).
If approved, the new store would be a block away from a Lululemon store (700 King Street).
Below are conditions evaluated by city staff:
