It’s no good to raise the elevation of Alexandria’s waterfront along the Potomac if it means the flood water that does get over the top just gets stuck inside that barrier. The solution: a new pumping station that city staff would help “drain the bathtub.”
The proposed pumping station is part of an extensive plan to fix flooding at the end of King Street, where high tides regularly turn the area around the Torpedo Factory into a Venetian canal system (complete with boats).
At an update to the City Council last week, staff said the current intention is to move forward with a single pump station in Waterfront Park rather than multiple smaller stations that had been considered.
“This approach reduces permanent impacts to parks by +5,000 SF and saves ~$20 million,” the staff report said.
Staff told City Council that the pumping station would help make Old Town more resilient to flooding. The report detailed other options considered, from alternative sites or a levee system to doing more flood proofing on buildings and just accepting that parks and streets will flood.
The current preferred location in Waterfront Park is nestled between Prince Street and Strand Street, with two proposed options for which side of the park the building would be located on.
Staff said the project station is designed to be as low-profile as possible, to blend into the backdrop around it. In response to a question from Council member John Chapman, staff said they could look into exploring rooftop access to the building, but that portions would have to be enclosed or screened for mechanical reasons.
The project is scheduled to head back to the Board of Architectural Review this summer and go to the City Council for approval by the end of the year.
If approved, construction would start in early 2027 with completion in fall 2028.
“The reality is: we need a solution,” said Mayor Alyia Gaskins. “I hope people recognize what we’re trying to do here is make sure you’re hearing what we’re hearing and we’re all getting updated on these things much earlier so we can make spaces for changes.”
