The latest site plan for one of the last undeveloped areas of the Alexandria waterfront—Robinson Terminal North—envisions restaurants, retail, apartments, expanded open space, and even a hotel.
The Planning Commission will review a development special use permit (DSUP) proposal and site plan for the former industrial site in Old Town North on May 6 (Tuesday).
The applicants, RTN East LLC and RTN West LLC, is asking the city for permission to develop 37,000 square feet of warehouse and vacant space at 500 and 501 N. Union Street. In the application, the organization said the preferred use on the site is “mixed use, emphasizing arts, history and culture (including a museum) and including vibrant commercial uses (such as hotel).”
The plan is to split the property into two parcels: a mixed-use west building with 38 apartments and 12,000 square feet of retail space and an east building with 35 dwelling units and 4,000 square feet of retail space. The east building would also feature a circular restaurant.
“The circular restaurant will also draw interest from the park as well as the water due to its unique design along Alexandria’s waterfront,” according to the DSUP. “The vibrancy of this development will include the extensive highly designed open space along the water, along with the restaurant components strategically placed on building/street corners to draw views and pedestrians.”
The waterfront area would also be redeveloped, with an Alexandria Renew Plaza with park benches, an open lawn, water access points. Nearby West’s Point would also be acknowledge with through public space design and interpretive features.
The square footage of the entire project is 213,312 square feet.
According to the DSUP proposal:
- Both the East and West Buildings have been designed to maximize water views. The building hyphen/break at the East Building provides views of the water from the West Building and also interior units at the East Building. There will be rooftop views of the water from both buildings as well. The highly designed waterfront open space will allow for a continuous flow of pedestrians from the existing public parks, Oronoco and Founder’s from the north and south respectively.
- The Applicant has placed retail at the corners of the West Building, drawing pedestrians/patrons from Pendleton and Oronoco Streets toward the waterfront. The circular restaurant on the East Building will draw pedestrians and patrons from the Alex Renew project to the north, Founder’s Park from the south and the waterfront to the east.
- The ground floors of both the East and West Buildings have been planned to allow for active uses. The West Building includes ~10,000 SF of restaurant space on the street corners. The main building lobby and amenities are also located along N. Union Street, also activating the street. The East Building includes walk up units and the main building entry along N. Union Street.
- The Applicant intends to dedicate a portion of the waterfront open space to the public in addition to allowing public access easements surrounding the east and west parcels. As shown on the enclosed DSUP, the proposed waterfront open space includes several amenities such as seating of various types (moveable, fixed and swings), play structures, water access points and both open lawn and sheltered areas to provide shade.
The developer intends on spending $8.3 million on street and open space improvements, and also plans to repair and expand the Robinson Terminal pier.
According to the DSUP:
The Plan encourages retaining the pier’s ability to accommodate larger ships visiting Alexandria. Use of the pier should be active and welcoming to the general public, and should advance the goal of the uninterrupted public pedestrian walkway along the water’s edge. Examples of potential uses include water features, river watching, bocce, horseshoes, shuffleboard, plant and sculpture gardens, or outdoor cafes. Any structure erected on the pier should be temporary in nature, such as a tensile structure, fabric awning, or prefabricated, demountable, glass pavilion. The responsibility for the design, construction, maintenance and programming of the pier and public space will be determined in the future; the Plan recommends close coordination between the City and the developer on all of these issues.
