Robinson Terminal North, the last untapped area of Alexandria’s waterfront, just got unanimous approval for redevelopment by the City Council.
Property owner Rooney Properties wants to convert the 3.2-acre, two-block site into two mixed-use buildings with 73 luxury apartments, three restaurants, and more than an acre of open space along the Potomac River at historic West’s Point.
The plan splits the property into two parcels:
- A five-story mixed-use west building with 38 apartments and 11,000 square feet for two restaurant/retail spaces
- A four-story east building with 35 dwelling units and 4,000 square feet for a circular restaurant
Part of the initial site work will involve removing soil contaminated with pollutants at the former industrial site. City staff say that the soil is contaminated with “petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, mercury, and arsenic.”
RiverRenew Plaza, slated to open soon, is located on Pendleton Street on the northeastern edge of the property and will provide the public with a view of the construction on the Robinson Terminal North project.
West’s Point, one of the city’s most historically important locations, is also on the eastern portion of the development. According to the city:
Named for Hugh West, of the City’s prominent West family, it is the earliest continuously occupied site in the city. The early 18th century wharf, no longer standing, was the likely location of Alexandria’s original tobacco warehouses, and the arrival port for Major General Edward Braddock’s forces in March 1755. Numerous changes to the river shoreline have landlocked the original “point” on the northeast side of the intersection of Oronoco and North Union Streets. As part of the 1983 Settlement Agreement (see Procedural Background below), the Robinson Terminal Warehouse Corporation constructed a small overlook and park area at the foot of Oronoco Street, on City land, as West’s Point Park. This location has served as the historic reminder of West’s Point for a generation.
Rooney Properties hasn’t presented a timeline, but their development special use permit that Council approved expires in five years.
City Council’s approval was contingent on several conditions, including:
- If Rooney Properties phases the development, that plans must be submitted for city review and approval by the city’s directors of Planning and Zoning, Transportation and Environmental Services, and Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
- That the developer construct and maintain a temporary 10-foot minimum asphalt or stone dust path with pedestrian-scale lighting, with a temporary public access easement, along the waterfront between the Oronoco Street End connecting to the RiverRenew Plaza prior to issuance of the 10th Certificate of Occupancy for the West Building, unless building permits have been issued for the East Building to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning & Zoning. The applicant is responsible for maintenance of the temporary asphalt path and lighting
- That Rooney launch and maintain a publicly accessible webpage dedicated to the project as part of the Final Site Plan submission. This webpage shall include all relevant environmental documents related to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP), the DEQ Petroleum Program, and the City of Alexandria Contaminated Lands Program. The webpage shall be a resource to receive and respond to community questions and include contact information for the applicant team. The webpage must remain active and updated throughout the duration of the development project and until Certificate of Occupancy for the buildings have been obtained
