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Five-story office-to-residential proposal in Old Town is heading to the Planning Commission

By James Cullum
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A proposal for an office-to-residential conversion in Old Town is heading to the Alexandria Planning Commission.

The two-building offices at 601 Wythe Street is home to the American Water Federation, which bought the property in 1985, according to city records. Now AWF wants to convert the five-story commercial complex into a mixed-use property residential apartments. The proposal will go to the Planning Commission on Oct. 9 (Thursday).

No additions to the existing five-story 34,160-square-foot structures are included in the site plan (see below) by Falls Church-based architect Lee Design Studio. Per the plan, floors two-through-five of the building would be dedicated to residential units. On-site parking includes an underground 54-space parking garage and parking on the lobby level of the property.

The development comes amid a struggling commercial real estate market. Less than a mile away from 601 Wythe Street, another 1980s office-to-residential conversion in Old Town just started leasing apartments.

A site plan of the office-to-residential conversion for 601 Wythe Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Image via Google Maps

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.