A massive plan to buildout the remaining areas of Potomac Yard with 640 residential units, 13,000 square feet of retail space and public open space is heading to the Alexandria Planning Commission next month.
Developers MTV Holdco, LLC, Wesley Housing Development Corporation and Toll Mid-Atlantic LP Company, Inc, have partnered for the buildout of the four remaining vacant parcels in Potomac Yard. The full package heads to the Planning Commission on Dec. 2.
Each applicant is submitting a developmental special use permit (DSUP) application for their respective parcels, which include:
- From Wesley Housing Development Corporation — an 88-unit affordable housing building on Landbay G, Block G
- From MTV Holdco, LLC — a 432-unit mixed-use residential building with ground floor retail and public open space on Landbay G, Block B/E
- From Toll Mid-Atlantic LP Company, Inc — a 120-unit townhouse development with public open space on Landbay H
“These proposals will also generate significant tax revenue for the city, increase Metro ridership and provide meaningful, programmable open space for the surrounding community,” the application reads.
Still, the proposals are asking for a large reduction in required parking spaces. The developers contend that the proposed parking is adequate, given the walkability of the area, proximity to bus rapid transit, bike share stations and the Potomac Yard Metro station.
“Many residents who are car-less by choice will choose to rent in Potomac Yard for those reasons,” according to the proposal.
88-unit affordable housing building
Nonprofit Wesley Housing Development Corporation is proposing to redevelop the half-acre site with a six-story, 88-unit apartment building. The units would be committed affordable units for tenants earning between 30% to 80% of the area median income.
The building would be located at the corner of Richmond Highway and E. Glebe Road, near the border with Arlington County.
“The building will also provide much-needed family sized units with a total of 73 two and three bedroom units,” according to the DSUP. “The affordable housing provided in Landbay G, Block G is above and beyond the affordable housing requirement for the approved density in Potomac Yard, which has already been satisfied though the joint venture with the City of Alexandria for the fire station and 64 units of affordable housing located at the Staion at Potomac Yard plus other monetary contributions associated with other blocks.”
Per site plans, the building would be accessed via a 44-space garage entrance along the Main Line Boulevard frontage and the main pedestrian entrance would be located along E. Glebe Road.
The developer is seeking a special use permit for a parking reduction from the required 67 spaces to 44 spaces.
Landbay G, Block B/E proposal
MTV Holdco, LLC, is proposing to redevelop a 3.1-acre site with a seven-story multi-unit building with 432 units and approximately 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail space.
The property would also include 20,000 square feet of public open space, located directly across from the Potomac Yard Metro’s southern entrance.
Retail and residential parking would be accessed via an above-grade interior garage, which would wrap around all four frontages with residential units and/or retail space, according to the plan.
Additionally, the plan calls for two interior amenity courtyards with 11,000 square feet of open space on the third level of the property. The developer is requesting a special use permit for more than three rooftop mechanical penthouses, as well as a reduction of 408 spaces to 281 spaces.
Landbay H proposal
Toll Mid-Atlantic LP Company is proposing to redevelop the 4.3-acre site bordered by Main Line Boulevard, Maskell Street, Potomac Avenue and Swann Avenue with 120 townhouses and 11,000 square feet of central public open space.
“Vehicular access to the site will be provided from two driveway entrances along Maskell Street,” according to the proposal. “All townhouses are rear-loaded with garages located off alleys.”
Plans call for 60 units to be 16-feet-wide with two tandem parking spaces inside the garage, while the other 60 units would be 20-feet-wide with two standard parking spaces inside the garage.
