A proposed conversion of a vacant lot and a one-story barbershop in the Parker-Gray Historic District into five four-story townhomes is headed to city review.
Eric Bernstein and Kirby Holdings are proposing to build the homes at 724, 726 and 728 N. Patrick Street, located at the intersection with Madison Street. The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review will conduct a public hearing on the concept review proposal at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, at Charles Houston Recreation Center, which is directly across the street from the site.
Another Level Hair Studio & Barbershop has been open in the 1950s-era building at 728 N. Patrick Street for 17 years. Barbershop owner Yvonne Wanzer told ALXnow that she knows nothing about the proposal.
“This is the first I’ve heard about it,” Wanzer said.
In plans drawn up by Alexandria-based Kulinski Group Architects, the developers are asking for the BAR’s “input and guidance” for development of five new townhomes at the “underutilized corner at N. Patrick and Madison Streets.”
Plans for the four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom homes include one-car garages and roof decks.
The property is owned by Jeffrey Schonberger, the principal of D.C.-based Alturas Real Estate Interests LLC. The 3,650-square-foot 728 N. Patrick Street property was assessed at $430,500 in January; the vacant 4,400-square-foot property at 726 N. Patrick Street was assessed at $630,600 and the 2,200-square-foot lot at 724 N. Patrick Street was assessed at $164,000, according to city property records.
The submission reads:
We are seeking the Board’s input and guidance for the development of five new townhomes in the Parker Gray Historic District. The new homes are proposed for the underutilized corner at N. Patrick and Madison Streets. We are across the street from the Charles Houston Recreation Center to the east and the future development of the new Samuel Madden apartment Building to the north. A four-story condominium building sits kitty corner to our site. The block we occupy has a variety of late 19th and early 20th century homes along N. Patrick Street. A new condominium building (The Aiden) on the opposite southwest corner and a grouping of warehouse structures directly to the west.
We are taking our cue for the design style from the existing warehouses and the more recent development in the surrounding blocks with their modern approach to the warehouses that this area once comprised. For inspiration we looked at historic warehouse structures in Old Town, notably Crilley Warehouse and Portner Brewery.
We are striving to honor the warehouse aesthetic without being duplicative of the historic structures but also avoiding the more abstract moves made by the larger developments. Our site is relatively small adjacent to more modest homes. We are trying to hold to a more pedestrian level of detail and texture as we punctuate the corner and step up in scale to our neighbors on the corner.
We deliberately faced the new townhouses toward N Patrick Street to complete the rhythm of residences along the more major street. Our vehicular site access will be from Madison Street just past the existing warehouses.
