News

Property owner wants to build six townhouses in Old Town bank parking lot

By James Cullum
Parking lot with several cars beside red brick buildings under a clear blue sky.
Brick building on a sunny street with a drive-thru ATM sign and a bright pink car in front.
Rear elevation of a six-unit townhouse row, showing ground-floor garages, two levels of living space, and balconies.
Front elevation of a row of six townhomes with brick facades, dormer windows, and entry doors framed by columns; two trees in front yards add greenery.
Architectural section and elevations of a multi‑story residential building set on a lot, showing front, rear, and side views with balconies, dormers, and garages below.
Front elevation blueprint of a brick townhouse row with multiple stories, dormer windows, and decorative detailing, labeled 'Front Landscape' with lot numbers and measurements (architectural drawing).
Architectural floor plan sheet showing multiple levels with rooms labeled Living, Dining, Bedroom, Kitchen, Garage, Loft; dimensions noted on each panel.
Site plan of a proposed office building with surrounding streets and parking areas.
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The owner of an Old Town office building is asking the city for permission to modify its parking lot to make space for six three-story townhomes.

Merion Group, the owner of 330 N. Washington Street, will present plans to the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, Sept. 16. The building is home to a Wells Fargo bank, and Merion Group wants to eliminate two of the three drive-thru banking aisles to make way for six three-story townhomes with rear-loading parking garages and rooftop terraces.

“The bank no longer needs three drive aisles,” Merion Group said in its application. “The reduction in the canopy will facilitate a new infill townhouse development on most of the existing surface parking lot in the rear of the bank building.”

The property is behind the bank, nearest to the intersection of Princess Street and N. Columbus Street.

The architect on the project is McLean-based Devereaux & Associates.

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.