Alexandria Board of Architectural Review

Old Town townhouse proposal prompts debate over city’s development review process

Published September 8, 2026 at 2:45PM

The parking lot of 330 N. Washington Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Old Town neighbors say a pending townhouse development application exemplifies why the city needs to better align the Board of Architectural Review process with development special use permit reviews.

The BAR continues to consider a concept review of Merion Row at 330 N. Washington Street, where the property owner seeks to build six three-story townhomes with rear-loading parking garages and rooftop terraces. The homes would take the place of two of the three drive-thru banking aisles at the Wells Fargo bank.

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

By James Cullum

Published August 24, 2026 at 2:45PM

The parking lot of 330 N. Washington Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

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.

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1800s Old Town home could give way to three-story townhouse under owner’s proposal

By James Cullum

Published May 12, 2026 at 11:45AM

A rendering of 1126 Prince Street (center) in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

The owner of a small historic home in Old Town wants to demolish and replace it with a three-level townhouse.

The Board of Architectural Review will consider the proposal at its meeting June 3. The one-story building at 1126 Prince Street is only 22 feet wide by 40 feet deep, and its use has shifted from residential to commercial and back over the years. The building was constructed in 1830 and was assessed at $117,855 earlier this year. The 1,700-square-foot lot was assessed at $385,951, putting the total property value at just over half a million dollars.

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Review board reworks City Hall restoration proposal despite concerns from city staff

By Katie Taranto

Published November 20, 2025 at 1:45PM

Alexandria City Hall in Old Town in 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Following hefty city pushback, the Board of Architectural Review unanimously advanced plans to renovate City Hall and Market Square with a new certificate of appropriateness at last night’s public hearing (Wednesday).

Board member Andrew Scott introduced a motion to approve a final design stipulating the inclusion of decorative chimneys, lifted archways and other 19th-century flourishes at the site of the 1871 building, garnering some dissent from Director of General Services Jeremy McPike.

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City Hall renovation plans head to review board

By James Cullum

Published October 14, 2025 at 2:00PM

A rendering of the proposed City Hall and Market Square renovation (via City of Alexandria)

With construction expected to start next year, plans to demolish and encapsulate City Hall are heading to the city’s Board of Architectural Review.

Development plans call for City Hall (301 King Street) to be gutted and for the demolition of the Market Square plaza and the underground two-level parking garage. The BAR will review the plans on Thursday (Oct. 16). If approved by City Council at a yet-to-be-scheduled meeting, the project will break ground in the second quarter of 2026 with a completion goal of 2028, according to the city.

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Notes: Parker-Gray door changes could require new review process

By Ryan Belmore

Published September 16, 2025 at 8:00AM

Uptown Parker Gray Historic District courtesy DHR Virginia Department of Historic Resources

Good morning, Alexandria! Today is Tuesday, Sept. 16, the 259th day of 2025. There are 106 days left in the year.

⛈️ Today’s weather: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 69—northeast wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%—new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.