construction | ALXnow

Published May 19, 2023 at 2:30PM

Residents hear about Preservation Virginia's declaration of Del Ray in its annual list of endangered communities, May 18, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

About 50 people gathered in Del Ray early Thursday evening to decry increased development and to hear about a recent “endangered” designation within the neighborhood.

Preservation Virginia recently designated The Town of Potomac — once an independent and racist town and now a sub-neighborhood within Del Ray — in its annual list of endangered historic sites. The Town of Potomac was created in 1908 as a white-only community in Arlington County. It was annexed into the Alexandria in 1930, after which it “ceased to exist,” according to the city.

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Alexandria City Council unanimously endorses energy plan for former power plant in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published May 15, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated May 15, 2023 at 4:10PM

Exercising near the closed GenOn power plant in Alexandria near the Potomac River. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) Alexandria is one step closer to the demolition of the NRG Potomac River Generating Station site in Old Town North.

On Saturday, City Council unanimously endorsed the plant owner’s Coordinated Sustainability Strategy, which outlines a plan to electrify the future mixed-use development slated to be built there.

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Massive Montgomery Center redevelopment heads to City Council this month

By James Cullum

Published April 3, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated April 3, 2023 at 4:21PM

Bird's eye view of the Montgomery Center proposal (via City of Alexandria)

A massive plan to demolish the Montgomery Center in Old Town North unanimously passed through the Alexandria Planning Commission on Thursday night.

The two-acre project would demolish the 1970s-era shopping center and replace it with an eight-story 350,000-square-foot apartment building with 327 residential units, more than 25,000 square feet of retail and a 13,300-square-foot performance venue for up to 600 patrons.

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Inova at Landmark project unanimously approved by Alexandria City Council

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2023 at 3:45PM

The proposed Inova Alexandria Hospital cancer center building on the former Landmark Mall site (via City of Alexandria)

The 1.1 million-square-foot Inova at Landmark project got unanimous approval by the Alexandria City Council on Saturday, giving the hospital system the green light to build the future home of Alexandria Hospital.

Inova wants to start construction on the former Landmark Mall site in 2024 and have the four-building hospital campus finished by 2028. The hospital building is designed to face I-395, making it a gateway for drivers traveling north.

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West End neighborhood associations band together against new residential development

By James Cullum

Published March 20, 2023 at 10:45AM

The proposed apartment building at 1900 N. Beauregard Street (via City of Alexandria)

Three West End neighborhood associations say that a proposed residential development at 1900 N. Beauregard Street will create too much density.

The Seminary West Civic Association (SWCA), Seminary Heights Condominium Association and the Seminary Park Home Owners Association wrote City Council discouraging the proposal by Monday Properties.

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Renovated Mount Jefferson Park awaits city inspections before reopening

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2023 at 1:20PM

The renovation of Mount Jefferson Park is complete, and the city will conduct inspections between now and May 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After more than six months of delay, the renovation of Mount Jefferson Park is complete.

City inspections now stand between the park reopening to the public, according to the city. That process could take another two months.

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Inova wants 250-foot height allowance for its Hospital at Landmark project

By James Cullum

Published March 2, 2023 at 3:45PM

The proposed Inova Alexandria Hospital campus on the former Landmark Mall site (via City of Alexandria)

The 1.1 million-square-foot Inova at Landmark project is headed to the Alexandria Planning Commission on Tuesday, signaling the beginning of an official public approval process. If all goes according to schedule, construction of the four-building medical campus could wrap in the second quarter of 2028, according to site development partner Foulger-Pratt.

The hospital building is designed to face Interstate 395, and is proposed to have a two-story glass atrium at its entrance, above which would be a six-story Z-shaped inpatient tower. Inova anticipates that the building will be 184 feet tall (nearly 17 stories) to hide hospital mechanical equipment, although the hospital system is asking for a maximum height allowance of 250 feet, or 23 stories.

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High-rise West End office building converted into 212-unit apartment tower

By James Cullum

Published March 2, 2023 at 11:00AM

Construction has wrapped on converting the office building at 4900 Seminary Road into a residential apartment building (via Google Maps)

The conversion of a high-rise West End office building into a 212-unit apartment tower has been completed, according to developer PRP.

Washington, D.C.-based firm PRP bought the 12-story, 209,000-square-foot property at 4900 Seminary Road in 2018. The property is named Sinclaire on Seminary, and average apartments are 850 square feet in size with ceilings up to 10-feet-tall.

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Mini-mart on S. Patrick Street in Old Town up for City Council consideration

By James Cullum

Published February 23, 2023 at 1:30PM

The proposed mini-mart at the Liberty service station property at 700 S. Patrick Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

A main roadway into Alexandria will likely soon have a new mini-mart. On Saturday, City Council will vote on an addition to the Liberty service station at 700 S. Patrick Street (Route 1), and the owner says that construction could be wrapped by the beginning of the summer.

Per the plan, the 1,136-square-foot service station would be expanded by the addition of a 24-hour mini-mart. The 438-square-foot structure would include two restrooms, and the two existing service bays would be completely removed and remodeled into a retail shop with food and household supplies.

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Transformative Samuel Madden redevelopment in Braddock area goes to Planning Commission tonight

By James Cullum

Published February 7, 2023 at 3:45PM

The proposed North Building of the Samuel Madden redevelopment (via City of Alexandria)

A major affordable housing development in the city’s Braddock area is headed to the Planning Commission tonight.

Tonight’s meeting on the proposed Samuel Madden redevelopment comes after more than a year-and-a-half of back-and-forths between city staff and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

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With construction costs rising, Alexandria School Board approves 10-year capital improvement plan

By James Cullum

Published December 16, 2022 at 2:35PM

1703 N. Beauregard Street, via Google Maps

The Alexandria School Board approved its 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Program budget on Thursday night, paving the way for construction of new schools, swing space and significant renovations over the next decade.

After a series of work sessions and public meetings this fall, the Board approved the $461 million proposal, with $58.7 million to be used next year.