development | ALXnow

Power plant redeveloper breaks down the break down of the Old Town North industrial site

Published July 19, 2023 at 11:15AM

A cyclist along a path in Old Town North near the old power plant (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As developer Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) heads into the ambitious redevelopment of the GenOn Power Plant, the developer laid out some of their plans for the complex process of breaking the site apart.

Representatives of the developer spoke last week to the Alexandria Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) — full disclosure, this reporter is on the LEPC — about how the developers plans for abatement, remediation and deconstruction. The discussion was a follow-up to a previous LEPC meeting with Deputy Director for Infrastructure and Environmental Quality Bill Skrabak.

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New Landmark Mall development plans include an ice skating rink

By Vernon Miles

Published July 18, 2023 at 9:55AM | Updated July 18, 2023 at 10:29AM

Proposed ice rink in Landmark Mall redevelopment plans (image via Oculus/City of Alexandria)

Development plans for the mixed-use development replacing Landmark Mall have been pretty standard so far — commercial tenants on the ground floor, residential and some office above — but a new feature could be a major draw.

The project, confusingly called West End development, is a massive project attached to the construction of a new Inova Hospital campus.

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The Art League may have found a new home on Slaters Lane

By Vernon Miles

Published July 17, 2023 at 3:55PM

The Art League is one of several Old Town North tenants being displaced by new development at Montgomery Center (300 Montgomery Street), but a permit filed with the City of Alexandria indicated the arts-focused non-profit could be moving to the former ABC Imaging location at 800 Slaters Lane.

A Special Use Permit has been filed to open new studio spaces in the former printing shop. The Art League also said classes will be held inside the building.

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Italian restaurant ‘A La Lucia’ closing by end of the year in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published June 30, 2023 at 10:45AM

A La Lucia at 315 Madison Street in Old Town North (via Facebook)

Get your favorite Italian dish while you can, because A La Lucia will likely close by the end of the year, the restaurant’s owner tells ALXnow.

After more than 20 years in business, the popular Italian restaurant at 315 Madison Street will not relocate when Carr Companies starts construction on two acres of redevelopment for their Montgomery Center property in Old Town North.

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New Mark Center development is first in the area to use new density-for-housing trade

By Vernon Miles

Published June 5, 2023 at 3:50PM

The Rutherford at Mark Center (image via DCS Design/City of Alexandria)

The 367-unit residential development The Rutherford is headed to Planning Commission review tomorrow and makes use of a relatively recent new policy that codified an older trade.

The project is a multifamily building set on a 4.5 acre site at 5000 Seminary Road, next to the Hilton Mark Center. Of those 367 units, 25 will be committed affordable units. The developer is also contributing $811,547 to the Housing Trust Fund.

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Alexandria retunes financing as Landmark Mall site infrastructure costs jump 40%

By James Cullum

Published May 23, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated May 24, 2023 at 3:39PM

Concept map for new Landmark Mall development (image via City of Alexandria)

Updated at 3:30 p.m. on May 24 — The estimated costs of the total infrastructure improvements at the former Landmark Mall site have ballooned 40% since City Council signed off on the project in 2021, forcing the city to get creative with its financing.

Tonight (Tuesday), the City Council will vote on directing City Manager Jim Parajon to execute an agreement between the city, Landmark Land Holdings (a joint venture between Foulger-Pratt, The Howard Hughes Corp. and Seritage Growth Properties.) and Inova Healthcare Services to address the $62 million shortfall.

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Del Ray residents converge over Preservation Virginia’s ‘endangered’ designation

By James Cullum

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 asks: How long should new developments pay for their local impact?

By Vernon Miles

Published April 18, 2023 at 11:45AM

A DASH bus at Southern Towers (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

City Council says developers should be financially on the hook for the traffic impacts of their projects — but they disagree over how long payments should last.

Alexandria currently relies on developers to pay for the impact their projects have on local roads and transportation networks. When it comes to follow-through, however, the city has no meaningful mechanisms to hold accountable developers who don’t make good on the promises they made during the application process.

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Del Ray residents want deferral of controversial zoning plan to desegregate Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 10, 2023 at 3:55PM | Updated April 10, 2023 at 4:50PM

What two additional stories looks like on a 45-foot-tall structure. (Via City of Alexandria)

A controversial proposal to expand Alexandria’s housing availability is running into opposition in Del Ray.

The Del Ray Citizens Association (DRCA), on Wednesday, will vote on asking the city to extend the timeline for its Zoning For Housing/Housing For All initiative. City leaders say that the massive plan essentially desegregates Alexandria, and includes an incentive for developers to build affordable housing up to 70 feet in height in areas where height limits are 45 feet or more.

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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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City of Alexandria lays out power plant demolition plans and uncertainties

By Vernon Miles

Published March 29, 2023 at 3:55PM

Exercising near the closed Potomac River Generating Station in Alexandria near the Potomac River (staff photo by James Cullum)

As plans for what will replace the Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North gradually take shape, the city is still working through the specifics of how exactly to tear down the building.

Deputy Director for Infrastructure and Environmental Quality Bill Skrabak said in a presentation yesterday to the Alexandria Local Emergency Planning Committee — full disclosure, this reporter is a member of that committee — that rather than one big demolition the building will most likely be taken apart piece by piece.