development | ALXnow

New Carlyle apartment complex and dog wash headed to City Council review

Published May 10, 2022 at 1:20PM

Development at 2111 and 2121 Eisenhower Avenue, image via City of Alexandria

The relatively diminutive five-story brick buildings at 2111 and 2121 Eisenhower Avenue are eclipsed by the taller buildings to either side, but that could change with redevelopment plans headed to the City Council this week.

At their meeting on Saturday, May 14, the City Council is set to review plans (Item 12) to replace the building with two towers connected by a six-level garage. Plans indicate that there will be 802 units of multi-family housing in the building, with 44 set aside as affordable housing.

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Public tour of Alexandria’s abandoned power plant planned for next week

By Vernon Miles

Published May 2, 2022 at 1:30PM | Updated May 4, 2022 at 11:35AM

Tour gathers outside the GenOn power plant in Old Town North (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

(Updated 5/4) In case you missed your chance for a tour of Alexandria’s abandoned power plant the first time around, the Urban Design Advisory Committee (UDAC) is hosting a tour around the perimeter of the site next week.

The UDAC is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 11 to tour the perimeter of the Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS) at 1300 N. Royal Street around 8:30 a.m. The tour will be followed by a UDAC meeting at City Hall at 10 a.m. Both the tour and the meeting are open to the public.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published April 29, 2022 at 3:45PM

Construction in Potomac Yard, staff photo by Jay Westcott

This was a rough week to be on the roads in Alexandria, with at least two road rage incidents escalating into a pepper spray attack and someone brandishing a firearm.

ACT for Alexandria met its goal by raising $2.5 million for 172 Alexandria charities and nonprofits in its 12th annual Spring2ACTion fundraiser on Wednesday. The fundraiser is the largest single day of giving in Alexandria, and donors can give on the Spring2ACTion website until May 1.

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Power plant redevelopment plans shift after lot size proves smaller than originally thought

By Vernon Miles

Published April 28, 2022 at 10:45AM

As it turns out, the GenOn Power Plant site’s size may have been a little exaggerated on city records, and it’s creating a problem for potential redevelopment.

The former GenOn Power Plant site seemed like a gold mine for potential redevelopment as a large parcel of currently unused land, but a look into some of the constraints on the site there might not be as much usable land as initially thought.

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Owner wants prime Old Town property converted to residential use

By Vernon Miles

Published April 27, 2022 at 1:30PM

1101 King Street, image via Google Maps

A building in the heart of Old Town could be getting a new residential makeover if it can get a special use permit.

“The Applicant, American Real Estate Partners, requests approval of a use permit, pursuant to section 12-101 (D) of the Zoning Ordinance, to convert a portion of the existing building located at 1101 King Street (the “Property”) from office and parking to residential use,” the application said. “The attached concept plan shows the conversion of floors 2 through 7 into approximately 210 residential units (or the number of units that can be supported by the existing parking spaces).”

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Big changes to historic Alexandria housing type headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles

Published April 26, 2022 at 2:30PM

1001 King Street (photo via Google Maps)

An update to one of Alexandria’s oldest housing types is headed to the Planning Commission (item 4) with changes that could make it a little more flexible.

Alexandria is seeking to update its zoning for accessory apartments in commercial zones, that is: housing typically build above commercial spaces as commonly seen in Old Town and other parts of Alexandria.

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DASH changes for Potomac Yard Metro create concerns for Old Town North residents

By Vernon Miles

Published April 21, 2022 at 2:30PM

DASH is making some changes to the bus network in Old Town, including one change that has residents concerned.

At a meeting of the Transportation Commission yesterday, DASH Director of Planning & Marketing Martin Barna outlined plans to adjust DASH service in coordination with the opening of the Potomac Yard Metro station. Among those changes is one Barna said has proven contentious to residents along the affected route.

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Proposed lot development divides Planning Commission over how uniform Del Ray should be

By Vernon Miles

Published April 14, 2022 at 3:45PM | Updated April 15, 2022 at 10:05AM

Proposed lot change at 105 and 107 East Randolph Avenue, image via City of Alexandria

(Updated 4/15) What on paper might seem like a relatively commonplace resubdivision in Del Ray sparked a broader conversation at the Planning Commission over how uniform the historic neighborhood’s subdivisions should be.

The requested change (item 7) to 105 and 107 East Randolph Avenue was relatively small: increasing the square footage of one lot on Randolph Avenue from 8,250 square feet to 8,828 square feet by taking a portion of the backyard from another lot — both obviously with the same owner.

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New ordinance could take Arlandria and Old Town developments to new heights

By Vernon Miles

Published April 13, 2022 at 3:00PM

A map of where in Alexandria additional height is likely to be traded for affordable housing units, image via City of Alexandria

The city government could be opening up new swaths of Alexandria to taller buildings and more affordable housing.

Currently, the city trades bonus density in developments for more affordable housing, but only in areas with a height limit of 50 feet or above. Developers are allowed to exceed established height limits to a degree in exchange for affordable housing units or an equivalent contribution to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

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New Eisenhower residential development headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles

Published April 7, 2022 at 1:30PM

2121 Eisenhower proposal, image via SK+I Architecture

The reshaping of Eisenhower is continuing with a new proposal to convert the office buildings at 2111 and 2121 Eisenhower Avenue into a new residential development called 2121 Eisenhower Avenue.

MidAtlantic Realty Partners LLC is scheduled to apply for a development special use permit and other permits at the May 3 Planning Commisison meeting.

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Former Banana Republic location in Old Town headed to city review

By Vernon Miles

Published April 5, 2022 at 9:45AM

Banana Republic at 628 King Street and Gap Outlet at 622 King Street closed Jan. 24, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The demolition and redevelopment of 628 King Street, formerly Banana Republic, is headed to review at the Board of Architectural Review (BAR) as the developer hopes to make some changes to the upper part of the building.

Currently, the building’s second floor is an almost entirely windowless brick facade. Jemal’s Gap Corner King, LLC, part of Douglas Development, is applying to demolish part of the north and west parts of the building to add windows to the second floor.