Alexandria city staff want to establish a standard permitting process for commercial-to-residential conversions.
Amid a struggling office real estate market, the city has seen a number of old office properties convert to residential use over the last several years. The proposal to create a special use permit (SUP) process for the conversions will head to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
After 40 years in operation, Alexandria has submitted plans to replace the Old Town Pool, bath house and equipment building.
The 144,000-square-foot Old Town Pool site at 1609 Cameron Street was built in 1975 and is “nearing the end of its usability,” according to a presentation that will go before the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
The last moves of Alexandria’s City Council and staff have been announced, as the years-long renovation project at City Hall and Market Square is just around the corner.
The various arms of the city government will be operating from swing spaces until 2028, when the project is expected to be completed. With more than 300 city staffers already moved to temporary offices, the project will start construction this spring, according to the city.
Two proposed housing developments in the city of Alexandria are officially allowed to move forward after receiving City Council’s approval during its Saturday meeting.
A 640-unit, multi-building project in southern Potomac Yard and a 145-unit affordable housing redevelopment in Old Town each received unanimous approval for development special use permits (DSUPs) after advancing through the Planning Commission earlier this month.
The city of Alexandria is hoping to update its environmental standards for new developments, with a proposal slated for review by the Planning Commission and City Council next month.
Released last week, the proposed Green Building Plan establishes new criteria for private and public developments in aspects like renewable energy usage and wastewater infrastructure. It serves as an update to the city’s 2019 Green Building Chapter, which currently “relies heavily on prescriptive third-party sustainability certifications with specific ‘performance points’ identified for each certification option,” according to the city.
The Planning Commission has given its approval to plans to redevelop an Old Town apartment building with more affordable housing.
The commission gave its blessing last night (Tuesday) to Alfred Street Baptist Church’s proposal to construct a four-story, 145-unit affordable housing complex on the grounds of the 1970s-era Old Towne West building. The current parcels at 901 Wolfe Street and 598 and 601 S. Alfred Street have 77 units, including 34 affordable units and two offices.
After more than four months of delays, the Four Mile Run Kayak Launch is expected to be open for use by the end of this week.
The project promises the “first public ADA-accessible Potomac River paddling access” through a city partnership with the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation. The foundation announced the end of construction on social media yesterday (Tuesday) and said there will be a grand opening in the spring.
The Planning Commission has approved three development projects that would construct 640 housing units and ground floor retail across vacant land parcels in southern Potomac Yard.
The commission voted last night (Tuesday) to grant development special use permits (DSUP) for the following plans, located adjacent the Potomac Yard Metro station along Potomac Avenue, Main Line Blvd and E. Glebe Road.
An Alexandria developer has proposed replacing a small outdoor parking lot in Old Town with a new mixed-use apartment building.
Windmill Hill is seeking approval to build a three-story, eight-unit apartment building with ground floor retail at 220 and 224 S. Peyton Street. The 4,400-square-foot property is currently home to a 16-space outdoor parking lot located about a quarter-mile from the King St.-Old Town Metro station.
A plan to construct 32 four-story townhomes at the site of two Old Town office buildings is still struggling for the blessing of the Board of Architectural Review.
Members of the review board are requesting more exterior variety and colonial influence in the proposed townhomes, after reviewing new renderings of the project at 333 N. Fairfax Street. The board did not vote on the item during last night’s public hearing (Wednesday).
Over two dozen young men in Alexandria are learning how to foster a successful career in skilled trades with the help of an Alexandria-based nonprofit.
Roberto Gomez, the CEO of remodeling company Even Scale, founded Cornerstone Craftsman in 2021 with a vision to dispel cycles of generational poverty through trade education. Today, his program works with 28 apprentices, providing mentorship and training in skilled trades, as well as math and science tutoring.
