development | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published February 10, 2021 at 9:00AM

As seen in Del Ray (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Beyer Says Images of Capitol Siege Should be Viewed by Everyone — “These images of one of the darkest days in our nation’s history are disturbing. But these things happened, and we cannot erase these events, their causes, or their meaning. Everyone should watch this.” [Twitter]

Pat Malone, Cancer Survivor to ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ for 24 Hours Straight — “Patrick J. ‘Pat’ Malone, a seven-year cancer survivor, and 20-year Air Force veteran will ‘stand up to cancer’ for 24-hours straight, during his Seventh Annual Stand Up To Cancer.” [Zebra]

News

ALXnow’s Top Stories this Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published February 5, 2021 at 3:30PM

What a news-filled week in Alexandria.

Things got off to a snowy start on Monday and Tuesday, as the city was under a winter weather advisory.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published February 4, 2021 at 9:00AM

Alexandria Police Participate in Honoring Fallen Capitol Police Officer — “APD participated in the memorial service for fallen U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. Our officers rendered honors for Ofc. Sicknick, and joined the escort from the U.S. Capitol to Arlington National Cemetery. Our prayers are with his family and friends.” [Twitter]

Free COVID-19 Self-Testing Kiosks Available Around City— “Visit a Curative COVID-19 self-testing kiosk in Alexandria for a free test. Tests do not require government ID; service available in English and Spanish. Make an appointment at Curative.com. Walk up testing also available. For more info: alexandriava.gov/114730.” [Twitter]

News

Heritage Project Now Goes to City Council After Unanimous Planning Commission Approval

By James Cullum

Published February 3, 2021 at 4:45PM

The Planning Commission unanimously approved the controversial Heritage Old Town project on Tuesday, clearing a path for it to go to City Council for a vote on Feb. 20.

The decision was made after hours of public comments from more than 40 people in support and opposition to the project.

News

New West End Residential Development Headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles

Published January 29, 2021 at 10:30AM | Updated January 29, 2021 at 10:54AM

Newport Village project (image via City of Alexandria)

The Newport Village development is hoping to demolish two garden-style apartment buildings at the intersection of W. Braddock Road and N. Beauregard Street near Northern Virginia Community College and replace them with a 383-unit residential development.

The developer is asking for a rezoning permit that would nearly double the allowed building height at the site from 45 feet to 92 feet, which staff expressed support for — citing the 120-foot maximum height approved for the Array at West Alex development on King Street.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published January 28, 2021 at 9:00AM

Walking along the waterfront in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Beyer Calls for Accountability in Wake of Capitol Siege — “The idea that we would just move on and not hold those responsible for this accountable is immoral.” [Twitter]

Stonebridge Sells Piece Of Oakville Triangle Site To Townhouse Builder — “Stonebridge is under contract to sell a 3.5-acre piece of the site to Winchester Homes to build an 84-unit townhouse project, Stonebridge principal Doug Firstenberg tells Bisnow.” [Bisnow]

News

Victory Center’s Condominium Redevelopment Headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles

Published January 27, 2021 at 4:30PM | Updated January 28, 2021 at 11:13AM

Proposed townhouse near the Victory Center (image via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 1/28) The Victory Center on Eisenhower has long stood over a vast, mostly empty parking lot at 4901 Eisenhower Avenue, but a proposal headed to city review in March could replace the eastern portion of that lot with 139 new townhouse condominiums.

The condominium project by Winchester Homes will pack the townhome units, some of them back-to-back, into a section of the Victory Center lot. The developer purchased the property last April and the property was subdivided by the city last year. Retail is anticipated for the southwestern portion of the lot.

News

Despite COVID-19 Contractor Impacts, Potomac Yard Metro Station on Track for Spring 2022 Opening

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2021 at 1:15PM

Alexandria is on schedule to see the Potomac Yard Metro station open in spring 2022, despite letters sent to the city from the contractor that work has been impacted by COVID-19.

“The contractor does continue to submit letters stating that there have been some impacts due to COVID-19,” Daphne Kott, the city’s Design Division Chief, reported to City Council on Tuesday night. “They have not made any formal requests for any time extensions, but again these are letters with potential delays and we’re just trying to be transparent that these are occurring.”

News

Citizens Group Vilifies Heritage High Rise Project in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2021 at 11:40AM | Updated January 29, 2021 at 12:27AM

Old Town residents have banded together against what they say is overdevelopment with the planned construction of the 750-unit, seven-story Heritage apartment buildings.

Made up of more than 80 neighbors, the Citizens Association of the Southwest Quadrant (CASQ) launched a website, sent emails to news organizations and created an online petition against the development, which they say will result in hundreds of additional vehicles on area streets, affect property values and destroy the historic charm of the area.

News

Contested Parker-Gray Townhouse Returns to City Tomorrow

By Vernon Miles

Published January 20, 2021 at 3:30PM

Density is forcing some Alexandrians to get closer to their neighbors than they might want: creating some tension as a new townhouse on a vacant lot returns to the Board of Architectural Review tomorrow (Thursday).

The BAR is scheduled to review an application to turn lots 1413 and 1415 Princess Street — which have sat undeveloped since 1893 — into a pair of townhouses. Staff reviewed the application and endorsed much of it, but the project still generated concern over its proximity and scale compared to some surrounding buildings.

News

“Lipstick on a Pig” Heritage Development in Old Town Headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles

Published January 8, 2021 at 10:50AM | Updated January 8, 2021 at 11:38AM

The Heritage, a new development in Old Town widely reviled at a September Board of Architectural Review meeting, is headed to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 1, for review after some architectural fixes.

The plan is to demolish four 1970s-era buildings in southeast Old Town — along South Patrick and North Washington streets — originally built as an urban renewal project in the historic Black neighborhood The Bottoms. Despite community objection, the BAR and City Council found that the buildings do not meet historic preservation criteria.