development | ALXnow

Northern Virginia juvenile jail to demolish concrete beds in cells

Published September 10, 2025 at 2:45PM

A standard cell at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center at 200 S. Whiting Street in Alexandria's West End (staff photo by James Cullum)

Leaders running the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (200 S. Whiting Street) are poised to release an Invitation For Bids (IFB) to renovate the cells housing dozens of children.

NVJDC Commission Chair John Lawrence tells ALXnow that the body will vote Sept. 15 to allow the jail’s executive director, Johnitha McNair, to put out the IFB to demolish 60 concrete slabs inside the cells that are used for bedding and tables, as well as repainting walls and replacing flooring with a budget not to exceed $250,000.

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French cafe chain Maman begins construction in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 9, 2025 at 8:30AM

Construction has begun at Maman Coffee Baking Kitchen at 701 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Interior demolition work started last week at a new French cafe in Old Town.

Aug. 28 was the last day for public comments on Maman Coffee Baking Kitchen’s special use permit application (SUP) to operate a cafe, bakery, restaurant, and accessory event space at 701 King Street. The building is located at the corner of King and N. Washington Streets, and is the former home to Foxtrot, which closed in 2024.

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Alexandria scraps third-party green building certifications to cut developer costs

By James Cullum and Ryan Belmore

Published September 4, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated September 6, 2025 at 1:42PM

Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria will eliminate requirements for third-party green building certifications under a new policy aimed at reducing development costs while maintaining environmental standards.

The City Council is expected to consider the updated Green Building Policy later this year after review by the Planning Commission and Environmental Policy Commission. The changes would take effect Jan. 1, replacing the current 2019 policy.

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275-unit workforce housing project at former Landmark Mall site goes to Planning Commission

By James Cullum

Published September 2, 2025 at 11:45AM

A rendering of the 275-unit, seven-story work force housing multifamily building on Block D of the former Landmark Mall property, as seen from the northeast (via City of Alexandria)

A proposal to build a 275-unit workforce housing multifamily apartment building on the southwest portion of the sprawling WestEnd development is heading to the Alexandria Planning Commission.

Plans for the seven-story development from landowner Foulger Pratt and its partner Landmark Holdings LLC call for a seven-story structure with 210 parking spaces (a reduction from the 327 required spaces), with 80% of the units available for between 80% and 120% area median income. The proposal heads to the Planning Commission on Thursday, Oct. 9.

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Five-story office-to-residential proposal in Old Town is heading to the Planning Commission

By James Cullum

Published August 29, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated August 29, 2025 at 11:31PM

A rendering of the office-to-residential conversion for 601 Wythe Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

A proposal for an office-to-residential conversion in Old Town is heading to the Alexandria Planning Commission.

The two-building offices at 601 Wythe Street is home to the American Water Federation, which bought the property in 1985, according to city records. Now AWF wants to convert the five-story commercial complex into a mixed-use property residential apartments. The proposal will go to the Planning Commission on Oct. 9 (Thursday).

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Expansion of mixed-use historic home in Old Town heading to Planning Commission

By James Cullum

Published August 29, 2025 at 10:00AM

A conceptual drawing of the proposed expansion of 107 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

The owners of a historic townhouse in Old Town with ground floor retail want to expand the property with a 700-square-foot addition and use it as their primary residence.

Plans to redevelop 107 N. Fairfax Street will head to the Planning Commission on Thursday, Oct. 9. The four-story townhouse was built in 1800, and is located in the city’s Old and Historic District. It’s located directly across from City Hall (301 King Street), and the first floor is home to dessert and coffee shop Dolci Gelati.

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Mixed-use development near Van Dorn Metro for sale

By James Cullum

Published August 22, 2025 at 12:15PM

An 11-story hotel, retail, townhomes and condos is being built at the former Vulcan Materials site at 701 S. Van Dorn Street (via Cohn Property Group)

The owner of the former Vulcan Materials property near the Van Dorn Metro station is looking to sell, as a new hotel, retail, hundreds of new homes, and a park are being built on the site.

Last year, the city approved a plan to redevelop the site into an 11-story, 256-room hotel with 4,500 square feet of retail space, 323 new townhomes and condos, and a 4.4-acre park. The development promised to be “the most vibrant, new residential development that this area has seen in several years,” according to marketing materials released by Maryland-based Cohn Property Group (CPG) and first reported by the Washington Business Journal.

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JBG Smith giving update on mixed-use project that adds 600+ new homes to Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2025 at 5:47PM | Updated August 22, 2025 at 6:08AM

Potomac Yard parcels under development by JBG Smith (via City of Alexandria)

Developer JBG Smith will soon discuss an updated proposal to build a mix of multifamily, townhome and committed affordable housing across from the Potomac Yard Metro station.

Next Wednesday (Aug. 27), the Potomac Yard Design Advisory Committee (PYDAC) will review updated plans for Landbays G and H (see rendering above),

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Alexandria planning board to discuss Duke Street, small area plan updates Sept. 2

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated August 27, 2025 at 12:19PM

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

Alexandria’s Department of Planning and Zoning has a full docket at its upcoming bi-monthly virtual community meeting.

On Sept. 2 (Tuesday), planning and zoning staff will conduct a meeting via Zoom to discuss updates to these issues:

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Alexandria seeks public input on school crosswalk upgrades by Aug. 29

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2025 at 6:30PM

Proposed pedestrian improvements outside Charles Barrett Elementary School and George Washington Middle School (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria is asking for public feedback on plans to upgrade crosswalks near schools in Arlandria and Del Ray.

The city’s Crossing Improvements Phase II would transform the sidewalks around Charles Barrett Elementary School (1115 Martha Custis Drive) and George Washington Middle School (1005 Mount Vernon Avenue). The deadline to submit feedback on the plans is Friday, Aug. 29.

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Alexandria public poll on Duke Street development plan ends today

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2025 at 9:30AM | Updated August 18, 2025 at 9:54AM

Duke Street and S. Reynolds Street (image via Google Maps)

Alexandria’s extended public poll on the Duke Street Land Use Plan wraps today.

Hundreds of people have participated in the poll, according to the city. Once completed, the plan will guide city officials in the development of the Duke Street Corridor from the former Landmark Mall to Alexandria Union Station. The plan is expected to be ready for City Council consideration and adoption in late 2026/early 2027, according to the city.