development | ALXnow

Developer wants extension for expired ‘Landmark Overlook’ construction permits

Published June 12, 2025 at 3:30PM

Landmark Overlook would transform the corner of South Wilkes Street and Stephenson Avenue into a mixed use property with hotels or office buildings, two-level stacked condominium units, apartments and retail. (Image via City of Alexandria)

A developer is asking for an extension after permits expired earlier this year on a plan to build hundreds of residential units to Alexandria’s Landmark area.

City Council, in 2022, approved the plan to build 450 residential units in seven townhomes and two multifamily apartment buildings on the eight-acre site at 5901, 5951, and 5999 Stevenson Avenue and 2 South Whiting Street. The three-year development special use permit for the project expired in February and now applicant West End Development Associates wants three more years to finish the project.

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ARHA asks city to back loan for ‘Silver Fox’ senior housing complex

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2025 at 7:45PM

Erik C. Johnson, former CEO of ARHA, asks City Council to back the Silver Fox plan, June 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria City Council has mixed feelings about serving as a cosigner for the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s plan to keep its senior residents in the city.

Faced with a $40 million budget shortfall, ARHA abandoned plans to replace the aging 11-story, 170-unit Ladrey Senior High-Rise with a six-to-seven-story 270-unit L-shaped building. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsequently ended its operating support for building management and maintenance, issuing vouchers for the relocation of Ladrey’s residents by the end of the year.

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ACPS moving out of George Mason Elementary School and into swing space for 2 years

By James Cullum

Published June 10, 2025 at 2:30PM

Swing space at 1703 N. Beauregard Street, via Google Maps

With a years-long renovation breaking ground this summer, the move-out dates have been set for staff at George Mason Elementary School (2601 Cameron Mills Road).

Staff began packing up in early May, according to ACPS, and the main move, a 3.5-mile relocation to the building at 1703 N. Beauregard Street, is scheduled for June 16-20. The newly renovated George Mason Elementary is planned to reopen for students in August 2027.

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Wells Fargo Bank on N. Washington Street wants to remove drive-thru window and more

By James Cullum

Published June 6, 2025 at 11:15AM | Updated June 6, 2025 at 11:40AM

Proposed changes to the Wells Fargo Bank at 33 N. Washington Street include removing the drive through window (via City of Alexandria)

Some noticeable exterior changes at Wells Fargo Bank at 330 N. Washington Street are heading to the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review.

The bank is requesting permission from the city to remove its drive-thru window, replace a window with a night deposit box, and make other modifications to the 20,000-square-foot building.

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Check out the concept designs for Waterfront Taco Factory in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 3, 2025 at 12:30PM

Concept design for 2 Prince Street near the Alexandria waterfront in Old Town (via City of Alexandria)

Plans to partially demolish the former Big Wheel Bikes property in Old Town and replace it with a taco restaurant are heading to Alexandria’s Board of Architectural Review.

On June 5 (Thursday), the Board will assess a permit to demolish and a certificate of appropriateness for proposed alterations for the property located a block away from the Potomac River.

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Alexandria’s City Hall grows 26% in new development plans

By James Cullum

Published May 30, 2025 at 12:45PM

Alexandria City Hall preliminary site development plan (via City of Alexandria)

The preliminary development site plan for the renovation of Alexandria’s City Hall, Market Square Plaza, and underground parking garage is heading to the Planning Commission.

The city wants to increase the gross floor area at City Hall from an existing 122,171 square feet to 153,332 square feet (a 26% expansion), while maintaining the size of Market Square plaza at 2,975 square feet and the 234-space parking garage at 91,562 square feet.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 23, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated May 23, 2025 at 5:03PM

Dominion Energy Power Outage Map on Friday, May 16 (screenshot)

It was a fast week in Alexandria! Welcome to ALXnow’s Friday recap of top stories.

This week started as the city cleaned up from last Friday’s damaging storm that knocked over trees, closed roads and disrupted power for thousands. Our top story was on the report of a suspected car thief who ended up in the hospital with serious injuries after a high-speed chase ended in a crash early Monday morning.

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Two new towers, 257 senior units planned for The View Alexandria in West End

By James Cullum

Published May 21, 2025 at 3:30PM

The View Alexandria by Goodwin Living is looking to expand with construction of two 14-to-16-story apartment towers (via City of Alexandria)

A senior living community in Alexandria’s West End is looking to expand by building a two-towered 14- to 16-story apartment building with 257 units.

The View Alexandria by Goodwin Living acquired the seven-acre property at 5000 Fairbanks Avenue and 5101 Fillmore Avenue from Hermitage Northern Virginia three years ago. It currently consists of a five-story medical building, surface parking and a six-story apartment building with 126 units for independent and assisted living care. Now Goodwin Living is asking the city for permission to approve a development special use permit for a 700,000-square-foot building by increasing its allowable height from 150 feet to 175 feet for the south tower, six feet on the North Tower (to 156 feet), a 30% bonus density and a reduction of off-street parking.

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Developer wants extension to build seven-story apartment building across from the Braddock Road Metro station

By James Cullum

Published May 21, 2025 at 2:30PM

The developer behind a seven-story apartment building in the Braddock area is asking the city for an extension of its developmental special use permit (via City of Alexandria)

The developer of a seven-story, 180-unit apartment building across the street from the Braddock Road Metro station is asking the city for an extension of its development special use permit.

West Street Acquisitions says a number of important steps have been made on the one-acre project at 727 N. West Street, which was denied by the City Council in March 2021 and then approved two months later. After some delays, including a legal battle with a neighbor citing city regulations prohibiting the Council from reviewing a denied application for a year, work on the four-year-old project has been slow, and the development special use permit is about to expire.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 16, 2025 at 3:30PM

Meal at Taqueria Poblano (via Taqueria Poblano)

It’s finally Friday in Alexandria!

Here’s a look back at our top stories of the week. Topping off our coverage are the delectable poll results on the top three Mexican restaurants in the city. More than 1,800 foodies cast their votes, and Taqueria el Poblano (2400B Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray took the top spot, followed by Taqueria Picoso (1472 N. Beauregard Street) and Los Tios Grill (2615 Mount Vernon Avenue). Do you agree with the results?

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George Mason Elementary School modernization plans heading to City Council

By James Cullum

Published May 14, 2025 at 2:30PM

George Mason Elementary School modernization rendering (via City of Alexandria)

After coasting through the Planning Commission, plans to modernize George Mason Elementary School are heading to City Council for this Saturday (May 17).

Alexandria City Public Schools is hoping to cut the ribbon on the new two-story building in the summer of 2027. The project will keep the original 1939 building, although ACPS plans to demolish a majority of the existing school and replace it with a two-story structure for a capacity of 670 students and 80 teachers and staff.