Planning Commission

Developer wants to keep pump house at former power plant site in Old Town North

Published May 5, 2026 at 3:45PM

View from the proposed pump house roof deck at the former PRGS site in Old Town North (via HRP Group)

HRP Group wants to keep the pump house at the former coal-fired Potomac River Generating Station property in Old Town North, representatives said during meeting last night (Monday).

The developer rolled out the plan for Blocks B and C of the sprawling project in an hour-and-a-half-long Zoom meeting. The development is spread across six blocks, and entails the full deconstruction of the former power plant, replacing it with more than 10 acres of public open space, as well as mixed-use apartment and retail buildings.

News

Stinging criticism leveled against proposed beekeeping regulations in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2026 at 1:45PM

A bee at Windmill Hill Park in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new proposal to regulate beekeeping in Alexandria is creating some buzz as it heads to the Planning Commission tonight (May 5).

The Planning Commission is slated to consider new rules that would limit the number of hives allowed on properties, create 5-to-10-foot setbacks for those hives, and allow beekeeping equipment as accessory structures.

News

Old Town Pool replacement plans floating to Planning Commission

By James Cullum

Published April 28, 2026 at 3:45PM

Bird's-eye view rendering looking southeast at Old Town Pool from the parking lot (via City of Alexandria)

A proposal to completely replace the Old Town Pool and bathhouse and make landscape improvements is heading to the Alexandria Planning Commission.

On Tuesday, May 5, the Planning Commission will weigh in on the proposal by the city’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities to completely renovate the pool facility, to fully renovate the pool facility, which has not had a major update since it opened in 1975. The meeting follows a unanimous recommendation from the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, which endorsed the project in a letter to City Council.

Around Town

McDonald’s closes Van Dorn Street location to build second drive-thru lane

By James Cullum

Published April 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

McDonald's at 505 S. Van Dorn Street closed for repairs on April 7, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The McDonald’s at 505 S. Van Dorn Street in the Landmark/Van Dorn corridor closed this week to build a second drive-thru lane.

The second drive-thru lane was approved unanimously by the Planning Commission and City Council last year and will replace an existing loading area, which will be moved to the front of the building, according to a presentation from McDonald’s.

News

Nonprofit requests extension for 91-unit affordable housing redevelopment in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published February 26, 2026 at 3:31PM | Updated February 27, 2026 at 12:21PM

Elbert Avenue Apartments (via Google Maps)

Housing nonprofit Community Lodgings, Inc. (CLI) is asking for an extension to redevelop an existing 28-unit affordable apartment building in the Arlandria neighborhood with more housing.

CLI is planning to construct a six-story, 91-unit affordable apartment building at 3908 Elbert Avenue, more-than tripling the amount of units the property currently has. The nonprofit, which received approval for the project in February 2023, previously said in its application that it wouldn’t have been able to break ground before the expiration of its development special use permit, which passed yesterday (Wednesday).

News

Developer proposes converting office complex into townhomes on Eisenhower Avenue

By James Cullum

Published February 25, 2026 at 12:15PM

Tri Pointe Homes wants to redevelop 4701 and 4801 Eisenhower into a residential development (via Google Maps)

A plan to convert a two-story office complex into a residential community with 37 townhomes on Eisenhower Avenue is headed to the Planning Commission in April.

D.C.-area homebuilder Tri Pointe Homes is asking for permission to convert property at 4701 and 4801 Eisenhower Avenue into a residential development with 80 back-to-back units and 24% ground-level open space. The proposal, considered “phase 2” of the existing Eisenhower Pointe housing development, is expected to go before the commission on Tuesday, April 7.

News

Old Town property owner wants to convert boating supply store into powerlifting gym

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated January 26, 2026 at 6:55PM

619 S. Patrick Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

A 24-hour Scandanavian-inspired bodybuilding gym is being proposed to replace the West Marine boating supply store at 601 and 619 S. Patrick Street in Old Town.

Desiree Marvin, the owner of Valhalla Property Holding, LLC, is asking the city for permission to renovate the existing building and convert it into an “upscale bodybuilding gym” with personal trainers, an open-concept layout, heavy lifting equipment and cardio machines, according to an application.

News

City to discuss future land usage on Duke Street during work session tomorrow

By James Cullum

Published January 5, 2026 at 9:15AM

The Duke Street Land Use Plan will cover the area between Alexandria's Union Station and the former Landmark Mall property (via City of Alexandria)

The Planning Commission will host a work session tomorrow (Tuesday) on a draft plan for the future of Duke Street.

Still in its infancy, the Duke Street Land Use Plan is intended to guide city officials in the development of the Duke Street corridor from the former Landmark Mall to Alexandria Union Station. The document is expected to be ready for City Council consideration and adoption from late 2026 to early 2027, according to the city.

News

Alexandria seeks to streamline office-to-residential conversions

By James Cullum

Published December 29, 2025 at 9:30AM

The conversion of 601 Wythe Street in Old Town from office to residential was approved in 2025 by City Council (via Google Maps)

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.

News

New ‘Green Building Plan’ proposal seeks to update environmental criteria for developments

By Katie Taranto

Published December 15, 2025 at 9:45AM

Alexandria City Hall in Old Town in 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

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.

News

Office conversion into 20-unit apartment building proposed in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published December 11, 2025 at 3:45PM

732 N. Washington Street (via Google Maps)

A proposal for the conversion of a five-story Old Town office into a 20-unit apartment building is headed to the Planning Commission next month.

The 27,000-square-foot office at 732 N. Washington Street has been home to the American Statistical Association (ASA) for 20 years. Now ASA is asking for the city’s permission to convert it into an apartment building with a roof deck and apartment balconies/patios with the following units.