Planning Commission | ALXnow

Mark Center development plans head to Planning Commission this week

Published September 7, 2021 at 2:15PM | Updated September 8, 2021 at 11:37AM

(Updated 9/8) Alexandria has many charming, attractive neighborhoods — the Mark Center isn’t one of them. But while it’s unlikely the highway-adjacent office park will be competing with Del Ray or Old Town anytime soon, a new pair of land-use changes could open the door down the road to the start of something of a transformation for the area.

Two parcels in the Mark Center Coordinated Development District (CDD) are headed to the Planning Commission on Thursday, Sept. 9 — the Hilton Hotel site at 5000 Seminary Road and the IDA site at 4880 Mark Center Drive. The applicants are asking for changes to open up some of the allowable uses on the site for future commercial and residential development.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published September 3, 2021 at 3:35PM

Alexandria was spared from significant flooding this week after remnants of Hurricane Ida swept through the East Coast. The only flooding found was on lower King Street in Old Town, where businesses laid sandbags at windows and doorways.

“We’re open inside, but if you want to eat you’re probably going to have to come barefoot,” a hostess at Mai Thai told ALXnow on Wednesday.

News

City could extend pandemic-support for local businesses into 2022

By Vernon Miles

Published September 2, 2021 at 3:40PM

At a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9, the Planning Commission is scheduled to review a proposal to extend certain boons to local businesses set up during the pandemic into next year with the possibility of some changes being made permanent.

The list includes an array of changes aimed at making life a little easier for businesses that took a hit during the pandemic. The changes are currently scheduled to expire on January 1, 2022, but staff is looking to extend that to April next year.

News

New policy could open up more ‘co-living’ options in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published September 2, 2021 at 10:45AM

Apartment kitchen, via Naomi Hébert/Unsplash

At an upcoming meeting on Thursday, Sept. 9, the Planning Commission is docketed to look at over a new policy that would open up more “co-living” across the city.

Co-living, as defined by the city, is a residential use which allows housing where private bedrooms can be connected to shared spaces, like kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms. Suites can have private bathrooms, but no private cooking facilities are allowed in individual suites or bedrooms under this use.

News

West End school purchase headed to Planning Commission review

By Vernon Miles

Published August 31, 2021 at 1:00PM

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

Three years after Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School opened in a former West End office (1701 N Beauregard Street), Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is moving forward with plans to purchase the rest of the office block for eventual conversion into school space.

ACPS is headed to the Planning Commission on Thursday, Sept. 9, to review plans to purchase the office building for conversion into an educational space. What exactly that will entail, though, still remains to be determined. In the short-term, the building could be used as swing space for schools undergoing modernization, but could eventually become its own 600 student school.

News

Parker-Gray development asks for more density and less parking

By Vernon Miles

Published August 9, 2021 at 9:30AM

Proposed 805 N Columbus Street development (image via City of Alexandria)

A new five-story residential development in the Parker-Gray neighborhood is moving forward this fall.

The 805 Columbus Street development led by PT Blooms LLC is docketed for review at the Planning Commission on Oct. 5 with a handful of requested zoning modifications — like an increase to the maximum building height, an increase in density, and a parking reduction.

News

Development on West End lot could signal the start of Mark Center overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published August 5, 2021 at 3:30PM

Mark Center parcel being redeveloped, via Google Maps

A proposal to turn a vacant Mark Center lot into a potential residential or commercial use — rather than office — could signal the start of a planned overhaul to the West End office center.

In a new master plan amendment for 5000 Seminary Road and 4880 Mark Center Drive filed by CRP Mark Center Hotel LLC and Institute For Defense Analyses, the vacant lots could be turned into a variety of non-office developments. The overhaul of the site is closely tied with plans to install a bus rapid transit (BRT) system called the West End Transitway.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 16, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated July 19, 2021 at 10:11AM

The grand finale of Alexandria's birthday celebration over the Potomac River, July 7, 2018 (staff photo by James Cullum)

What a hot week in Alexandria.

With temperatures hovering in the mid-90s, the week started with a power outage at a 17-story apartment building in Landmark area. The outage lasted five days and residents had to find accommodations until the building reopened Friday afternoon.

News

Landmark Mall plan approved as Planning Commission demands better environmental considerations

By Vernon Miles

Published June 28, 2021 at 2:35PM

Landmark Mall rendering (image via City of Alexandria)

The plans to redevelop Landmark Mall are moving forward — but with a corollary added at the Planning Commission last week that requires the developer to step up their green energy policies and caused some tension on the Commission.

Dissatisfaction with the developer’s green energy plans were first expressed by Commissioner Stephen Koenig. He acknowledged that the developers hit the bare minimums required, but suggested the city should wield its power of approval for greater density to push for more.

News

Ownership of Landmark’s streets could make a big difference down the road

By Vernon Miles

Published May 27, 2021 at 10:45AM

Landmark Mall rendering (image via City of Alexandria)

The building blocks for what will become a sweeping mixed-use development replacing Landmark Mall are almost in place. A small discussion about street ownership could also have big implications for the future of the site’s identity.

The Eisenhower West Landmark Van Dorn Implementation Advisory Group met on Monday to put some of the finishing touches on some of the initial framework discussed over the last few months. One of the major points of discussion is over who will own the roads.

News

New private academy in Old Town headed to Planning Commission

By Vernon Miles

Published May 25, 2021 at 2:15PM

A new private school, The Linder Academy, could move in above the Old Town if it gets permission Planning Commission and City Council meetings next month.

The Linder Academy is headed to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, June 1, to review the proposal to allow the academy to operate at 601, 607 and 609 S. Washington Street and 710 Gibbon Street.