Planning Commission | ALXnow

Expired Landmark Overlook project in Alexandria’s West End gets three-year extension

Published July 3, 2025 at 1:45PM

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)

The Alexandria City Council, this week, approved the three-year extension of an expired plan to build hundreds of residential units in Alexandria’s Landmark area.

The three-year development special use permit for the 8-acre Landmark Overlook project expired in February. Council initially approved the plan in 2022 by West End Development Associates 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.

News

Street named after former President Eisenhower’s childhood hometown proposed in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 23, 2025 at 3:00PM

President Dwight D. Eisenhower (via Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum/Facebook)

A request to name a new street after former President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s childhood hometown in Kansas is heading to the Planning Commission tonight (June 23).

The new street name, Abilene Street, has been proposed for a new roadway that would run perpendicular to Eisenhower Avenue. It’s all part of the residential conversion approved last year for the former Victory Center property at 5001 Eisenhower Avenue.

News

Developer wants extension for expired ‘Landmark Overlook’ construction permits

By James Cullum

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

Not Fast Enough? McDonald’s on S. Van Dorn Street wants another drive-thru lane

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2025 at 9:00AM

McDonald's at 505 S Van Dorn Street, photo via Google Maps

The 43-year-old McDonald’s restaurant at 505 S. Van Dorn Street is requesting a second drive-through lane to make orders faster.

In a proposal that will go to the Planning Commission in June, the restaurant’s owner asks the city for the change “to better serve our customers, improve the efficiency of the ordering process, and allow for better vehicular circulation on the property.”

News

Episcopal High School named FIFA World Cup training site and wants 40-to-100-foot-tall lights at its athletic fields

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2025 at 3:30PM

The athletic fields at Episcopal High School (via City of Alexandria)

Episcopal High School is about to get a lot brighter.

The private high school at 1200 N. Quaker Lane has been approved to serve as a training site for a team participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and now the school wants to install field lighting with 47 light poles between 40-to-100-feet-tall.

News

Developer adding more apartments to narrow West End property

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2025 at 2:45PM

More apartments are proposed for 2240 N. Beauregard Street in Alexandria's West End (via City of Alexandria)

(more…)

News

PLANS: West End complex to convert old laundry rooms into 19 new apartments

By James Cullum

Published May 5, 2025 at 1:00PM

The Alante Apartments at 4800 Kenmore Avenue (via City of Alexandria)

A 60-year-old apartment complex in the West End is about to get a little bigger.

On Tuesday, the Planning Commission will review a special use permit to add 19 apartments to The Alante Apartments, a 296-unit complex next door to the Seminary Towers Apartments and Francis C. Hammond Middle School, and is bounded by N. Van Dorn Street and Seminary Road.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 18, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated April 19, 2025 at 3:08AM

Flooding on lower King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

We made it to Friday in Alexandria! Here’s a look at our top stories of the week.

Our top post was on the plan to close Waterfront Park and Point Lumley Park for two years. It’s part of the city’s efforts to fight flooding by rebuilding sections of sea wall and installing a pump station to recirculate floodwaters to the Potomac River.

News

PLANS: Akeno Sushi wants to open by the end of the year in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published April 14, 2025 at 1:15PM

Sushi at Akeno Sushi Bar (photo via Akeno Sushi Bar)

Akeno Sushi Bar wants to open before the end of the year at 611 King Street in Old Town, but it has to get a few paperwork issues squared away with the City of Alexandria to make that possible.

The interior renovation of the former home to Java Grill hasn’t started, as the local business is asking the city for an allowance to install a new HVAC system on the roof without a mechanical screen. The proposal going to the Planning Commission on Wednesday (April 16) would replace two HVAC units, add a third unit, and install an exhaust fan.