power plant | ALXnow

Power plant redevelopment team talks ‘woonerf’ vs pedestrian-only design

Published February 8, 2023 at 11:15AM | Updated February 10, 2023 at 6:17PM

Woonerf designs for the Potomac River Generating Station development (image via Hilco Redevelopment Partners)

(Updated 6:17 p.m.) Representatives from Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) recently opened up about some of the behind-the-scenes discussions on whether or not to make the central street in Old Town North’s power plant redevelopment project pedestrian-only.

The redevelopment of the GenOn power plant in Old Town North is one of the biggest projects on the city’s horizon, and the centerpiece of that project will be a pedestrian-focused boulevard called a ‘woonerf‘ — a Dutch design concept that prioritizes pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

News

Meeting this month to provide details on remediation plans for Old Town North’s power plant

By Vernon Miles

Published January 12, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated January 12, 2023 at 11:39AM

Tour gathers outside the GenOn power plant in Old Town North (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Beyond the usual mixed-use development topics planned for the immense power plant in Old Town North, there are two other critical issues up for review at a meeting later this month: how the development will handle the rampant contamination at the site and a look at plans for new open space.

Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) have scheduled a community meeting to discuss the remediation and open space plans on Monday, Jan. 30, at 6:30 p.m. The developer will stream the meeting online, but attendees can join in person at ALX Community (201 N Union Street).

News

Roadway designs unveiled for massive Old Town North power plant redevelopment

By James Cullum

Published November 10, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated November 22, 2022 at 10:25PM

A cyclist along a path in Old Town North near the old power plant (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated 10:25 p.m. on 11/22/22) The roadways in Old Town North are set to get an upgrade, thanks to the massive GenOn Power Plant redevelopment.

The 18-acre power plant site has no internal transportation infrastructure, and on Wednesday night (Nov. 8) Hilco Redevelopment Partners revealed its concept designs for the street network.

Opinion

Poll: What do you think of the GenOn Power Plant redevelopment plans?

By Vernon Miles

Published July 8, 2022 at 10:45AM

Earlier this week, Alexandria’s City Council approved two major steps forward for plans to redevelop an abandoned power plant at the north end of Old Town’s waterfront.

The project faced some pushback from tenants and worker unions and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), but ultimately the city voted to approve a master plan amendment for the site and a coordinated development district (CDD) to encompass the project. The master plan amendment was unanimously approved, but the CDD was approved in a 6-1 vote with Council Member Alyia Gaskins voting against it.

News

City Council approves major step in waterfront power plant redevelopment

By Vernon Miles

Published July 6, 2022 at 3:55PM

GenOn Power Plant (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Even after pushback by groups ranging from tenants and worker unions to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), Alexandria’s City Council approved a major step for the GenOn Power Plant redevelopment’s Coordinated Development District (CDD) in a 6-1 vote at a meeting last night (Tuesday).

As with earlier contentious developments, City Council members said they acknowledged concerns about the project, but Mayor Justin Wilson said the prospect of finally cleaning up the power plant site eclipsed those issues.

News

Airports Authority says power plant redevelopment plans threaten DCA safety

By Vernon Miles

Published July 5, 2022 at 2:45PM | Updated July 5, 2022 at 4:35PM

Updated 4:30 p.m. — A spokesperson representing Hilco Redevelopment Partners shared an email with WMWAA indicating that the Airports Authority “is comfortable that the City of Alexandria does not need to ‘defer’ decisions slated for this Application today; instead, the Authority welcomes the City’s expressed commitment in its decision to require increased coordination between MWAA and the City as this Application moves forward.”

The spokesperson also said that because no specific building heights are proposed, the building heights cannot be considered a threat to DCA safety

News

Tenant and worker groups voice opposition to power plant plans ahead of City Council review

By Vernon Miles

Published June 28, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated July 5, 2022 at 12:54PM

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

The GenOn Power Plant redevelopment plans are headed to the City Council with the backing of staff and the Planning Commission but lingering concerns from local workers.

Hilco Redevelopment Partners’ plan is to replace the power plant on the 18.8-acre site with six blocks of new, mixed-use buildings of varying densities and heights and coordinated open space. The city is also planning to expand the boundaries of the Old Town North Arts and Cultural District to include the site.

News

Public tour of Alexandria’s abandoned power plant planned for next week

By Vernon Miles

Published May 2, 2022 at 1:30PM | Updated May 4, 2022 at 11:35AM

Tour gathers outside the GenOn power plant in Old Town North (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

(Updated 5/4) In case you missed your chance for a tour of Alexandria’s abandoned power plant the first time around, the Urban Design Advisory Committee (UDAC) is hosting a tour around the perimeter of the site next week.

The UDAC is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 11 to tour the perimeter of the Potomac River Generating Station (PRGS) at 1300 N. Royal Street around 8:30 a.m. The tour will be followed by a UDAC meeting at City Hall at 10 a.m. Both the tour and the meeting are open to the public.

News

Power plant redevelopment plans shift after lot size proves smaller than originally thought

By Vernon Miles

Published April 28, 2022 at 10:45AM

As it turns out, the GenOn Power Plant site’s size may have been a little exaggerated on city records, and it’s creating a problem for potential redevelopment.

The former GenOn Power Plant site seemed like a gold mine for potential redevelopment as a large parcel of currently unused land, but a look into some of the constraints on the site there might not be as much usable land as initially thought.

News

Alexandria workers and residents plan rally to push for more from GenOn redevelopment

By Vernon Miles

Published February 22, 2022 at 11:00AM

Former Potomac River Generating Station (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria residents and workers are planning to rally at a City Council meeting tonight (Tuesday) to try and push the city to demand developers of the former GenOn power plant to go beyond current affordability plans.

In a release, local union and tenant organizations said the city should require commitments to higher-wage jobs and more housing.

News

Power plant redesign plans head to Alexandria City Council

By Vernon Miles

Published February 17, 2022 at 9:45AM

GenOn Power Plant (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The former GenOn power plant is a closed-off stretch of urban decay, but new plans headed to the City Council paint a picture of the area as a new mixed-use community.

The plans show around 2.1 million square feet of new development at the site with a mix of residential, retails, arts spaces and more. The new development is also positioned as the crown jewel of an Arts and Cultural District in Old Town North approved in 2018.