In The Works: Top 3 Developments Coming To Alexandria
Potomac River Generating Station
Developer: NRG Energy
The 25-acre site at 1300 North Royal St. that hosted the Potomac River Generating Station will be redeveloped into 2.1M SF of walkable mixed-use. NRG Energy operated the plant, which closed in 2012. The company is purchasing the land from Pepco to demolish the station, reserving a 5.78-acre portion for a Pepco switching yard.
The Old Town North Small Area plan encompasses the site and some additional land. The redevelopment will be 20% to 50% nonresidential, with green space, an arts district and a waterfront park. The plan also expands the street grid onto the site to make it pedestrian-friendly.
The neighborhood committee that released the plan suggests the redevelopment be a coordinated development district zone matching the character and style of Old Town. Construction will have to wait until NRG finishes decontaminating the soil and groundwater at the site.
Crowne Plaza
Developer: Carr Companies
Carr Companies will redevelop the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 901 North Fairfax St. The parking lot will become 40 townhouses, while the 253-room, 14-story hotel will either continue to operate as a hotel or be converted to multifamily.
The plan also provides for a 5K SF arts facility, which may become home to Alexandria’s professional theater company MetroStage. Carr Companies hopes to solidify all plan components by the end of 2018.
2551 Main Line Blvd.
Developer: Potomac Yard Development
The Alexandria City Council voted 6-1 to approve revised plans for a 190K SF condominium development at 2551 Main Line Blvd. in October. The new plan calls for twin 70-foot-tall buildings, one with 70 units and another with 72 units. This new plan nearly quadruples the original unit count and raises the height of the Potomac Yard complexes from 55 feet to 70 feet.
Earlier in October, residents in nearby townhomes had a chance to oppose the revised plan. Many who bought the new townhomes over the past two years felt blindsided by the expansion and voiced privacy-related concerns.
