Rendering courtesy of EYA
Riverfront Landing
Momentum continues at Robinson Landing in Old Town as the first condominium building rises above ground, nearly half of the townhomes are occupied or ready for move-ins and plans for onsite dining to be operated by Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP) have been approved by the City of Alexandria.
The waterfront community, located on the city block bounded by the Potomac River, S. Union, Duke and Wolfe streets, remains on schedule to be completed mid 2020, according to EYA LLC.
At its March 16 public hearing, the Alexandria City Council authorized Special Use Permits for Robinson Landing dining concepts proposed by Alexandria Restaurant Partners.
The restaurant approvals affirmed recommendations previously passed by the City’s Planning Commission. Plans call for a fine dining restaurant and café both overlooking the water with an open air-seating concept that will activate the Robinson Landing Pier.
Also read: New restaurant proposed for Robinson Landing
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson commented on plans for the pier at the Council’s public hearing.
“I think this is what we spent a great deal of time trying to get to during the waterfront planning process,” he said. “…This is actually what we envisioned, and I’m pretty excited to see it come to fruition.”
ARP, which operates six unique restaurants in Alexandria, plans a 5,000-square-foot, ground floor, fine dining space with sweeping views of the Potomac in the condominium building where Duke Street crosses The Strand along the new waterfront promenade.
The restaurant will offer indoor seating for 184 with 83 additional seats on an outdoor patio. ARP founding partner Scott Shaw said they are developing a chef-driven concept with a wood-fired kitchen serving grilled seafood, top quality steaks, signature vegetarian dishes and an extensive wine list.
The second restaurant is a casual Mediterranean concept that combines a small year-round operation in a second condominium building with a 232-seat outdoor area on Robinson Landing’s renovated pier. The menu will feature small and shared plates from Spain, Turkey and Greece along with wines from the region.
The year-round café will have 32 indoor seats with another 32 outdoor. It will also serve as the prep kitchen for the pier seats and house restrooms for outdoor patrons and the general public. The pier will have a small portable finish grill adjacent to the seating area.
Other areas of the pier will include floating docks for transient boaters and space for public seating and entertainment.
Nathan Macek, Alexandria Planning Commission chairman and Waterfront Commission member, said he believes the restaurants will establish Robinson Landing as the southern anchor to the Alexandria waterfront.
“This activation of these spaces is the fulfillment of what we had hoped would happen when the waterfront plan was adopted,” he said at the March 5 Planning Commission meeting. “This is a very deliberate attempt by this Strand area of the waterfront to make it activated and to provide some attractions that would draw people and draw out visitors to this area.”
Shaw expects Robinson Landing to be a popular spot for local diners.
“The restaurants will succeed based on our winning the loyalty of the people who live nearby and can walk to the restaurants from neighborhoods in the old historic district,” he said.
Win Sheridan, a lifelong Alexandrian and future Robinson Landing resident, expressed his support.
“I couldn’t be more excited and proud of how Old Town is growing and evolving, especially along our waterfront,” he said. “One of the main reasons I made the decision to buy at Robinson landing was their plan to add high quality restaurants. Alexandria Restaurant Partners already has a great track record and reputation, and I have no doubt they will open places that Old Town will be proud to call its own.”
Residential construction and site development at Robinson Landing is moving rapidly. The first of three, five-story condominium buildings is rising above Wolfe Street. Above-ground construction on the remaining two buildings begins later this spring.
When completed, there will be a total of 70 condominiums and 26 townhomes residences.
Interest in the Robinson Landing condominiums continues to grow as the buildings progress. Fifteen townhomes have already been sold or reserved, with homeowner move-ins starting last fall, according to Evan Goldman, vice president of EYA LLC, Robinson Landing’s lead developer.
“The community is taking shape,” said Goldman “and everyone in Alexandria is beginning to see how Robinson Landing is delivering on the City’s larger plan to beautify and enliven this previously undeveloped area of the waterfront.
Robinson Landing is a joint venture among EYA-affiliated companies; JBG Fund IX, a private fund managed by JBG SMITH Properties; and Mitsui Fudosan America (MFA). When completed in 2020, the project will include 26 townhomes, 70 condominiums with onsite dining and retail, waterfront promenade and a revitalized pier.
