Image courtesy of PT Blooms, LLC and The City of Alexandria
More than 70 new residences could rise next to historic homes in Old Town.
At a Feb. 17 meeting of the Board of Architectural Review (BAR), developer PT Blooms, LLC presented their concept to build a five-story multifamily residential building of 73 units in the 800 block of North Columbus Street.
The proposed development site is located between 805 to 823 North Columbus Street and is currently occupied by vacant lots and parking lots. Records indicate that there were seven townhomes on the site at one point, which were demolished in the 1980s and 1990s.
The site is surrounded in neighboring blocks by two and three story townhomes, and is directly adjacent to the five-story Towne Hotel on North Washington Street which is currently under construction.
The developers propose a five-story multifamily residence building that tapers to three stories on each side of the building. The design of the three-story sections use masonry, bays, cornices, varying brick colors, piers and metal railings to break up the mass of the building and allow it to blend better with its setting in the historic area. The five story portion of the building is more modern and simple, so as not to detract from the more decorative facades of the lower portion. Below-grade parking would be accessed by a rear alley.
City staff recommended that the BAR approve the design concept after a number of meetings with the developers.
The only public speaker, Gail Rothrock, who represents the Historic Alexandria Foundation, expressed concern over five story height, advocated steel and concrete construction vs. wooden construction because wood construction is more of a fire hazard. She also lamented the lack of open space.
The representative for the developer explained that construction type has not been determined and that building height is necessary for financial reasons.
Members of the BAR commented that the design needed to blend better with the surrounding townhouses in height, mass and architectural details as opposed to the warehouse look proposed by developers. One member thought the mix of styles between the third-story and five-story parts of the building was problematic. Members also posed questions about zoning and open space which is currently 20 percent ground level and 20 percent rooftop green space. The developers will continue to refine the project based off the feedback.
