Courtesy of the City of Alexandria special use permit documentation.
A development group has applied to tear down the former home of Bastille restaurant and the adjacent MetroStage theater and replace it with multifamily homes and an arts/cultural anchor on the ground floor.
The request for a special use permit for the redevelopment of 1201 N. Royal St. in North Old Town is on the City Council docket for Saturday morning. The special use permit requests a zoning change, a permit to develop multifamily dwellings and a height increase (a portion of the new buildings would be 8 stories tall).
The triangular site is bordered by Third Street, North Royal Street and part of the Mount Vernon Trail.
MetroStage is planning to move to the Crowne Plaza site at 901 N. Fairfax Street, which is also undergoing redevelopment.
Up to 90 residential units would be included in the development, according to paperwork filed with the City. The building would include an underground garage.
The arts and cultural anchor would include studios and an art school, and the exterior would include an “arts walk” and improved access to the Mount Vernon Trail spur.
A handful of residents have expressed concerns about traffic and the height of the proposed building. However, City staff recommended approval of the special use permit with recommendations for contributions to the affordable housing development fund, Capital Bikeshare and the Living Landscape fund. (See the complete staff report here.)
The following are images from the City of Alexandria, 1201 N. Royal St. LLC and Bowman Consulting:
City of Alexandria
City of Alexandria
City of Alexandria
