This essay is part of a series in which we’ve asked Alexandrians to envision our region in 2050.
Learn more about the series and read more essays on the Alexandria 2050 project page here.
Campbell4Council21
Bill Campbell
Decisions our leaders and citizens make today are defining what Alexandria will be like in 2050. Our collective desire to value diversity should drive our decisions. Income, housing, thought, race and cultural diversity should each be considered as we plan and build our city’s future.
The western part of our city is our least finished canvas with incredible opportunities for growth, improvements and adding modern amenities. With opportunity comes challenges. Recognizing, appreciating and supporting current residents and businesses amidst overwhelming change is a daunting dilemma.
The Landmark Mall redevelopment serves as a cornerstone for west end modernization. Inova Hospital will anchor a village with multiple housing options and a bus transit hub. Tasks include defining appropriate transit corridors and walkways to and from the area. An additional school is needed, and funding will be a challenge.
The Van Dorn metro has opportunities for meaningful change. The Eisenhower corridor between the waterpark and the highway currently has a combination of warehouses and businesses. The Victory Center and its surrounding acreage will likely be redeveloped into offices, retail, condominiums and townhomes. The paving business will be closing but growth change in that area should remain on a steady pace given the number of small, medium and larger businesses to include the Covanta Waste Treatment Plant.
Over the next thirty years, the middle of our city will remain the least changed. This part of Alexandria contains mostly single-family housing and only a few businesses. Several schools are in this area including Alexandria’s four high schools. Enlarging, renovating and modernizations are currently on-going at each of the three privately held schools and the public properties.
The middle of our city does have potential change areas to the south. The Eisenhower East area and the Duke Street corridor from the Masonic Temple to Landmark offers wonderful opportunities many of which are underway now. The Eisenhower metro area will transform into a livable, walkable, urban neighborhood with a transit hub. The area has Alexandria’s tallest building and if density makes sense anywhere, it is in areas such as this. Challenges again will include respecting resident’s and small businesses already in the neighborhood, protecting the waterway and improving the connection to the highway.
The eastern end of Alexandria is a major tourist attraction primarily for its historical significance, colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and unique dining and shopping opportunities. The historical character of this area must be maintained even as changes occur in the east and elsewhere around the city.
The vision for the waterfront is for it to become a 21st century multi-faceted attraction with parks, art, boutique hotels, shopping, dining and new waterfront housing options. The challenges with these goals include the fact that there remains many privately own properties and homes. Negotiations have secured rights-of-ways to allow for eventual public access along a significant stretch of the riverfront. New and individually owned housing options will remain multi-million-dollar choices only available to folks with high incomes and high net worth.
Alexandria’s Old Town small area plans do show change opportunities mostly at the northern and southern ends and also currently occupied supported housing will soon require upgrading. The recently approved Heritage Project will change the view of the city’s southern entry. In the northeast, cleanup of the former GenOn powerplant continues and offers unique opportunities for various housing, retail and green space possibilities. Lastly, the supported housing in the “Berg” and Andrew Adkins will afford the city additional opportunities to work with residents, property owners, developers and federal agencies to upgrade and increase housing, retail and amenities while maintaining varying levels of affordability.
I’m running for city council not on the promise of making Alexandria a fanciful utopic “Pleasantville”. I’ll listen to our citizens, experts, staff and advocacy groups. I’ll continue to study and learn from our history. I’ll look at development, infrastructure and service plans. Based on what I learn from these interactions and undertakings, coupled with my varied life experiences, I’ll vote on and make recommendations to policies, ordinances and permits that I believe will best serve Alexandrians now and into the future. Lastly, I’ll always be honest and straightforward in all of my exchanges. Our campaign motto is “Equitably managing inevitable change”. I hope to earn your respect and your vote.
Bill Campbell is running for city council in Alexandria in 2021. His candidate website is at www.campbell4council21.com.
