From: City of Alexandria staff report
Montgomery Center redevelopment proposal.
The redevelopment of an entire block in Old Town North is heading to the planning commission later this month.
The 2 acres bordered by Montgomery, North Fairfax, Royal, Madison and North Royal streets is the current home to a variety of small businesses and one- and two-story buildings. Tenants include a few restaurants, offices and the Art League educational annex.
MC Property (c/o Carr City Centers) is seeking permission to construct "a multifamily building with a total of 327 units with an arts and culture anchor and ground floor retail."
Ground floor tenants would include an arts and cultural anchor for live entertainment. In exchange for the promise of the arts, outdoor recreation and entertainment use, the developer is seeking parking reduction. The developer would give at least $2 million to various city initatives, including the Old Town North Streetscape and Implementation Fund, affordable housing, capital bikeshare and parking meters. (Much of the neighborhood currently offers free two-hour parking.)
According to the city's staff report, the new development could be a "four-to-eight story building with 327 residential units, 25,273 square feet of retail and a 13,321 square foot music performance venue with high ceilings and open column-free spaces to accommodate seating for approximately 600 patrons. The building will be constructed atop two underground parking levels accommodating 406 spaces." About 22 of the units would be affordable to those making 60% of the area median income based on 2022 data.
