Asland and Hord Coplan Macht
It looks like The Heritage Apartment project design will need to undergo additional changes before receiving approval from the Board of Architectural Review (BAR).
The project has faced a number of criticisms from both members of the public and members of the BAR since it was brought forth by Asland Capital Partners in November 2019 and plans for redevelopment were made public in July 2020.
One of the primary concerns is that the proposed development, which would replace the existing 1970s garden-style apartments in Southeast Old Town, are too large for Old Town and do not fit with the historical and unique character of Alexandria.
Another concern is that the history of the neighborhood around the development, known as “The Bottoms” needs to be properly researched and reflected.
Developers have gone through a number of designs in response to criticisms including reducing the size and height of the buildings and proposing various architectural features.
At a meeting of the BAR on Oct. 21, owner of The Heritage apartments, Jim Simmons, made a presentation about the rich black history of the neighborhood and assured that the people, places and events that make up that history would be highlighted and celebrated in the new buildings and open spaces.
An architect from Hord Coplan and Macht then presented yet another version of the proposed apartments based off feedback from the September BAR meeting. Some of the height closest to nearby town houses was brought down to four stories but some parts of the building remained as high as seven stories. The exterior of the building was simplified and horizontal bands, cornice lines, balconies and brick detailing were added to better reflect the historical character of Old Town.
A dozen members of the public, mostly residents of the southwest quadrant and representatives of HOAs and civic associations, spoke at the meeting voicing concerns at the height, mass, scale and design of the buildings. They worried about their property value, light and privacy and a disruption to their neighborhood and quality of life. They requested that the BAR not approve the project without significant alterations.
Members of the BAR discussed the features they liked and didn't like about the new designs. Most members agreed that the large structures should be broken up into separate buildings, heights should be lowered in some spots and that some architectural features should be redesigned to be more appropriate for Alexandria. The BAR decided that another concept review was necessary. A recording of Wednesday's meeting can be found here.
