Building in an environmentally-sustainable, eco-conscious way will be a key point for Inova Health Systems and Foulger-Pratt throughout the redevelopment of the 51-acre Landmark Mall property, the companies said Thursday night at a virtual community meeting.
In a unexpected twist, this environmental focus means that the 2,900-space mall parking garage will stay in place.
Foulger-Pratt built the garage in 1988 for the mall and said the structure is in good condition for its age. While the garage needs some rehabbing and reconfiguration, keeping the garage in place is better for the environment than demolishing it and building new. Concrete production releases a significant amount of carbon dioxide into the environment.
In addition, Foulger-Pratt plans to follow LEED Neighborhood Development standards (shown in the slide presented at Thursday night's community meeting below). All buildings in the new development will be designed for solar and will have high-performance facades for insulation and efficiency, the buildings will be all-electric (no natural gas heat, for example), and many buildings will have “green roofs.” About 100 electric vehicle charging stations will be installed throughout the development.
In addition, Foulger-Pratt and the City of Alexandria will make significant investments in stormwater management, which barely exists on the site now. A transit hub, multiple bike-friendly pathways and walkability both in the site and to and from the site from nearby neighborhoods will be a significant part of the design.
“Nothing is greener than using less energy,” said Bob Abt, vice president of development for Foulger-Pratt.
Inova itself will also be investing in renewable energy through Dominion and will be focusing on the environment as it designs and builds the new hospital on the northwest end of the current Landmark Mall property.
“Inova understands that climate change is real,” said Tom McDuffie, president of Inova Realty. The hospital buildings will not skimp on using mechanical systems that are energy efficient and will ensure buildings are very well insulated. “Our goal is to substantially reduce our carbon footprint.”
Affordable Housing On-Site
During the meeting, Foulger-Pratt also mentioned that affordable housing would be built on site. While most developers contribute to the city’s affordable housing fund, Foulger-Pratt will be taking the money it would have had to donate and instead building affordable housing into the development.
There will be about 45 affordable rental units mixed into with market-rate units in the development. In addition, they plan to provide families and opportunity to buy condo units at affordable prices, and a public-private partnership will fund and develop 200 more rental units co-located on the block with the fire station.
Design work on the entire project is ongoing and will take a few more years, during which time the community will have more opportunities to get involved. More details will be provided at AlexandriaVA.gov/Landmark.
Infrastructure development for the entire project is expected to start in 2023.
