An open house for residents to both provide input and ask questions about the Landmark Mall redevelopment site is scheduled for Dec. 12.
The mall’s replanning process lauched with a community meeting on Nov. 14, during which officials announced that Howard Hughes Corp., which owned most of the property, had gained control over the entire 51-acre site. An agreement with Sears, which is still open and operating, means Sears will be a part of the redevelopment. “We can now redevelop it as it needs to be. … All the acquisitions, barriers and impediments to redevelopment have been taken care of,” said Howard Hughes Corp. VP Mark Bulmash.
Actual demolition of the mall property may still be a few years away as the planning and design process continue.
The Dec. 12 open house, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brandywine Living at 5500 Cardinal Place in Alexandria, is part of the ongoing community engagement process. Officials are asking residents for input on uses for the space, signature spaces and incorporating recently-adopted policies to promote traffic safety and alternative transportation.
A number of questions came up at the Nov. 14 community meeting, including what traffic management will be in place to ensure easy access to the redeveloped property. The Virginia Department of Transportation has no plans to add lanes to roads around the Landmark property at this time, and there has been limited discussion regarding additional traffic on both Van Dorn and Duke Streets.
Residents also raised questions on the impact on the aging water and sewer system in Alexandria, whether affordable housing will be a part of the plan, whether there will be new public services like an additional school, library, police or fire station, or a medical facility. Some residents also asked for cultural facilities and event spaces to be included.
Howard Hughes Corp. is trying to retain flexibility as they plan, hoping market forces will show the best uses for the site.
For more information on the redevelopment, go to alexandriava.gov/Landmark.
