Image courtesy of The City of Alexandria
UDR Newport Village, LLC is seeking to tear down 24 existing housing units in two garden-style apartment buildings and replace them with a large multifamily residential building with 383 units.
The new building would be on roughly 4 acres of land in the larger Newport Village apartment development at 4898 West Braddock Rd., near Northern Virginia Community College.
The project will be presented to the Planning Commission during their Feb. 2 meeting. It would require the approval of amendments to the Alexandria West Small Area Plan and zoning map to increase density and height of the building from 45 feet to 92 feet. In addition, a permit allowing for increased FAR as well as other construction related permits would be required.
The report prepared by City staff advocates for approval of the proposal citing the project’s multiple benefits to the City as listed below:
- The dedication of land and easements to the City…for future construction of the West End Transitway, a shared bicycle/pedestrian path and future streetscape improvements;
- Pedestrian and streetscape improvements, including the accommodation for a future West End Transitway bus stop as well as the closure of two slip-lanes at the intersection of North Beauregard Street and West Braddock Road for improved pedestrian safety;
- Provision of ground-level open space and tree crown coverage exceeding zoning requirements;
- Consistency with the City’s 2019 Green Building Policy;
- Public art contribution / on-site public art ($75,000 value);
- Contribution for the installation of a Capital Bikeshare station ($40,000);
- Voluntary affordable housing contribution ($418,608); and
- Twelve on-site affordable units (valued at approximately $3.36 million).
The report went on to note that there are already nearby buildings of similar height including the Array at West Alex which was approved for 111 feet, The Goodwin House and The Fountains at Washington House which are both 150 feet.
Photo courtesy of Newport Village
An example of existing apartments at Newport Village.
City staff also advocated increased density saying, “the existing number of units within the boundaries of the project site - 24 units within two, three-story buildings – is low for a property at the intersection of two major streets within the City and well-served by public transit.”
The Alexandria West Small Area Plan lists one of its objectives as “prevent redevelopment of existing uses at greater intensities.” To justify this contradiction, staff says the proposed redevelopment fits larger City goals and allows the opportunity for “smart growth” and “modern urban planning practices” in light of the construction of the future transit system.
The proposed multifamily building will house 24 studios, 255 one-bedroom units and 104 two-bedroom units. In addition, the building will have space that is “retail ready” or convertible to retail/commercial uses in the future. A roof deck and green roof areas are also part of the proposal. Parking will be provided in a garage that is partially below grade and partially above grade due to the topography of the site.
Despite being listed as a perk for the project, the building will only be required to produce 12 affordable housing units. The Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee reviewed the applicant’s Affordable Housing Plan earlier this year. According to the report, “members expressed disappointment with the number of proposed affordable units being provided in light of the magnitude of the increase in density, while acknowledging that the application was not subject to the December 2020 policy update.” The 2020 update would have required the project to provide at least 18 affordable units.
The Planning Commission will review the project on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. The public can attend the virtual meeting on the City’s website here.
