Story updated Tuesday, June 7:
1101 King St.
The Planning Commission on June 7 will consider whether to allow developers to convert an underused office building at 1101 King St. into 210 residential units with retail remaining on the lower floor.
The building takes up more than two-thirds of the block bounded by King, North Henry (Route 1 South), Cameron and North Fayette streets.
It was built in the 1980s and renovated in 2017. It features a spacious interior atrium and multiple floors of office suites. The ground floor features The Fresh Baguette (which opened earlier this year) in addition to a deli, an eye doctor and Orange Theory fitness. The building also features a conference center on the upper floors and a rooftop deck.
According to the Special Use Permit application, “The existing building on the property is an aging condo office building and has struggled to retain tenants over the years. The building is approximately 80 percent vacant. Due to its condo office status, it is challenging to bring the office space to Class A condition. A major challenge to the building’s occupancy is the step back terrace design which creates an inefficient floor plate for office uses. It does, however, present an excellent layout for the transformation to residential use. Residential use is complimentary to the neighborhood and important to the continued retail revitalization along King Street.”
The building is one of a number of buildings being converted from office use to residential both across Alexandria and nationwide, as the pandemic upended office culture and sped up the acceptance of work-from-home arrangements.
The building does have an above-ground parking garage, but the building was constructed in the 1980s and parking requirements have changed since it was built. Because “some parking spaces, drive aisles and other elements of the existing garage may not meet the current parking design standards,” the building’s owners are requesting a reduction in required parking.
