Office-to-Residential Development Trend Continues at Transpotomac Plaza in Old Town North

Retail and arts will be a part of the new TideLock.

Jun. 10, 2021

1:46 p.m.

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Image courtesy of TideLock Property Owner, LLC

Proposed redevelopment of Transpotomac Plaza

After taking a break during 2020, the Old Town North Urban Design Advisory Committee kicked off its first 2021 meeting with an updated presentation on the proposed development of the Transpotomac Plaza.

The proposed project known as TideLock would convert three existing brick office buildings at 1033, 1055 and 1111 N. Fairfax St. into residential buildings and create a new arts and retail building. The site is 1.38 acres or 60,123 square feet in size. The office buildings were formally occupied by the American Physical Therapy Association before they moved to their new office building in Potomac Yards.

Photo by Susannah Moore

Existing conditions at Transpotomac Plaza

In the proposal, the applicant, TideLock Property Owner, LLC, plans to retain the existing parking garages and the general structure and facades of the existing buildings while adding height and density using the bonus density allowed for affordable housing and arts use that is laid out in the Old Town North Small Area Plan.

Two of buildings will be connected to create one large rental building while the third building will become condominiums for a total of 234 residential units. Fifteen of the rental units will be affordable. Heights of the residential buildings could reach 105 feet, according to the proposal.

The applicant hopes that the outdoor space between the condo and rental buildings will eventually connect to Tide Lock Park and the Mount Vernon Trail. The applicant is working with neighboring property owners Carr and Hilco to remove existing train tracks to create access.

A new separate 2-story arts and retail building is proposed which will contain 6,599 square feet of retail and 5,000 square feet of arts space as well as a rooftop deck. The applicant has been in discussion with Levine Music as the potential occupant of the arts space.

Levine Music describes itself as a “ welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.” A small lawn area could allow for outdoor concerts in the style of a mini “Wolf Trap” a popular outdoor music venue in Vienna.

In a win for environmentalists, developers will retain existing trees on the site.

Nearby residents have criticized the project for taking away their water views by the connection of two of the buildings and the increased height. Some members of the design committee echoed these sentiments and were concerned of the increase in height and density and questioned if the resulting arts and small number of affordable units were worth the increase.

The applicant plans to schedule and advertise a public community meeting on the project for additional input. Images of the proposed project are below.

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