A commercial-to-residential building transformation at the corner of North Fairfax and Montgomery streets could start to move forward this summer.
The project, at 801 N. Fairfax St., goes before the City of Alexandria Planning Commission this Thursday and may go before the City Council on July 7.
The proposal asks for approval to increase the allowed height of the building as it switches to residential to allow use of the building’s rooftop as part of the long-planned conversion from an office building to homes.
The building is currently empty.
Use of the rooftop for communal space and possibly for mechanical needs will help the project be a successful conversion, according to a City staff report. The building will not be higher than what is allowed in that neighborhood.
“The SUP request allows the applicant additional flexibility in converting the 801 N. Fairfax Street building from commercial to residential use with essentially the existing building footprint. The SUP is not necessary to provide rooftop open space access to future residents, though the SUP allows the repurposing of obsolete mechanical areas as amenity spaces, allowing for the applicant to provide rooftop and penthouse amenities comparable with newer multifamily residential developments in the area. Staff supports the residential conversion, including the building height SUP, as it will bring a vacant property back into use while reusing an existing concrete structure,” according to the City staff report.
The building is located near the hotel-to-residential conversion project at the Crowne Plaza in the Old Town North neighborhood.
City of Alexandria
