The $1 billion hospital and trauma center that Inova plans to build at the former Landmark Mall site won’t take up all 52 acres of the property. What else should residents expect to see there?
It isn’t clear yet exactly how much space Inova will use, but Alexandria city officials have dropped some clues about plans for the rest of the space. A rendering of the property released by Inova (below) seems to indicate the hospital property will be on the southwestern end of the site, where Sears and Sears Auto used to operate.
"The proposed development would revitalize the West End of Alexandria by transforming the unoccupied, enclosed mall site into a mixed-use, walkable urban village," Alexandria officials wrote in a release sent out Tuesday afternoon.
Rendering provided by Inova
Inova will be building a new hospital and trauma center in Alexandria's West End on the former Landmark Mall property.
Housing and Retail
“Development plans on the balance of the site include residential, retail, commercial, and entertainment offerings integrated into a cohesive neighborhood with a central plaza, [and] a network of parks and public spaces…” according to city officials.
Nothing is set in stone yet, so any plans and speculations in place right now could change significantly by the time shovels hit the ground.
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When Howard Hughes Corp. was planning to redevelop the entire site as a mixed-use community, it included townhomes, condos and luxury apartment complexes, some of which was to be affordable for lower-income residents. The mix of retail and housing in the new plans is not clear yet.
Community members who attended meetings with Howard Hughes Corp. in past years pushed for a mix of retail and entertainment, including perhaps a movie theater, event space, restaurants and a supermarket. (With 2,000 hospital staff expected at the new hospital and surrounding buildings and hospital visitors, restaurants are very likely to take up some of the commercial space.)
“Affordable and workforce housing would be enhanced through developer contributions and co-location with community facilities such as a new Alexandria Fire-EMS station,” Tuesday’s press release said, but it left open questions about whether that affordable and workforce housing would be on the site directly or where the Fire-EMS station would go.
Transit Hub
The new site will include a “transit hub” for bus rapid transit, DASH and Metrobus. It is likely that the Duke Street Transitway plans and transit improvements along North Van Dorn Street will move forward with this new development.
A Park
According to comment from Alexandria officials, a 3.5-acre park is planned for the site. It is not clear yet what type of park or what amenities will be included there — or where on the site it will be located.
Not Mentioned: A School…
Several residents noted in posts on Facebook that a school did not seem to be on the list of uses for the Landmark Mall site, despite all Alexandria schools being at or over capacity right now.
One Alexandria Living Magazine reader wrote on Facebook: “The council and school boards complain that there isn’t enough land for new schools. Two parcels present themselves and the boards are all like...”. The reader then inserted a GIF of actor Danny Devito shaking his head and saying, “Nope.”
The second parcel referenced is the soon-to-be-former Inova Alexandria Hospital on Seminary Road. Inova officials are working on having that space rezoned for single-family homes and townhomes before selling it to developers, but a school was not mentioned for that site, either.
However, as residents have seen through the past 16 years of Landmark Mall redevelopment conversations, anything is possible.
Informational Meetings Scheduled
Two virtual community information meetings will be hosted by officials and developers to provide an overview of each project and answer general questions:
- Landmark Site Redevelopment: Jan. 4, 2021, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
- Seminary Site Rezoning: Jan. 6, 2021, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Additional information about the meetings, answers to frequently asked questions, and other materials are available at alexandriava.gov/Landmark.
