Townhomes will be built on 6 acres of the 16-acre property where Victory Center stands; the office building will remain.
The plan to convert one of Alexandria's largest vacant office buildings into a residential community is moving forward. The Victory Center owners have submitted a Development Special Use Permit application that will be considered by city's Planning Commission on Dec. 3.
The Victory Center at 5001 Eisenhower Ave. has been under-used for decades. It was originally constructed in 1973 for the U.S. Army Material Command, which moved out in 2003. "The building's chronic vacancy has significantly raised Alexandria's total office vacancy rate and is a contributing impediment to significant Eisenhower West redevelopment activity," according to a city memo.
Before a conversion from office to residential can happen, the city must approve zoning changes and Master Plan amendments.
Like many development applications, the owners are seeking a reduction in parking requirements for the Victory Center, with a plan for just 345 parking spaces for 400 residential units. There is a parking garage already underneath the building, which will be re-striped to maximize the available parking.
"The requested parking reduction is mitigated in several ways," according to the Development Special Use Permit application. "First, through Street C in front of the building that allows for easy ride share pick-up and drop-off. Additionally, the project is located near several bus lines, bike share stations, and is less than 1/2 mile from the Van Dorn Metro Station for pedestrian access to Metro."
While the parking lot west of the building can be used for now, it is reserved for future residential development, which would most likely be townhomes and an additional multifamily building along the western edge of the property, according to paperwork filed with the city.
"The proposed conversion [of the office building] will include up to 400 multifamily units with approximately 48% one-bedroom and studios, 42% two bedrooms and 10% three bedrooms. Note the unit size and type are subject to change as the design progresses. Sixty (60) townhouses and 400 multifamily units in the western building are proposed," according to the application.
In addition, Stonebridge, the owner of the building, is requesting a partial property tax abatement from the city in exchange for incorporating a "significant number of committed affordable and workforce units" in the building, Washington Business Journals reported.
