City planning commission set to deliberate on 3-year extension for contentious apartment development project in Alexandria.
In October, the Alexandria Planning Commission will review a new three-year extension for a controversial 180-unit apartment building located at 727 N. West St. The project, which has faced delays and community opposition since its approval in 2021, has been under development by West Street Acquisitions.
The project's initial denial by the city council in March 2021 was overturned two months later. Since then, the developer has made significant progress, installing 650 linear feet of underground sewer piping, as deep as 30 feet underground, to benefit the community and the city, according to Attorney Casey Nolan.
The work installed by West Street Acquisitions is compliant with State water quality removal and City green infrastructure requirements. The developer will contribute to several funds, including $942,000 to the Braddock Open Space Fund, $145,000 to the Braddock Community Amenities Fund, $20,000 to the City's Capital Bikeshare Fund, and at least $53,985 to the public arts fund.
Moreover, the developer will contribute $531,927 to the affordable Housing Trust Fund, in addition to 14 dedicated affordable dwelling units. This contribution aims to address the city's affordable housing needs.
However, the project has not been without controversy. The Braddock Metro Neighborhood Association and the West Old Town Citizens Association have been opposing the project since its approval in 2021. The deferral given to the developer several months ago allowed them to discuss stormwater issues with the city and conduct more community conversations with neighbors.
The applicant is conditioned to provide stormwater quantity controls to ensure post-development stormwater runoff does not exceed 70% of the existing runoff quantities for both the 2-year and 10-year storm events. This requirement will be achieved through stormwater runoff reduction methods and the installation of a stormwater vault.
The project's review process will begin with the Planning Commission on Oct. 9. The city council will then hold a public hearing on October 18 to make a decision on extending the DSUP for the one-acre project. The parcel has been vacant since the demolition of the single-family houses on the property was issued in 2022.
City staff recommend approval of the new three-year extension for the 180-unit apartment building at 727 N. West St., but the final decision will be made by the city council after considering public feedback and the Planning Commission's recommendation.
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