Alexandria, Virginia Development News

City Council Approves Conversion of Office Building to Four-Unit Residential Dwelling

The City Council considered a special use permit request to convert an existing office building at 1010 and 1020 Princess Street and 331 North Henry Street into a four-unit multi-unit dwelling. The request included modifications for yard and open space requirements, which were deemed necessary due to the building's original design as an office building lacking residential setbacks. The proposed development would include rooftop open space for each unit and minor exterior facade changes, maintaining the building's height and footprint. The applicant volunteered a contribution to the Housing Trust Fund. The Planning Commission recommended approval with a 6-0 vote. Council debated the balance between creating new housing units and ensuring adequate open space, with Vice Mayor Bagley and Councilman Chapman discussing the policy's impact on unit density versus open space requirements. The applicant, represented by Duncan Blair, addressed concerns about the special use permit application form and the nature of residential conversion. Dino Drudy, representing the West Old Town Citizens Association, raised concerns about the process and potential errors in documentation, advocating for incorporating corrections. Ultimately, the Council approved the Planning Commission's recommendation to approve the permit, citing the need for housing, ownership opportunities, and alignment with the city's housing ecosystem development. [cite: 988, 990-1001, 1025-1049, 1054-1077, 1080-1095, 1106-1113, 1117-1126, 1130-1134]