Alexandria has been going through many changes over the past decade, bringing one of the oldest towns in America up to today’s needs. Development is happening in all sectors of the city and the surrounding areas. But the biggest issue before the city and its residents, currently, is reworking zoning plans to allow for more residential units through a plan called The Zoning for Housing/Housing for All initiative.
By Lynn Norusis
The plan has been in the works for a while and focuses on three main objectives: increasing overall housing production, increasing affordable housing and addressing inequities created by past zoning decisions.
Some suggestions set forth by the city have been to significantly reducing residential parking requirements and allowing two- to four-unit dwellings in current single-family residential zones. Another, popular option is to convert unused commercial and industrial spaces into residential units. Discussion is still in progress as to how this massive change in zoning will go, and there is still plenty of opportunity for public involvement. Below is the timeline of the project.
Transportation projects are another big item in Alexandria, and there are a few major projects in the work on that front:
Duke Street In Motion
This project includes the addition of Bus Rapid Transit dedicated lanes along the 4.2-mile stretch. Construction should start in 2025 on changes to Duke Street from the former Landmark Mall to the King Street Metro station.
Embark Richmond Highway
The Richmond Highway project, from the Huntington Metro station to Fort Belvoir, will have dedicated bus lanes and pedestrian facilities to include sidewalks and road crossings. Construction could be completed as soon as 2030.
RELATED STORIES
Potomac Yard Development Update
West End (formerly Landmark Mall) Development Update
For more information on development happening around Northern Virginia, check out our development updates page. We focus on a different area in Northern Virginia each month.
If you have any questions about Northern Virginia real estate, reach out as we are happy to help.
