Now Is the Time To Move to North Old Town
Old Town’s attractions are about to extend much farther north with the addition of revolutionary developments in the northern quadrant. Last year, we were thrilled by the announcement of EDENS’s Gables Old Town North, with anchoring tenant West Elm, where a Giant and an ABC store used to stand at 530 First Street. Now, plans are taking shape for the waterfront areas along N. Fairfax and N. Royal Streets.Where the Crowne Plaza Hotel currently exists on N. Fairfax Street, we might see townhouses, residential conversion of the hotel to either condos or rental units, and a 7,300-square-foot theater. One of the theater’s premier occupants will likely be MetroStage, Alexandria’s only professional theater company, which will soon be displaced by redevelopment at its former home at 1201 N. Royal Street.
illustration, Greg Gersch | source
Plans for the N. Royal site, in turn, will dramatically alter the acreage along the Potomac River. The current site of the Potomac River Generating Station, which closed in 2012, will become an “arts-heavy neighborhood” designed for foot traffic and optimization of the prime waterfront location. An energy company has been working to remediate soil and groundwater contaminants, paving the way for “community and sculpture gardens, new residential, recreation and culture” and “arts-focused development.”Nearby, at 1201 N. Royal Street, SK+I Architecture has designed a mixed-use building offering eight levels of residential lofts, art studios, an arts walk, and a “roof club”— can’t wait for more details on that one. This building will sit where N. Royal, N. Fairfax, and Third Streets meet the riverfront Mount Vernon Trail.This is just the beginning of an exciting new vision for North Old Town. What is even more exciting is that you don’t have to wait for the new residences to be built! Beat the rush by checking out our listing at 316 Third Street, now available at a new low price of $$1,150,000, and offering, among other numerous luxury features, a roof deck overlooking all of what’s the come. Please email me at bpatterson@ttrsir.com for more information.
