City seeks community input on Duke Street's future at Dec. 10 open house

18-month planning process aims to update 1992 land use plan for corridor facing development pressures

Alexandria will hold its first community open house for the Duke Street Land Use Plan on Wednesday, December 10, offering residents a chance to shape the future of the corridor stretching from Alexandria Union Station to Van Dorn Street.

The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bishop Ireton High School, 201 Cambridge Road. The meeting space is located directly off the main entrance in the upper parking lot.

The open house marks a key milestone in an 18- to 24-month planning process the city launched in June to update the comprehensive land use plan for the Duke Street corridor. The area’s land use concept was last comprehensively updated in 1992.

The Duke Street Land Use Plan area extends from Alexandria Union Station to Van Dorn Street at the West End development. (City of Alexandria)

Interactive stations will allow community members to discuss specific opportunities they see for the corridor, weigh in on proposed corridor themes, and learn about the planning process, according to a city announcement Tuesday.

While no live virtual component will be offered, a digital version of the open house will be available on the city’s Engagement Hub through Jan. 31, providing additional access for residents unable to attend in person.

The city will provide food and language interpretation in Spanish and Amharic. Requests for interpretation in other languages must be made by Dec. 3 to Christian Brandt, urban planner, at christian.brandt@alexandriava.gov or 703-746-3859.

Planning for development pressures

City officials say the update is needed as the corridor faces increasing development pressures from multiple directions: redevelopment momentum from Old Town to the east and large-scale construction at the former Landmark Mall site to the west.

The proactive approach aims to establish a unified community vision before individual development proposals come forward, rather than reacting to projects case by case.

The planning process will explore topics including land use, environment and climate, equity, mobility and connectivity, pedestrian safety and accessibility, parks and open space, and housing affordability. The plan will also provide strategies to support approximately 600 small businesses along the corridor and guide how the city evaluates housing resources such as the roughly 2,100-unit Foxchase development.

The Duke Street Land Use Plan process includes five phases from December 2024 through early 2027, with the most community engagement happening during the “Consult” phase through spring 2026. (City of Alexandria)

The December open house falls within the “Consult” phase of the planning process, which runs through spring 2026 and represents the period when most community engagement will occur. Following phases include “Share & Draft” in winter-spring 2026, “Refine” in summer-fall 2026, and “Adopt” in late 2026-early 2027, when the plan would go before City Council for consideration.

Community feedback so far

Summer engagement revealed residents’ concerns about traffic congestion, difficulty getting around during peak times, safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and a desire for the corridor to feel more cohesive and attractive, according to a presentation at an Oct. 23 community meeting.

Community members have cited traffic congestion, pedestrian safety and the corridor’s appearance as key concerns during initial engagement. (City of Alexandria)

On housing, residents expressed a strong desire to keep Duke Street affordable while accommodating more housing through thoughtful development. Views on residential density varied, with some residents supporting increased density while others opposed it.

The Duke Street corridor contains a diverse mix of housing types, with 60% multi-unit rental units, 24% condominiums and smaller percentages of townhomes, duplexes and single-family homes. (City of Alexandria)

Related infrastructure projects

The land use plan will account for the approved Duke Street Transitway, which City Council adopted in summer 2023 as part of the Duke Street In Motion project. The transitway will not be revised as part of this planning process, but the long-term vision for center-running bus lanes along the entire corridor will be assessed during the land use planning, according to city documents.

The Duke Street corridor is part of multiple transportation improvement projects, including the Duke Street Transitway, the West End Transit Center and bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. (City of Alexandria)

Other existing and upcoming projects include the West End Transit Center, South Pickett Street corridor improvements, Edsall Road corridor improvements, safe routes to school, sidewalk improvements, bicycle projects and smart traffic signals.

The city has scheduled six community meetings, two open houses and multiple engagement opportunities between September 2025 and November 2026, with plan adoption expected by the end of 2026. (City of Alexandria)

Workshops covering the same content will follow in January. Community members are encouraged to attend the December open house and sign up for the workshops.

The location is accessible via the free DASH Bus Route 30.

For more information, contact Brandt at 703-746-3859, visit alexandriava.gov/DukeStreetPlan, or connect through WhatsApp.