Planning Commission approves 640 units for final vacant sites in southern Potomac Yard
Townhouse portion draws opposition; affordable housing deal saves city an estimated $11 million
The Alexandria Planning Commission approved three development projects Tuesday that will complete the buildout southern Potomac Yard, though a townhouse component drew opposition from commissioners who questioned whether the design was appropriate near the Metro station.
The projects will bring 640 residential units, 13,000 square feet of retail and new public open space to sites along Main Line Boulevard, Potomac Avenue and East Glebe Road. An 88-unit affordable housing building included in the deal requires no city funding.
“These are the last JBG Smith parcels, the outliers, the last remaining parcels in the southern portion of Potomac Yard,” said Mary Catherine Puskar, attorney representing the applicants. “This was an attempt to build out the remainder of Potomac Yard by having a diversity of housing types.”
The commission voted separately on each component. A 432-unit mixed-use building with ground-floor retail and a 20,000-square-foot town green passed 6-0-1. An 88-unit affordable housing building also passed 6-0-1. Commissioner Vivian Ramirez abstained from all three votes due to a conflict of interest.
The 120-unit townhouse development proved most contentious, passing 4-2-1 with Vice Chair Stephen Koenig and Commissioner Holly Lennihan voting against.
Koenig said the townhouse design was inappropriate given the city’s investment in the nearby Metro station.
“I don’t think we should see the townhouse configuration that looks like that two blocks from the Metro station that we just spent 20 years and $300 million buying,” Koenig said.
Chair Melissa McMahon supported the townhouses despite preferring higher density.
“Building townhouses here means we’re bringing more cars here than we might if this were a multi-family development,” she said. “But I think, given what it is, it’s maximizing how many townhouses you can fit on the block.”
The affordable housing component drew the most praise. The 88-unit building on Landbay G will offer units at income levels ranging from 30% to 80% of area median income, with an average of 60%.
Commissioner Robert Dube called it “the one that I think I’m the most excited about” because “the city’s not being asked to put money into it.”
The arrangement stems from a coordinated development approach between JBG Smith, Wesley Housing Development Corporation and Toll Brothers. Wesley Housing will receive donated land from the other developers, eliminating the need for typical city funding.
Puskar said the land donation represents significant savings.
“If you take $110,000 and you apply it to 88 units, that’s about $11 million that a regular affordable housing developer would typically be asking the city to provide,” she said.
Resident Courtney Conrad raised concerns during public comment about the pace of development.
“I think it’s a little short-sighted and rushed to decide that there will not be a negative impact on traffic, school attendance, the environment, the neighborhood,” she said.
The developments are expected to generate approximately 80 new students for Alexandria City Public Schools.
The mixed-use building will include 281 parking spaces, reduced from 412 required, and feature a town green with programming requirements. The townhouse development includes a central north-south pedestrian walkway and 11,000 square feet of publicly accessible open space.
The projects now advance to City Council for final approval on Dec. 13. Construction timelines remain uncertain, with the affordable housing project not expected to begin before 2028 due to tax credit financing requirements.