Plans Move Ahead for $9.5 Million Mixed-Use Project on Mt. Vernon Avenue

PHOTOS: Rendering of building planned for 1800 Mount Vernon Ave. in Del Ray, from planning documents filed with City.

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ALEXANDRIA, VA -- A building permit application showing costs of $9.5 million was filed July 8 for Brevic Development LLC for demolition and construction of a mixed-use residential/retail project at 1800 Mt. Vernon Ave.

The current Art Deco style building houses Arlandria Floors, owned by local businessman Brett Rice who is also the owner of Brevic Development. Information was not immediately available regarding the new location of the flooring store or the timeframe for construction of the new building.

The plans call for a residential mixed-use building that will incorporate design influences from the original 1941 Art Deco building on the lot and would include 1800 R Mount Vernon Ave. which is directly behind the building. BREVIC asked for the City to reduce the number of retail parking spots from 13 to 7, noting that any retailer or restaurant located there would likely get a lot of foot and bicycle traffic from the surrounding neighborhood.

City Planning staff recommended approval of the proposed residential mixed use building, saying the applicant will provide:

• An infill development with 49 residential units (38 one-bedroom homes and 11 two-bedroom units) helping to support local retail;
• Retail at the first floor, helping to support an active retail street on Mount Vernon Avenue;
• Parking located within a below grade garage;
• Elements of the original building façade incorporated into the façade of the new building;
• Open space which exceeds the requirement;
• Green building elements;
• Affordable housing contribution; and
• Public art installation or contribution

A proposed garage will occupy a portion of the first floor and one floor below grade, with 55 spaces in total. Access to the garage will be directly from Mount Vernon Avenue. The existing curb cut to the Arlandria Floors site is proposed to be relocated from the north end of the frontage to the south end.

In total, the building will measure 54,170 gross sf according to the building permit; with the garage a further 21,384 gross sf, according to the plans. The building will be four stories and 45 feet in height.

The remainder of the lot will be open space. The proposed front building façade is setback further from the street than the existing building face, creating a wider sidewalk area. A long, 15-feet wide open space area runs along the north face of the building with access to the residential building entrance and private patios. The rear of the site includes a mixture of private patios and communal open space.

The Del Ray Citizens Association and Land Use Committee signed off on the proposal with a list of conditions designed to enhance safety and keep noise to a minimum.