City Prepares to Sell Royal Street Property

Alexandria’s Planning Commission paved the way for the sale of city-owned building located at 200 N. Royal St. in Old Town Tuesday as part of the city’s plan to dispose of surplus property.

TTR Sotheby's International Realty submitted a bid of $1.35 million for the three-story property. Sotheby’s intends to use the building as office space. The company’s bid was the largest of three the city received, exceeding the property’s appraised value of $1.2 million.  

Elder Crafters, on a month-to-month lease from the city, currently occupies the ground floor of the building. The two upper floors previously housed administrative offices for the Office of Historic Alexandria and facilities for Information Technology Services. Alexandria’s Department of General Services most recently used the space for offices.  

As part of the Alexandria’s charter, the Planning Commission must approve any acquisition or sale of public land and is charged with ensuring that any change of ownership is consistent with the city’s master plan.

The property is zoned for commercial use and will not need to be rezoned following the sale. 

The city included the Royal Street property on its a surplus properties list, which was compiled in 2009. Several other city-owned surplus properties are preparing for sale this year, including 1505 Powhatan St. and the former Alexandria Health Department building at 509 N. Saint Asaph St.