Historic Townhouse Incorporated Into Multi-Unit Residential Proposal In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The site of a hotel construction that was scrapped is now proposed to become a 49-unit multifamily building in Alexandria. It also includes use of a relocated historic townhouse.

The project, titled the Whitley Phase 2, is proposed at 802 to 808 N. Washington Street in Old Town West. The project proposes a 48-unit market-rate residential building, plus a condominium unit in a rehabilitated historic 1900 townhouse. The townhouse was relocated about 20 feet to the south during the hotel construction.

The former Towne Motel site at 802 to 808 N. Washington Street had city approval to construct a new 98-room hotel. While construction began in 2020, a city staff report said construction on the hotel stopped "due to changes in market conditions."

The applicant, identified in the city staff report as 808 N. Washington LLC, is pursuing an adjacent residential condominium project dubbed the Whitley Phase 1 at 805 N. Columbus Street.

One of the proposed residential units will include a for-sale one-bedroom affordable unit, according to the city staff report. The price of the unit will be $195,000, which would not include a parking space. The city would provide down payment and closing cost assistant to the homebuyer, which would be for households making 70 to 100 percent of the area median income. That equates to household income of about $75,810 to $123,800 for one or two people as of 2024.

The development would require a rezoning to allow a multi-unit residential building, a 2.5 floor area ratio density and a bonus density for the affordable housing unit. The 2.5 density was approved for the hotel project, but new special use permit approval would be required for the residential use.

The plan includes a 45-space underground parking garage off the private alley and 8-foot brick sidewalks, at-grade and above-grade open space for residents, and an 8-foot planting strip along Washington Street. The parking space is already constructed, but a recommendation to move the parking garage entrance would reduce spaces from 47 to 25.

The city staff report recommended approval with conditions. The Alexandria Planning Commission will consider the proposal on April 1, and City Council will have a public hearing on April 26. The Board of Architectural Review would consider a certificate of appropriateness if Alexandria City Council approves the project.