Two Historic Warehouses on S. Union to be Renovated

Two historic warehouses located at S. Union Street on the waterfront will be renovated shortly, according to their owner.

Owner Bob Brandt of Lawrence Brandt Inc. told the Waterfront Plan Work Group last week that he plans to restore the warehouses to what he believes are their original state.

The warehouses, at 204 and 206 S. Union, currently have a total of nine tenants in the building.

The current space doesn’t have stairs or an elevator or fire suppression tools, according to Brandt, who intends to bring the building up to code. The renovations also will reinstate multiple windows that had been sealed over the years.

He said in January 2012 the buildings will have one tenant with a long-term lease.

“We bought the property hoping to develop it,” he said, acknowledging that the city’s Board of Architectural Review must approve the proposed changes.

In response to some work group members’ questions, he said the current Waterfront Plan does not affect his plans going forward. However, it the plan was changed, he might have an opportunity to reinstate about 2,000 square feet at 204 S. Union that was burned off in a fire 100 years ago.

The sale also means that VeloCity Bicycle Cooperative housed at 204 S. Union is looking for a new home. It must vacate by January. Volunteers at the bike cooperative over the last
 two
 years have taught bike maintenance to more than 200 people and assisted the City of Alexandria by offering summer employment through the TeensWork program. They also refurbish bicycles for those in need of assistance.