Planning Commission Approves Old Colony Inn Redevelopment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 12, No. 19 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper MAY 12, 2016 Business improvement district recommended for Old Town .... BID would add 5-7 cents The Hotel Indigo is under in tax for businesses construction at 220 S. Union St., in its boundaries while the Old Dominion Boat BY CHRIS TEALE Club’s clubhouse as well as Rob- The governance subcommit- inson Terminal North and Rob- tee of the waterfront commis- inson Terminal South are slated sion recommended establishing for redevelopment. The area IMAGE/CITY OF ALEXANDRIA a business improvement district is planned to house residential The redevelopment of the Old Colony Inn at 1101 N. Washington St. was approved by the planning for Old Town and the waterfront units, retail space and restau- commission May 3, and will be debated by city council at its public hearing Saturday. at a meeting last week as a way rants, as well as improved piers to kick-start maintenance and and other public amenities. Planning commission approves programming at the soon-to-be Subcommittee chairwom- redeveloped area. an Kathryn Kolbe said at the Stephanie Landrum, presi- meeting that the group studied Old Colony Inn redevelopment dent and CEO of the Alexan- five options for the waterfront Council to debate propos- tinct tension in the air as op- Marston was especially stri- dria Economic Development once it is built out, and decided al Saturday after unani- ponents of the project turned dent in his criticism of city Partnership, said the BID is an- a BID is best. mous decision out in droves to state their dis- staff and the planning process, ticipated to cost an extra 5 to 7 Kolbe said a BID allows BY CHRIS TEALE approval. Commission chair- suggesting that staff admitted cents per $100 in an additional businesses to determine its The planning commission woman Mary Lyman noted to being under pressure to ap- property tax levied on business- scope of work, and gives a unanimously approved the re- at the start of the hearing that prove proposed developments. es within the BID’s boundaries. voice to all stakeholders as ex- development of the Old Colony several written communica- That charge was denied as a In a 2014 report, city staff isting commercial properties Inn hotel at 1101 N. Washing- tions making personal attacks “mischaracterization” by plan- said that the expectations of look to integrate with new de- ton St. at its May 3 meeting. on city staff had been received, ning director Karl Moritz, and maintenance and programming velopment. She added that with City council will consider and and similar behavior would not brought a rebuke from Lyman, in the area will be higher than city services stretched already, vote on the proposal at its pub- be tolerated at City Hall during who said she was “offended.” those of city parks, and will not it can help carry some of the lic hearing Saturday. public testimony. Marston also alleged he had be possible under the current workload that cannot be borne At times, there was dis- Local resident Morrill “Bud” paid two independent architects structure. The governance sub- by city dollars. $1,500 to analyze the proposal, committee was thus formed to yet refused to name them, even analyze various future options. SEE BID | 7 after questioning from Lyman and attorney Cathy Puskar, who PHOT /DENISE DUNBAR represented the applicant. RECORD RAIN Commissioner David Brown LEAVES ITS EFFECTS said that opponents of the pro- More than a dozen posal had been undermined by consecutive days of rainfall made their the use of personal attacks. mark on Alexandria, “I’ve heard three types of ar- as the Potomac River guments tonight,” Brown said. burst its banks and “One was an attack on the good flooded sections of the faith of the planning staff as be- waterfront. When the holden to the developers. I reject floodwater subsided, those types of arguments. The it had carried various FILE PHOTO other arguments are not helped pieces of debris like Under the proposal, an additional two stories will be built to in- tree branches along crease the number of rooms available from 49 to 104. A 60-seat with it from down- restaurant is also slated for the hotel. SEE OLD COLONY | 6 stream. IRETON GIRLS LACROSSE ALEXANDRIA SCHOOLS CELEBRATE WINS WCAC TITLE - PAGE 10 LATEST ACHIEVEMENTS - PAGE 12 2 | MAY 12, 2016 ALEXANDRIA TIMES Christine Roland Garner I Sell More Because I Do More! SINCE 1988 The time to sell is now. Let me put my 28 years of experience to work for you! CHAPEL HILL ROSEMONT KING’S HUNDRED $1,399,000 $1,149,000 $915,000 Spacious custom home in serene setting on half Gorgeous, updated and expanded in Beautiful brick center hall colonial an acre just steps from Chinquapin Park. unbeatable location blocks to METRO! on a quiet cul de sac! 7 bedrooms, 5.5 plus .5 baths, over 6500 sq. ft. of living space with a 4 bedrooms, 2 full & 2 half baths, 4 nished levels & nearly 4 bedrooms (all upper level), 3.5 baths with over 4,000 sq. ft. 3 car garage. Designed for entertaining and casual living with soaring 3,000 sq ft of living space. Living room with gas replace, gourmet of living space. Generous room sizes, great ow, hardwood oors ceilings, impressive 3 story stone replace in living room, grand dining kitchen with adjoining breakfast & breakfast room/den. Master on 2 levels and many recent updates. Family room with replace, room, spacious gourmet kitchen, fabulous Owner’s suite. suite with luxurious bath. Fabulous yard with deck & garage. huge nished lower level & lovely fenced yard. IVY HILL ROSEMONT DEL RAY $849,000 $614,000 $499,000 Great location Updated from SOLD a few blocks from top to bottom CONTRACT Braddock & King PENDING and Move-In St. METRO Ready! Stations! 2 bedrooms, 1 bath 3 bedrooms, 2 bath end (with space for a 2nd), townhouse with 3 nished 3 nished levels and levels. Updated kitchen o street parking. with granite counters Hardwood oors & opens to the dining room crown moulding on and family room with 2 levels. Renovated skylights and access to kitchen opens to Expanded brick colonial on a dead end street the fenced yard with deck. dining room with 1 mile from King St. METRO! Lower level recreation access to deep fenced 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, living room with replace & family room with barn door, yard with patio. room with wet bar and breakfast area. Lower level recre - 2nd bath and Blocks to shopping ation room with full bath and storage room. Lovely yard outdoor egress. & restaurants! with patio, manicured lawn and o street parking. Christine Garner (703) 587-4855 My Priorities Are Simple...They’re Yours! For additional information & Photos, Go to: www.ChristineGarner.com WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM MAY 12, 2016 | 3 THE WEEKLY BRIEFING Local business leader Gorgeous Flowers Delivered Roger Machanic dead at 83 NATIONWIDE & COMMUNITYWIDE NEW showroom location 4406 Wheeler Ave, Alexandria, Va. % 10 OFF mention this ad 703-310-6746 • www.conklyns.com COURTESY PHOTOS Roger Machanic with wife Grace. ADOPTABLEADOPTABLE PETPET OFOF THETHE WEEKWEEK Prominent Alexandria busi- Roger was a mentor and great nessman and philanthropist friend to me and dozens of other Roger Machanic died Tuesday morning at INOVA Fairfax Hos- Alexandria business operators. He pital from complications of Al- always had time to grab a sandwich zheimer’s Disease. He was 83. and offer advice. He was a giant and an Machanic was a residential example for all of us in how to give back and commercial real estate de- veloper and an innovator who to the local community.” backed initiatives to increase - Cal Simmons, local businessman economic growth in Alexan- dria. Among his development other Alexandria business opera- After serving in the U.S. Army, projects were the townhomes tors,” said local businessman Cal he moved to the D.C. area in the across South Royal Street from Simmons. “He always had time early 1960s, where he met and the Old Town Safeway, Canal to grab a sandwich and offer ad- married his wife Grace. They Place and the Tannery. vice. He was a giant and an ex- settled in Alexandria to raise A Success Story. Machanic served as chair- ample for all of us in how to give their children Bruce and Laura. Michael~~~ ~ CanineCanine Special Specialvisited HealthHealth the NeedsNeeds shelter CareCare ~ ~Sunday ~~ man of the Alexandria Chamber back to the local community.” In addition to his work as a de- ExtraExtra patiencepatience maymay bebe requiredrequired toto adoptadopt Flash.Flash. AtAt PuppiesPuppieson his requirerequireway home surgerysurgery from sometimes.sometimes. batting “Sarah’s“Sarah’s practice. Fund”Fund” of Commerce in 1982 and helped Former AEDP President and veloper, Machanic also worked ageage 4,4, hehe isis energetic,energetic, andand needsneeds encouragementencouragement toto providesprovidesHe met ShelterShelter and pets petsplayed withwith neededneededwith Hocus, procedures.procedures. an found the Alexandria Economic CEO Val Hawkins said he knew for a time as a stockbroker and slowslow down.down. energetic, affectionate year old kitten with Development Partnership that Machanic for around 30 years, as chairman of a savings and ThisThis puppypuppy willwill soonsoon undergoundergo anan operationoperation toto repairrepair year. Following a long involve- dating back to when they shared loan business. lepard“pulmonic“pulmonicHe’sHe’s lostlost patterned astenosis”,astenosis”, leg,leg, butbut withwith gainedfurgained donations donationsand perspectiveperspective long fromfrom lemur Alexandrians.Alexandrians. onon what’slikewhat’s tail. ment with the chamber, he was adjoining offices in the Crilley Bill Reagan, executive di- Afterimportant;important; adoption, bebe happyhappy “the eacheach boys” day,day, and andenjoy lovelove playing thosethose YourYour five-dollarfive-dollar donationdonation addsadds toto Sarah’sSarah’s FundFund andand named Alexandria’s Business Warehouse.