Old Town North Small Area Plan

On June 24, 2017, City Council approved the Planning Commission’s recommendation to adopt the Old Town North Small Area Plan and the associated Old Town North Urban Design Standards and Guidelines, amending the 1992 Old Town North Small Area Plan Chapter of the Alexandria Master Plan. The adoption comes after a nearly two-year planning and community engagement process that included public meetings, open houses and design charrettes facilitated by the 21-member Advisory Group.
Page updated on November 2, 2023 at 12:40 PM
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Redevelopment of the Former Power Plant Site

Information on the proposed redevelopment of the former power plan site can be found on this project page.

Plan Implementation Updates

City Receives Economic Development Award for Old Town North Arts and Cultural District

The Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association has awarded the City of Alexandria with the 2018 Terry Holzheimer Economic Development Award for the establishment of the Old Town North Arts and Cultural District. The Old Town North Small Area Plan, adopted by City Council in June 2017, prioritizes economic development and placemaking with recommended strategies for a balanced mix of uses, attraction of retail, arts and cultural uses, and creation of affordable housing options across all income levels. In April 2018, City Council approved the establishment of an Arts and Cultural District in Old Town North, one of the Plan’s implementation recommendations. The new Arts and Cultural District Overlay zoning text amendment outlines the incentives for the creation of arts and cultural spaces within the District. 

Old Town North Arts and Cultural District

In April 2018, City Council approved the establishment of an Arts and Cultural District in Old Town North, one of the Plan’s implementation recommendations. The new Arts and Cultural District Overlay zoning text amendment outlines the incentives for the creation of arts and cultural spaces within the District. The text amendment also establishes definitions for ground floor arts and cultural tenant space and an arts and cultural anchor space.

City Council Adopts Old Town North Small Area Plan

On June 24, 2017 City Council approved the Planning Commission’s recommendation to adopt the Old Town North Small Area Plan and the associated Old Town North Urban Design Standards and Guidelines, which will amend the current 1992 Old Town North Small Area Plan Chapter of the Alexandria Master Plan. The adoption comes after a nearly two-year planning and community engagement process which included public meetings, open houses and design charrettes facilitated by the 21-member Old Town North SAP Advisory Group.

The Plan provides recommendations to achieve placemaking and economic development by promoting a balanced mix of uses with office retention, attraction of retail, arts and cultural uses, and creation of affordable housing options across all income levels. In addition, the Plan envisions the redevelopment of the former power plant site as a mixed-use/innovation district with pedestrian scale blocks and public open space to enhance access and views to the Potomac River. The Plan builds on the City’s commitment to create sustainable and livable communities by establishing strategies to address the combined sewer system, prioritizing green building, enhancing public open spaces, increasing the tree canopy coverage and creating a built environment that promotes safety and walkability.

Old Town North Advisory Group and Meetings and Materials

Old Town North Advisory Group

On September 21, 2015, the City Manager appointed the Chair and members of the Old Town North Small Area Plan Advisory Group. The composition of the Advisory Group was previously established on June 23, 2015 under City Council Resolution 2682. The Advisory Group is working with a City Project Team, led by the Planning and Zoning Department and community to develop an Old Town North Small Area Plan Update. Specifically, the Advisory Group serves as liaisons to the stakeholder groups which they represent and to the community at large by encouraging ongoing and active participation by all groups and members of the public; providing input and insight on issues and opportunities throughout the planning process; and developing recommendations on the Plan vision, principles, goals and objectives.

Old Town North Small Area Plan Advisory Group Members

  • Maria Wasowski, Chair (Planning Commission)
  • Engin Artemel (Community Representative – At Large)
  • Scott Barstow (Environmental Policy Commission)
  • Anna Bentley (Community Representative – At Large)
  • Elizabeth Chimento (Community Representative - At Large)
  • Herbert J. (Herb) Cooper-Levy (Community Representative - At Large)
  • Slade Elkins (Board of Architectural Review - Old and Historic Alexandria District Representative)
  • Austin Flajser (Property Owner Representative)
  • Mary Catherine Gibbs (Property Owner Representative)
  • Stephen Goodman (Community Representative – Homeowner Associations/At-Large)
  • Carolyn Griffin (Community Representative – At Large)
  • Kevin Harris (Community Representative – Alexandria Redevelopment& Housing Authority Residents)
  • Marie McKenney Tavernini (Urban Design Advisory Committee)
  • Bruce M. Machanic (Business Representative)
  • Carlos Mejias (Business Representative)
  • Jesse O'Connell (Park and Recreation Commission)
  • Thomas F. Soapes (Community Representative - NOTICe)
  • David Speck (Alexandria Economic Development Partnership)
  • Jeff Strup (Property Owner Representative)
  • Christa Watters (Community Representative – Homeowner Associations/At-Large)

Previous Meetings and Materials

November 2015
The Old Town North Small Area Plan Update Charrette (November 16-20, 2015) was an intense week-long visioning process to kick-off the Old Town North Small Area Plan Update. The Charrette was held at Canal Center in space donated by the American Real Estate Partners.  To view materials and comments from the Charrette, as well as the Charrette schedule, please use the links below. Also, for more information about how to continue to participate in the Old Town North Small Area Plan Update planning process please see the section below entitled Opportunities to Comment on the Old Town North Update. 

June 2016

  • Meeting videos, presentations and background information for the mini-charrette can be found on this page.
  • Images documenting the mini-charrette process:
  • The City of Alexandria and the Old Town North Small Area Plan Advisory Group held a 2.5 day Mini-Charrette on June 23-25 to develop a preliminary draft illustrative design and related draft policy narratives for the Old Town North Small Area Plan Update. This effort follows: (1) the November 2015  five-day OTN Charrette that produced a draft Plan Framework with a vision, goals, ideas and concepts for the OTN SAP Update, and (2) five months of Advisory Group and subcommittee work studying and testing the ideas and concepts which were part of the Plan Framework. 

April 27, 2017 - Advisory Group Meeting #15

March 30, 2017 - Advisory Group Meeting #14

February 22, 2017 - Advisory Group Meeting #13

December 14, 2016: Advisory Group Meeting #12
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street

 December 6, 2016: Planning Commission Meeting

November 15, 2016: Advisory Group Meeting #11
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street

November 7, 2016: Community Meeting

October 27, 2016: Advisory Group Meeting #10
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street, Washington Room

October 5, 2016: City Council Worksession
City Council Chambers, 301 King Street

October 4, 2016: Planning Commission Worksession
City Council Chambers, 301 King Street

September 29, 2016: Advisory Group Meeting #9
City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Room 1101

August 29, 2016: Check-In with Advisory Group Representatives on Progress by Staff on OTN SAP Update Summer Tasks
City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities (Room 1101)

August 18, 2016: Stakeholder Meeting on status of a proposed Old Town North History Plan
City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities (Room 1101)

June 25, 2016: Old Town North Mini-Charrette Day 3
66 Canal Center Plaza, 2nd Floor

June 24, 2016: Old Town North Mini-Charrette Day 2
66 Canal Center Plaza, 2nd Floor

June 23, 2016: Old Town North Mini-Charrette Day 1
66 Canal Center Plaza, 2nd Floor 

June 8, 2016:  Old Town North SAP Advisory Group Meeting #8
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street

May 26, 2016: Old Town North SAP Advisory Group Meeting
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street

May 12, 2016: Old Town North SAP Community Meeting
Crown Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street

April 28, 2016: Old Town North Advisory Group Meeting #6 
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street

April 20, 2016: Old Town North Small Area Plan Advisory Group Retail and Commercial Market Panel Discussion
Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, 401 Wythe Street

April 13, 2016: Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability and Transportation Subcommittee Meeting
Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, 401 Wythe Street

March 24, 2016: OTN SAP Update Advisory Group Meeting #5
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax Street, “Washington  Meeting Room”

March 22, 2016: Planning, Land Use and Design & Housing Subcommittee Meeting
Alexandria City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Conference Room, 1101

March 9, 2016: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Facilities and Historic Preservation Subcommittee Meeting
Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority, 401 Wythe Street

March 9, 2016: Planning, Land Use and Design & Housing Subcommittee Meeting
Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority, 401 Wythe Street

February 11, 2016: Old Town North SAP Update Advisory Group Meeting #4
City Hall, 301 King Street, Room 1101 (Sister Cities)

February 10, 2016: Old Town North SAP Advisory Group Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability & Transportation Subcommittee Meeting
City Hall, 301 King Street, Room 2000

February 10, 2016: Old Town North SAP Advisory Group Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting
Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, 625 N. Washington Street, Suite #400

January 20, 2016: OTN Planning, Land Use and Design & Housing Subcommittee Meeting
City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Room 1101

January 20, 2016: OTN Open Space, Recreation and Cultural Activities and Historic Preservation Subcommittee Meeting 
City Hall, 301 King Street, Room 2000

December 17, 2015: OTN SAP Advisory Group Meeting #3 
City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Conference Room 1101

December 13, 2015: AlexEngage
AlexEngage Comments Received - Community members were given the opportunity to provide input on a vision for Old Town North using AlexEngage through Sunday, December 13th. Comments received throughout this planning process will inform the development of the Old Town North Small Area Plan Update.

December 12, 2015: City Council Public Hearing on the OTN SAP Update Draft Plan Framework
City Hall, 301 King Street

November 20, 2015: Old Town North SAP Update Charrette - Public Meeting #3
44 Canal Center Plaza, 4th Floor

November 19, 2015, Old Town North SAP Update Charrette
44 Canal Center Plaza, 4th Floor

November 18, 2015: Old Town North SAP Update Charrette - Public Meeting #2
44 Canal Center Plaza, 4th Floor

November 16, 2015: Old Town North SAP Update Charrette - Public Meeting #1
44 Canal Center Plaza, 4th Floor

November 9, 2015: Old Town North SAP Advisory Group Meeting #2

October 29, 2015: Old Town North SAP Advisory Group Meeting #1
City Hall, 301 King Street, Sister Cities Conference Room 1101

Reference Documents, Related Studies and Policies, and Information

Related Studies and Policies

Reference Documents and Information

Key Project Documents

Questions?

Contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703.746.4666.