Braddock Metro Neighborhood and Braddock East Master Plans

The Alexandria City Council approved the Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan on March 15, 2008 and in 2009 established the Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan Implementation Advisory Group to assist City staff in implementing the recommendations of both the Braddock Metro Neighborhood and Braddock East plans. Background information as well as current implementation efforts can be found on this page.
Page updated on May 25, 2022 at 1:00 PM

Updates

Background

  • The Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan (BMNP) was adopted by City Council in April 2008.
  • The Braddock East Master Plan, adopted by City Council in October 2008, expands upon the fifth guiding principle of the BMNP - to promote mixed income communities through the redevelopment of the existing public housing sites within the Braddock East planning area.
  • On February 2, 2009, City Council established the Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan Implementation Advisory Group (BIAG) to assist City staff in implementing the recommendations of both the Braddock Metro Neighborhood and Braddock East plans.
  • On June 9, 2009, City Council adopted the establishment of the Braddock Open Space and the Braddock Community Amenities Fund Accounts and approved a formula for developer contributions. A link to City Council's action docket is available here.
  • Braddock Implementation Advisory Group Membership Changes
    • On November 11, 2014, the City Council approved a recommendation to alter the membership of the Braddock IAG to include representation from a newly formed civic association - Braddock Metro Citizens' Coalition (BMCC). The expanded roster provides the group with two representatives. The BMCC will select its representatives to the Braddock IAG.
    • City Council Resolution - Reconfigure BIAG - November 2014
  • During the April 14, 2016 BIAG meeting, members unanimously agreed to revise their 'at-large' vacancy appointment process adopted by the group in 2012. The previous process included a step where members of the BIAG reviewed and provided comments on applicants. The new appointment process follows a more typical City process, omitting the BIAG review.

Braddock Implementation Advisory Group and Community Meeting Materials

Advisory Group Roster

2022 Meetings

  • Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 7-8:30 p.m. - Location TBD

2016-2021 Meetings

Archived Meetings (2005-2015)

Braddock Interim Open Space and Proposed 1-Acre Park

Braddock Interim Public Open Space

The half acre public open space at 600 North Henry Street (next to the Wythe Street Post Office) provides community gathering areas, seating, joggle boards, a bocce ball court, horseshoe pits and a ping pong table. These small recreational opportunities will be evaluated to determine the level of use they receive, and will inform their inclusion in the eventual 1-acre park. Equipment for these activities will be on a "bring-your-own" basis until loaner equipment can be made available for use. The plaza along Fayette Street is lighted and open until 10:00pm. The remainder of the park is open from dawn to dusk. A Bikeshare station is located along North Henry Street and bike racks are available in the plaza along Fayette Street. 

The City acquired the property in 2010 as a first step toward the long term plan goal for a 1-acre park on that block, as envisioned in the Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan. The City is actively working on solutions to achieve the full 1-acre park (see below), and in the short-term the interim open space will serve many of the community's needs for open space and passive recreation. The Interim Open Space design was developed in collaboration with the Braddock Implementation Advisory Group through an active community process.     

We would like to thank the following companies who donated site furniture for use in the interim open space as well as Virginia Roofing for their donation through the Living Landscapes Fund. 

  • Conceptual Site Furnishings
  • Iron Age Designs
  • Landscape Forms
  • RCLF Site Furnishings
  • Site Concepts

Proposed 1-Acre Park Planning Process

  • Saturday, May 30, 2015 - The BIAG held a public meeting and "walkshop" with the community and park designers, Andropogon Associates. The event provided participants with an opportunity to walk the site of the future 1-acre park and discuss Park Principles developed with the community as well as feedback already received.
  • Tuesday, September 29, 2015 - The BIAG held a public meeting to discuss several updates to ongoing implementation efforts, including the proposed 1-acre park. Three concept design options were presented at the meeting. The community was given the opportunity to provide feedback on these options remotely by visiting AlexEngage from October 1st - 30th. Comments received informed the development of a preferred alternative concept, which was presented to the community at the January 28, 2016 BIAG meeting. 
  •  Thursday, January 28, 2016 - The BIAG held a public meeting to discuss ongoing implementation efforts, including the design of the future Braddock Park. Andropogon presented a refined concept plan following BIAG and community input since September 2015.
  • Thursday, April 14, 2016 - The final draft concept plan for the future park was presented to the BIAG and community. The park plan will be presented for approval at a public hearing of the Park & Recreation Commission in June.
  • Thursday, July 21, 2016 - During its public hearing on July 21, the Park and Recreation Commission approved the concept plan for the future 1-acre Braddock Park. Detailed information can be found here.
  • Final Concept Plan for future 1-acre park (2016)

Braddock Park Guiding Principles

In 2013, community members and the Braddock IAG worked together to create principles to guide planning and construction of the future park on the Wythe Street Post Office block.  View the Braddock Park Guiding Principles. 

Braddock East Master Plan Development (2008)

Background

At a public hearing on Saturday October 18, 2008 City Council unanimously voted to approve the Braddock East Master Plan.

The mission of the Braddock East Planning process was to create a redevelopment plan for the public housing sites within the larger Braddock area including  James Bland, Bland Addition, Samuel Madden Uptown, Ramsey Homes and Andrew Adkins. The process was conducted through a partnership between the City, the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA), public housing residents and other Braddock residents. In addition, a Braddock East Advisory Group was established comprised of Braddock neighborhood residents, and housing and redevelopment professionals to guide and inform the process.  The plan assumed the principles outlined in the Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan and established guidelines for future redevelopment.

All five blocks of James Bland are located within the Parker Gray historic district.  Staff and the applicant worked extensively to ensure the architecture of the new buildings would blend with the existing residences in style and scale. The development was predominately townhouse which is typical of the surrounding neighborhood, but two of the blocks along Route 1 included four-story multifamily buildings.  A new City park was created as part of this development.  The concept plan for the park was reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission at their September 23, 2010 meeting. 

Materials and Information

Resources

Policies, Studies and Reference Materials

Questions?

  • Development projects - Contact Catherine Miliaras, Department of Planning and Zoning, 703.746.3834
  • All other questions may be directed to Katherine Carraway, Department of Planning and Zoning, 703.746.3855