The Duke Street corridor hasn't had a comprehensive land use update since 1992. Over the past three decades, much has changed in the corridor and surrounding neighborhoods. As this corridor and its surrounding neighborhoods evolve, it’s critical that our planning keeps pace. 

Updating the Land Use Plan now gives us the opportunity to align with current best practices and City policies, such as tree canopy preservation, stormwater management, and green building standards, while also setting a clear, forward-looking vision for the future of the corridor. This process allows us to proactively address key issues like safety, housing affordability, and aging infrastructure that have been raised by the community. It also empowers the City and community to create a shared vision, one that guides future development in a coordinated way, rather than reacting to projects on a case-by-case basis.

The Duke Street corridor is facing increasing development pressures, both in the short- and long-term, from multiple directions:

• To the east: Redevelopment momentum from Old Town.
• To the west: Large-scale redevelopment at the former Landmark Mall site, now the West End development. 

Planning now gives the City and community the chance to proactively shape a unified vision for the corridor before individual development proposals come forward.

Small Area Plans have helped deliver meaningful community benefits across Alexandria, including new parks, neighborhood-serving retail, and improved public spaces. This Plan will offer a similar framework along Duke Street while also providing strategies to support the approximately 600 small businesses located along the corridor. Additionally, the Plan will guide how the City evaluates important housing resources, such as the roughly 2,100-unit Foxchase development.

The planning process will kick-off in Summer 2025 and will take approximately 18-24 months to complete, followed by City Council consideration for adoption, anticipated for late 2026/early 2027.

The process is designed to be equitable, inclusive, and collaborative. All community members are invited to help shape the vision for Duke Street’s future. This includes: 

• Residents 
• Business owners 
• Students, seniors, and youth 
• Nonprofits and faith-based organizations 
• Property owners and other stakeholders 

There will be multiple engagement phases, with both online and in-person opportunities offered at a variety of times and locations. Engagement tools will include: 

• City-hosted community meetings and open houses 
• Online and in-person surveys and polls 
• Pop-up events 
• Meetings hosted by local organizations and stakeholders 

All input gathered will inform the Plan and will be summarized on the project website: alexandriava.gov/DukeStreetPlan. 

Note: Due to the size of the planning area and the diversity of stakeholders, we are not planning to form a formal advisory group. Instead, the process will intentionally engage a broad range of voices. City staff will be available to meet with any group or individual who requests a meeting. 

No. The Duke Street Transitway concept plans, adopted by City Council in Summer 2023 as part of the Duke Street In Motion (DSIM) project, will not be revised as part of this planning process. 

Duke Street In Motion went through a separate, extensive community engagement process and is already moving into the implementation phase. 

For information on the Transitway project, visit: alexandriava.gov/DukeInMotion. 

This Land Use Plan will account for the approved Transitway by incorporating its concept plans into the overall land use framework for the corridor.  

The boundaries are not yet established, however the Plan area will generally cover the length of Duke Street from the Alexandria Union Station to Van Dorn Street at the future Landmark/West End development.  

Information and announcements about events and engagement opportunities will be shared via eNews, WhatsApp, our email contact list, and other channels in the community (Association newsletters, for example). Anyone who wishes to share input at anytime is encouraged to contact Christian Brandt, AICP, Urban Planner, Department of Planning and Zoning, Christian.brandt@alexandriava.gov, 703-746-3859 

The engagement process will consist of multiple phases with a variety of opportunities to collect feedback and meaningfully engage in ways that are convenient and accessible for stakeholders, including:  

• Online and in-person, at a variety of times and places
• City-led community meetings and open houses
• Polling, both online and in person
• Local pop-ups and events
• Local meetings held by stakeholders 

The feedback that the City collects will inform the recommendations and content of the Plan and will be documented on the project website: alexandriava.gov/DukeStreetPlan. 

Because of the large Plan area and the wide range of stakeholders, we are not anticipating the use of a formal resident advisory group. Rather, the process will intentionally involve all groups and community members. Similar to other planning processes, City staff will be available to meet with any stakeholders that request a meeting, offering the opportunity to ask questions or provide feedback. 

• Monday, June 9, 2025 - Hybrid Community Planning Process Kick-off Meeting and Community Open House
  • Agenda
  • Meeting Presentation
  • Q&A
  • Meeting Recording: English, Spanish, and Amharic
  • Open House Boards
  • Community Poll: English, Amharic, Spanish
• Pop-Ups
  • Flyers
  • Boards
• Thursday, September 25 - Second Community Meeting on the Draft Guiding Principles
  • Agenda
  • Presentation
  • Recording (English only)
  • Feedback Summary
  • Draft Guiding Principles
    • (English, Español, አማርኛ)
    • 2025/2026 Schedule
    • Sign up for our Winter Workshop Series