Old Town North Small Area Plan 2017

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 archived as of August 13, 2018

OTNArtCorridorDesign051216

Click to enlarge Old Town North Art Corridor Design by Greg Gersch

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.

Related Studies

Old Town North SAP Advisory Group and Meeting Materials 

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. All meetings and events associated with this planning process are open to the public and agendas include a public comment period.

Reference Documents and Information

Old Town North Small Area Plan Community Charrettes 

  • November 2015 and June 2016 Old Town North Charrette Report
  • 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
    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. 

Questions? 

Contact Heba ElGawish, Urban Planner, 703.746.3851.

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