Potomac Yard surges ahead

Potomac Yard, a large, mixed-use extension of Alexandria, Virginia, may soon experience a huge final surge of development. In June the city rezoned the last 69-acre tract in the former rail yards to accept up to 7.5 million square feet of residential and commercial space over the next 20 years. The Washington Post reported that $3 billion to $4 billion of development could go on the land, part of which has been occupied by a “temporary” shopping center.

Accommodating the full volume of development — including buildings up to 24 stories in the tract’s center and lower buildings at the edge — will depend on finding $190 to $270 million to build a Metro station that could serve some 10,000 riders a day by 2030. Contributions from the developer, McCaffery Interests, are expected to help construct the station. This fall the city council will consider establishing two special tax districts to raise some of the additional funds needed. Two million sq. ft. of development can be built even without the Metro station.

Construction of a new street grid is to begin this year. Sidewalk and street surfaces would allow rainwater to percolate into the ground. Runoff would be collected and used for irrigation, according to Alexander Planning Director Faroll Hamer. To make way for the project, the Post said, stores in the temporary shopping center, such as a Shopper’s Food Warehouse and a Target would have to be demolished, even though they have proven popular, far exceeded sales projections. Those stores could reopen in the new complex.