Landmark Mall redevelopment plans visualized

The City of Alexandria has released conceptual drawings showing what Landmark might look like after the first phase of a redevelopment project is completed.

Groundbreaking for the first phase of the project to convert the Landmark mall into a mixed use project is expected to take place in the Spring 2014, said Colleen Willger, an urban planner with the Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning.

 

 Between now and then, the architectural and engineering plans are being finalized and reviewed by city officials, then the permitting process will start. The first phase calls for the demolition of the interior of the mall, to be replaced by a mix of 250,000 to 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, including a movie theater, and 350 to 400 apartments on a traditional street grid.

The mall has three owners. The first phase involves the redevelopment of the interior part of the mall by the Howard Hughes Corp. which owns the section between Macy’s and Sear’s. Howard Hughes submitted a final site plan Aug. 19. The two department stores are owned by their parent companies and will remain in place, at least for the time being. It’s unclear what the next phase will consist of. The parking lot is also split among the three owners.

The first phase includes a transit center integrated within an existing parking garage for a new rapid transit bus system in the planning stages. Existing bus systems will also use the transit center. The flyover ramp providing access to the site from Duke Street will remain. Some limited street improvements to facilitate pedestrian access are also in the works.