Mixed-use redevelopment proposed for Big Lots site across from Landmark Mall
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| A concept for the Landmark Overlook development. [Hekemian & Co.] |
A mixed-use redevelopment is planned for an 8.2-acre site along Route 236 across from the now-closed Landmark Mall, the Washington Business Journal reports.
Hekemian & Co., a New Jersey-based developer, purchased the property March 31 for about $21.5 million. The site includes a Big Lots store, the Alley Cat restaurant and bar, Dunya Banquet Hall, and a four-story office building.
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| The proposed site of Landmark Overlook would be just east of the Fairfax County line. |
The proposed project, dubbed Landmark Overlook, was presented to the City of Alexandria’s Eisenhower West-Landmark Van Dorn Implementation Advisory Group earlier this week.
The concept calls for 44 two-over-two condo buildings with a total of 88 units, two multifamily buildings, two commercial buildings, a small park, and a community plaza. The commercial buildings, along Duke Street, are identified as hotels, but could also be offices depending on economic circumstances and demand.
The project isn’t expected to get underway until at least 2023, the WBJ story notes. Chris Bell, Hekemian’s senior vice president for acquisition and development, told the advisory group the company is waiting to see what happens with Landmark Mall.
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| The concept for the condos proposed for Landmark Overlook. |
The future of the former mall property remains uncertain. The Dallas-based Howard Hughes Corp., which owns the site and has been planning a mixed-used redevelopment project for years, has reportedly lost interest in the project.
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson stated in his April newsletter that he is “cautiously optimistic” the Landmark property will be redeveloped, but “it remains to be seen who will ultimately bring Landmark through redevelopment.”
Related story: Sears at Landmark is closing
Hekemian has also proposed a new development called Upland Park on a 7-acre site at the intersection of Seminary Road and N. Beauregard Street on Alexandria’s West End, WBJ reports. The project would be part of the Beauregard Small Area Plan.
Upland Park would include 400 apartments, 92 townhomes, a 170-room hotel, and 8,470 square feet of retail. The townhomes would be near the intersection of Seminary and Echols Avenue. The apartments would be a mix of one and two-bedroom units on top of a 687-space underground parking garage.
the old ChiChi's!
Awesome! Love this!
and the old CompUSA. Spent many Saturday mornings there scrounging for rebates. Now the Big Lots…
What does it mean that "the company is waiting to see what happens with Landmark Mall."
If that's true, this is a non-story. Us residents have been "waiting to see what happens with Landmark Mall" for 15 years now.
Is the Landmark Mall project a constraint?
If the Landmark Plan gets revived and someone new follows through on its possibilities, then the "Landmark Overlook" can make some serious money. The Landmark Plan changes the road network, the use of that large space, and revives the entire West End. All the properties adjacent to the mall will increase in value and the probability of redevelopment. If Landmark Mall remains a big empty space, it is likely that the developers in this story will decide not to go forward until something firms up. Business, y'know.
Although it will be a while until it’s under construction, I think major redevelopment of Landmark Mall property is inevitable, West End is prime real estate, especially along Duke and 395, and ultimately, the entire area will be transformed. As will everything within 15 minutes of Amazon.
I'm also waiting to see what happens with Landmark Mall. By which I mean waiting as they keep pushing back the Wonder Woman movie partially filmed there.