Wednesday, January 25, 2006
This is a critical first step in our efforts to secure and beautify our waterfront for future generations. Over the next few years, we all have a chance to make a lasting imprint on one of Alexandria’s most distinctive resources. The waterfront is also an essential piece of our green crescent open space plan that envisions a crescent of parks and trails west to east on the southern side of our city, south to north on the waterfront and east to west along the northern part of Alexandria. -- Rob
City of Alexandria Acquires Key Waterfront Properties
At its Tuesday night, January 24 meeting, the Alexandria City Council ratified the contracts between the City and the current owners of two of the highest priority parcels on the City's open space priority acquisition list. City Council authorized the purchase of two key waterfront properties on the Potomac River - 0 Prince Street and 200 Strand Street. The parcels now are occupied by several buildings, dining cruise ship operations, as well as a commercial parking lot. The City financed the $2.8 million acquisition cost with funds derived from City Council’s dedication of one-cent of the City's real estate tax rate for open space acquisition. "This land acquisition helps the City take a major step forward in its Strategic Plan,"said Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille. "We are committed to the further development of a Potomac River waterfront that will be attractive, accessible, and usable to the public."
The public planning process to develop specific plans for the waterfront area between Duke Street and the City's Marina will commence this spring. The current owners of the properties will lease the property back from the City for one year, during which all current commercial activities on the properties will continue. This one-year period will allow the City to develop specific plans for the properties and water related uses.
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