Report: Alexandria Eyes Art Museum for Old Town Waterfront

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts collection might someday grace the Old Town Alexandria waterfront.

Museum officials have been in preliminary talks with developer CityInterests about building an annex as part of a mixed-use development at the Robinson Terminal North site, according to The Washington Post.

D.C.-based CityInterests was recently named the contract buyer of the north warehouse property, which was previously owned by The Washington Post Co.

The VFMA was not named as a partner in the deal.

CityInterests officials had previously said they seek to build a boutique hotel with accompanying residential and retail at the site, which is located at 1 Oronoco St.

Museum director Alex Nyerges said the VMFA is developing its 2020 strategic plan and a priority is being placed on building a bigger presence in Northern Virginia, according to the Post.   

“There is not a single facility in Northern Virginia that has the size, the climate control and the capacity to handle the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and that’s a dilemma,” Nyerges told the Post. “What the Washington metro region doesn’t have is a comprehensive, encyclopedic art museum.”

Located in Richmond, the VMFA is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of Virginia’s citizens. Nyerges told the Post it is the ninth-largest comprehensive art museum in the country.

Alexandria had previously sought to lure the Corcoran Gallery of Art out of DC.

Partnering firms JBG and EYA are the buyers for Robinson Terminal South, located at 2 Duke St. 

The sales were announced Sept. 20.

Would you like to see the VMFA on the waterfront? Would it be a good fit? Tell us in the comment section below.