Politics & Government

Luxury Condos Planned for the Waterfront

EYA readies The Oronoco, which opens onto Oronoco Bay Park along the waterfront in Old Town. The developer is holding a grand opening this weekend and a community meeting July 24.

Developer EYA is offering new riverfront condominiums in Old Town Alexandria in the building formerly organization.

Plans for The Oronoco at 601 N. Fairfax St. include 60 single-level units ranging from 1,600 square feet to 3,500 square feet, plus private patios and terraces.

Homes are priced from approximately $1 million to $4 million.

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Unlike some other development projects throughout the city, this conversion from office to residential is "by right" and does not require review and approval by the Planning Commission or City Council, according to the city’s Planning and Zoning Department.

However, the building’s transformation requires city staff administrative approval of a grading plan and building permits. City staff plans to allow landscaping alterations and grading changes for creating street-level access to the lobby.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The city’s ability to require additional public benefits envisioned in the Waterfront Small Area Plan, such as improvements to Oronoco Bay Park and an art wall, is limited because of the administrative process,” according to an email from Planning and Zoning. “However, the applicant may wish to volunteer some of these improvements.”

The building permit process will include demolition and replacement of the exterior skin of the building and interior removal of walls and some other changes. The city has not yet received building permits for exterior demolition work and new construction. A demolition permit has been approved for some interior work.

Construction is planned to begin in August and take approximately 16 months. EYA expects the Oronoco’s first residents to move in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to EYA Vice President Preston Innerst.

The company is holding a grand opening event on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Oronoco Sales Center, 119 Oronoco St., in Alexandria.

Innerst's EYA, which also developed the Old Town Commons project, said The Oronoco fills a need many prospective residents asked for—one-level living.

Innerst noted that most Old Town residences are multi-level and this new project “provides something that’s been missing” in Old Town.

Additionally, “the Oronoco is the only new condominium that has the combination of views and direct access from your back door to a park on the Alexandria waterfront,” Innerst said.

Building amenities include underground parking, a fitness room/yoga center, pool and pool house, outdoor cooking center, meeting room, playroom and dog washing station. The building will be staffed with a concierge, porter and a 24-hour attended lobby.

EYA on July 24 at 5:30 p.m. plans to host a community meeting at its Oronoco Street sales center to introduce the construction team, discuss the construction schedule and address questions.

The city has invited EYA to attend a Waterfront Commission meeting to share additional information in August or September, after construction has started.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the condos' first residents are expected to move in during the fourth quarter of 2013.


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