Turning 167 Alexandria Acres Into Potomac Yard

• February 2nd 2012

by Shilpi Paul

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UrbanTurf recently maneuvered around construction on the site of what will over the course of the next several years become a mixed-use development in Northern Virginia so expansive that developers consider it a village within a city: Potomac Yard.

On 167 acres of what was once one of the busiest rail yards in the U.S., Potomac Yard, bounded by Route 1 on the west, Potomac Avenue on the east and just south of Reagan National Airport (map), will bring 1.8 million square feet of office space, 325,000 square feet of retail, 1,683 residential units, 300 hotel rooms, and possibly another Metro station to Alexandria.

Several developers are tackling different sections of Potomac Yard, creating a heterogeneous feel. While a mile-long walking trail along the eastern side of the long and skinny development will reach to the Braddock Road Metro, plans are in place for a Potomac Yard Metro station that could open by 2016. The Potomac Yard Shopping Center already exists just to the north of the planned development, with one the highest grossing Target’s in the country as the centerpiece. There is also some talk of creating more urban, mom and pop-type retail on the acreage eventually. When complete, Potomac Yard will also feature Alexandria’s largest park, as well as a promenade along the Potomac River with playgrounds, soccer fields, fitness trails and shaded gathering areas.

UrbanTurf toured the first phase of townhomes and condos at the sprawling development, which have been developed by Pulte Homes. The properties range in size from 1,471 to 3,009 square feet and are priced from the mid-$400,000s to the $800,000s. The homes are inspired by the Victorians around the DC area, so the bay windows and brick facades will look familiar to DC-area residents. The interiors are fairly spacious with plenty of breathing room, which the developer highlights in the model units with oversized furniture and decor.

The townhomes come in a variety of sizes, and many have carriage houses out back that consist of a garage below a loft-like space that could be used as a studio, second kitchen or another bedroom area. The large townhome we toured had that space set up as a photography studio, and in the main house there was an extra family room upstairs, complete with a bar and TV-watching area.

The homes and condos are selling fairly quickly, and are delivering in phases that are staggered by several months. For more information, click here.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.production.logicbrush.com/articles/blog/167_alexandria_acres_that_are_becoming_potomac_yard/5037.