A proposed development to build 32 four-story townhomes on the site of two existing Old Town office buildings continues to face resistance from Alexandria's Board of Architectural Review. The project, planned for 333 N. Fairfax Street, has drawn criticism from board members who are demanding more exterior variety and stronger colonial architectural influences in the design.
During Wednesday night's public hearing, the board chose not to vote on the proposal after extensive discussions that included two public comments urging rejection of the project. Board Chair Nastaran Zandian expressed significant concerns about the current design, emphasizing the location's historical importance. "It's in the heart of Old Town. It's very historic," Zandian stated. "I mentioned this before too, but I haven't seen any changes. But you can hear the Board and the community who lives there, and we all want to see the historic and colonial style."
The development is being pursued by EYA, LLC in partnership with Simpson Development. Jack McLaurin, EYA's Senior Vice President of Architecture and Planning, represented the firms during the meeting. Following a previous Board hearing on September 3, the developers had made some design modifications, including the use of lighter-toned materials, punched window patterns, and the addition of new ornamental iron balconies and pergolas.
Board member James Spencer acknowledged the developers' efforts to address previous concerns but indicated the project still falls short of expectations. "I do feel you're listening," Spencer said. "So, I think it's going in the right general direction, but is it – I'm going to steal from my friend Miss [Margaret] Miller over there – I don't think it's quite – not quite there yet, I think is her phrase she always uses."
The board members expressed widespread desire for greater diversity across multiple design elements, including building height variations, different window sizes, and varied brick colors. The criticism became particularly pointed when addressing public comments that compared the proposed designs to military housing. Board member Andrew Scott, drawing from personal experience, stated, "I was in the Army for 14 years, and it does look like barracks. I think that your designs here somewhat read as also, condominiums, or even maybe like a school house, in some cases. So, my suggestion would be, maybe, to just vary each individual design."
In response to the feedback, McLaurin defended the project's approach, advocating for designs that would respect Alexandria's architectural heritage while accommodating modern requirements. "This is straight out of the old historic guidelines, where the guidelines should be viewed as a distillation of previously accepted design approaches in the historic districts," he explained. "The guidelines should not be viewed as a device that dictates a specific design response." McLaurin emphasized the need to balance historical authenticity with contemporary needs for sustainability, accessibility, and modern living standards.
Following the board's extensive feedback session, McLaurin indicated that EYA would take time to process the comments and determine their next course of action. The developers ultimately seek to obtain a certificate of appropriateness for the project, which would allow them to proceed with construction. The Board of Architectural Review has scheduled its next public hearing for Wednesday, December 3, during which the board will also conduct officer elections for the upcoming term.
