Virginia rail yard rumbles to life

Alexandria’s redevelopment of a rundown rail yard near Old Town into the Carlyle neighborhood continues to pay off as new residences rise nearby.

At the forefront of the effort is Trammell Crow Residential, a Dallas-based development company working on two new apartment projects in Alexandria.

Last week, the company announced construction has started on a 280-unit apartment building called the Alexan Carlyle. The $94 million complex is being built on a 2.8-acre parcel in the 800 block of John Carlyle Street, about two blocks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Less than a week earlier, the Alexandria City Council unanimously approved permits for Trammell Crow to build The Madison, a 344-unit apartment complex in the 800 block of North Henry Street. It would include two buildings, an 8,000 square-foot public park and 23,000 square feet of retail space.

“While the for-sale residential market is contracting in most of the region, the market remains relatively strong in selected close-in submarkets with Metro access and other desirable features,” said Sean Caldwell, Trammell Crow Residential’s managing director for the Mid-Atlantic. “Alexandria is one of those markets, particularly the Carlyle neighborhood, which has been carefully master-planned by the City of Alexandria going back at least a decade.”

The Carlyle neighborhood is a 76.5-acre development area the city has set aside for offices, residences, hotels and retail space. It is within walking distance of three Metro stations and an Amtrak/Virginia Railway Express station.

“It’s partly the Metro stations, it’s partly the planning process and partly the great amenities” that is drawing developers, even while other real estate markets in the Washington area struggle, said Faroll Hamer, Alexandria’s planning and zoning department director.

The Alexan Carlyle is designed like a resort that includes a billiards room and clubhouse. The Madison is being designed to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood by using a variety of construction materials and architectural styles, creating the impression the units were built up over a long period of time.

The Alexan Carlyle is scheduled to open in late 2009. Work is planned to start on the Madison in early 2009.

In other news …

• Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia plans to open its first condominium building Saturday in Fairfax.

The nonprofit organization uses volunteers to build homes for low-income families who contribute at least 300 hours of work.

The Westbrook Forest condominiums at 11328 Westbrook Mill Lane in Fairfax is being turned over to 12 families.

The three-story building’s 12 units range from two-bedrooms to four bedrooms. The smallest is 865 square feet and the largest is 1,280 square feet.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, E Trade Financial, Capital One and the Peterson Companies are among sponsors who contributed the $1.6 million cost of the building.

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