Many Alexandrians are wondering what’s going on in the West End, home to an expansive– and currently unused — parcel of land. Read on for the latest scoop on the Landmark Mall redevelopment project.

The Backstory

The 52-acre Landmark Mall property is located in Alexandria’s West End at the intersection of 395, Duke Street, and Van Dorn Street. The mall was once a major regional retail shopping center, the first in the area to have three anchor stores. Over the years, Landmark Mall made several structural changes and renovations. However, with the meteoric rise of online shopping, many brick-and-mortar malls, including Landmark, are becoming a thing of the past (the last Landmark Mall store closed in 2020).

What’s Coming

In its place will be a walkable “urban village,” anchored by a new Inova hospital complex and extensive mixed-use development. The redeveloped site will include residential, retail, commercial, and entertainment offerings, a central plaza, parks, open spaces, and municipal services including a fire-EMS station and a transit hub.

The City of Alexandria will use $54 million in public bond financing to buy the land and then lease it to Inova. The City also plans to utilize $76 million in public bonds for the site preparation and infrastructure development, such as sewers and road work. Construction will happen over several years and likely begin in 2022 with demolition. The project is scheduled to be built in phases with expected completion as early as 2032.

Here we will look at the main portions of this planned development.

Hospital. The City of Alexandria and Inova Health System (and a development joint venture) have proposed a four million-square-foot community and medical campus at the site. Inova plans to sell its current Seminary Road location as current zoning doesn’t allow for its needed growth. Inova will invest $1 billion in the new facility. This land will be sold for residential development.

The new hospital will feature two seven-story in-patient towers with 230 patient rooms, a cancer center, and a medical office building for 50 specialists. It will become one of only three Level II trauma centers in Northern Virginia, with the ability to provide 24-hour specialty services for brain injuries and other traumas.

Construction of the hospital is projected to start in 2023, beginning to come online in 2025.

Housing. Plans for the site include affordable housing to be built above a new fire-EMS station, similar to the layout of the mixed residential-fire station in Potomac Yard. The developers said the Landmark project will offer a mix of residential options, including market-rate apartments, senior housing, as well as for-sale townhomes and condos.

Transit and Parking. Included in the site will be a transit hub where Metrobus, DASH, and two Bus Rapid Transit lines will intersect, as well as bike and pedestrian access. The existing above-grade parking structure will remain and two additional parking options (one above ground and one below) will be added to support the hospital.

Public Space. At least 3.5 acres of publicly accessible open space will be part of the development. Its Central Plaza will be an easily-accessible, attractive, and inviting gathering place for the community. The site will offer the ability to close its streets to host events such as live music and farmer’s markets.

The Bottom Line

Big changes are coming to the West End! What does the Landmark Mall redevelopment mean for the local community and real estate market? Well, this new development can only mean good things for local home values. As always, we will keep a close eye on the situation and keep you posted!

Thinking of buying or selling? Reach out today to start the conversation!