First Look at Alexandria’s Ambitious Waterfront Redesign

The City Council of Alexandria, Virginia this week reviewed landscape designs for the proposed redevelopment of the city’s Old Town waterfront, according to Washington Business Journal reporter Michael Neibauer. The designs are the work of Philadelphia-based Olin Studio, which also designed Washington D.C.’s Canal Park and New York City’s Bryant Park.

The designs by Olin Studio follow the Waterfront Small Area Plan, adopted in January 2012. According to Neibauer, “the 20- to 30-year waterfront small area plan calls for an expanded network of public spaces, parks and piers that will ultimately total slightly more than 30 acres, a net gain of 5 acres from the existing layout. It separates the Old Town waterfront into six areas, from south to north: Gateway South, The Strand, Torpedo Factory, Founders Park, Oronoco Bay and Gateway North.”

“Among the goals — to install a continuous waterfront path, create a gathering place at the foot of King Street, provide a variety of experiences, reinforce cultural areas and mitigate Alexandria’s nuisance flooding.”

Neibauer’s article also includes a slideshow of the renderings produced by Olin Studio so far.