Alexandria developments will improve and enhance the Mt. Vernon Trail

A proposed development adjacent to the Mt. Vernon Trail at the site of the former home of Bastille restaurant and the adjacent MetroStage theater could result in better connections to the trail, a bike rest stop area and "safety improvements" to the trail. 

A developer would like to build an 8-story multi-family dwelling along the Mt Vernon Trail and between 3rd and Royal in Alexandria. This is on the north side of old town where the trail splits to go around the old power plant. They call this the trail spur, even though it's older than the part on the other side of the power plant. 

According to a presentation set for tomorrow, the project includes

Open space connections provided to Mount Vernon Trail spur, including direct access from rear patios, and the placement of public art and a bike “rest stop” area at northwest corner of site. The open space is designed to integrate the patios of the ground-floor residential units with the adjacent trail, and direct access to the trail spur is provided and a seat-height retaining wall proposed.

 

The applicant is providing streetscape improvements adjacent to the northwest corner of the site where N. Royal Street, Bashford Lane and the Mount Vernon Trail spur converge. This area currently presents conflicts for bicyclists, pedestrians and vehicles as the Old Town street grid ends. The applicant will work with City staff to design a pedestrian and bicycle crossing as N. Royal Street turns into Bashford Lane, and physical separation between the Mount Vernon Trail spur and roadway. In addition to the in-kind improvements, the applicant is providing a contribution to the Old Town North Streetscape and Open Space fund for improvements in the plan area.

You can kind of see that in the top of this drawing. The trail will no longer transition to the street, but will have a connection to it. Instead the road will be narrowed to create space for the trail and a buffer. 

The bike rest area will include a bench, repair tools and an air pump and be located on the north side near Royal Street.

In addition to changes to the trail, the trail-oriented development will also include a $10,000 contribution to Capital Bikeshare and $486,011 to the Old Town North Streetscape and Implementation fund, which is  and based on the density added from the CRMU-X zone. The fund is reserved for future enhancements to the linear park that are planned along the Mount Vernon Trail. 

There will be no change to the trail itself behind the building, but it will get some more trees planted along it. 

Meanwhile, another development along the trail farther south will also add some enhancements to the trail. This one is at 901 Farifax Drive, on the north side of the trail between Montgomery and Canal Center. This development will include up to $770,000 in trail improvements. It could include

direct access to the Mount Vernon Trail and coordinating improvements to the adjacent section of the Mount Vernon Trail. The improvements will include trail path, lighting, landscaping and improvements to the garage wall that is located along the eastern property line. The plan for specific improvements to this section of the Mount Vernon Trail will be initiated by the City and coordinated with the applicant during the final site plan process. Staff anticipates the planning process for the Mount Vernon Trail linear park from Pendleton Street to the NRG site to commence by 2019. The improvements to this trail section that are constructed by the applicant are related to the developer contributions that have been negotiated with the development community to implement the OTN-SAP.

The project will include a "Trail overlook terace" with stairs leading down to the trail. Interesting the stairs will encroach on the trail right-of-way (but not the trail) a little, which required them to figure out who owned the land.

The applicant has oriented three of the townhouses to face the trail and has created a trail overlook terrace directly behind the multifamily tower. The issue of direct connection to the trail has been with determining ownership of this portion of the Mount Vernon Trail. It has been assumed through much of the process that Norfolk Southern Railway (through its predecessors) maintained ownership of the adjacent right-of-way, which includes the trail path and railroad line.

Recent research by City staff has produced evidence that the City had not vacated the right-of-way (formerly N. Lee Street and Water Street) to a railway company and remains the right-of-way owner. The portion of the railroad/trail right-of-way north of Canal Center Plaza (formerly First Street) was not incorporated into the City until 1930. City ownership of this right-of-way allows for stair and ramp encroachments from the site onto the trail. The City is drafting a letter to Norfolk Southern Railway that details the City’s claim of the right-of-way. The letter to Norfolk Southern includes a deed from 1976 related to the construction of a Mount Vernon Trail segment that shows the property line of Norfolk Southern and the City right-of-way (N. Lee Street). 

The project will also set aside land on Fairfax Street for a 15-dock Capital Bikeshare station; contribute $20,000 towards its construction; include 71 bicycle parking spaces and either keep the trail open or build a suitable detour.  

Comments

[Ben Ross]

Physical separation between the trail & street must leave a gap at the end of Royal Street. I find Royal Street a much better way to cycle through Old Town than the designated trail.

[washcycle]

What do you mean "leave a gap"?

[darren]

there's a driveway at road-grade at the curve in Royal/Bashford that allows access to the current trail section. That driveway/access will remain