Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing – January 15, 2026

Note: The meeting agenda and minutes indicate the meeting occurred on January 7, 2026, but the instruction specifies the date as January 15, 2026. This summary adheres to the instructed date.

The Board of Architectural Review (BAR) held a public hearing primarily for a concept review of the proposed renovation of the Old Town Pool (1609 Cameron Street) in the Parker Gray district. The meeting also included approval of previous meeting minutes and administrative approvals handled separately.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously (6-0) approved the minutes of the December 17, 2025 BAR public hearing as submitted (motion by Mr. Adams, seconded by Ms. Miller).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Steve Malone (907 Prince Street, representing Old Town Civic) expressed strong support for the project overall, praising the pool replacement, solar features, and the entry walk with trees and benches. He suggested architectural improvements to use higher-quality materials such as modular red brick and precast instead of weathering wood and bare concrete, citing nearby buildings. He also raised concerns about the integrated zero-entry kiddie pool being too close to the diving area and potential conflicts, advocating for a separate kiddie pool. He noted the removal of the silhouette art structure but was glad it would be relocated.
• Melissa Burns (126 Harvard Street) expressed general support and appreciation for moving the entrance to preserve the activity lawn, but wondered if it could be shifted further. She asked about adding heating to extend the swim season, and highlighted the tension between creating a comfortable waiting area and the need to increase capacity to reduce long wait times (reported waits of 1-2 hours during peak times).

Discussion Items

• Concept Review for Old Town Pool (BAR #2025-00542) – City of Alexandria, represented by Sophie Topping Zimmerman, presented a proposal to replace the 50-year-old pool infrastructure. Key design features:
  • Single body of water with 8 lap lanes, diving well, and zero-entry family area (integrated, not separate).
  • New bathhouse (3,375 sq ft, naturally ventilated, no HVAC except for lifeguard/first aid/check-in) moved closer to Cameron Street to create more deck space and an event area.
  • Tree-lined walkway from Harvard Street crosswalk, bike racks, photovoltaic panels for net-zero energy, and compliance with 2019 Green Building Policy (LEED Gold, net-zero).
  • Materials: red brick with darker header pattern, glazed CMU with wood slats (cypress), aluminum-framed screened openings for ventilation.
• Board members and public discussed several design aspects:
  • Integration of the kiddie pool: City staff explained operational and financial reasons (water quality, budget) for combining pools, citing popularity of similar zero-entry at Warwick Pool.
  • Fencing and appearance from street: Concerns about multiple fence layers (pool fence, event space fence, kiddie pool fence) creating a barrier year-round; suggestion to use landscape elements or hardscape to soften the view.
  • Material quality: Concerns that ground face CMU looks unfinished; suggestion to use a different color or provide photographs of finished installations. Board requested more detailed mock-ups and photos at next review.
  • Shade structures: Discussed temporary shade options (umbrellas, sail fabric) that can be stored off-season.
  • Lighting: Plans for bollard lights, uplighting trees, and LED strip under brick course to accent pattern.
  • Ceiling height: Lowered from existing to save costs, but board questioned comfort on hot days; staff noted fans and ventilation will move air.
  • The event space: Fenced area for private events, separated from pool deck, accessible only through bathhouse per health code.
  • No vote was taken as this was a concept review; board provided feedback for the next design phase.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of December 17, 2025 approved 6-0.
• No substantive votes on the concept review; the board directed staff to return with more refined design, including higher-quality material examples, improved fence/landscape integration, and further consideration of shade and lighting.
• The next BAR hearing is scheduled for January 21, 2026, at the same location, with a lengthy docket.
• Administrative approvals (roofing, window, signage, etc.) were listed but not discussed in the transcript; they were handled separately.