OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing – January 25, 2026

Public Meetings — Sunday, January 25, 2026
BodyAlexandria, Virginia
SessionPublic Meetings
DateSunday, January 25, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
4:34

Sorry.

4:35

This meeting is called to order.

4:37

We have a full docket tonight.

4:39

So any members of the public, if you wish to speak, please be short, concise, and to the point.

4:53

Individuals have to have up to three minutes, and those representing organizations have to up to five minutes.

5:00

All right.

5:13

Do any members of the public have uh any comments?

5:19

Or we do any members of the uh board have comments on the minutes?

5:25

Yes, I do.

5:27

Go ahead.

5:32

Okay.

5:35

There are a couple things there are a couple of things that need to be changed.

5:41

Um first of all, the minutes say that Ms.

5:46

Miller, Miss Zandian, and Mr.

5:49

Spencer were absent, and that's not right.

5:53

We were here.

5:55

And uh supported by the fact that we were later quoted for what we had to say.

6:00

And then the other thing about the minutes that I didn't find right.

6:06

It made reference to um the December 3rd meeting, but those minutes that we are considering were from the December 17th meeting.

6:18

Um those were the two things that stood out to me.

6:21

Okay, we'll make sure we get that fixed.

6:26

Can I get a motion on the minutes?

6:30

I move to adopt them.

6:32

Are we adopting them if they have to be corrected?

6:34

We can you can adopt them as corrected.

6:36

I can adopt them as correct.

6:37

Yep.

6:38

Yes.

6:39

Um second.

6:43

I didn't.

6:44

Okay.

6:45

Thank you.

6:46

Uh all those in favor?

6:47

Aye.

6:49

Sorry.

6:50

Any opposed?

6:52

No.

6:53

Uh minutes are adopted.

6:55

Uh next item on the calendar is the consent calendar.

7:00

Uh Mr.

7:01

Conky, would you please read?

7:02

Thank you.

7:03

Uh, we have one item in the consent calendar tonight.

7:05

BAR 2025-00545 old historic district request for alterations at 201 South Washington Street.

7:12

The applicant of the City of Alexandria represented by Francis J.

7:15

Delimba.

7:18

Uh do any members of the board wish to remove this item from the consent calendar.

7:24

Uh do any mem does any member of the public wish to remove this from the consent calendar?

7:30

I do have one speaker form for this item.

7:32

Um, Scott Corzine.

7:36

Uh Mr.

7:37

Corsine, would you like to remove this from the consent calendar?

7:42

Mr.

7:42

Croissan, would you like to remove this from the consent calendar or just would would you want to speak if it had been removed?

7:47

Uh I I heard someone was removed off the consent calendar.

7:51

We've don't have we've not had anybody anybody want to move it off.

7:53

Okay.

7:54

Can I speak to it or I mean if well if you want to speak to it, we will remove it from the consent calendar.

7:59

Okay, please.

8:00

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning And Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Historic Preservation█████████████████18%
Procedural███████████12%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Community Engagement██████6%
Parking Management█1%
Environmental Protection█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing – January 25, 2026

Note: The agenda and minutes indicate the meeting occurred on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The date provided for this summary (January 25, 2026) is used per the instruction. The transcript and official documents consistently refer to January 21.

The Board of Architectural Review (BAR) held a public hearing on January 21, 2026 (7:02 PM – 10:27 PM) at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. Chair Scott was absent; Vice Chair Zandian presided, with six members present. The docket included one consent calendar item, five new business items (including two concept reviews and associated demolition permits), and administrative approvals. The board voted unanimously (6-0) on all actions except concept reviews, which received feedback only. A board member announced her resignation.

Consent Calendar

  • BAR#2025-00545 (201 S Washington St) – Request for alterations (awning). Removed from consent calendar after a public speaker and board comments. Approved as amended: staff recommendations with the condition that the awning material be Sunbrella or comparable, not vinyl or plastic. Vote: 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Scott Corzine (300 Queen St): Opposed plastic awning at 201 S Washington St, arguing the city should meet same material standards required of residents.
  • Elizabeth Hayden (309 N Lee St) and Scott Corzine (re: 333 N Fairfax St): Expressed strong support for the revised concept at 333 N Fairfax St, praising the variety and responsiveness of the design team. Both suggested adding a mansard roof on corner building.
  • Kate Cerns (814 N Columbus St): Opposed 806 N Columbus St project, stating it would be 47 feet tall, block sunlight to six of her windows, and be out of harmony with two-story adjacent homes. Provided a model and photos.
  • Lynn Beasley (826 Snowden Hallowell Way): Opposed 806 N Columbus St project due to excessive height, proposed horizontal fencing (should be vertical), lack of coordination with HOA, and price point mismatch.
  • Andrew Brack (728 Snowden Hallowell Way): Raised logistics concerns for 806 N Columbus St, including HOA maintenance of private alley and lack of developer communication.
  • Alan Bonzio (419 N Alfred St): Supported 415 N Alfred St project but requested design tweaks for variety and noted the block’s diverse architecture.
  • Wayne Neal (former BAR member, 405/407 N Alfred St): Opposed 415 N Alfred St concept as too monolithic and institutional, submitted a handout with alternative design examples.
  • William Olson (422 N Columbus St): Noted the properties behind 415 N Alfred St are two-story wood townhomes; asked for developer communication regarding construction impacts.
  • Ralph Brooker (422 N Alfred St): Supported redevelopment but criticized the five identical townhome design as mill-like; requested individuality and variety.
  • Alan Jacobson: Raised environmental concerns about dry cleaning contamination at 415 N Alfred St site, asking about Phase I/II studies, remediation, and monitoring.
  • Nathaniel Choates (402/404 N Alfred St): Supported redevelopment but urged variety; cited 401-403 N Alfred St as good examples.
  • Ed Luckett (420 N Alfred St, former planner and BAR member): Called the 415 N Alfred St design inappropriate for the block; recommended starting over due to lack of fit.
  • Steven Goldman (407 N Alfred St): Expressed livability concerns: loss of light from the deep 415 N Alfred St building, demolition noise, parking issues, and felt developer dismissed his concerns.
  • Alan Bonzio (continued): Noted the block is a “hodgepodge” but the proposed design is too monolithic.

Discussion Items

  • BAR#2025-00540 & 00541 (602 N Alfred St) – Alterations and partial demolition/encapsulation at a porch. Applicant agreed to add a wood railing, a third column, and paint the columns white. Approved as amended. Vote: 6-0.
  • BAR#2025-00548 (101 N Columbus St) – Replace failing stucco with fiber cement board. Applicant explained stucco applied directly to brick is failing and contractors refuse traditional repair. Board conditioned approval: first attempt stucco repair; if full removal needed, explore lath and stucco; if impossible, use minimum fiber cement with invisible seams; anchor into mortar joints. Vote: 6-0.
  • BAR#2025-00549 & 00550 (601 Wythe St) – Conversion of former office to 18 luxury condos; alterations and partial demolition. Controversy over brick staining. Board preferred no staining on upper floors; applicant argued for full staining for marketability. Compromise: partial approval of demolition, windows, balconies, etc., with deferral of exterior finish decision. Applicant will provide stain samples (on-site mock-up preferred). Vote: 6-0.
  • BAR#2025-00305 (333 N Fairfax St) – Concept review for 32 new homes (third concept). Architect Jack McLaren presented 14 unique facade designs with varied roof forms (mansards, bays, gables) and color schemes in response to prior feedback. Public and board praised the improvement. Board gave positive feedback; no vote needed. Next step: Certificate of Appropriateness.
  • BAR#2025-00373 (806 N Columbus St) – Concept review for three townhomes (second concept). Applicant reduced height by 2 feet, set back building 3 feet, reversed bay to preserve neighbor’s view, introduced darker brick. Public opposed due to height (four stories adjacent to two-story homes) and mass. Board requested further reductions: lower bays to two stories, brick on north elevation, redesign first-floor picture window, more detailing. No vote.
  • BAR#2025-00551 & 00552 (415 N Alfred St) – Complete demolition and concept review for five townhomes. Demolition permit approved unanimously (6-0) after staff confirmed the existing structure is non-contributing. Concept review: public testimony strongly opposed the monolithic, repetitive design. Board echoed the need for variety in roof lines, brick colors, and individual expression; lower height to match adjacent three-story building; redesign bay windows; extend brick around all elevations. Project to return for revised concept.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were 6-0 in favor (with conditions or amendments where noted).
  • 201 S Washington St awning approved with material restrictions.
  • 602 N Alfred St alterations approved with added railing, column, and white paint.
  • 101 N Columbus St stucco replacement approved with conditions prioritizing stucco repair.
  • 601 Wythe St partially approved; brick staining deferred for later submission and site visit.
  • 806 N Columbus St concept needs revision; demolition permit for 415 N Alfred St approved; concept for 415 N Alfred St needs substantial redesign.
  • Board member Ms. Pratt announced her resignation due to moving to Boston; effective soon.
  • Next meeting: Likely no February 7 hearing; second February hearing may be held at a rec center in Old Town. Appeal for 910 King Street set for City Council on January 24.

Administrative Approvals (not discussed at hearing)

Listed on the agenda and action docket but received no board discussion: window installation at 11 Franklin St, roof replacement at 202 King St, signage at 104 N West St, window replacement at 1314 Seaport Ln, stoop installation at 720 N Columbus St, signage at 101 S Union St and 1502 King St, door replacement at 703 W Abingdon Ct, window replacement at 30 Wolfe St.

Meeting Transcript

Sorry. This meeting is called to order. We have a full docket tonight. So any members of the public, if you wish to speak, please be short, concise, and to the point. Individuals have to have up to three minutes, and those representing organizations have to up to five minutes. All right. Do any members of the public have uh any comments? Or we do any members of the uh board have comments on the minutes? Yes, I do. Go ahead. Okay. There are a couple things there are a couple of things that need to be changed. Um first of all, the minutes say that Ms. Miller, Miss Zandian, and Mr. Spencer were absent, and that's not right. We were here. And uh supported by the fact that we were later quoted for what we had to say. And then the other thing about the minutes that I didn't find right. It made reference to um the December 3rd meeting, but those minutes that we are considering were from the December 17th meeting. Um those were the two things that stood out to me. Okay, we'll make sure we get that fixed. Can I get a motion on the minutes? I move to adopt them. Are we adopting them if they have to be corrected? We can you can adopt them as corrected. I can adopt them as correct. Yep. Yes. Um second. I didn't. Okay. Thank you. Uh all those in favor? Aye. Sorry. Any opposed? No. Uh minutes are adopted. Uh next item on the calendar is the consent calendar. Uh Mr. Conky, would you please read? Thank you. Uh, we have one item in the consent calendar tonight. BAR 2025-00545 old historic district request for alterations at 201 South Washington Street. The applicant of the City of Alexandria represented by Francis J. Delimba. Uh do any members of the board wish to remove this item from the consent calendar. Uh do any mem does any member of the public wish to remove this from the consent calendar? I do have one speaker form for this item. Um, Scott Corzine.

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