Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing - July 16, 2026
Board of Architectural Review Public Hearing - July 16, 2026
The Alexandria Board of Architectural Review (BAR) held a public hearing on July 16, 2026, at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street. The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. with four members present: Ms. del Ninno (appointed Chair Pro Tem), Ms. Miller, Ms. Robinson, and Mr. Spencer. Chair Scott, Vice Chair Zandian, and Mr. Adams were absent. The board considered several applications for alterations, demolition, and new construction within historic districts, along with a consent calendar and administrative approvals.
Consent Calendar
- BAR2026-00209 (Parker Gray): Request for alterations and a waiver of vision clearance at 1200 Oronoco Street, applicant Tyler Martin. Approved as submitted (4-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Scott Corizon, representing the Old Town Civic Association (OTCA), spoke in full support of items 5 and 6 (BAR2026-00218 & 00219) for new construction and demolition at 333 North Fairfax Street and 300 North Lee Street. He commended the applicant's collaboration with neighbors and significant architectural adjustments, calling the project a model for neighborhood-appropriate development.
Discussion Items
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BAR2026-00207 (OHAD) – 1328 Michigan Avenue: Applicant Daniel Fishman presented an after-the-fact application for roof replacement using synthetic slate instead of original slate. Staff recommended denial. Board members noted the work was already completed, the synthetic slate blended reasonably with adjacent original slate, and the building is set far from the street. The board voted 3-1 to approve, with Mr. Spencer voting against. Members emphasized that this approval should not set a precedent for future cases.
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BAR2026-00226 & 00228 (Parker Gray) – 310 North Fayette Street: Request for alterations and partial demolition/encapsulation, applicant Patti Rounsevell. The board approved as amended by staff recommendations on a motion that also opened for public comment; the motion carried 4-0.
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BAR2026-00218 & 00219 (OHAD) – 333 North Fairfax Street and 300 North Lee Street: This major project for complete demolition and new construction of a 24-home townhouse community was presented by EYA (Jack McLaurin, Jerry Yantis, and team). The design had evolved through three concept hearings. Key discussion points included:
- Painted vs. natural brick: Debate over whether new construction should be painted brick (as proposed on some units) or left natural. Staff and several board members expressed concern about painting historic brick, while the applicant argued that painted brick is common in Old Town and provides variety. A mineral paint was recommended for breathability. The board ultimately decided to require the applicant to return to a future meeting with the final brick finish for approval.
- Rear extension designs: Some board members felt the rear bay/extension options appeared poorly integrated with window alignments. The applicant noted that different floor plans (2-bedroom vs 3-bedroom) drove the variations and that many rear windows are recessed 5 feet. The board directed the applicant to work with staff on refining these designs.
- Building 7 (Queen Street): Several members suggested adding more articulation or a residential character to the flat Italianate facade on this corner building. The applicant preferred the existing flush design as a reference to commercial history and the adjacent Hoffman building. No formal change was required, but the board encouraged further study.
- Gutters/downspouts: Clarified that downspouts on street-facing units are exterior copper K-style gutters, while on mews-facing units they are piped into bioretention boxes.
- Historic markers: The applicant proposed two markers: one referencing George Washington’s survey map and the maritime history, and a second (to be determined) possibly related to a Green Factory, subject to archaeological findings.
- The board also requested coordination of window sill details, consistent use of brick piers, and consideration of reducing the roof overhang on the south elevation.
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BAR2026-00223 & 00235 (OHAD) – 414 Duke Street: Applicant requested a deferral. Motion to defer carried 4-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved BAR#2026-00209 (4-0).
- BAR2026-00207 (1328 Michigan Ave): Approved 3-1 with the caveat that this case does not set a precedent. Mr. Spencer voted no.
- BAR2026-00226 & 00228 (310 N Fayette St): Approved as amended (4-0).
- BAR2026-00218 & 00219 (333 N Fairfax / 300 N Lee): Motion carried 4-0 to partially approve and partially defer. The approval includes all aspects except the final brick finish (color and texture/painted vs. natural). The applicant must return to a future board meeting for approval of the brick finish. Additionally, the applicant is directed to work with staff on: refining rear extension designs, coordinating cornice and downspout details, exploring a reduced roof overhang with cantilever over doors on building 7, and ensuring consistent window sill detailing.
- BAR2026-00223 & 00235 (414 Duke St): Deferred (4-0) at applicant’s request.
- Administrative Approvals: 17 items listed on the docket for various window, door, roof, and stair replacements were noted as approved administratively (no separate vote recorded in the minutes).
- Adjournment: The hearing adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
So that you need to elect a chair pro temp. So do I have a nomination for the chair potential? Do I have a second for that? Second. All right. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Tompee. Um the first order of business is the meeting. Um we have any comments either from the public or our board corrections. Do you want to have uh a um moving? Okay. Okay, I'll be for some minutes as submitted. Hi, that brings us to our consent calendars. Mr. Tompi, would you like to um introduce that? Absolutely, yeah, too. Uh we have one item on our consent calendar this evening. Uh and then the three B AR26-00209, gray request for alteration and labor vision clearance at 1200 postreet, the applicant marked. Okay. Um, is there any member of the public that would like to remove the sign of the design calendar? Is there a member of the board that would like to remove the sign? So move second. Second. Okay, I'll make the expense of 50 cent calendar is submitted. Yeah. I'm all right. Thank you. So if you're uh if you were here for item number three, um it's it's concluded. Thank you for done. I was fine. Uh okay, uh now move on to the new business. Uh item number two or one. This is the R 226, that 0207, all the sort of different operations, 28 Michigan Avenue. Great. Is the applicants uh somebody representing that to think that's it? Okay, sure. Come on now. Um there's a beautiful blue hex here. Um either talk about the staff recommendations or give us a presentation or um I am Daniel Fishman, the property owner in question. Um it's uh one three two eight Michigan half. I had some roof work done. There was broken shingles and holes in the wood, rotted wood, so they replaced um you know all that stuff that needed some repair. So it's now synthetic instead of the the slate that was there. Staff recommendations. I not sure what you're referring to. Uh yeah, okay. Do you want to um shift the on the moment? I prefer to give them a bowl and actually look at that because I'm a stock that I think we can probably take a role in the time. And so um please give them some minute to look at oh, we can do this.
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