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Alexandria Lighting & Supply

Avanti Holdings to Build New West End Home for ‘Alexandria Lighting Supply’ Store

By | Alexandria, Commercial Real Estate, Multi-Unit, News, Press, Real Estate Development, VA | No Comments

Original article by ALXnow, James Cullum, September 30, 2020

Avanti Holdings is planning on moving the 50-year-old Alexandria Lighting Supply in Old Town in the West End.

The Eisenhower West-Landmark Van Dorn Implementation Advisory Group was briefed on the plan last week by property attorney Cathy Puskar.

“It will preserve a longstanding Alexandria business, (and) build a new building that could potentially be some other type of retail use in the future,” Puskar said.

Avanti Holdings Principal Teddy Kim chimed into the meeting, and said he wants to start building on the vacant .76 acre parcel at 500 S. Pickett Street “the sooner the better.”

The 33,000-square-foot property is located near the German Auto Group of Alexandria and it would be the permanent home of the lighting supply store. The building itself is planned at just under 15,000 square feet.

The building was designed by Cole & Denny Architects. Plans include a green roof, 9,600 square feet of retail facing S. Pickett street, and 5,100 square feet of warehouse storage use in the rear of the building.

Images via City of Alexandria

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Read full article at: https://www.alxnow.com/2020/09/30/avanti-holdings-to-build-new-west-end-home-for-alexandria-lighting-supply-store/

City council approves new Avanti Holdings project

By | Alexandria, Commercial Real Estate, Condos, News, Old Town Alexandria, Press, Real Estate Development, VA | No Comments

Original article by Alexandria Times, Margo Wagner, July 16, 2020

City council approves new Avanti Holdings project

The new building will be between 40 and 50 feet tall with 94 units and ground-floor retail. (Courtesy photo)

Alexandria City Council voted to amend the Braddock Road Metro Station Neighborhood Plan and rezone to allow for the construction of a five-story, mixed-use building at its July 7 public hearing.

The site is on the corner of North Henry and Wythe streets, and the building will consist of 94 residential units, including seven affordable housing units. It will also include underground parking and ground-floor retail. Currently, the space is a surface parking lot and a warehouse for Alexandria Lighting Supply. Both planning commission and city staff recommended approval of the project.

The project’s applicant is Avanti Holdings Group, a local developer led by native Alexandrian Teddy Kim. The group owns several commercial properties in Alexandria’s Parker-Gray district and has been involved in several redevelopment projects designed to reinvigorate the area.

At the hearing, several speakers, including six neighbors, signed up for the public testimony period to express their concerns about the project.

Isabelle Zorro, who has lived next to the site since 1994, expressed concern about the noise and the height of the building.

Ronald Carter, another neighbor, said surrounding property owners were not adequately informed about the project. He also expressed concern about building a five-story building in a historic neighborhood.

“I am shocked, disappointed and concerned that no consideration was made to the aesthetics of our historic neighborhood,” Carter said.

The attorney for the applicant, Cathy Puskar, assured city council that her client notified the neighbors within the the required time and has been working with neighborhood groups. She also said that Kim is committed to keeping the community’s interests at heart.

Neighbor Jariel Rendell was supportive of the project but said the building did not include enough affordable housing.

“This is not an appropriate, sufficient affordable housing allocation given the times that we are in with the unprecedented unemployment,” Rendell said.

Councilor Mo Seifeldein agreed that affordable housing is a concern of his but ended up voting to amend the plan and allow the building.

Other concerns posed by the neighbors included traffic, privacy and construction vibrations damaging the foundations of historic houses.

Puskar answered the concerns by stating that the building is consistent with the Braddock Road Metro Station Neighborhood Plan and the building is in compliance with the city’s requirements for affordable housing.

“While I appreciate the neighbors saying they are not opposed to the development, requests to change the height and density of this building would render the project unviable,” Puskar said.

Additionally, Avanti Holdings plans to donate money to the Housing Trust Fund, the Braddock Community Amenities Fund, the Braddock Open Space Fund and the City’s Capital Bike Share Fund to address concerns about community benefit. Puskar also said that adjacent property owners can receive a pre-construction assessment of their home in case there is damage to the home cased by the vibrations from construction.

 After a lively discussion, city council voted unanimously to approve the measure.

“I really appreciate the input that was provided. I think it informed the final product and we really appreciate the thoughtful engagement that happened on this,” Mayor Justin Wilson said.