Alexandria officials review City Hall renovation, Market Square redesign and parking options

City staff presented a detailed update to the Alexandria City Council on a proposed multi-year renovation of City Hall, Market Square and the adjacent parking garage, focusing on preserving historic elements while improving accessibility, safety and public programming.

The project presentation was led by Jeremy McPike, director of general services, who told the council the city is in a discovery phase and has conducted “between 45 to 50 different public engagements” since last September. McPike said the building and garage show “a lot of crumbling concrete rebar” and water infiltration; staff have been doing 3D scans, video inspections and limited invasive investigations to better define scope before final design.

Why it matters: the renovation would be the next generational investment in City Hall infrastructure and affect Market Square programming, the adjacent garage, and how residents and visitors access the building. Council members pressed staff about event capacity, pedestrian interactions with transit, public-safety sightlines and the potential for City Hall to serve as an emergency facility for Old Town.

Principal elements and staff…