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Board of Architectural Review adopts multiple alterations, grants deferrals; signage and demolitions approved
Summary
At a meeting of the Board of Architectural Review the panel adopted the consent calendar, approved several requests for alterations and partial demolition/encapsulation, and granted a deferral for two North Washington Street docket items; one signage application at 1500 King Street was deferred at the applicant’s request.
The Board of Architectural Review adopted several staff‑recommended approvals and granted a set of deferrals during its regular hearing. The panel approved applications for signage, alterations and partial demolitions at multiple Old Historic District properties and agreed to defer two North Washington Street dockets at the applicant’s request.
Why it matters: the BAR issues certificates of appropriateness and reviews changes to properties in the Old Historic District. Approvals clear designs for construction or modifications to move forward under city administration, while deferrals delay decisions until applicants supply more information or return at a later meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Consent calendar (Docket items 3 & 4: 105 Franklin St. and 10 Duke St.) — Motion to adopt consent calendar carried; both items approved as submitted. (Mover and second not specified in the record; outcome: adopted.)
- Minutes (May 21 meeting) — Minutes adopted. (Mover/second not specified.)
- Deferral approved (Docket items 5 & 6: 802 and 808 North Washington Street, BAR-2020-5139 and BAR-2020-5202) — Applicant (808 Washington LLC) requested a deferral; BAR approved the deferral for August. Motion to approve the deferral was made and seconded; outcome: deferral approved.
- 277 South Washington Street (BAR-2025-0155, signage) — Applicant Philip Adams proposed two illuminated channel‑letter runs and an unlit blade sign. The BAR voted to approve staff recommendations, including working with staff to reduce sign size and using targeted illumination; the public portion received no comments. Motion to approve staff recommendation carried; outcome: approved.
- 617 South Royal Street (BAR-2025-0151, partial demolition/encapsulation) — Applicant Sierra Collins and Dylan (represented by Karen Conkey) requested partial demolition and encapsulation. Board voted (roll call) to approve staff recommendation. Roll call recorded: Miller — yes; Adams — yes; Del Nino — yes; Scott — yes. Outcome: approved.
- 209 Wolf Street (BAR-2025-0160 and BAR-2025-0201, Habitat Homes LLC — alterations/addition and partial demolition/encapsulation) — Applicant proposed replacement of windows/doors, siding replacement (fiber cement in rear), rear‑wall removal and a rear addition mostly not visible from the public right of way. Motion to approve staff recommendation carried; roll call recorded: Miller — yes; Adams — yes; Donillo — yes; Scott — yes. Outcome: approved.
- 1500 King Street (BAR-2025-0150, signage) — Applicant Scott Smith requested signage; staff recommended denial primarily due to scale and internal illumination. The applicant asked for a deferral to work with staff and a sign designer. The BAR granted the deferral; motion carried. Outcome: deferral granted.
- 2 Prince Street (BAR-2025-0167 and BAR-2025-0169, alterations and partial demolition/encapsulation for 2 Prince LLC) — Applicant Paul Beckman (architect) presented a reduced‑scale repurposing of the existing footprint with exterior modifications and signage coordination. The BAR approved staff recommendations with a condition that all signage letters be the same color. Roll call recorded; outcome: approved.
- 702 Chetworth Place (BAR-2025-0175 and BAR-2025-0176, alterations and partial demolition/encapsulation) — Applicants Renu Pavat and Shamik Meindirada presented a modest 8‑foot dining room bump‑out, new windows, and HVAC/gas relocation work; BAR approved staff recommendations by roll call. Outcome: approved.
- 221 Gibbon Street (BAR-2025-0111 and BAR-2025-0113, alterations and partial demolition/encapsulation for Kai Anton Holdings Inc.) — Applicant presented a one‑story 10‑foot “bump‑out” at the first floor to improve a rear garden area; BAR approved the staff recommendation by roll call. Outcome: approved.
Formal actions summary (structured)
- Adoption of minutes (May 21) — outcome: approved; motion/second: not specified; notes: routine adoption. - Consent calendar (items 3 & 4) — outcome: adopted; motion/second: not specified. - Deferral: BAR-2020-5139 & BAR-2020-5202 (802/808 N. Washington) — motion to approve deferral (mover: not specified; second: not specified); outcome: deferral approved (to August). - Approval: BAR-2025-0155 (277 S. Washington, signage) — motion to approve staff recommendation (mover/second recorded on audio but not attributed by full name in the record); outcome: approved. - Approval (roll call): BAR-2025-0151 (617 S. Royal) — mover: Ms. Miller; second: not specified; roll call recorded: Miller — yes; Adams — yes; Del Nino — yes; Scott — yes; outcome: approved. - Approval (roll call): BAR-2025-0160 & BAR-2025-0201 (209 Wolf St., Habitat Homes LLC) — mover: not specified; second: not specified; roll call recorded: Miller — yes; Adams — yes; Donillo — yes; Scott — yes; outcome: approved. - Deferral: BAR-2025-0150 (1500 King St., signage) — applicant requested deferral; motion to approve deferral carried; outcome: deferral granted (to July). - Approval (roll call): BAR-2025-0167 & BAR-2025-0169 (2 Prince St.) — motion to approve staff recommendation with signage color condition; roll call recorded; outcome: approved. - Approval (roll call): BAR-2025-0175 & BAR-2025-0176 (702 Chetworth Place) — motion to approve staff recommendation; roll call recorded; outcome: approved. - Approval (roll call): BAR-2025-0111 & BAR-2025-0113 (221 Gibbon St.) — motion to approve staff recommendation; roll call recorded; outcome: approved.
What the record shows about process and attributions
- Formal roll‑call votes were recorded for items the staff identified as requiring roll call (partial demolition/encapsulation items). Where the transcript recorded member roll calls, names were read aloud by the clerk. Several motions and seconds were made on the audio record without a clearly stated mover/second attribution; where a mover or second was not explicitly named in the transcript excerpt, this summary marks them as not specified rather than inferring a name.
- The BAR took no formal action on the Alexandria Waterfront Implementation Project; that agenda item was a concept review with a public comment period and board discussion.
Ending
The meeting concluded after a lengthy public comment period on the waterfront concept. Applicants with approved items may proceed to plan submission and permitting per BAR conditions; applicants granted deferrals must return with revised materials or further information in subsequent hearings.
