Alexandria no longer wants to sell this tiny parcel of land on the waterfront | ALXnow

Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon is recommending that City Council not sell a tiny parcel of land at 2 King Street on the Alexandria waterfront.

Last year, the city issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the 1,825-square-foot property between Waterfront Park and The Strand Street. The city received two responses from the RFP, and since then Parajon’s office and the city’s Real Estate Committee came to the conclusion that it should cancel solicitation of the project until the waterfront mitigation project is completed.

According to a staff memo that will be presented tonight to Council:

These discussions included the planned waterfront flood mitigation project, the desire to possibly retain ownership of the property, and possible other uses of the property. Based on the results of those discussions, the Real Estate Committee recommended that the City cancel the solicitation and retain ownership of the property until the conclusion of the planned waterfront flood mitigation project when the status of the property will be revisited…

During and upon completion of the flood mitigation project staff will contemplate possible long-term uses of the site which may include a possible long-term lease of the site so that the site may be redeveloped for a new community use while the City retains ownership of this prominent waterfront parcel.

City staff also said that the city is not obligated to sell the property, regardless of the issuance of the RFP.

“Issuance of the RFP does not obligate the City to sell the property and per the terms of the RFP, the City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to cancel the sale at any time prior to closing,” City staff said.

The property was previously rented as a parking lot for neighboring businesses since it was acquired in the 2014 land swap with the Old Dominion Boat Club.

The property holds eight parking spaces, seven of which were leased on a month-to-month basis. The city took in $15,000 per year renting out the spaces, until they were terminated in May 2022 to coincide with the temporary closure of The Strand Street to vehicular traffic.

The city says that the space could be used for outdoor dining until the waterfront project reaches “substantial completion” in summer 2028.

“This interim use would allow for the activation of the space,” city staff said. “(It) will provide the City with additional revenue; will reduce the City’s cost to maintain the space and will provide flexibility on use of the site during the flood mitigation project.”