Despite controversy, a reasonable accommodation project is moving forward in Alexandria's Holmes Run area.
At Saturday's City Council meeting, board members voted in favor of the Planning Commission's proposal to rezone three parcels of land to develop a high-rise apartment complex with underground parking near the current ParcView apartments at 5380 Holmes Run Pkwy. The current ParcView II will be replaced with a new design and associated with a new structure.
The venture has faced extensive analysis from the Holmes Run Civic Association as to its ability to cause underlying unrest that would encompass a skyscraper structure nearby. Claridge House, a skyscraper for low-wage seniors near the proposed project, also addressed the meeting with written objections, meaning that six of the seven committee members would need to vote in favor of the proposal.
Geologist Anthony H. Fleming prepared a report on the topographical risks of the proposed site, including weak slopes, avalanches, and flooding of parking lots, and presented it to the City Council. Fleming found that the report's reliance on geological information was characterized by a lack of on-site fieldwork.
Ten residents, some of whom belong to the city, spoke against the project due to various concerns such as security, stopping, traffic, and thickness. four residents spoke on the side of the task, considering that it would create a lot of reasonable accommodation in the city.
Attorney Kathy Puskar of Wesley Housing, which is participating in the project, argued that the venture is feasible due to the community's site plan, the city's final strategy, and the city's drafting obligations.
Ms. Puskar mentioned a traffic study and the opening up of public transportation to address residents' concerns about stop-and-go traffic and vehicle congestion in this densely populated area. He also tried to assure residents that the heap operation would be completed in about a month, and that the development would require seismic checks, dewatering, and the advice of geotechnical engineers. They also recommended that residents of adjacent high-rise buildings commission their own architects to assess the underlying integrity of their buildings before development, and argued that the building failures at the Surfside, Florida apartment suites were due to existing major problems, not improvements.
Candidates and city officials responded to various inquiries by bringing individuals together to discuss the potential impact of the venture on the local community. City Hall leader Justin Wilson thanked the local area individuals for their feedback, but underlined and said the importance of giving the open door to accommodate more families. Mr. Wilson, along with those gathered, voted to support the project.