Following approval from the Alexandria Planning Commission, Hunting Point Apartments is moving forward with a plan to construct an 8,000-square-foot residential amenity building between the two apartment towers. But the new amenity comes with its own shar
e of hidden costs, and not everyone at Hunting Point Apartments is happy with the addition.
The new amenity building will provide space for a new leasing office as well as gathering rooms and a fitness center. The development will also include a lounge and grilling area adjacent to the new amenity building. According to Mary Catherine Gibbs, an attorney representing Hunting Point on the Potomac, the property owners, the project is estimated to cost $3.5 million.
The Development Site Plan had to be approved by the Planning Commission for a modification to reduce the required open space. According to Joanna Anderson, an assistant city attorney and acting deputy director of the Department of Planning and Zoning, Hunting Point Towers were built before the city’s open space requirements were put into effect. The city requires 40 percent of the property to be open space, but the property currently only has 34.3 percent open space. Hunting Point has been allowed to continue as non-compliant, but the additional amenity would reduce the open space to 33.2 percent. While the property is not allowed to expand its noncompliance, the property owners requested a modification to reduce the requirement. In a unanimous vote, and without much debate, the Planning Commission approved the development site plan.
Gibbs said that the new amenity building will improve the site and will be a more usable space for its residents. Some residents said they were looking forward to the new center.
“It’s a shame to lose this open space,” said Debra Gibson, “but it’s going to be an exciting change for the community. It’s definitely going to liven things up around here.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Chris McNeil. “They’ve put a lot of money into this place and they could have just torn it down, but instead they’re investing in modern buildings.”
But not all of the residents believe the new building will be an improvement or even a more usable space. Jessica Miller, a resident of Hunting Point, was walking her dog Lilly in the park and said many of the other residents use it for similar reasons.
“I think it’s a terrible idea,” said Miller. “We love the open space. Now we’ll just look out of our windows at the roof of a clubhouse.”
Josh Bolin was walking his dog Mal and said, while he didn’t object to the concept of the park, he had deep concerns about the property owners’ ability to deliver.
“We’ve had maintenance issues dragged out and they couldn’t handle basic fixes,” said Bolin. “I don’t think it’s anyone specifically, but the management changes every couple months. Right now, I wouldn’t trust [Hunting Point] to build a house of cards.”
Gibbs acknowledged that there was a recent series of leadership turnovers but insisted that it was over.
“The manager left a year ago and there may have been one or two people in the interim,” said Gibbs, “but now there is a permanent manager.”
But as far as the maintenance issues go, Hunting Point has a troubled past.
The property was purchased by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in order to tear down one of the three towers that sat directly on the Alexandria side of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. In March 2013, VDOT sold the property to Hunting Point LLC, managed by the Laramar Group, LLC based out of Chicago. But when renovations began in April 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a stop-work order after inspectors discovered asbestos in the floors, doors, and windows. According to the EPA report, chrysotile asbestos fibers were detected in both of the buildings, but the amounts were low enough that any short-term exposure by the workers of residents during construction was not considered enough to significantly contribute to lifetime risk of cancer.
One of the common criticisms of the addition was that it was being used as a justification to raise rents.
“There’s nothing in this building I’m interested in at all,” said Miller. “It’s just another way to add amenities to raise the price.”
Adam Baram, whose reaction to the new amenity was an emphatic thumbs down, said he was moving out in August because of the recent rent increases.
Jim Mercury, a former resident who left due to rent increases, was very disappointed in the Planning Commission decision.
“It was an atrocity,” said Mercury. “Once they got done with the questions and answers expected a brief debate ... but the city has accommodated all of it. They could have said no to the clubhouse. Instead, rolled over without a peep.”
Hunting Point on the Potomac could not be reached for comment regarding the rent increases. Rob Kerns, the Development Division chief with the Department of Planning and Zoning, said the Planning Commission is aware of the concerns regarding rent increases.
“Everyone recognizes the desire of the project to maintain affordable housing,” said Kerns. “There’s a balance between improving the property while maintaining the affordable housing commitment.”