Notch 8, Giant Grocery Coming to Potomac Yard in 2015

Vertical construction of Notch 8 in Potomac Yard, a new 253-unit apartment building anchored by a 68,000-square-foot Giant grocery store, will begin in January 2014.

Preliminary construction began in September. The development is being built just off Route 1 and north of Alexandria Fire Station 209 on Main Line Boulevard between E. Glebe Road and Seaton Avenue. The mixed-use project will be located near the town center of Potomac Yard and have two-and-a-half levels of underground parking for residents and grocery store customers.

In January, a tower crane will be brought in at the site and will remain there for about a year as construction of the six-story, wood-frame building with masonry façade and mental framing moves skyward.

Project planners said Tuesday night at a preconstruction meeting that the building, though one structure, will appear like four buildings around the block because of different masronry and other accents.

The 253 units, 12 of which will be maintained at an affordable rate, will be available beginning the summer of 2015.

Ultimately, a BRT station will be constructed outside Notch 8 on E. Glebe Road. The Route 1 bus transitway is expected to open in spring or summer 2014. Initially, the Glebe Road station will be built just to the east of Notch 8.

Brook Katzen of JBG Companies said the retail space will be handed over to Giant in February or March 2015, at which time the grocery chain will begin outfitting the interior.

The Giant will consume most of the ground floor of the development and is expected to include a Starbucks, bakery, pharmacy and an outdoor cafe at the corner of E. Glebe Road and Main Line Boulevard.

The construction of the Giant in Potomac Yard will put three Giant stores within a small area in the northeastern section of the city, including one on E. Monroe Avenue in Del Ray and another on First Street in North Old Town. Another Giant sits on S. Glebe Road just over the Arlington County border.

While Giant has not said it will be vacating any of its current Alexandria locations, they could be up for bid in the near future.

Alexandria Economic Development Partnership officials said they have shopped the 20,000-square-foot E. Monroe Avenue space to several potential retailers, including The Fresh Market.

The Greensboro, N.C.-based grocer is preparing to open a location at Bradlee Shopping Center in 2014.