Del Ray Walgreens Project Ready to Move Forward

Despite requests from Alexandria officials to take its business elsewhere in the city, Walgreens is poised to take over the retail strip at 1509-1517 Mount Vernon Ave. in Del Ray.

• See: Walgreens in Del Ray: 'I Don't Think Anything is Going to Stop This'

Gwen Wright of the city’s Planning Department told Patch city officials recently asked Pico Triple Net, a company that purchases and renovates commercial space Walgreens finds desirable, if it would consider looking elsewhere in the city, specifically in Potomac Yard or east of Braddock Road Metro Station.

“We said we like the idea of a national retailer opening a location in the city, but we talked about other options [than Mount Vernon Avenue],” Wright said. “They said they will think about those options in the future, but that [the Mount Vernon Avenue] property was the one Walgreens wanted and that they had wanted it for a long time.”

Mayor Bill Euille mentioned Walgreens had expressed interest in the property seven or eight years ago during a March 16 public hearing at City Hall.

• See: Mayor Euille to Encourage Walgreens 'to Look Elsewhere'

The city could not find reason to subject the project—which will displace five businesses in the shopping center—to the city’s special use permit process, Wright said. The SUP process would require multiple public meetings and the scrutiny of public hearings before Planning Commission and City Council.

Walgreens was able to circumvent the SUP process because of a 2005 zoning change that reduced parking requirements to promote retail business on Mount Vernon Avenue.

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The city is engaging Pico and Walgreens about “a laundry list of things the city and citizens would desire,” Wright said, to decrease the impact of the project.

“The bottom line is we’re going to have that conversation with them, but we can’t hold up the building permit,” Wright said. “They agreed we would come up with a list of the things the city would desire. They said they would take those into consideration. … They want to be a good corporate citizen.”

Wright said she had discussed requests for the list with Kristen Gedeon of the Del Ray Citizens Association’s Land-Use Committee. Some suggestions include saving the murals painted on the building’s north-facing façade, keeping the awnings and the Art Deco-integrity of the building. There will also be some requests on the operational side of the business, Wright said.

The DRCA Land-Use Committee started an online petition opposing national retailers like Walgreens coming to Mount Vernon Avenue and encouraging the city to work to “preserve, protect and promote the independent spirit of Del Ray community.” As of Sunday evening, it had close to 800 signatures.

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Walgreens will displace Norge Laundry and Dry Cleaning, J&M Electronics, Universal Market, Not Too Shabby Antiques and Potomac West Interiors and Antique Gallery—for one store. The new Walgreens will be a little smaller than the new CVS in the 500 block of King Street, Wright said.

The Alexandria Economic Development Partnership is assisting the businesses in their search for new locations. Christina Mindrup, vice president commercial real estate with AEDP, said finding a new location for the laundromat will prove difficult. 

Lauren Rissmiller of Potomac West Interiors told Patch the shop is required four months notice from the current landlord when it is asked to vacate.

For more on Walgreens' plans to open in Del Ray, see: 

• Walgreens in Del Ray: 'I Don't Think Anything is Going to Stop This'
• Mayor Euille to Encourage Walgreens 'to Look Elsewhere'
• Letter to the Editor: DRCA President on Walgreens
• Poll: Walgreens on Mount Vernon Avenue
• Would a ‘Well Experience’ Walgreens in Del Ray Change Your Mind?