Office Building on Wythe Street May Become 18 Residential Units

ALEXANDRIA, VA – First reported by Dan Brendel in the Washington Business Journal, a prominent North Old Town office building could soon be transformed into housing.

A rezoning application filed with the City of Alexandria proposes converting the Water Environment Federation’s headquarters at 601 Wythe Street into 18 residential units above the existing structured parking.

The five-story, 1980s-era building sits just east of Washington Street, between Trader Joe’s and Harris Teeter. According to city property records, the Water Environment Federation — a nonprofit representing water quality professionals — has owned the property for decades. However, the rezoning request comes from 601 Wythe Street LLC, indicating the building is likely under contract to a new owner.

An architectural rendering prepared by Lee Design Studio shows an updated exterior and penthouse-level patios. The project’s land-use attorney, Wire Gill LLP, notes in the filing that the conversion would “create homes for new residents, reduce obsolete office space, support cultural and retail activity, and bring new investment into the neighborhood” — all while substantially boosting the city’s tax base.

Plans also suggest that some of the building’s Photo 1 (ribbon cutting): Goodwin Living celebrates the opening of the sales center for its newest community, Goodwin House Seminary Road. The new community is slated to open for residents in 2029. Joining together for the ribbon cutting is Rob Liebreich, President and CEO, Goodwin Living, John Weaver, Goodwin Living Board of Trustees, Dr. Cyrillene “C.C.” Clark, Chair, Goodwin Living Board of Trustees, Stephanie Landrum, President & CEO, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, and Joseph Haggerty, President & CEO, The Chamber ALX Photo 2: Rob Liebreich, President and CEO, Goodwin Living welcomes guests to the grand opening of the Goodwin House Seminary Road sales centerarking spaces could be made available to the public, though specifics have not been finalized.

This proposal joins a growing list of office-to-residential projects in the city. Just next door, a developer is pursuing plans to convert the office at 720 N. Asaph Street into multifamily housing, with design revisions expected before Alexandria’s Board of Architectural Review in September. Other recent examples include projects at 2051 Jamieson Ave., 2525 Mount Vernon Ave., and the Tycon Building at 1101 King Street.