Overview:

Landmark Mall has been in decline for several years, and now, with the closure of Lord & Taylor the situation is all the more urgent. The Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor Plan, approved by City Council in February 2009, envisions the redevelopment of Landmark Mall and the major parcels to the south as a lively, mixed-use town center for Alexandria's West End. Incorporating retail, residential, office and hotel development and a number of urban parks and plazas, the town center would be organized in a walkable grid of urban blocks. A new bridge over Duke Street is proposed to connect Landmark Mall to the rest of the town center and to other neighborhoods to the south.

South on Van Dorn Street from Landmark Mall, the area between Edsall Road and Pickett Street would also be revitalized with new mixed-use development. On average, 18% of those commuting from the planning area use transit. This is substantial for a non-urbanized area and higher than the 9% transit share in the region, however it is much lower than what could be achieved with higher density, transit oriented development and well-placed and reliable transit service.

Connectivity:

ADAM supports the application of smart-growth principles to the Landmark - Van Dorn area including:
- City-wide improvements such as smart stations and more frequent service.
- A pedestrian/transit bridge located on the Western edge of Armistead Boothe Park which could cut the distance between Cameron Station and the Van Dorn Metro Station in half.
- Shuttles between the Mall area and Van Dorn Metro Station.
These measures could result in up to a 27% ridership share of commuters using transit.

Mixed Use Development/Compact Urban Form

The proposed town center could result in pleasant urban form, neighborhood-serving retail, and a larger tax base for the city. The most important outcome would be walkability. Right now, the Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor is extremely inhospitable to pedestrians and cyclists. Compact urban form will create safe streets with cafes and shops to encourage walking. In addition to the residential and office development, a town center can create 'third places' - cafes or parks where one meets friends or relaxes after work. These are the characteristics of a functioning city.

Conclusion:

ADAM supports the application of smart growth principles, to obtain the features that make neighborhoods more livable, such as: underground rather than surface parking; more opportunities for neighborhood-serving retail; enjoyable open space; safe streets; preservation of historic buildings and areas; and live-work spaces. ADAM supports the overall goals of the Landmark/Van Dorn Plan, but recognizes it is a long-term vision and would suggest developing short-term measures to increase metro usage at the Van Dorn station including: improved shuttle bus service from the Mall and other areas, enhanced walkways and bikeways, more bicycle racks, and additional parking. Further, the addition of new roads between Eisenhower Avenue and areas to the north would ease traffic on Van Dorn Street while the Landmark Mall is being redeveloped.

Another important step would be to widen/redesign the Van Dorn interchange. The current interchange between Van Dorn and the Beltway is badly designed, contributing to traffic and headaches for drivers.