(Updated at 11 a.m.) A long-delayedredevelopment at the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Barton Street finally appears poised to become a reality.
A new mixed-use building at 2400 Columbia Pike, featuring 120 residential units and ground-floor retail space, will be replacing the current, low-slung 1950s buildings, one of which holds independent cafe Rappahannock Coffee. The County Board approved a modification to the development plan, including adding 15 residential units to the originally-proposed 105, at its meeting last weekend.
Part of the approved proposal included maintaining the current building facades on the ground floor to maintain part of the character of Columbia Pike.
“The façade preservation treatment for the two historic buildings will retain Columbia Pike’s unique setting and scale,” a county staff report said, “while allowing for a more cohesive development to occur, providing for a defined street wall and better efficiencies around underground parking, floor plates, and common areas.”