Ice Skating Rink, Outdoor Movie Screen Coming to Landmark Mall

Alexandria City Council is expected to hear from City planners about the latest tweaks from Howard Hughes Corporation to renovate Landmark Mall at its hearing Saturday.

Being considered: The addition of an ice rink and an outdoor movie screen, similar to one at the Mosaic District. There is some concern about the movie screen being distracting to drivers on Duke Street, but some sort of screening will be put in place, according to a staff report.

The latest renderings of the project show a central plaza directly adjacent to the proposed outdoor theatre, featuring a fountain and areas for seating. The plaza will be able to accommodate special events such as outdoor performances, farmers markets and viewing films on the theater’s outdoor monitor.

Green space closest to Duke Street has been designed as a dog park with the potential of a seasonal use as an outdoor ice skating rink during the winter months. Internal to the site there is a central pedestrian arcade which will serve as another gathering space and/or outside seating for restaurants. Each of the residential buildings has outdoor roof top amenity space for their occupants.

Staff did express concern about less space for a dog park during the winter months if an ice skating rink goes up.

Public benefits from the developers include:

• The construction of a transit center at an approximate cost of $500,000
• The construction of improved on- and off-site pedestrian/bicycle paths at an approximate
• cost of $500,000
• The aesthetic improvements to the existing fly over at an approximate cost of
• $150,000
• A voluntary $200,000 dollar contribution for public art, which may be satisfied by
• public art to be located on-site
• A voluntary $2,338,431 dollar contribution to the affordable housing
• fund
• A voluntary $1,000,000 dollar contribution for transitway and off-site pedestrian
• improvements.

IMAGE: Renderings courtesy of City via Howard Hughes

Keep up with the Landmark Mall plans on this City page.