Torpedo Factory Art Center Options Presented Ahead Of City Council Discussion

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As City Council will consider different options for the Torpedo Factory Art Center's revitalization plan, the public can learn about different potential scenarios at upcoming meetings.

The Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former munitions plant, was founded in 1974 and now has the largest number of public artist studios in the U.S. along the Alexandria waterfront. In 2018, City Council requested a Torpedo Factory Art Center Vibrancy and Sustainability Plan be developed for City Council consideration. As stated on the city's website, "the goal is to improve the efficiency of operations and sustainability of Art Center while also broadening and deepening its connections to the community and re-configuring the first-floor spaces to create a more dynamic public experience of the Art Center."

There are three potential financial scenarios being presented: incremental revitalization, custom program, and ground lease. Incremental revitalization would involve improvements "in the near term" and investments for maintenance. However, the center would largely remain the same with no major capital investments.

The custom program would involve city-funded and managed capital improvements. The Torpedo Factory would be a mixed-use space with subsidized arts uses as well as revenue-generating uses that could help pay for part of the rehabilitation.

The ground lease option would involve a private entity developing, operating, maintaining and leasing the facility for a mixed-use space for a 40-year term.

Potential scenarios for the future of the Torpedo Factory Art Center will be presented to City Council on Dec. 14. The scenarios are meant to be examples for City Council consideration, according to a city government statement. Once City Council chooses a scenario, city staff will develop a scenario in more detail, with plan development beginning later.

With the possibility of a scenario with a private sector use on the ground floor, artists and residents have raised concerns about artist studios being reduced. A petition titled "Don't let them kick out the artists" on Change.org has secured over 7,000 signatures to date.

Meetings have kicked off to give residents more information about the potential scenarios. As reported by Alexandria Living Magazine, the Waterfront Commission met Monday and recommended the custom program option. Other upcoming public meetings include Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. or Friday, Dec. 10 at noon. Registration is required for meetings, which will last around an hour each.