By Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org
The Institute for Defense Analyses and Giant Food are coming to Potomac Yard.
IDA is the second largest private employer in Alexandria and is currently located at Mark Center. It is a non-profit corporation that operates three federally funded research and development centers to assist the United States Government in addressing important national security issues, particularly those requiring scientific and technical expertise.
“We all knew that IDA was unhappy at Mark Center and that they were planning to move,” said Alexandria Vice Mayor Kerry Donley. “They looked at several proposals, including ours and selected Potomac Yard. We are very pleased that they have decided to remain in Alexandria and we hope that this will be a catalyst for other major commercial developments at Potomac Yard.”
Giant Food will open a new store in Potomac Yard on the bottom floor of a five-story residential project in Land Bay G, Potomac Yard’s town center, which is just north of the fire station. There are currently six Giant stores in Alexandria.
“This will be very similar to the Harris Teeter project that we approved last year,” Donley said. “Again, we are very pleased that Giant has chosen to open a new store in Potomac Yard and we see this as a hopeful sign that development is going to start moving forward.”
Both projects are expected to come before the Alexandria Planning Commission and City Council in the fall.
what happens to the Monroe Ave. Giant?
There is much missing from this announcement about the IDA move, including a four-letter word which seems to have disappeared from the Alexandria lexicon this election season – BRAC.
IDA has been located at the Mark Center for well over 25 years. They purchased property in 2006 adjacent to their current building for future expansion needs, anticipating at one point a phased project of two new buildings with 300 employees each. Seems like they weren’t always “unhappy at Mark Center”.
“They looked at several proposals, including ours and selected Potomac Yard.” And exactly what was the City proposal to keep IDA in Alexandria?
So now the West End will be losing two highly desirable employers - CNA to Arlington and IDA to Potomac Yards due to BRAC. More fallout from the actions/inactions of Mayor Euille and the responsible City Council: Councilwoman Del Pepper, Councilmen Krupicka and Smedberg , and former Councilmen Lovain, Wilson and Gaines. I hope voters remember this in November.