DSF Changes Course in Old Town, Prefers Chardonnay to Condos

Two years ago, Boston-based DSF Group won approval from Alexandria to build the Halstead at Old Town, a mixed-use project with 65 condo units and 5400 sf of retail along the 1500 block of King Street in Old Town. However, it now appears the company is changing course while in the design phase, and will now go before the Alexandria Planning Commission this month to seek permission to instead renovate the 100-year-old building at 1520 King Street (pictured) into a wine bar, and build a 107-room boutique hotel with day spa around it. The project will also include two restaurants, underground parking, and 6200 sf of retail. DSF is looking to partner on the hotel with the Kimpton Group, which has been aggressively moving into the Washington metro region, and also is now involved in turning the Holiday Inn at 480 King Street into a Hotel Monaco. While this change in direction might seem to indicate concern over the condo market for DSF, the company is still moving forward with its other area projects, including the 173-unit North Hampton Two in Alexandria and the 269-unit Halstead at Arlington on Columbia Pike.