ALEXANDRIA, Va. — On May 8, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) hosted its third Women in Business event at Periwinkle Boutique’s courtyard on South Columbus Street.
The three-hour event brought together women influencers in business for networking and a short presentation by AEDP CEO Stephanie Landrum who gave an update on current city projects. Northern Virginia has made national headlines over the last six months after Amazon announced its intentions to open their second headquarters here.
Virginia Tech has also announced its plans to bring its Innovation Campus to Alexandria where it hopes to triple the university’s footprint in Northern Virginia. According to the university, it will include:
- 300,000 square feet of academic space and cutting-edge research and development facilities.
- 250,000 square feet of partner space dedicated to startups and corporate facilities.
- 350,000 square feet of housing space for students and faculty.
- 100,000 square feet of retail and support spaces.
The Innovation Campus will be located in the Alexandria portion of National Landing near Potomac Yard, about two miles from Amazon’s new location in Arlington. The Innovation Campus would be an expansion of the university’s Alexandria presence. Its Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, located on Prince Street, is an extension of their college of Architecture and Urban Studies which was founded back in 1980.
The other business development projects women were updated on included Eisenhower East, an urban mixed-use community centered on the Eisenhower Avenue Metro Station. The 2003 plan recently went through an update to reflect market conditions.
“We’re revisiting the mix of uses and the total density and later this summer the Planning Commission and City Council will really take a look at how much density can and should be encouraged in that market. That’s what sets the stage for winning deals like Amazon,” Landrum said. “So, frankly, all of us kind of weighing in and supporting growth in places where there’s infrastructure to support it is very important.”
Women were welcomed by Periwinkle owner Elizabeth Mason and treated to hearty hors d’oeuvres, drinks and the opportunity to shop at the boutique.
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