Grand Opening of the Pendleton Street Promenade
From left to right: AlexRenew Board Member Mark Jinks, AlexRenew Board Chair John Hill, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, AlexRenew Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Hammer, AlexRenew CEO Justin Carl (image courtesy of the Old Town North Alliance)
On Saturday, October 18th, the City of Alexandria and AlexRenew hosted a ribboncutting ceremony at the newly completed plaza at the foot of Pendleton St. where it intersects with Union St. (501 N. Union St.).
Over 75 people gathered for the opening of the waterfront promenade, which features swinging benches and breathtaking views of the Potomac River. The crowd listened to remarks from Mayor Alyia Gaskins, AlexRenew CEO Justin Carl, AlexRenew Board Chair John Hill, and Waterfront Commission Chair Louise Roseman. Attendees and speakers expressed enthusiasm for the new plaza, and all the work that had gone into it and the tunnel structures below it.
Visitors explore the new plaza on Saturday, October 18th (image courtesy of the Old Town North Alliance)
The plaza originated with Alexandria’s efforts to address combined sewer overflows with the RiverRenew Project. AlexRenew took on the project with a groundbreaking in 2021; four years of construction of a tunnel shaft and tunnel boring; and completion of the diversion facility structures in July 2025. AlexRenew was able to finish the site with an elevated plaza that helps realize Alexandria’s vision of achieving a continuous public promenade along the waterfront.
In addition to improving Alexandrians’ access to the waterfront, the RiverRenew project will result in cleaner and healthier waterways for Alexandria. The AlexRenew Plaza sits over a diversion facility that is expected to prevent 120 million gallons of combined sewage from polluting the rivers and streams around Alexandria every year.
View of the Potomac River from AlexRenew plaza (image courtesy of the Old Town North Alliance)
Pedestrians can access the promenade from the north via a sidewalk that connects with Oronoco Bay Park or by walking to the foot of Pendleton St. When construction is completed on the adjacent Robinson Terminal North site, people will be able to walk along the entire length of Alexandria’s waterfront.
Upcoming Old Town North Alliance Events
Please mark your calendars and join us!
Thursday, November 13th, 6:30pm - 8pm
Online Forum: Moving the Arts & Cultural District from Concept to Reality
Saturday, November 15th, 10am
Old Town North Alliance Volunteer Event with Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail
Help pick up trash along the Mt. Vernon Trail near Marina Towers with OTNA Members Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail. Friends of the Mt. Vernon Trail is an incredible organization that is invested year-round in maintaining and upgrading the Mt. Vernon Trail for all to enjoy. The Old Town North community directly benefits from these efforts and this is a great opportunity to pitch in and give back.
Tuesday, December 16th, 6:30pm - 8pm
OTNA Annual Meeting (location TBD)