South Alex project at standstill, developer switching contractors

There hasn’t been much progress lately in the demolition of Penn Daw Plaza, seen here on Oct. 13.

Demolition of the Penn Daw Plaza has stopped, and the developer who owns the property is in the process of switching contractors for the project, according to a county official.

Clark Builders Group is no longer the contractor for Combined Properties’ South Alex project on North Kings Highway, said Taylor Holland, chief of staff for Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee).

“The latest information that we have received from Combined Properties indicates that the removal of the trailers was due to the changing of contractors. This transition from one company to another seems to be the cause of the delay,” Holland said in an email. “That being said, they expect work will recommence in the mid-November timeframe.”

Demolition of the plaza, which began in June, appears to have largely stopped in July, leaving more than half of the structure still standing. Recently the CBG’s trailers have been removed, and as of yesterday all of their signs were gone from the property.

Combined Properties owns the South Alex property, which is slated to become a mixed-use development consisting of 400 apartments, 44,000 square feet of retail space and 41 townhomes.

Emails and a phone message left with Combined were not immediately returned Thursday.

This is the second recent setback for the South Alex project. In August the Washington Business Journal confirmed that The Fresh Market, long rumored to be the anchor grocery store at South Alex, was no longer looking at the location.

In the meantime, Holland said McKay’s office was taking steps to ensure that the ruins of Penn Daw Plaza don’t become a safety issue.

“We’re making sure the site remains secure and safe,” said Holland.