Located at 601 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, the Oronoco (pronounced “or-oh-no-co”) was once touted as one of the ugliest buildings in the city. However, it got an extreme makeover by EYA builders from 2012 to 2014.
This building used to belong to the Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund, but after the base realignment, it was left vacant. You can see below the before and after areal shot showcasing the beauty of what is now one of the most sought after high-end condos on the Alexandria Waterfront. Until, that is, EYA builds their next amazing waterfront condominium complex (the Robinson Landing), which is expected by spring 2017.
EYA removed the aluminum exterior, re-skinned the brown brick facade for a red one and installed floor-to-ceiling windows for a better view of the Potomac River. With a “less is more” approach, they opted for 60 units rather than the allowed 110. After opening the building as The Oronoco Waterfront Residences in August 2014, almost all of the units sold out within a few months, with prices between $995,000 to $4.5 million.
With the intention to market towards empty-nesters, each room was designed to be expansive and “open-style,” with a concierge, 24/7 front desk monitoring and security in and around the building. The building is now home to a variety of ages, including millennials, the middle-aged crowd and empty-nesters, creating a cozy and friendly atmosphere. The condos (both two- and three-bedrooms) range in size from 1,700 square feet to 3,000 square feet, with islands up to 14 feet long inside and an exterior terrace.
Building amenities
- Outdoor pool and terrace
- Fitness center
- Dog washing room
- Yoga studio
- Storage for each unit
- Views of the Potomac River
Location Specifics
- 4 miles to Reagan National Airport, 33 miles to Dulles Internatonal Airport and 39 miles to Baltimore Washington International Airport
- Adjacent to the Mount Vernon Bike & Running Trail
- 11 minute walk to the central watefront Torpedo Factory / Art Center main Dock in Alexandria
- 3 blocks from Trader Joes and Harris Teeter grorcery stores
- 8 miles to Georgetown University, George Washington University and George Mason University
- 5 miles to the National Harbor
Cheryl Spangler is the principal broker and co-owner of FORBZ Real Estate Group located in Alexandria, Virginia (serving VA, DC, MD). You can follow her on Twitter or LinkedI
