Portner’s Landing Condos For Sale, Alexandria, VA

In Old Town Alexandria, so known for its unusual adaptive reuse residential development, Portner’s Landing takes the cake. This place is a Civil War-era brewery that now serves as upscale condos and townhouses for sale. Located just blocks from the Potomac River, the property was redeveloped in 1999 by Madison Homes along with noted architects Tori Gallas and Partners. But the story goes back a lot further.

In 1865, a local beer brewer named Robert Portner bought a half-block of land at the corner of N. Saint Asaph and Pendleton Street. Portner had a four-story Gothic Italianate structure built with a central tower topped by a Second Empire mansard roof. The Robert Portner Brewery opened in 1869 and also included an ice house and stable. Back in the day, this was Alexandria’s largest employer and one of the country’s best-known breweries. But when Prohibition arrived, the company was forced out of business.

Flash forward more than 80 years to the remaking of the place. The developers took the shell of the original structure and added two more stories. They also expanded the footprint to a full block, including a new condominium building and townhouses. The end result was 36 luxury townhomes and 36 condos, with an official address of 621 N. Saint Asaph Street in an area right between Old Town and Old Town North. There has been a bevy of redevelopment in the neighborhood recently, including The Oronoco—a former office building transformed into 60 modernist flats overlooking the river.

Residences at Portner’s Landing offer both luxury and variety. One and two bedroom condos for sale range from around 772 to 935 square feet, with many designed in a loft manner. The multistory townhouses are around 1,540 square feet. Common attributes include hardwood floors, gourmet kitchens, fireplaces, washers and dryers, and private outdoor spaces. Imagine sitting on a balcony and quaffing craft beer and wondering what Portner’s suds might have tasted like a century ago?

Actually, those living at this upscale community can drive a few minutes to Alexandria’s West End and taste a semblance of the real thing. Portner’s great-great granddaughters have now opened up the Portner Brewhouse. Located on Dow Avenue, this throwback family business was reopened in 2012 and features a craft beer test kitchen and a savory menu as well.

As for the more immediate neighborhood, residents at Portner’s Landing have plenty of nearby attractions, including Oronoco Bay Park, Tide Lock Park, the Torpedo Factory Art Center, local restaurants and coffeehouses, a Trader Joe’s and a brand-new Harris Teeter. Mass transit is nearby as well, via the Braddock Road Metro Station.