Alexandria: Skirmishes over Business Proposals in Del Ray
Planning Commission navigates through conflicts.
Within an hour of returning to session: businesses, the public, and the Planning Commission were at odds. After a two-month summer break, it was business as usual in the Sept. 1 Alexandria Planning Commission meeting, where some big changes for small businesses were proposed in Del Ray. All three of the proposals centered around the growth of businesses and a school in Del Ray.
Alexandria Seeks Cycling Spokespersons
Transportation Master Plan could shift gears in favor of cycling community.
Do cyclists in Alexandria ride in the road or on the sidewalk? How do cyclists riding the Mount Vernon trail pass through Alexandria?
Alexandria Neighborhood Outlook: Redeveloping and Reshaping Old Town
Some residents continue to harbor resentment.
As Alexandria moves forward with development plans that will reshape the waterfront, the last year in Old Town has been defined largely by a deep conflict between many residents of the historic district and local government.
Alexandria: Small Budget Threatens Arts' Commission Plans
Commission for the Arts Copes with Budget Squeeze
Massive budget cuts to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts has put a damper on some of the group’s hopes for 2016. According to Allison Nance, a member of the Commission for the Arts, last year Alexandria's Arts Commission received $200,000 from the city for public arts projects and other art projects around the city. However, in 2016, Nance says that funding dropped to zero.
Alexandria: TSA Transports out of Arlington
Arlington’s loss of the Transportation Security Administration headquarters is Alexandria’s gain.
While Alexandria celebrates the recent Transportation Security Administration’s decision to move to West Eisenhower, Arlington struggles to recover from another blow to the county’s office vacancies. The 3,800-person headquarters will leave its Arlington location in 2018 to settle into the Victory Center.
Alexandria/Arlington: Testing the Waters
Alexandria and Arlington begin discussions on potential shared pool.
Despite Alexandria swiping the TSA headquarters away from Arlington, the relationship remains cordial enough that the two have begun discussions around a shared Aquatic Center.
Police Connect with Citizens at National Night Out
A murder, a non-fatal shooting, and mysterious “shots fired” calls around the Braddock Metro Area dampen National Night Out celebrations.
It's been a mixed week for law enforcement in the Braddock neighborhood.
Alexandria: Shared Vision
Chairs of boards and commissions express unity in need for more affordable housing.
City Council may be gone for the summer, but the inner workings of the city government are just getting started.
Alexandria: Frontlines Falter
... in city’s affordable housing war.
While the city prepares to gain a little over 100 affordable housing units at Potomac Yard and The Filmore, one of the city’s bastions of affordable housing is in the process of pricing out residents, formerly protected by a rent freeze, who can’t keep up with rapidly rising rent costs.
Alexandria: Old Colony Inn Faces Setback
Developer and neighbors go toe-to-toe over hotel expansion.
The Old Colony Inn in North Old Town off of the George Washington Parkway has a major upgrade planned. The two-story Best Western Hotel is planning to double its height and expand to include a restaurant on the corner.
Alexandria: Land, Air, Sea
EYA reveals historic influences for Robinson Terminal South development.
Despite a long struggle with local residents, plans for Robinson Terminal South’s redevelopment into an apartment and retail space are moving forward.
Alexandria: Assembling Social Justice League
Social Services Advisory Board regroups and refocuses.
Everyone on the Social Services Advisory Board was there for different reasons, and most have concerns related to a specific human services need.
Alexandria Brief: ‘At Large’ Representative Sought for Fort Ward
The Fort Ward Management Plan Implementation Monitoring Group is now accepting nominations for an “at large” representative. On July 11, City Manager Mark Jinks announced that nominations could be submitted to Julie Fuerth at julie.fuerth@alexandriava.gov by July 20.
Alexandria: First Alexandrians
Alexandria celebrates its 266th and 13,000th birthday.
While many Alexandrians celebrated the city’s 266th birthday on July 11, in truth, residents have lived and commuted here much, much longer. No one at the festival could trace their roots to the first Alexandrians, and little to no written history remains to give detailed accounts of their lives, but historians at the Alexandria Archeology Museum examine flakes of stone tools and broken pottery to piece together what life was like for American Indians living in what is today Alexandria before colonists arrived.
Alexandria: Hunting Point is Trading Park For Clubhouse
Hunting Point plan reduces open space, raises community ire.
Following approval from the Alexandria Planning Commission, Hunting Point Apartments is moving forward with a plan to construct an 8,000-square-foot residential amenity building between the two apartment towers. But the new amenity comes with its own share of hidden costs, and not everyone at Hunting Point Apartments is happy with the addition.
Alexandria: Gathering Includes Banjos and Poetry
At “Wailin’ Ghosts of the Civil War,” a small group of Alexandrians gathered to hear the music and poetry of the Civil War on July 9 at the Athenaeum. Edgar Poe, a South Carolinian banjo player, performed songs from the Civil War between poetry from the era read by Peter Lattu, a local poet.
Alexandria: Murder in Braddock Sparks Tension
Death of Shakkan Elliot-Tibbs sparks community outrage.
Shakkan Elliot-Tibbs had spent July 2 in Alexandria visiting his cousin. Elliot-Tibbs was on his way to the metro to meet his mother in Springfield when he was struck by gunfire. Police arrived at 11:30 p.m. responding to one of the many “shots fired” calls from the neighborhood, but that night found Elliot-Tibbs suffering from a gunshot wound.
Alexandria Mayoral Race Write-In Tightrope
Mayor Euille withholds support for either Silberberg or Write-In Euille.
One month has passed since Allison Silberberg was nominated as the Democratic candidate for nayor of Alexandria over incumbent Mayor William Euille and former Mayor Kerry Donley.
Alexandria: Petroleum Spill in Four Mile Run
Cause and extent of petroleum spill remain unknown
Four Mile Run is normally a scenic stream that divides Arlington and Alexandria, but on July 1, the public was told to stay away from the area due to contamination from a petroleum discharge.
Alexandria: Development Briefs for the Week of July 8
Development
226 The Strand, recently approved for demolition, may get a second chance at life. A petition to appeal the Board of Architectural Review’s (BAR) decision to approve demolition of the building has gained more than 25 signatures from local property owners in the Old & Historic District. The appeal will be taken to City Council in the fall.
Alexandria: Port City Releases Derecho Common
Like the microwave, the pacemaker, and the Slinky, Port City’s Derecho Common is the fortunate, if accidental, byproduct of nature and some experimental science.
Alexandria: Confederate Concerns About Appomattox
Alexandria’s Appomattox statue under scrutiny.
With a national dialogue underway on the appropriateness of Confederate flags and imagery, some Alexandrians have begun questioning whether the Appomattox statue to Alexandria’s Confederate dead should remain on Prince Street.
Alexandria: Tenants and Timeline Unclear for Landmark Mall
As city approves details for the mall redesign, other questions remain unanswered.
While City Council expressed support for new amenities and retail spaces at Landmark Mall, members of the public remain skeptical until more details emerge.
Alexandria: Rejoicing on Decision Day
Multifaith gathering celebrates national same-sex equality.
As Rev. Robin Anderson from Alexandria’s Commonwealth Baptist Church discovered this weekend, planning a party around a U.S. Supreme Court decision can be problematic. First, when Anderson began planning the Northern Virginia Multifaith Gathering for Marriage Equality, there was no set date for the decision. Decision day could have been anything between June 25 to June 29. And second, there was no way to determine the outcome of the decision. Hanging a festive banner could make for an awkward situation if the Supreme Court ruled against marriage equality.
Alexandria: Wolfe Street Bares Teeth at Developer
Potential property sale stirs controversy.
The historic 415 Wolfe Street home hasn’t been sold yet, but even the possibility of a sale to a developer has some neighbors incensed. The owners of the historic property insist that the home is still on the market, and while a few developers have expressed an interest in the project, nothing is close to being finalized. Yet, some neighbors have already begun expressing concerns that a potential townhouse development could have a serious impact on the neighborhood.
Alexandria: Goldilocks Approach
City Council reluctantly approves programming size for Patrick Henry Recreation Center.
A recommendation on the scale of the new Patrick Henry Recreation Center escalated into one City Council member calling on the city manager to fire the project staff.
Shots Fired in Alexandria
Police continue investigating wave of gunfire reports from across city.
The first “shots fired” call of the summer came in on April 18. Since then, there have been 13 reports of “shots fired” across Alexandria.
Alexandria: City Council Brief for 6/26
Pepper Celebrates 30 Years on Council
At the close of the 2014-2015 City Council session, members of the council watched a presentation and recalled where each was 30 years ago. For most, they were memories of playing sports as a young adult or living with their families, Councilman John Chapman was still celebrating a single-digit birthday. But for Council member Del Pepper, 1985 was memorable for an entirely different reason: it was the year she joined City Council.
Alexandria: Patrick Henry Plan Advances
School Board addresses community criticisms of Patrick Henry development.
A divided School Board moved forward with plans to rebuild the Patrick Henry Elementary School. In a 6-3 vote, the School Board approved construction of a new Patrick Henry School and will begin the planning phase for the new building. Patrick Henry Elementary currently houses nearly 600 students in grades preK-5, but will expand to 800 students as a preK-8 school.
Alexandria: The Lot That Wasn’t There
Subdivision on Vassar Road divides neighborhood and City Council.
Steve Hales currently owns the dwellings at 809 and 811 on Vassar Road, but Hales would rather own 809, 811, and a subdivided lot 626. In theory, lot 626 is comprised of the empty space between the houses on lots 809 and 811. The plan was passed by the Planning Commission in a 5-1 vote.
Alexandria: Once a Titan ...
Parents and students from the Class of 2015 remember successes and struggles.
Much of the Robinson family pointed out every girl entering the floor of the Patriot Center, trying to determine at a distance which was McKayla Robinson. It wasn’t an easy task, and each one of the parents filling the 10,000 seat sports center at George Mason University was attempting to accomplish.
Alexandria: A Party Divided
Democratic unity in Alexandria uncertain as Euille weighs options.
One week after the Democratic primary, questions linger about whether or not incumbent William Euille will challenge Democratic candidate Allison Silberberg as a write-in. While on the surface local Democrats have rallied behind Silberberg’s nomination as Democratic candidate for mayor, Euille’s reluctance to yield the position casts doubts.
Alexandria: Food Truck Showdown
At Food Truck Rodeo, mobile vendors express frustration with city truck policy.
“Food Truck Rodeo” is a bit of a misnomer. The event outside Southern Towers on Seminary Road did have several food trucks, but there were also two clothing boutique trucks, a homemade jewelry store, and a mobile skateboard shop.
Alexandria: In Three-Way Race, Silberberg Triumphs
Levine wins 45th District Democratic nomination.
After a tense race with a last minute shift in the polls, current Vice-Mayor Allison Silberberg became the Democratic nominee for mayor.
Alexandria: Waterfront Walk
Alexandria Waterfront Commission tours key locations in the long-range redevelopment plan.
Alexandria Waterfront Commission meetings are usually held in a crowded room at City Hall. But at 9 a.m. on June 6, the commission took its meeting to the streets, visiting sites all along the waterfront, from Tide Lock Park in North Old Town to Windmill Hill Park near Jones Point Park in the south, amassing a following of city staff and local citizens along the way.
Alexandria: On the Night Shift with City Police
Searching Alexandria’s nooks and crannies with the police.
Over his 10 years in Alexandria, Officer Mark Blackwell has come to know just about every dark corner of Alexandria. Before he turns his patrol car down an alleyway around midnight on May 28, he flicks off his headlights and the car creeps forward.
Alexandria: Final Mayoral Debate
Final Mayoral Debate ends on a civil note.
Attendees to the June 2 Democratic Primary Debate, one week before the primary, hoping to see sparks fly between the mayoral candidates may have left disappointed.
Where To Vote
On June 9, Alexandria citizens can vote in the Democratic Primary for 45th District Virginia House of Delegates and Alexandria’s Mayoral Election. The 45th District covers all Alexandrians in Old Town, Carlyle, Del Ray, and residents of the West End north of King Street. To vote, citizens must have a photo identification card, which can include:
Financing a Campaign
Cash contributions do not include “in-kind” donations: contributions in the form of goods and services.
Down the Drain: Understanding Alexandria's Sewer Crisis
Environmental Services proposes solutions to sewage crisis.
Alexandria experiences between 30 to 40 sewer overflows every year.
Alexandria: Clear Frontrunner in Mayoral Fundraising Race
While the race for the Democratic primary in Alexandria’s mayoral election remains hotly contested, incumbent William Euille remains the clear winner in terms of fundraising.
Alexandria: What’s Next For Patrick Henry?
Schools and Parks Department proposals each stalled by the other.
Alexandria Public Schools’ plans to rebuild Patrick Henry Elementary School around the location of the current site have hit a snag.
Alexandria: Citizens Irate Over Tax District
In the May 15 public hearing prior to the City Council’s major Potomac Yard Metro decision, residents of the local special tax district spoke out against what they saw as being unfairly targeted.
Alexandria: Council Honors Lowe, Dunning
Parks in Del Ray named in tribute.
As the City Council voted to name two parks in Del Ray after influential citizens from the neighborhood, members of City Council and the community took a moment to reflect on the lives of Judy Lowe and Nancy Dunning.
The Fight for the 45th
Democratic primary candidates vying to replace Delegate Krupicka lay out campaign priorities.
As with most candidates in a primary, the Democrats campaigning to replace Robert Krupicka as delegate for Virginia’s 45th District which includes parts of Alexandria, Arlington and Mount Vernon, don’t vary greatly in their positions on political issues. Where these candidates do vary is their experience and priorities.
Teaching Technology Gallery Walk Benefits Students, Teachers
Gallery Walk highlights innovations in classroom technology.
“You have died of dysentery.”
Inventors Inducted Into Hall of Fame
The National Inventor’s Hall of Fame inducted 14 new members.
Alexandria: Mayor Makes Amends for Metro Mistakes
Mayor William Euille, who sits on the board of directors for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, apologized to riders of the Metro in Alexandria and throughout Washington D.C. for the what was trending on social media as the “Metro Meltdown” on May 11.
Getting To Know T.C. Williams High School’s New Principal
Dingle’s background in diversity education and a faculty standoff.
When students at T.C. Williams High School get called into the principal’s office next school year, they will find a new face on the other side of the desk.
Alexandria: City Council Passes Budget
After two months of City Council work sessions and public hearings, the council voted to approve the budget with little of the debate that had defined previous meetings.