News

Notes: Alexandria City Council to consider King Street closure, climate resilience measures at Saturday hearing

By Ryan Belmore

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Sunny, with a high near 82 degrees. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Mostly clear tonight, with a low around 59 degrees. East wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

🚨 You need to know

The Alexandria City Council will convene for a public hearing Saturday morning to consider several significant items, including the permanent closure of a downtown block and new climate adaptation requirements for development projects.

The most high-profile item on the Sept. 13 agenda is the second reading of an ordinance that would permanently close the 200 block of King Street to vehicular traffic. The proposal, which received unanimous approval on first reading Tuesday, has generated strong community support during a pilot program that demonstrated overwhelming public backing. If approved Saturday, the permanent closure would take effect Oct. 1, extending the city’s pedestrian zone from the existing car-free 100 block to include the stretch between Lee and Fairfax streets.

The closure gained momentum after extensive community outreach showed 87% of survey respondents supporting permanent pedestrianization, up from 55% last winter. Business support on the block also increased significantly, with 12 of 16 businesses now backing the proposal compared to seven last fall. Traffic studies found pedestrians outnumber vehicles by 5-to-12 times at key intersections, though the closure would eliminate 16 metered parking spaces and result in approximately $50,000 in lost annual parking revenue.

Council members will also vote on a zoning text amendment requiring coastal resilience and climate change assessments for new developments. The measure aims to align Alexandria’s regulations with updated Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act requirements, addressing sea-level rise concerns that affect the waterfront city. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the climate adaptation requirements, which would incorporate assessments for coastal resilience into the city’s development review process.

The meeting will include several consent agenda items covering residential development permits, including a special use permit for a two-unit dwelling on Windsor Avenue and rezoning for a property on Helen Street. Council will also consider a zoning text amendment to add provisions for a mural program and approve expansion plans for the DASH bus facility on Business Center Drive, which would add electric vehicle charging stations under a new canopy.

Additional business items include final passage of ordinances related to short-term rental registry requirements, design-build contracts, and employee bonus provisions. The council will also hear recommendations from the Subcommittee on Boards and Commissions and consider an executive session regarding legal matters pertaining to the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The meeting, starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, will include public comment periods at the beginning and end of the session. Residents can attend in person or participate virtually through Zoom, with registration required for those wishing to speak.

See the full meeting docket and supporting documents here.

What else you need to know

School board voices concerns: The Alexandria City School Board expressed significant caution Thursday night about the city’s proposal to transition high school students from school buses to DASH public transit, with several members calling for a scaled-back pilot program during their work session. ALXnow provided live coverage of the meeting.

9/11 remembrance coverage: ALXnow provided on-the-ground coverage yesterday of Alexandria’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony at City Hall, where Mayor Alyia Gaskins and city leaders called for unity and civility while honoring those lost in the attacks 24 years ago.

Major economic development: Our team also covered Governor Youngkin’s economic development announcement, where Systems Planning & Analysis revealed plans for a $46.9 million expansion that will create 1,200 new jobs over five years. The Alexandria-based defense contractor purchased its 239,000-square-foot headquarters at 2001 N. Beauregard Street and will renovate it into what CEO Rich Sawchak called “a modern, collaborative workspace.”

Thunderbirds over D.C.: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform a scheduled photoshoot formation over the National Mall and other Washington D.C. landmarks this morning at approximately 8:15 a.m., with a C-17 joining for an additional pass at 8:45 a.m. The aircraft will depart by 8:55 a.m. The flyover is in support of the Joint Base Andrews Airshow occurring September 13-14, and is part of capturing patriotic imagery for America’s 250th birthday in 2026.

Governor calls for moment of prayer: Governor Glenn Youngkin has called on all Virginians to join in a moment of prayer and reflection today at noon following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA. “As we remember the atrocities of September 11, 2001, and the response of a nation who unified against evil, we must come together again to reject all forms of violence,” Youngkin said in a statement. Read the Official Proclamation here.

Today at 1 p.m.: A Citizenship Day Naturalization Ceremony will take place at City Hall, where approximately 25 candidates will take the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens in a ceremony administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The public is welcome to attend. ALXnow will cover the event.

Weekend ahead: Check out things to do this weekend in Alexandria – From art festivals to live music, plenty is happening around the city.

📈 Thursday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Sept. 11, 2025.

  1. Alexandria-based defense contractor to add 1,200 jobs in $46.9M expansion
  2. Dog dies in Old Town high-rise apartment fire
  3. Woman charged with using West End hotel room for prostitution
  4. Alexandria police clear hazardous materials scene on N. West Street
  5. Notes: Historic marker to honor displaced Alexandria neighborhood

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on today and this weekend in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

Friday, Sept. 12

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

City & School District Meetings & Events

About the Author

  • Ryan Belmore is a journalist based in Alexandria, Virginia. He served as Publisher of ALXnow from March to October 2025. He can be reached at [email protected].