The Traffic and Parking Board endorsed one intersection change that could make Lynhaven/Del Ray a little safer but did not approve the proposed reversal of a one-way street.

The proposed changes reviewed at the meeting earlier this week were:

• A roundabout at the Glebe Road/Montrose Avenue/Ashby Street intersection
• Reversal of Ashby Street, currently one-way west-to-east, to the reverse.

The roundabout would take the place of what’s currently a busy and confusing five-way intersection with significant visibility issues. Staff said while no pedestrian crashes have been reported at the intersection, it still poses a risk.

The plan is to replace the intersection with a roundabout featuring partial stop control, slower speeds, shorter crossings and improved sightlines.

The roundabout would require removing some on-street parking around the intersection and the purchase of right-of-way, but even with those complications, both speakers and the Traffic and Parking Board were unanimous in their support for the plan.

The more controversial change was the proposed reversal of Ashby Street.

Currently Ashby Street is one-way eastbound, but it could be changed to run one-way westbound.

Staff said the change would improve traffic safety and intersection operations, but the change was greeted with a mixed reception from neighbors. All of the public commentors spoke in favor of the roundabout change, but some on the street expressed uncertainty or opposition to the change.

Ultimately, the Traffic and Parking Board voted to separate the two proposed changes. The roundabout was recommended, but the Traffic and Parking Board did not recommend the one-way reversal.

No charges were filed against a man arrested for a suspected misdemeanor assault and battery on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Sunday.

A passerby called 911 at around 1:30 p.m. to report seeing a man allegedly position himself behind a woman and then rub “himself all over her” on the sidewalk in the 2400 block of Mount Vernon Avenue, according to Alexandria Police Department dispatches.

A man matching a description of the suspect was arrested minutes later after a brief foot pursuit a block away from where the incident allegedly occurred. The suspect was arrested in St. Asaph Park (221 E. Mount Ida Avenue).

No charges were filed against the suspect, and APD is still investigating the incident. The suspect was transferred to another jurisdiction. Police also said that the man is not suspected of any other sexual assault incidents in Del Ray that are currently being investigated.

“The suspect was apprehended based on an outstanding warrant from a neighboring jurisdiction,” APD communications manager Tracy Walker said. “At this time, this individual is not considered to be associated with any other incidents.”

Map via Google Maps

Here’s a roundup of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening around Alexandria this weekend; enjoy! 

Are you organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.

Friday, May 3

Things To Do

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: May Book Sale at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: FRIYAY Wine Tasting at Woodlawn Press Winery
• 5 p.m.: “WTF IS THAT WINE!?” Tasting at Rosemont Cellar
• 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Hi/Fi
• 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Moss Wall Workshop at PlantHouse
• 7 p.m.: NVFS’ 100 Years of Service Celebration at Torpedo Factory Art Center
• 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Opening Reception for The Art of Tea Exhibit at Del Ray Artisans Gallery

Live Music & Entertainment

• 219 Restaurant: Live music (to be announced) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Alexandria Bier Garden: Starting Early at 9:15 p.m.
• Blackwall Hitch: JoJo Bayliss from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• Daniel O’Connell’s: Mike Richards from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
• Fish Market: DJ at 9 p.m. 
• Galactic Panther: Dance Unity: Beats for Gaza Relief & Local Homelessness Support from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Hops N Shine: Motown Records & Michael Jackson Music Bingo w/ Right Proper Brewing at 7 p.m.
• Laporta’s Restaurant: The Satin Doll Quartet from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Los Toltecos: Karaoke at 8:30 p.m.
• Lost Boy Cider: First Friday Live Music: Tennessee Frisky from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub: Pat Garvey at 9:30 p.m.
• O’Shaughnessy’s Pub: Roscoe Tripp, Jackie and The Treehorns, Fields & Forests from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• Rock It Grill: Karaoke at 9:30 p.m.
• The Birchmere Music Hall: Al Di Meola Electric Band at 7:30 p.m.
• The Light Horse: Practically Einstein at 9:30 p.m.
• The Study at Morrison House: Live piano music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Alexandria Library

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Burke Branch Friends Book Sale at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
• 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Fun Friday at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library

City of Alexandria

• 8 a.m to 9 a.m.: Health and Safety Coordinating Committee at City Hall
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: 12th Building Safety Month Kick off Event at Market Square

Read More

It’s likely that during the day on Sunday, someone in Old Town will see a commotion on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. There will be fire crews assembled and a person dangling off the side.

If you’re that person and a frantic “Woodrow Wilson Bridge emergency” Google search led you here: don’t panic, fire and rescue departments are planning a series of training challenges at the bridge.

From Sunday, May 6, through Thursday, May 9, twelve fire and rescue teams from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and the U.S. Army will be participating in a series of “challenge events” around the region, including at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

According to a release:

Community members should be aware of these teams’ presence during the Rescue Challenge and their participation in scenarios that may resemble emergencies, including at Woodrow Wilson Bridge, visible from Jones Point Park. Twice each day during the Challenge, a dummy will be suspended from the bridge for teams to practice rescuing. This will not impact the flow of traffic.

Scenarios have been designed to challenge participants’ technical expertise and teamwork and expand their skills in hazardous environments. To accomplish this, rescue scenarios will be set in a wide variety of environments, including Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The Alexandria Fire Department is committed to preparing as well as possible to keep the community safe.

Alexandrians will see their taxes go up this year, with most of that going to help Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).

The Alexandria City Council unanimously approved the FY 2025 General Fund Operating Budget at a quick meeting last night. The operating budget totals $926.4 million — a 4.8% increase over last year’s budget.

That budget included a 2.5-cent increase in the real estate tax, meaning the average single-family homeowner will pay $483 more than last year. The average condominium owner will pay $285 more this year than last year.

Mayor Justin Wilson noted in a newsletter that this marks the first real estate tax rate increase in seven years and follows a tax rate reduction three years ago.

The City Council approved a $14.3 million increase to the ACPS operating budget, including an additional $4 million added in the add/delete process.

Wilson said one common misconception about the budget process is just how much of the budget goes to education and other basic functions like public safety.

“This is my fourteenth and final budget,” said Wilson, who is not running for reelection as Mayor. “I had to admit, thinking through this process and thinking about what we’ve learned; one of the things I don’t think the community often understands is that two-thirds of this budget we just adopted is education, public safety, and debt service for infrastructure.”

Wilson said city leaders don’t have as much wiggle room as many in the city think when it comes to funding other priorities. Even the $14 million increase to the ACPS operating budget still falls short of the $21 million requested by the School Board.

“Two-thirds of this budget is in those policy areas alone,” Wilson said. “While we spend a lot of time talking about a lot of other things — what is ultimately moving the needle on revenue and expenditure pressures is the bread and butter of local government.”

After years of the city riding a boost from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), City Council member John Chapman also noted that this was the first year that well ran dry.

American Rescue Plan funding peppered the budget in areas like the Health Department, the Department of Community and Human Services, and the Sheriff’s Office.

“This is the first time ARPA funds were not readily available to close some gaps,” said Chapman. “Seeing how we deal with that — with programs started under ARPA coming to an end or finding an opportunity to reprioritize —  that will be something the community will want to watch.”

Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!

☀️ Today’s weather: Expect a sunny day with highs nearing 90 degrees and a west wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. Come Thursday night, the skies will be partly cloudy as temperatures drop to around 64 degrees. The calm wind will shift to a northeastern direction at 5 to 8 mph after midnight.

🚨 You need to know

Two people were hospitalized after a serious crash on the George Washington Parkway yesterday afternoon.

The crash happened around 5 p.m. on the George Washington Parkway near Daingerfield Island, WTOP reported.

One car overturned completely and the other suffered significant front-end damage.

WTOP reported that two people were taken to the hospital, one with injuries never considered life threatening, the other was initially considered critical but has since improved.

Just passed an accident on GW Parkway near Reagan Airport. Hope everyone is okay. pic.twitter.com/VABGkyb7iH

— Ahmad Shah Mohibi (@ahmadsmohibi) May 1, 2024

Image via Google Maps

📈 Friday’s most read

The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Apr 26, 2024.

1. Alexandria mayoral candidates Gaskins and Jackson reveal contrasting visions in ADC debate (1341 views)
2. Notes: MS-13 leader sentenced to life in prison for series of murders in 2019 (1240 views)
3. West End double homicide suspect claims self-defense, was found hiding naked under a bed (1221 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

• 4:00 pm: Music in the Garden w ACHS Orchestras
• 6:00 pm: Nepenthe Gallery toasts HOLLIN HILLS HOUSE + GARDEN TOUR

Address: 1465 N. Pegram Street
Neighborhood: Moore Hill Estates
Type: 6 BR, 5 (+1 half) BA single-family detached — 4,488 sq. ft.
Listed: $2,500,000

Noteworthy: Stunning contemporary on almost 1 acre and winner of the 2019 Award of Excellence!

Over $1M in top to bottom renovations in 2016; full pool and pool deck renovation along with modern interior/exterior paint in 2022; and recently all the cabinetry in the kitchen/bathrooms have been replaced. Entertainer’s delight with heated pool/hot tub, grill area and spacious patio. Plenty of nature and landscaping/hardscaping completes the perfect backyard.

Airy ML consists of a gourmet kitchen with GE Monogram SS appliances — commercial grade gas range/hood and double oven, wine cooler, beverage cooler, convection microwave, column built-in refrigerator/freezer, pot filler faucet, cold water dispenser, walk-in pantry, and center island with waterfall stone and cabinetry.

Main level study with granite wood FP — a spacious great room and dining area. Owner’s suite has a spa-like bath with a custom built closet that is sure to please the most discerning buyer. This smart home has inside/outside Sonos sound system; automated light controls by Lutron; internal/exterior cameras/security system; and connected pool and irrigation systems.

Other features include the custom cabinetry/millwork, Nanawalls; designer lighting, upscale fans and fixtures throughout the house. The UL consists of 3 bedrooms — one which is a second primary suite with a sizable walk-in closet, private balcony, and large BA. The LL has 2 bedrooms and includes an exercise room with rubber flooring and mirrors. Five of 6 BR are en-suite including the 2 primary suites and all bathrooms have natural stone flooring/counters.

There is also a built-in elevator shaft from the 4 car garage to the ML. This home also has a driveway that can accommodate 15+ cars-and is located less than 1 minute from 395 and close to shopping and INOVA.

Take a virtual tour today!

Listed by:
Christine Oberhelman — Re/Max Allegiance/703-237-9500
[email protected]
(703) 216-3005

Two of Alexandria’s three Democrat mayoral candidates sparred onstage Tuesday night, expressing vastly different ideas on how they would manage city affairs.

In the Alexandria Democratic Committee‘s debate hosted by Teo Armus of The Washington Post, Vice Mayor Amy Jackson and City Council Member Alyia Gaskins laid out their philosophies on governance, as well as some specifics on their visions.

The next mayor will have to contend with a host of issues, including rising crime, the city’s affordable housing crisis, residential taxes vastly outweighing underperforming commercial tax revenues and potential budget cuts from Richmond.

While they shook hands at the start and end, Jackson and Gaskins hardly looked at each other throughout the nearly two-hour event, despite standing about five feet apart. The debate was held in the auditorium of Alexandria City High School.

Protestors calling for a ceasefire to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas also briefly interrupted the final portion of the debate, but after five minutes allowed the candidates to make their closing statements.

Outgoing Mayor Justin Wilson watched the debate in the back of the auditorium with members of the School Board and told ALXnow that he will likely endorse a mayoral candidate before the June 18 primary.

Between now and then, there are a number of mayoral and Council candidate forums.

Read More

If you’ve had trouble getting a spot at Thompson Italian in Old Town, you could be in luck soon.

The acclaimed Italian restaurant could be getting a new third-floor expansion pending approval of a special use permit.

Thompson Italian, a Falls Church restaurant, expanded into the former Hank’s Oyster Bar location at 1024 King Street back in 2022.

A new special use permit filed with the City of Alexandria asks to expand the seating in the restaurant to the third floor. The new arrangement would add 62 seats to the third floor, along with some interior renovations on the floor to open up the new seating area.

With 89 current seats in the restaurant, the new expansion would nearly double the restaurant’s capacity.

The restaurant is open Monday-Thursday from 5-9 p.m., on Friday and Saturday from 4:30-10 p.m. and Sunday from 4:30-9 p.m.

Image via Thompson Italian/Facebook