New manhole inserts aren’t normally notable or a cause for celebration, but they are in several Alexandria neighborhoods where they could help prevent flooding.
The City of Alexandria announced today that it will be installing 870 stainless steel manhole covers in the Four Mile Run, Commonwealth and Taylor Run sewer sheds.
“These inserts will help prevent stormwater runoff from entering sanitary sewer manholes during wet weather,” the city said in a release.
The release said the inserts sit on top of the manhole, directly underneath the cover, and have holes that slowly drain accumulated stormwater into the sewer after the storm ends.
“Manhole inserts are one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce inflow into the sanitary sewer system,” the release said. “Inflow into sanitary sewers can overwhelm the capacity of the sewer system, which can lead to sewer backups in basements.”
The installations started in February and will continue through the end of June.
As Alexandria’s City Council works through a tight budget year, one of the big items infrastructure pieces looming over the city is the $110.2 million renovation of City Hall.
The renovation was brought up as an item that could be delayed at a recent budget meeting, but over time repeated deferrals — and an expansion in scope — have made the much-needed renovation more and more expensive.
“The renovation of City Hall has been deferred five times,” Giovonny Bland, from the city’s Office of Communications, told ALXnow, “moving the main renovation/construction period from FY 2015 to FY 2025.”
A decade ago, the city balked at a $50 million renovation of City Hall, and there was a minor controversy over a comment from then-Mayor Bill Euille over the possibility of financing the renovations by leasing out space in the building. Euille’s opponents in the mayoral election attacked Euille for considering ‘selling city hall’ and Euille eventually walked back the comments, saying he was considering every option.
Since then, City Hall has continued to deteriorate, getting F ratings on a new facility report in 2022, described in the Joint Facilities Master Plan Roadmap as “functionally obsolete.”
“The cost has increased over time, however, the scope of the project has also changed from an HVAC-only replacement to a full renovation of the facility,” Bland said. “The full renovation scope started in the Approved FY 2015–FY 2024 CIP and the budgeted cost at that time was $47.5 million. It has since increased to $110.2 million.”
Last year, the city added the replacement of the Market Square parking garage and the redesign of Market Square to the project.
There is $93.4 million set aside for the renovation of City Hall and the Market Square Garage in the City Manager’s proposed FY 2026 Capital Budget.
According to the City Budget (page 193):
This project was initiated with the purpose of replacing the outdated and past their life cycle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), life safety systems and perform any necessary structural repairs. This work requires the demolition of the ceilings and lighting, and disruption of the HVAC and life safety systems in the work areas, therefore requiring the temporary relocation of the employees to a swing space for the duration of the work. Since the HVAC, life safety and structural work will have a significant impact in disrupting the workspace and building operations, and requiring the expense of temporary swing spaces, it is reasonable to be performed at the same time with the newly proposed space planning and space reconfiguration.
The budget item says the goal of the project is to create a modern and energy-efficient building with environmentally friendly systems.
Rosemont, Parkfairfax, and North Ridge residents could get the short end of the stick as DASH looks to scale back bus service in those neighborhoods.
A memo from Martin Barna, director of Planning and Scheduling for DASH, said the city’s bus system could reduce service on Line 104. Barna wrote that the change is based on the City Manager’s Draft FY 2025 budget.
Line 104 runs from the Braddock Road Metro station to the Pentagon Metro station.
Service would be reduced on Line 104 from every 30 minutes to once every hour. Barna said the change is likely to significantly decrease ridership.
According to the memo:
This reduction would reduce annual operating costs by $180,000, but would have an adverse impact on commuters in Parkfairfax, North Ridge and Rosemont. It also runs counter to the goals and recommendations of the 2022 Alexandria Transit Vision (ATV) Plan and Alexandria Mobility Plan (AMP). In general, fixed-route bus service that only runs once every 60 minutes is not considered to be useful or reliable, and ridership is likely to decrease by a large margin as riders seek other alternatives.
At the same time, there are other potential service improvements included in the memo, though they’re considered unfunded improvements:
- Line 32 – DASH is proposing to improve midday, evening and weekend headways from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes.
- Line 34 – DASH is proposing to improve Sunday headways from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes.
- Line 31 – DASH is proposing to improve midday, evening and weekend headways between King Street Metro and Braddock Road from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes by extending all Line 31 short trips that currently operate between NVCC-Alexandria and the King Street Metro.
The changes are scheduled for review at the Transportation Commission meeting on Wednesday, March 20.
Any Alexandrian looking to register for spring classes and programs through the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities should mark Wednesday, March 20, down in their calendar.
“Registration for spring classes and programs, beginning April 1 through mid-June, will open on Wednesday, March 20, at 9 a.m. for City residents and Friday, March 22, for non-residents,” the city said in a release.
Programs range from sports to aquatics and camps, with options for both adults and children.
People interested in participating can register either online or in person at the Lee Center Registration & Reservation Office (1108 Jefferson Street).
Registration for summer programs is also right around the corner.
“Registration for summer classes and programs, beginning mid-June through mid-August, will open on Wednesday, May 15, for residents and Friday, May 17, for non-residents,” the release said.
As the old saying goes: when one spa closes, another one opens.
While Windsor of Old Town is closing this month after 43 years in Alexandria, a new business called Spa180 Prestige has opened at 2813 Duke Street. The spa also has a large parking area on-site.
The spa owners told ALXnow the business opened last month but are running “grand opening” specials this month on massages and more.
The spa is offering grand opening specials throughout March, including:
- Swedish Massage with Hot Stone: $79 for one hour, $99 for 90 minutes
- Intro Glow Facial: exfoliating, hydrating and lifting facial massage: $89 for one hour
- Eyelash extension: $90
- Microblading/Ombre: $550
The spa also offers waxing, group spa-day bookings, body scrubs and more.
Image via Spa180 Prestige/Instagram
Windsor of Old Town Salon & Day Spa, along with the men-focused The Gentlemen’s Quarters, will be closing up shop in Old Town (107 S. Union Street) by the end of this month.
On Facebook, the company said it’s become “too challenging to continue” but that staff from the business will be moving over to Sugar House Day Spa and Salon nearby at 111 North Alfred Street.
“Donna and Stephen Windsor and the rest of our team at Windsor Of Old Town Salon & Day Spa [and] The Gentlemen’s Quarters would like to thank you for 43 wonderful years,” the business owners said on Facebook. “It has been an experience that we will cherish forever. As much as we have loved our time at 107 S. Union St., like many others it has become too challenging for us to continue.”
The company said that the Windsor of Old Town Salon and Spa staff will be starting at Sugar House Day Spa & Salon starting April 1.
“Sugar House is an establishment that has been servicing the Old Town community for over 25 years and we are excited for this new chapter,” the business said in a notice at Windsor of Old Town Salon & Day Spa. “We appreciate your understanding during this transition and we look forward to seeing you again at Sugar House Day Spa and Salon.”
Photo via Windsor of Old Town Salon & Spa/Facebook
Hat tip to Ryan Belmore
(Updated 9:20 p.m.) After a prolonged battle between a Del Ray homeowner and his neighbors over a proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and a single-family home, Alexandria’s City Council struck the plans down in a meeting earlier this week.
The plan (docket item 11) was to create a two-story, single-unit ADU to 404 E. Alexandria Avenue along with a single-family home. The unit would be set off the main street on a vacant lot and accessible by a public alley.
The plan drew backlash from neighbors from the start. The Del Ray Civic Association recommended denial of the project and residents spoke at the Planning Commission and City Council meeting, expressing concerns about the tree preservation, emergency access, stormwater management and more.
While the Planning Commission recommended approval for the ADU in a divided 4-3 vote, the City Council was unanimous in their denial.
City Council members said the sum of the concerns added up to the development feeling incompatible with the neighborhood.
“Where I’m really struggling is, when I reviewed this case, it says over and over that in order for the SUP approval it has to be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood,” said City Council member Alyia Gaskins. “And then when you look at the staff report, the language that was used was ‘we’re not aware of any lots without the frontage in Del Ray’, ‘this is the first of its kind on the block’, ‘no other contemporary architectural types’ and ‘it’s unique’. For me, that language begins to pull out some of those pieces… it is different in multiple ways.”
City Council members said they didn’t want to discourage ADU development or even slap down unorthodox buildings, but the Council agreed unanimously that this ADU didn’t fit on that Del Ray lot.
“The request to permit a substandard lot is not in and of itself an extraordinary or unique case,” said City Council member Sarah Bagley, who noted that she was still undecided up until the final vote. “I want to be careful about what we think of as ‘well it’s different… and therefore incompatible.'”
Bagley said there’s likely to be more new and innovative designs coming before the City Council in coming years as buildings are reconfigured to, for example, maximize solar panels on the roof.
Bagley ultimately joined her colleagues on the City Council in a unanimous vote to deny the substandard lot application.
The National Park Service tweeted out a bloom watch update: the cherry blossoms are at a phase called ‘peduncle elongation’ — roughly stage 4 of 6 for the blossoms — meaning peak bloom is just around the corner.
Cherry blossom season often evokes a mixed reaction in Alexandrians and others around the region.
On the one hand, it’s a marvel and a visually staggering experience to see the banks of the Potomac lit up in countless pink blossoms.
It's the #BloomWatch community's favorite announcement: we have Peduncle Elongation – the 4th of 6 stages on the path to peak bloom.
🌸🌸🌸🌸/🌸🌸
Follow online at https://t.co/h04Gu0ksc1#cherryblossom #WashingtonDC pic.twitter.com/WuqVlmIW0R— National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 12, 2024
On the other hand, it has something of a Fleet Week reputation where the locals know to get out of town and avoid the dense tourist crowds.
That bloom is likely to hit peak this weekend or early next week. The Washington Post reported that the “indicator tree” at the Tidal Basin, which typically blooms a week ahead of the others, reached peak bloom this past weekend. During that time, the Tidal Basin will likely be packed with crowds enjoying the colorful bloom.
Of course: Alexandrians don’t have to go to D.C. to enjoy cherry blossom season. There are several events and cherry blossom tours around Alexandria, though many of the latter do involve trips to the iconic cherry blossoms along the D.C. side of the Potomac River.
An investigation found an error in Arlington County’s Water Pollution Control Plant caused a fish kill event in Four Mile Run yesterday (Wednesday).
The City of Alexandria said in a release that reports started coming in around 10 a.m. of dead fish washing up along the shores of Four Mile Run between Mount Vernon Avenue and Route 1.
“Witnesses reported a significant number of dead fish alongside live fish, reptiles, and waterfowl,” the release said.
An investigation said the cause was identified as an error at the Water Pollution Control Plant.
“An investigation found a manual operation error at the County’s Water Pollution Control Plant that released higher-than-usual levels of sodium hypochlorite into the waterway late on March 12 as part of the regular wastewater treatment process,” the release said. “A correction was made in less than 90 minutes. As of 2 p.m. [Wednesday], water quality levels in Four Mile Run are returning to normal.”
The release noted that there is no ongoing threat to Four Mile Run and officials at the plant will “review and refine procedures” in coordination with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
“Arlington officials are addressing the Plant’s procedures in coordination with DEQ,” the release said.
County environmental staff are investigating a fish kill along Four Mile Run between Mount Vernon Avenue and Route 1. Avoid contact with the water for at least the next 48 hours. Updates will be posted. https://t.co/p4B3tho8rg pic.twitter.com/LLsE1XZpqq
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) March 13, 2024
Alexandria’s City Council set a maximum tax rate at 4 cents higher than the current $1.11 tax rate — a significant increase, but less than the 6-cent increase proposed earlier in last night’s (Tuesday) meeting.
The maximum tax rate, as was emphasized several times in the meeting by nearly everyone on the City Council, does not reflect what the tax rate will be in the final budget, it is only the highest tax rate the City Council can possibly go to in its budget.
A 4-cent tax rate increase would bring the tax rate up to $1.15 per $100 of assessed value.
While the City Manager’s proposed budget is based on keeping the current real estate tax rate, a higher maximum tax rate gives the City Council some wiggle room to include other priorities. Notably, a public hearing the day before the maximum tax rate focused primarily on calls for more funding for affordable housing programs and Alexandria City Public Schools.
“This will be a sacrifice no matter what happens in May [in the final budget],” Vice Mayor Amy Jackson said. “This is just the advertised ceiling, not being approved for what will happen. But when we’re hearing; and it was packed here last night listening to the public hearing about affordable housing issues and school issues, we have a lot that our city is challenged with right now. We certainly want a buffer in the coming weeks as we’re trying to make big, bold decisions.”
A 4-cent tax rate increase would be substantial, but not as much as the 6-cent increase proposed by City Council member Canek Aguirre, who said he wanted to set that as the maximum tax rate to make more Alexandrians pay attention to issues affecting the city. A 6-cent increase would bump the City of Alexandria’s tax rate to $1.17 per $100 of assessed value.
At the current tax rate, the Average Alexandria homeowner will see their tax bill go up by $210. A 6-cent tax rate increase would add $420 onto that increase, according to city staff.
According to Aguirre:
We need our community and residents to understand the situation we’re in. We have not been able to find new revenue. We are 20,000 residents larger with staff at the same level as 2010. We have to pay for services. Our schools are asking for more money. We still have a collective bargaining agreement to go with general services staff. We have our own infrastructure buildings for the city that we need to pay for. When we look at DASH, looking to expand service, not reduce. Again, just as a reminder to our residents, whenever we advertise something that doesn’t mean that’s actually what we’re going to do. That’s just setting a maximum cap.
I know six cents is extremely high but I want to signal to residents that we’re in a big situation right now. Admittedly I’ll say even if we don’t do the full six cents, if we choose something else, it may still require an increase after this year.
But the 6-cent increase faced some pushback from other City Council members, who said the maximum tax rate should still be something the Council would conceivably vote for. City Council member Alyia Gaskins said setting a 6-cent maximum may set false expectations for the community.
“I want to be honest though: what gives me pause is we are about to engage in conversations over the next few weeks with our residents… and I want us to go into that conversation with a good faith effort,” Gaskins said. “I wouldn’t want us to advertise something that is so high or so above what we would actually advertise that people come and they would submit ideas that are not going to be considered, because I don’t think that’s fair to their time, I don’t think that’s respectful of their creativity.”
The City Council worked the maximum tax rate down to a 4-cent increase, though the final budget could have a lower tax rate increase, no tax rate increase, or a very unlikely cut to the tax rate.
According to Mayor Justin Wilson
My view is: you raise the tax rate for a capital investment and you live within your means on the operating side. That’s generally what you do, and when you do that, you help yourself in the future. Generally, my view on tax rate increases is heavily dependant on how we’re going to spend the money. Particularly in an environment where you are looking at a really narrow revenue growth for the next several years, unless we are signing up for large tax rate increases every single year for the years to come, then we have to be restrained on the operating side or we’re really setting ourselves up.
Budget hearings will be held throughout March and April with final budget adoption scheduled for May 1.