Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Arlandria bar Hops ‘N Shine headed back to city review after being cited for multiple permit violations

Published February 9, 2023 at 10:50AM

Hops n Shine (photo via Hops N Shine/Facebook)

After a series of neighborhood complaints, the popular Arlandria neighborhood bar Hops ‘N Shine (3410 Mount Vernon Avenue) is being brought back to the Planning Commission for a review of its special use permit.

The docket says Hops ‘N Shine says a special use permit, originally approved in 2020 for more outdoor entertainment and indoor seating, is under review after “violations of Special Use Permit conditions.”

News

Planning Commission says DHL temporary trailer on Duke Street has overstayed its welcome

By Vernon Miles

Published February 8, 2023 at 3:50PM

DHL Express trailer on Duke Street (image via City of Alexandria)

International shipping company DHL Express drew some flack from Alexandria’s Planning Commission after the company let slip in a recent meeting that they had no plans to find a permanent home for their “temporary” trailer business on Duke Street.

The company was granted approval for a temporary trailer set up in the parking lot of Shoppes of Foxchase (4513 Duke Street) during the pandemic. DHL was up for a two-year extension of their permit to operate in the parking lot but was applying for an additional three-year extension beyond that.

News

Power plant redevelopment team talks ‘woonerf’ vs pedestrian-only design

By Vernon Miles

Published February 8, 2023 at 11:15AM | Updated February 10, 2023 at 6:17PM

Woonerf designs for the Potomac River Generating Station development (image via Hilco Redevelopment Partners)

(Updated 6:17 p.m.) Representatives from Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) recently opened up about some of the behind-the-scenes discussions on whether or not to make the central street in Old Town North’s power plant redevelopment project pedestrian-only.

The redevelopment of the GenOn power plant in Old Town North is one of the biggest projects on the city’s horizon, and the centerpiece of that project will be a pedestrian-focused boulevard called a ‘woonerf‘ — a Dutch design concept that prioritizes pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

News

JUST IN: Loyal Companion in Old Town North to close by end of February

By Vernon Miles

Published February 7, 2023 at 3:15PM

Loyal Companion at Gables Old Town North (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Almost exactly two years after it opened, Loyal Companion (923 N. St. Asaph Street) in Old Town North will be closing for good.

The location’s closure is part of a broader sweep of closures following Independent Pet Partners filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. All stores outside of Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois will close.

News

After 70 crashes over the last decade, Alexandria begins the process of fixing two Duke Street intersections

By Vernon Miles

Published February 7, 2023 at 10:45AM

Duke Street intersections with Route 1 (image via City of Alexandria)

As the city works through some of the most high-crash intersections, it’s setting its sights on twin troublesome intersections in southern Old Town: the intersections of Duke Street with Route 1 (South Henry and South Patrick streets).

The Duke Street intersections with Route 1 are among the most crash-prone in the city, with over 70 crashes at the intersection since 2014, the city said in a release. Of those, four resulted in severe injuries and more than 20 resulted in non-life-threatening injuries.

News

Alexandria City High School instructor performed with Coldplay on Saturday Night Live this weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published February 6, 2023 at 3:45PM

ACHS instructor performed on stage with Coldplay on Saturday Night Live (image via Saturday Night Live/NBC)

Alexandria City High School students watching Saturday Night Live this weekend might have seen a familiar face in the musical numbers: the school’s Director of Choral Activities Theodore Thorpe III.

Thorpe was part of the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers in a choral ensemble with Coldplay, performing the songs The Astronaut, Human Heart, and Fix You in the show on Saturday, Feb. 4.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published February 3, 2023 at 3:30PM

The base of the Appomattox statue is now located at Bethel Cemetery in the Wilkes Cemetery Complex (staff photo by James Cullum)

The long and tangled history of the Appomattox statue that once stood at the intersection of S. Washington Street and Prince Street took another turn this week as ALXnow learned the base had been installed in a Carlyle-area cemetery.

The statue had been removed in 2020 after years of debate over its presence. While some neighbors have expressed misgivings at the base’s new home above Confederate graves in the Bethel Cemetery not far from historic Black cemeteries, the new location is on private property and the cemetery’s owner said he’d like to see the statue reinstalled there.

News

Where to get Girl Scout cookies around Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published February 3, 2023 at 11:20AM

Samoas artwork (image via Girl Scouts Nation's Capital/Facebook)

It’s that time of year: Girl Scout cookies are back in season.

Cookie both sales are starting to pop up around Alexandria starting today. You could chance stumbling across one, but if you want to be more methodical, here’s a list of Girl Scout cookie stands around Alexandria for the next two weeks.

News

Notes: New study explores increased bus service across Woodrow Wilson Bridge

By Vernon Miles

Published February 3, 2023 at 8:40AM

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge at sunset (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Good Friday morning, Alexandria!

⛅ Today’s weather: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 41 and low of 18.
🌤 Tomorrow: Clear throughout the day. High of 36 and low of 18. Sunrise at 7:13 am and sunset at 5:33 pm.

News

JUST IN: Alexandria City High School evacuated for second day in a row due to bomb threats

By Vernon Miles

Published February 2, 2023 at 3:20PM

The Alexandria City High School marquee (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria City High School (ACHS) was evacuated in response to a bomb threat earlier today, the second day in a row that bomb threats have forced a school evacuation.

The school was evacuated at 2:25 p.m. today, though students were already dismissed earlier at 1:15 p.m. for parent-teacher conferences.

News

New regional plan offers significant steps to boost affordable housing in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published February 2, 2023 at 1:45PM | Updated February 2, 2023 at 4:02PM

A rendering of Wesley Housing's affordable housing project ParcView II at 5380 Holmes Run Parkway. (Via Wesley Housing)

(Updated 4 p.m) Alexandria and several other localities have released an executive summary for a Regional Fair Housing Plan that not only provides some goals for housing but comes with a look at specific zoning changes that can be made to help get the region to those goals.

The plan was put together by a team comprising representatives from eight localities, including Alexandria, along with a few partner groups. A 60-day public comment period is scheduled to run through March 31 to allow locals to submit their thoughts on the plan.