Author: Vernon Miles

Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

News

City opens up with new info about ‘West End City Hall’ plans

By Vernon Miles
4850 Mark Center Drive. (Courtesy photo)

Starting next year, Alexandria residents in the city’s West End won’t have to go into Old Town or various offices scattered around the city to access services.

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), currently spread out into eight locations across the city, is coming together with a few other city departments in the new Redella S. “Del” Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) — named for the longtime City Council member who retired last year.

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Samuel Madden redevelopment returning to BAR after earlier misgivings

By Vernon Miles
Samuel Madden redevelopment rendering (image via Torti Gallas + Partners/City of Alexandria)

It’s a second shot for the proposed Samuel Madden redevelopment after the plans’ first encounter with the Board of Architectural Review sparked some debate.

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) project aims to tear down a dozen aging townhouses at 899 and 999 North Henry Street — 66 units in total — and replace them with two new multifamily apartment buildings featuring 500 residential units.

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ACPS vow to support transgender students despite new Youngkin policies

By Vernon Miles
George Washington Middle School (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

In a letter to students, staff and families, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) said it will continue to “develop and implement gender-affirming policies for all ACPS students” despite new policies outlined by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

On Friday, Youngkin’s administration proposed new policies to restrict bathroom use and which pronouns transgender students can use. The new policies would restrict students to the bathrooms and locker rooms associated with the sex assigned at birth regardless of gender identity, NPR reported.

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News

City Council strikes down Polk Avenue sidewalk appeal

By Vernon Miles

After months of back and forth, Alexandria’s City Council ultimately rejected an appeal from neighbors to keep a sidewalk from being built on Polk Avenue at the western edge of Seminary Hill.

The north side of Polk Avenue directly abuts Polk Park with no sidewalk, meaning anyone walking along the north side of the street is forced to cross the street — without a crosswalk at the western end. But the proposed sidewalk would also involve eliminating nine parking spaces neighbors say are desperately needed and would slightly cut into Polk Park.

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News

System update gives Alexandrians two days of free access to rec centers, pools and more

By Vernon Miles
Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility (image via RPCA/Facebook)

A system upgrade to the city’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RPCA) website could be a windfall for local residents who, today and tomorrow, can access most rec center amenities without charge.

The city is updating its WebTrac service today, leaving RPCA unable to access household information, handle reservations or registrations, or process payments or refunds.

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News

Old Town North affordable housing redevelopment moves forward

By Vernon Miles
Ladrey High-Rise in Old Town North (image via Google Maps)

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) has announced some next steps for plans to redevelop Ladrey High Rise, a public housing building in Old Town North.

The current building is an 11-story, 170-unit high rise building housing seniors and residents with disabilities. The redevelopment plans will see that building and an adjoining property demolished for a new mid-rise construction. The new development is slated to be a one-to-one replacement of the units on the site.

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News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

The top two stories this week in Alexandria pertained to an incident inside one of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) buildings.

It was a mental health crisis where police were involved but no one was killed, but it has kept the offices shut down until Saturday and neither the USPTO nor the Alexandria Police Department are sharing more information about what took place, which has only further fueled questioning and rumors from employees at the site.

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News

Memorial services planned in Old Town for local journalist Lee Hernly

By Vernon Miles
Lee and Samuel Hernly (photo courtesy Jay Hernly)

A pair of gatherings are planned for Saturday, Sept. 24, to commemorate the recently deceased founder of local news sites Red Brick Town and Port City Wire: Lee Hernly.

Lee was a pioneer of local journalism in Alexandria, launching the popular hyperlocal blog Red Brick Town in 2006, which eventually grew into the local news site Port City Wire. Lee died suddenly in July from complications from a cerebral hemorrhage.

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News

Why aren’t Metro shuttles using the Route 1 dedicated bus lanes?

By Vernon Miles
National Landing-Potomac Yard Metroway (image via Google Maps)

One of the many frustrations facing Alexandria commuters during the Metro shutdown has been buses stuck in traffic next to dedicated bus lanes, but WMATA says adding shuttles would overload the existing transitway.

Among the many frustrations, which included long lines for shuttles, commuters were left wondering why their buses traveling up Route 1 were stuck in mixed traffic next to the mostly empty bus lanes.

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Pair of Old Town tours highlight unique local history, from furniture to architecture

By Vernon Miles
A tour guide tells a story on a hot July day in front of the Carlyle House at 121 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Two walking tours around Old Town this month will offer a look at some unique historical sites and local architecture.

Both events, featured in a newsletter from the Office of Historic Alexandria, start at the Carlyle House Historic Park (121 N Fairfax Street).

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