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

Upcoming meeting to review Alexandria’s progress on combating climate change

By Vernon Miles

The City of Alexandria is hosting a community workshop this Saturday (Aug. 27) that will let locals weigh in on the city’s plans to fight climate change.

The meeting at the Durant Memorial Center (1605 Cameron Street) is the third and final meeting in a series that aims to review the city’s progress towards its goals of combatting climate change on a local level and plan future efforts.

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News

Alexandria Soccer Association kicks off pre-season for local students

By Vernon Miles
Soccer practice (photo via Alexandria Soccer Association/Facebook)

As local students head back to school, the Alexandria Soccer Association is launching pre-season practice sessions this week.

The season starts on Tuesday, Sept. 13, but pre-season practices are scheduled to start tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 23).

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Opinion

Poll: Should the Victory Center be demolished?

By Vernon Miles
5001 Eisenhower Avenue (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Developer Stonebridge has filed for plans to demolish the Victory Center (5001 Eisenhower Avenue) but is facing pushback from city staff that would rather see the existing building converted.

The Stonebridge proposal would see the long-vacant office building replaced with townhouses, similar to the new development just west of the building.

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News

Alexandria Mayor says Youngkin’s affordable housing reform comments are positive step forward

By Vernon Miles
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks at the Safeway at the Bradlee Shopping Center on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. (Photo via Eli Wilson)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin hasn’t always gotten the best reception in Alexandria, but recent comments about working with localities to establish better affordable housing zoning could help find some common ground with local leadership.

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said a recent Washington Post article about a trip to Michigan included some promising comments about improving housing availability.

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News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Victory Center in Alexandria used as a vaccine clinic (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

This week in Alexandria, some long-planned changes around town started to take shape.

The biggest is that the Victory Center’s days may well be numbered, with developer Stonebridge and city staff currently in back-and-forth discussions over whether the building should be entirely demolished or not.

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News

Alexandria sets new prices for pay by phone parking in Old Town

By Vernon Miles
A parking meter in Old Town Alexandria on King Street

Two months after the City Council authorized changes to what Alexandrians pay to park in Old Town, city staff have come back with new price points for parking.

The aim of the change is to make parking in garages more appealing. Currently, many Old Town garages sit empty while drivers circle blocks looking for on-street parking.

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News

Alexandria rolls out new design for bus stops

By Vernon Miles
A bus driver waits outside the Van Dorn Metro station in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The City of Alexandria could be rolling out a new kind of bus stop with some substantial improvements over the current one.

It’s no hoity-toity $1 million Arlington bus stop, but the new shelters have modifications designed to make them more durable.

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News

Del Ray Hyundai overhaul headed to the Planning Commission this fall

By Vernon Miles

Alexandria Hyundai’s plans to modernize its Del Ray dealership (1707 Mt Vernon Avenue) — long considered in conflict with city leaders’ vision for the neighborhood — are headed to the Planning Commission later this year.

Alexandria Hyundai, LLC is requesting an amendment to their Special Use Permit to add a 1,730 square foot addition to the building and a new 770 square foot canopy for covered drop-off and pick-up.

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News

Alexandria rolls out speed camera plans ahead of implementation next year

By Vernon Miles
The scene of a crash outside Jefferson Houston Elementary School, March 29, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is moving forward with plans to install new speed enforcement cameras with public meetings planned this fall ahead of implementation next year.

In a release, the City of Alexandria said the approved speed cameras in school zones are expected to launch in early 2023. The release said the city will provide updates on the program at the:

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