Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Alexandria Times editor bids farewell, looks back on three years of coverage

Published May 13, 2022 at 2:45PM

Cody Mello-Klein, editor of the Alexandria Times (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

After three years at the Alexandria Times, editor Cody Mello-Klein is saying goodbye to the paper he’s helped steer through a pandemic and more.

Mello-Klein joined as a reporter at the end of 2018 and was a reporter for all of 2019 and 2020, then was promoted to managing editor at the end of 2020.

News

Long-awaited Landmark Mall demolition and redevelopment begins

By Vernon Miles

Published May 12, 2022 at 2:50PM

Landmark Mall demolition in progress (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

After two decades of Landmark Mall redevelopment being just out of reach, city officials and developers alike let out wild roars of satisfaction as the wrecking ball crashed into the side of the building today (Thursday).

There’s still a long way to go before the first buildings of the new hospital and mixed-use development start coming online — currently slated for 2026. Still, demolition marked the furthest point of progress for redevelopment since meetings to that effect started in 2008.

News

Most expensive Alexandria homes sold in April

By Vernon Miles

Published May 11, 2022 at 3:30PM

102 Quay Street, image via Google Maps

There are homes you can actually afford, and then there are homes that are just fun to look at. Our list of the most expensive recently-sold homes in Alexandria, below, is definitely the latter for all but the most well-heeled.

Image via Google Maps

News

Seminary Road partially closed after three-car crash

By Vernon Miles

Published May 11, 2022 at 10:45AM

Mark Center Avenue and Seminary Road, image via Google Maps

A three-car crash has temporarily shut down part of Seminary Road near the intersection with N. Beauregard Street.

Alexandria Police said in a release that the crash has shut down westbound traffic on Seminary Road after Mark Center Avenue, between N. Beauregard Street and I-395.

News

Alexandria starts to move away from virtually accessible meetings

By Vernon Miles

Published May 11, 2022 at 10:00AM

Alexandria City Hall was lit up for the weekend of Juneteenth 2021. (photo via Carol Jean Stalun Photography for Visit Alexandria)

While City Council usually has the final say over big decisions, much of the city’s future starts taking shape in Alexandria’s boards and commissions. After two years of those meetings going online and recorded for public viewing, many of them are starting to go offline again.

The Waterfront Commission, for example, has been where many of the details about flooding in Old Town have been hashed out. The 7:30 a.m. meetings have historically had fairly light public attendance. With the start of the pandemic those meetings were recorded and published online until last month, when the group stopped recording meetings.

News

New designs show sweeping overhaul of Old Town North block

By Vernon Miles

Published May 10, 2022 at 3:45PM

Montgomery Center site layout, image via Cooper Carry/City of Alexandria

New development plans submitted to the City of Alexandria show a mixed arts-retail district that could be an integral part of designs to reshape Old Town North.

The new 349,000 square-foot Montgomery Center development fills the block from N. Royal Street to N. Fairfax Street and Madison Street to Montgomery Street, sandwiched between the one-acre Alexandria House Park and 2.4-acre Montgomery Park.

News

New Carlyle apartment complex and dog wash headed to City Council review

By Vernon Miles

Published May 10, 2022 at 1:20PM

Development at 2111 and 2121 Eisenhower Avenue, image via City of Alexandria

The relatively diminutive five-story brick buildings at 2111 and 2121 Eisenhower Avenue are eclipsed by the taller buildings to either side, but that could change with redevelopment plans headed to the City Council this week.

At their meeting on Saturday, May 14, the City Council is set to review plans (Item 12) to replace the building with two towers connected by a six-level garage. Plans indicate that there will be 802 units of multi-family housing in the building, with 44 set aside as affordable housing.

News

Art festival coming to Carlyle neighborhood this weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published May 10, 2022 at 9:50AM

The Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festival is, despite the name, headed for the heart of the Carlyle neighborhood this weekend.

The art festival is scheduled for Saturday (May 14) and Sunday (May 15) from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The art festival will be held at the John Carlyle Square outside of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (600 Dulany Street).

News

Flooding forces road closures in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published May 9, 2022 at 1:55PM | Updated May 9, 2022 at 2:17PM

Flooding in Old Town on May 9, staff photo by James Cullum

The Alexandria Police Department has closed several streets near the waterfront due to flooding.

“The street closures run from King and Union Street To Prince and Union Street,” the Alexandria Police Department said in a tweet. “Cars parked in the area may be relocated.”

News

City urges locals to apply for rent relief before application window closes

By Vernon Miles

Published May 9, 2022 at 1:15PM

A statewide rent relief program is closing to new applicants soon with eviction protections expiring soon after. The City of Alexandria is urging those in need to apply within the next week or lose access to rent relief.

The application portal for the Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP) is set to close on Sunday, May 15.

News

Report: Alexandria’s tree coverage growing, but there’s room for improvement

By Vernon Miles

Published May 9, 2022 at 10:00AM

Alexandria is getting a little more green over time.

The City of Alexandria released an Alexandria Tree Canopy Assessment done by the University of Vermont that tracked the change in the city’s tree canopy between 2014 and 2018. The results are mostly positive.