Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Don Hayes appointed Alexandria Police Chief

Published April 19, 2022 at 9:45AM

Police Chief Don Hayes, image via City of Alexandria

The City of Alexandria announced yesterday afternoon that acting Chief of Police Don Hayes has gotten the job on a permanent basis.

Hayes has been Acting Chief since Chief Michael Brown retired in June 2021. Unlike Brown, Hayes is an internal hire, having joined the Alexandria Police Department in 1981.

News

City Council to consider stormwater utility fee increase at upcoming meeting

By Vernon Miles

Published April 18, 2022 at 2:30PM | Updated April 18, 2022 at 8:32PM

Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne in the alley behind his house after flooding in Del Ray. (Courtesy photo)

(Updated 8:30 p.m.) As part of an upcoming overview of the budget, Alexandria’s City Council will be considering an increase in the stormwater utility fee (item 16).

The fee is scheduled to increase from $280 to $294 for the stormwater utility fee bill due Nov. 15 this year.

News

DASH implements new boarding and stroller changes

By Vernon Miles

Published April 18, 2022 at 11:00AM

A DASH bus in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Starting today (Monday), Alexandria’s DASH bus network is going through some changes to how riders board buses and how strollers can be used.

While passengers before could only enter buses through the front doors, DASH is changing its policy for riders to be able to use either door.

News

Multiple injuries reported in police-involved Seminary Road crash

By Vernon Miles

Published April 18, 2022 at 9:55AM

Crash reported at Seminary Road and Beauregard Street, image via Google Maps

Multiple cars, including at least one police vehicle, were involved in a crash this morning that resulted in multiple injuries.

The crash occurred sometime before 6 a.m. this morning at the intersection of Beauregard Street and Seminary Road.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published April 15, 2022 at 1:15PM

Scenes from Old Town as a storm front bringing rain and high winds moves through the region (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Another week down in Alexandria

The boss man said “between Good Friday, Passover, Emancipation Day and spring break, it feels like it should be a holiday” so we’re signing out a little early today, but we wanted to leave you with a look back at some of the top stories from this week.

Opinion

Poll: Have you ridden DASH since the pandemic started?

By Vernon Miles

Published April 15, 2022 at 9:45AM | Updated April 15, 2022 at 1:13PM

A DASH bus on King Street in Old Town Alexandria

DASH has been on a roll recently with a variety of factors conspiring to push the bus service up to 300,000 total boardings in March, a 73% increase over ridership last fall.

Some of that’s thanks to changes within the DASH bus system: like eliminating fares and shifting toward a system that prioritizes frequent service in high-density corridors.

News

Proposed lot development divides Planning Commission over how uniform Del Ray should be

By Vernon Miles

Published April 14, 2022 at 3:45PM | Updated April 15, 2022 at 10:05AM

Proposed lot change at 105 and 107 East Randolph Avenue, image via City of Alexandria

(Updated 4/15) What on paper might seem like a relatively commonplace resubdivision in Del Ray sparked a broader conversation at the Planning Commission over how uniform the historic neighborhood’s subdivisions should be.

The requested change (item 7) to 105 and 107 East Randolph Avenue was relatively small: increasing the square footage of one lot on Randolph Avenue from 8,250 square feet to 8,828 square feet by taking a portion of the backyard from another lot — both obviously with the same owner.

News

DASH bus ridership rebounds in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published April 14, 2022 at 1:20PM

Electric DASH bus, photo via DASH/Facebook

The Alexandria bus system has seen a significant uptick in ridership over the last few months, thanks in part to the new fare-free policy, changes to the DASH network and declining Covid numbers.

DASH said ridership hit nearly 300,000 total boardings in March, a 73% increase over ridership in August before the change to the new network. Ridership dipped significantly in January during the Omicron variant.

News

Maryland man indicted on involuntary manslaughters for November pedestrian death

By Vernon Miles

Published April 13, 2022 at 3:45PM

Fredy Ortiz Dominguez, charged with involuntary manslaughter, photo courtesy Alexandria Sheriff's Office

On Monday, a grand jury indicted 46-year-old Hyattsville resident Fredy Ortiz Dominguez on charges related to the death of Roy Saravia Alvarez last November.

Dominguez allegedly struck and killed Alvarez at the intersection of West Glebe Road and Mount Vernon Avenue at around 8:10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.

News

New ordinance could take Arlandria and Old Town developments to new heights

By Vernon Miles

Published April 13, 2022 at 3:00PM

A map of where in Alexandria additional height is likely to be traded for affordable housing units, image via City of Alexandria

The city government could be opening up new swaths of Alexandria to taller buildings and more affordable housing.

Currently, the city trades bonus density in developments for more affordable housing, but only in areas with a height limit of 50 feet or above. Developers are allowed to exceed established height limits to a degree in exchange for affordable housing units or an equivalent contribution to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

News

Guide to Alexandria businesses and events fundraising for Ukraine

By Vernon Miles

Published April 13, 2022 at 10:50AM | Updated April 13, 2022 at 2:44PM

As the war in Ukraine drags on, Visit Alexandria has put together a roundup of how locals can help contribute to the Ukrainian people.

In neighboring Arlington, the county has already donated ballistic vests and firefighting gear. In Alexandria, local businesses are hosting events to raise funds for non-profits assisting Ukraine.