Vernon Miles | ALXnow

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

Published January 14, 2022 at 3:30PM

It’s been a busy week in Alexandria with City Council coming back into session for the first time in 2022.

With a majority of the Council being new, there are fresh names and perspectives stories about city decision-making. Highlights from this week’s City Council meeting included a first look at plans for the city to — kind of — invest in a luxury hotel and bids to develop broadband internet access citywide.

News

Four internet companies vie for chance to take on Comcast in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published January 14, 2022 at 1:15PM

Empty municipal fiber cables to be laid in the ground (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria is moving forward with its long-awaited broadband network — and potentially breaking Comcast’s internet monopoly — with a shortlist of potential broadband internet providers.

At a City Council meeting on Tuesday, the City Council approve the receipt of four broadband franchise proposals.

News

Alexandria staff and developer butt heads over architectural design of Carlyle neighborhood

By Vernon Miles

Published January 14, 2022 at 9:55AM

Proposed development at 765 John Carlyle Street and 1900 Eisenhower Avenue, image via Perkins Eastman

A towering project that will bookend Eisenhower Avenue is going through some design changes as it heads through the city’s approval process, but the changes are facing objections from City staff.

The changes are scheduled for review at the Carlyle Design Review Board on Thursday, Jan. 20. Developer Carlyle Plaza LLC has proposed several architectural changes for the project, two connected towers at 765 John Carlyle Street and 1900 Eisenhower Avenue, but staff said virtually all of these changes are a downgrade from what was approved in November.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published January 14, 2022 at 5:00AM

City responds to surge in COVID-19, testing shortages — “COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise and tests remain difficult to come by, as Alexandria, much like the rest of the country, grapples with the spread of the Omicron variant.” [Alexandria Times]

Umbrella Dry Drinks to provide a sophisticated alcohol alternative in Alexandria — “Umbrella Dry Drinks is opening a pop-up in February with plans to open a permanent non-alcoholic bar and shop by the end of the year.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

News

New Capital Bikeshare station installed at Bradlee Shopping Center

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2022 at 3:45PM

Capital Bikeshare station at King Street and W Braddock Road, photo via Capital Bikeshare

Capital Bikeshare has been rolling out several new bikeshare stations including a new station near the Bradlee Shopping Center in the heart of Alexandria.

The new station is at the intersection of King Street and W Braddock Road, just a few blocks from the station at Alexandria City High School and one at Radford Street and Osage Street.

News

City Council expresses cautious optimism about proposed hotel development

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2022 at 1:40PM | Updated January 21, 2022 at 10:49AM

Heron, a proposed hotel development at 699 Prince Street, image via Monarch Urban

Alexandria’s City Council was overall supportive of an arrangement presented earlier this week to invest — sort of — in a new Old Town hotel.

A proposal backed by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership would have the city help fill gap-funding for a hotel project at 699 Prince Street that fell through when the pandemic hit. Interior demolition was already underway when the pandemic made it impossible to secure financing on a new hospitality project, said AEDP President and CEO Stephanie Landrum in a presentation to the City Council on Tuesday.

Opinion

Poll: Have you ever participated in Alexandria Restaurant Week?

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2022 at 9:35AM

Chadwicks at 203 Strand Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

The twice-annual Alexandria Restaurant Week starts next Friday with some new options on the list of restaurants.

Restaurant week’s schtick is that each of the restaurants offers $35 per-person meals at various restaurants around the city, which is still a bit much for the $10-$20 restaurant-goers among us, but is discount at many of the restaurants in question.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published January 13, 2022 at 5:00AM

‘Zebra Stripes’ to return to Del Ray — “Snowplows accidentally took out the so-called zebra stripes that are designed to slow cars.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Mark apartment tower in Alexandria sells for $52.7 million — “Washington Property Company (WPC) has acquired The Mark, a 227-unit apartment tower in Alexandria, VA, for $52.7 million.” [Zebra]

News

Redevelopment plans announced for Community and Human Services office in Del Ray

By Vernon Miles

Published January 12, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated January 12, 2022 at 3:49PM

2525 Mount Vernon Avenue (via Google Maps)

Redevelopment plans are finally moving forward for an office building in Del Ray, the Washington Business Journal first reported.

Bonaventure Realty purchased 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue, which currently houses the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). DCHS will be moving to the West End in 2023.

News

Inova officials explain what recent state of emergency declaration means for Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published January 12, 2022 at 2:45PM

In a City Council meeting last night, Inova Alexandria Hospital and local health officials shared a look at the current COVID-19 situation in the hospital and what the state of emergency declaration means for the city.

Inova Alexandria Hospital President Dr. Rina Bansal told the City Council that the hospital is prepared for any potential surge.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published January 12, 2022 at 5:00AM

Restore Hyper Wellness opening in Alexandria — “Cryotherapy, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, IV Drips among offerings for health and wellness.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Virginia bill targets admissions systems at Governor’s Schools with possible repercussions for TJ High — “A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that would bar Virginia’s Governor’s Schools from considering race in admissions — a piece of legislation some see as a direct assault on recent changes to the admissions process at prestigious magnet school Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.” [Washington Post]