Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published December 23, 2021 at 5:00AM

Waterskiing Santa says no show this year — “After ramping up for a live show this year, Waterskiing Santa and His Merry Crew expressed sadness late on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 that ‘We are very sorry to inform you that all Alexandria Events have been canceled.'” [Zebra]

COVID tests in VA are in short supply: here’s how to get one — “Locations across Virginia are running out COVID test kits as the demand increases from people who want to safely attend holiday gatherings.” [Patch]

News

Donations needed as Freedom House museum inches closer to opening

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2021 at 10:45AM

Freedom House at 1315 Duke Street (photo via City of Alexandria)

Ahead of the Freedom House’s scheduled opening this spring, the Office of Historic Alexandria is asking for donations to help with some new exhibits and operations for the museum.

The museum was originally scheduled to open earlier this year, but that opening was pushed back to April 2022.

News

Alexandria Mayor outlines areas of cooperation with Governor-Elect Youngkin

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2021 at 10:05AM

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson waves as he marches with other local politicians at the 50th annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

In a letter to incoming Governor Glenn Youngkin, Mayor Justin Wilson outlined some areas of potential cooperation between state and local leadership, despite a wide political gulf.

It’s no secret that there’s nervousness in the all-Democrat Alexandria leadership about the incoming Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. For the past four years, the city has been “playing with house money” in terms of state support for local projects.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2021 at 5:00AM

Singers wanted for older adults choir in Alexandria — “Encore Creativity for Older Adults (Encore), an arts education nonprofit, is hosting two 15-week choral programs for people 55 and over beginning the second week of January.” [Zebra]

Christmas in camp in Alexandria — “Fort Ward reenacts Civil War Christmas.” [Alexandria Gazette]

Opinion

Poll: Has the Omicron variant impacted your holiday travel plans?

By Vernon Miles

Published December 21, 2021 at 2:15PM

Has the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant affected your holiday plans?

The Omicron variant accounts for 73% of new coronavirus infections, federal officials said last week. In Alexandria, the city saw roughly 800 new reported cases within a week, though some of that comes from record-high levels of COVID testing ahead of the holidays.

News

Alexandria hits record high for COVID testing

By Vernon Miles

Published December 21, 2021 at 10:50AM

COVID testing data, photo via Justin Wilson/Twitter

Alexandria is seeing an uptick in reported COVID cases in part due to the Omicron variant, but it could also have something to do with the record number of Alexandrians getting COVID tested before the holidays.

Mayor Justin Wilson said on Twitter that the city saw its single biggest day for COVID testing last Friday.

News

Bethesda-based real estate company buys apartment complex near Landmark redevelopment

By Vernon Miles

Published December 21, 2021 at 9:45AM

The Mark Apartments (courtesy of Washington Property Company)

The Mark Apartments at 100 S. Reynolds Street near the Landmark area is under new ownership.

Washington Property Company (WPC) announced its acquisition of The Mark, a 227-unit apartment tower in the West End, last Friday. The company bought the tower for $52.7 million.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 21, 2021 at 5:00AM

Ice & Lights: The Winter Village At Cameron Run in 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

NOVA Parks Ice + Lights welcomes 50,000th visitor — “Ice & Lights in Alexandria was an all-new attraction for the public when it opened in 2019. New displays and attractions are added every year to keep it fresh and appealing.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Alexandria sees COVID cases surge, locals urged to reduce risks — “Those precautions, the city specified, include considering moving holiday celebrations virtual, testing, getting a booster shot and avoiding travel if possible.” [WUSA9]

News

Alexandria leadership lay out next steps in Torpedo Factory overhaul

By Vernon Miles

Published December 20, 2021 at 3:30PM

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leadership are sticking to their guns on changes planned for the Torpedo Factory Art Center as it looks at building a new governing structure to plan out the art center’s future.

At a City Council meeting last week, the Council and Deputy City Manager Emily Baker discussed evolving plans for the Torpedo Factory and what direction the city should take. The art center is one of the most popular destinations in Alexandria, attracting an estimated 500,000 visitors a year.

News

Alexandria’s guaranteed income pilot program delayed

By Vernon Miles

Published December 20, 2021 at 11:00AM

Money on a table (staff photo via Vernon Miles/ALXnow)

Earlier this year, the City of Alexandria dedicated some of its American Rescue Plan Act funding to a program that would guarantee a basic income, but now one of the non-profits working on the pilot said it’s hit some delays with no estimate of when the pilot will start.

The pilot program is now called, in a sort of transparent backronym, Alexandria’s Recurring Income for Success and Equity (ARISE). It will focus on 150 families who will receive a $500 monthly cash payment for 24 months, with no strings attached on its use. Eligibility has been set at 50% of the area median income or below.

News

Alexandria looking to expand co-living options

By Vernon Miles

Published December 20, 2021 at 9:45AM

Living room, photo via Patrick Perkins/Unsplash

At Planning Commission and City Council meetings next month, the city is looking to amend the zoning ordinance to allow for more co-living units to be built.

Co-living units are a type of shared living arrangement where individual bedrooms have shared amenities, like communal kitchens or bathrooms. These are usually rental units, for short or long-term stays. It’s the individual bedroom rented out, rather than the unit as a whole, in a co-living arrangement.