Vernon Miles | ALXnow

Winter shelters open to keep homeless Alexandrians warm and safe

Published December 2, 2021 at 2:30PM

Shelter interior, photo via Carpenter's Shelter/Facebook

Carpenter’s Shelter opened its winter shelters yesterday as a warm refuge for locals experiencing homelessness.

According to a press release from the city, the Winter Shelters are open from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. regardless of the weather. The shelter opened yesterday (Wednesday) through March 31.

News

Tiny Parker-Gray home gets BAR approval

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2021 at 10:55AM

Rendering of 1117 Queen Street home, courtesy Matt Gray

After having been deferred earlier this year, a tiny home planned for a lot in the Parker-Gray neighborhood (1117 Queen Street) is moving forward with a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Board of Architectural Review (BAR).

The application to build a two-story home on the 2,000 square foot strip of gravel was deferred at its July hearing to make fairly minor alterations to the design. Upon its return to the BAR last night, it won unanimous approval with very little discussion.

News

City looking for public feedback on fair housing in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2021 at 9:45AM

The city is looking for public feedback on fair housing in Alexandria, with plans to incorporate that feedback into a larger effort to secure federal funds to make housing more equitable in the city and its neighbors.

Fair housing, in this context, refers to the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. The meeting will gather public responses to see what difficulties or barriers still exist in regard to fair housing in Alexandria.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2021 at 5:00AM

A runner makes their way down a trail near Cameron Run (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Baseball game raises $10,000 for SRO/International Academy soccer program — “Thank you to The Congressional Baseball Game for Charity for their continued support of our SROs Gary and Johnny’s soccer program at the International Academy at Alexandria City High School.” [Facebook]

Washington Post digs into Torpedo Factory fight — “As the Alexandria City Council is set to consider three sharply different visions on how to fund renovations and bring in more visitors, some of the artists at the Torpedo Factory fear they will be kicked out for good. And while the city contends that will not happen, several ideas on the table call for at least some studios to be converted to other uses.” [Washington Post]

News

JUST IN: Police announce charges for suspect in Woods Place barricade situation

By Vernon Miles

Published December 1, 2021 at 5:25PM

John Thomas Bey, a 52-year old resident of Alexandria, has been hit with several charges connected to his alleged role in a barricade situation last week that lasted nearly 24 hours.

Bey has been charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm in a school zone, attempted felonious assault, and malicious shooting into an occupied police vehicle, according to a press release from the City of Alexandria.

News

Alexandria schools considering new ‘early warning system’ to prevent student dropout

By Vernon Miles

Published December 1, 2021 at 2:45PM

Students return to George Washington Middle School, August 24, 2021 (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is working on implementing a new strategy that aims to create an “early warning system” for students at risk of dropping out of school.

At a school board meeting tomorrow (Thursday), Superintendent Gregory Hutchings is docketed to present a proposal for ACPS to develop and adopt the new system.

News

Alexandria VRE project in final design ahead of construction next year

By Vernon Miles

Published December 1, 2021 at 1:30PM

A VRE train crosses a bridge over King Street (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A $30 million overhaul of Alexandria’s Union Station, a Virginia Railway Express stop, is in the final design phase and is working through some final permitting ahead of project construction next year.

An update scheduled to be presented to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) tomorrow (Thursday) noted that the project is going through permit coordinating with the City of Alexandria as part of the final design phase.

News

Carlyle neighborhood could change School Board districts

By Vernon Miles

Published December 1, 2021 at 9:50AM | Updated December 2, 2021 at 3:06PM

Alexandria's current School Board districts (photo via City of Alexandria)

(Updated 12/2/21) The City of Alexandria is going through a mandatory review of voting districts in Alexandria and City Manager Mark Jinks is recommending that the Carlyle neighborhood — called the Alexandria Renew district — have its representation on the School Board changed from District A to B.

The issue comes out of a review of the 2020 census. While the City Council seats are at-large, the School Board seats are voted by district. District A encompasses Old Town, Carlyle, Del Ray, Arlandria and Potomac Yard. District C is the western fringe of the city, from the Landmark/Van Dorn corridor up to the Bailey’s Crossroads area. District B is more-or-less everything in between.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 1, 2021 at 5:00AM

A flock of geese in flight near Cameron Run (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Golf could return to former Topgolf Alexandria property — “The shuttered Topgolf Alexandria and neighboring former Ruby Tuesday restaurant on South Van Dorn Street may be resurrected as a golf-centric venue by the underlying landowner, whose efforts to rezone the properties for residential use have been slow to advance.” [Washington Buisness Journal]

Alexandria Film Festival 2021 extended into December — “The festival, held in a virtual format, is giving viewers more time to view films through Dec. 10.” [Patch]

News

Old Town salon announces grand reopening with huge expansion

By Vernon Miles

Published November 30, 2021 at 3:30PM

Salon Meraki on Queen Street (photo courtesy Salon Meraki)

A salon in Old Town has announced plans for a grand reopening next week to celebrate a massive expansion into a former print service next-door.

Salon Meraki, an Alexandria-based salon, said in a press release the salon at 1101 Queen Street will be expanding into 300 N. Henry Street next door, formerly home to ARC Document Solutions. The expansion will boost the salon up to a total of 3,600 square feet.

Opinion

Most expensive homes sold in November

By Vernon Miles

Published November 30, 2021 at 12:00PM

212 S Saint Asaph Street (photo via Google Maps)

In this month’s “Most Expensive” column, there were some eye-popping home sale prices over the last month, with some topping over $4 million.

For starters: there are currently 374 homes listed for sale in the city, according to Homesnap. There are 263 condominiums listed for sale and 70 townhouses — fewer in all categories than last month. The median list price is $477,000 and the median sales price is $615,000.